Comment on last post: Some have asked us how we came up with the name “India”. I honestly don’t remember the exacts of how they came about but I know Tony had picked out “India” from an Alanis Morissette song and we had India and Oscar picked out before we ever even decided to have children.
When India was about a year old, we decided that it was time to try for a second child to put them around 2 years apart because we thought that that would make them closer as siblings – we forgot to consider that it would give us two children in diapers for awhile. As quickly as we had conceived India, we were a little troubled to find that it took about 3 months to get Oscar on board (yes, I know, we were really lucky every time – it seems absurd that we were worried about the 3 month stretch now based on all the couples I know with difficulty) – I do remember being mad at Tony the night Oscar was made – I don’t remember why, but I wanted a baby. I used to blame Oscar’s anger as an infant (cried for a solid 9 months) on my attitude when he was made.
The next week, we went to Colorado to have Christmas with my family. I had an awful headache the whole trip and thought it was the altitude, but that headache ended up continuing for the next 4 months. While on the trip, my sister announced her second pregnancy, which surprised us as she was NOT trying, and got me thinking maybe that’s why I was feeling off. On the way home from Colorado, I got the call from Dr. Pol offering me a job in Michigan. I took a pregnancy test the next week and got to share my entire pregnancy with my sister which was a neat experience.
My pregnancy with Oscar was pretty uneventful, except I got terrible morning sickness with him that I didn’t get at all with India. I had migraine type headaches and nausea for a solid 3 months. No scares, no bleeding, although I’ve told people that you’ll never realize how many non-white fibers are in toilet paper until you’ve been pregnant and inspected the toilet paper EVERY time you pee to check for signs of bleeding. I had no trouble that is, until he got super comfortable with his little butt in my pelvis and refused to turn the proper way (make like a baby and head out). My OB didn’t believe me at first, and kept putting my concerns off, but at 38 weeks, you could almost see his little round skull sticking out from under my ribs (and I could ultrasound myself). I actually embarrassed myself pretty good with my doctor – I didn’t want to seem like one of those “I’m a doctor, I know” so I told him I was pretty sure Oscar’s head was still up but wasn’t 100% sure because “we only have a rectal probe at my job and it doesn’t penetrate very deep” – didn’t think anything of it, left the office, then realized what I had said a few days later and was incredibly anxious to get back to the office and inform him that I did not, in fact, probe my rectum, but that the probe was designed for cattle or horse rectal pregnancy exams and the ultrasonic waves only go about 4 cm into tissue. *insert foot in mouth*
So, a couple of weeks before my doctor decided to be concerned, I was out doing some TB testing on some dairy cows and the owner was a midwife and was asking me about my pregnancy and I expressed my concern that the baby was not head down. She got very upset about how the doctor will likely just want to do a c-section and that these babies can be turned. So, naturally, I got upset and went and read about “turning babies” and then spent the next 2 weeks or so with my hips above my head. Tony would find me just laying on the couch with my butt in the air just watching TV on numerous occasions, but none of this seemed to do the trick.
Finally, at 38.5 weeks, my doctor scheduled a cervical version – this is a pretty darned uncomfortable procedure where the doctor grabs the baby from outside your belly and with the help of an ultrasound technician, attempts to dislodge the baby from your pelvis and then turn him to where his head is then in the pelvis and hopefully stays there. Well, unfortunately, as late as 38.5 weeks Oscar (a beast) was already 8.5lbs and 19.75 inches and was wedged pretty hard in my pelvis. After lots of very uncomfortable shaking and shoving of my abdomen, the doctor was able to get Oscar about halfway around and then Oscar promptly went right back to where he was.
What the version did accomplish was to piss off my uterus. I started bleeding almost immediately at the park we took India to play. I called the nurse and she said that it was normal. I went to bed that night on my back with my hips propped up on some pillows because that’s just what I did at that point. I awoke very suddenly about midnight to the most intense contraction. I jumped out of bed and told Tony it was time to go. We ran down the stairs and didn’t even stop to tell my mother who was staying with us to be with India that we were leaving. I just grabbed a couple pairs of clean underwear and then jumped in our Toyota Echo and sped off, texting my mom on the way.
We got to the hospital in less than 15 minutes, I told them I had a breach baby and would need a c-section, they got to work very quickly. When I got to the hospital I was already dilated to 9 cm and the nurse could feel feet trying to come through the cervix, but the membranes were still intact. They didn’t believe me when I said I had only had one contraction. They probably thought I had been sitting on this all night, but I swore I came in as soon as I woke up to the first one. They very quickly got my IV and urinary catheter placed, then rushed me to the surgical suite. I was stark naked at this point in a large room full of people with all the spot lights on me. I didn’t care too much, having full blown contractions and worried about my baby, but I was sitting there, straddling a large (very warm and soft) table while 4-6 people looked on and I tried to harness some calmness and stillness as the anesthesiologist was piercing my spinal fluid as I didn’t care to have a lacerated spinal cord.
Once the epidural kicked in, it felt like I was just swaddled in a big, soft, warm sleeping bag and couldn’t move anything from my neck, down. It was actually quite comfortable and in stark contrast to the sharp contractions, pains, and body tremors I was having seconds ago, it felt amazing – euphoric. Then, the surgery started. I couldn’t see anything, but I could feel my whole body shaking as they tried over and over to wedge Oscar’s head out from under my ribs – he was apparently stuck with his butt in my pelvis and his head under my ribs. Finally, after one of the doctors pressed really hard on my diaphragm, Oscar popped out. The pediatrician took him and held him to my face while he screamed. I wasn’t sure what to do or what the doctor expected me to do, so I just said “hey” a few times (all awkward like when you first meet someone) before he finally took him to clean and “process”.
When they finally brought Oscar to our room after everything they do with them and I was starting to feel things in my toes again, I looked at his tiny, sweet face, gently stroked his face, studied his tiniest of features, then looked at Tony and asked if this was actually our baby. Tony was confused. I asked if he saw them take him out of me. He said “yes”. Then I asked if he saw them put the ankle bracelet on him. He said “yes” Then he asked why I was asking all of this and I told him “He doesn’t look like either of us – are you sure this is ours?” – Ends up there was only two babies born there that night and Oscar was the only one in the nursery while I was recovering – so yes, he IS our child.
Wow, an amazing story! Bless your heart, knowing your own body so well and having to deal with medical personnel not believing you when you tell them what you know. Also sad when pregnant women have to deal with the misery of morning sickness, headaches, heartburn, etc. But I’m sure that newborn makes it all worthwhile! I was a second child, too, and the first having been so beautiful, my mother also did not immediately believe I was hers! lol. I was born with a blue eye and a brown eye, for one thing, but eventually they were both brown. I was not blessed with the capability of having children, so I enjoy all the various stories on the subject, and have a dear friend who allowed me to accompany her through the birth of her daughter. None of the stories prepare you for the amazing wonder of it all. Quite the miracle!
I am very jealous. I have always wanted to go to the Empire Asparagus Festival and have not made it there yet.
Both of mine were csections. At 37 weeks, my 7 lb, 13 oz, 19 in long baby boy had his head in position, but it was a bit too big. It took them 20 minutes and 2 sets of forceps to pop him loose. Boy #2, went into labor 6 days before my scheduled csection, went from 2-7 cm in an hour, and then they believed I was in labor, because nothing was showing on the monitor until his heart rate dropped.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry !?
He definitely looks like you all now. Great story!!
I have to tell you, Dr. Emily, that I enjoy reading your posts so very much. You were always my favorite on the show, and now that I feel like I’m getting to know the “real” you, I like you even more! Definitely LMAO on the rectal probe!!
Please, please keep posting!
I was Induced and was actually knocked out when I had my only child 47 years ago . When I awoke and I asked what I had I was told the Dr would tell me. When he said a girl my come back was Good Joke Doc so what does HE look like? He again said a girl! She was the first girl on my husbands side of the family in 3 generations! My husband was one of 3 boys & he had been married before and had 2 boys . His older brother even had a son at that time as well. To this date my daughter is still the only girl and pictures of her as a toddler and the family resemblance to my husbands mom down to the birthmark on her arm is uncanny . So yep she is ours!
Wow, and you went through all of this while filming Dr Pol too!
Your comment if Tony actually saw the doctor pull Calvin out or put a hospital band on him reminded me of my own thoughts after giving birth.
I can actually see you saying “hey” to the baby too. ha ha
You’re the best and Happy Valentine’s Day.
Our daughter’s baby was also breach. Two weeks before her due date on a Saturday the head of the OB department tried to turn our granddaughter. It was not successful. She compared the process to someone trying to beat her uterus up. She had the bruises too.
Two days later our daughter is teaching her favorite high school subject of honors human anatomy and her water broke. Another teacher just happened to stop by so Our daughter just said she needed the other teacher to watch her students. Our daughter drove herself the 30 minutes to the hospital. Thankfully the hospital valet was there to park her car. Her surgeon delivered our granddaughter a few hours later. Her human anatomy students didn’t know till later the whole story. Our almost 3 year old granddaughter knows a lot of the proper names of human anatomy. She’s a hoot.
Thanks for sharing! Happy Valentine’s Day!
my first daughter also was wedged under my ribs and I had to have a c section. Her chin was bent but she grew into it. As women we are 1) lucky to be able to get pregnant and b) we didn’t die .
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY
Wow! An amazing story! Love reading them. So glad all went well! 😁
I love reading your blog !
Dr Emily,
I was in labor 4 days with my first, and 3 days for my second and my third (the baby maker closed after him). But with that many days of pure pain there is absolutely no way I could have gone thru what you did! You’re one hell of a woman to do it!
Emily, he certainly looks (to me) like a mixture of you and Tony, so, I’d say yes, he IS your son.😉
Wow how times change!! My youngest is 47 and was a breach baby. The doctor never once mentioned a c-section. He was born butt first . Not near as large as Oscar however (thank goodness). I’ll be interested to hear how your third one was born. You have an awesome looking family. Keep up the fantastic blogs,
What sweet stories you share. When My oldest was born the first thing I said was what’s wrong with his feet. Turns out he had clubbed feet. Back then they only did one ultra sound at nine weeks so we didn’t know.
Back and forth to the doctors every week for casting. Sometimes more if he kicked his cast off. My sister and I were pregnant at the same time. We lived 5 minutes away. Both boys and 8 weeks apart.
It is really too bad you did not ask the midwife to help you turn your baby as it would not have cost you much and they are very good at doing this, much better than a regular OB.
One of my friends had a baby who was breach and her midwife turned the baby and she delivered her 2 days later at home. All went smooth as silk and just as planned.
I am glad all went well otherwise.
HOPE YOU WILL READ ENTIRE COMMENT – I HAVE A COUPLE OF IDEAS FOR HELPING RAISE A FEW DOLLARS FOR YOU.
Hi Emily and Tony. I have never followed blogs, much less responded to one but needless to say , I’m a BIG fan. Just like so many of these other people have commented, Dr. Emily and Dr. Brenda are the best part of the Dr Pol show. Ok – no more fan gushing :->. I live in Fairfax County not far from you guys, relative to your Michigan address (lol). As I read yours and Tony’s postings, I realize you are just as terrific as you appear on TV (that’s never a given). I hate that finances are still requiring Emily to work so many hours just to make ends meet. And my heart sank when I realized that you hadn’t yet been able to sell the Michigan house. So here’s my thought (there’s an entrepreneur inside me just dying to get out)… given the large number of fans / followers that you obviously have, you should leverage your popularity for a little fund raising and later maybe some charity-type activities to help vets struggling with mental stress. Just a couple of quick ideas: conduct online contest/random drawing for “Lunch with Dr. Emily” -$20 a ticket. If you feel funny about that then you could keep only have of the proceeds and the other half use to launch some kind of outreach for struggling female vets (since statistics indicate that female vets are much more often impacted by the emotional stress of veterinary medicine). Another fund raiser idea – write and self-publish a book about your life story; basically turn your blog into a book. It’s a niche audience but strike while the iron is hot, as they say. I have a couple of other ideas but I’m starting to sound like one of those rabid over-zealous fans :->. If interested, just email me and I’d be glad to brainstorm with you. P.S. Keep your heartwarming and funny stories coming!
Thank goodness for safe medical deliveries when babies stubbornly will NOT turn the right way!
Interesting story. Cute little man!
He sure is a cute little guy. I enjoy your blog. All 3 of your kids are really cute. India looks just like you. She’s Your little clone.
I have three boys, basically 3 years apart. There was a period of time we always had two in diapers. We survived!! Even in those times when we didn’t think we would. I can relate. 😉.
Love your birthing story, the start of the kiddos legacy. The stories always seem to fit the kids personality.
I hope Dr. Emily will keep in touch with all of us. If she still needs a friend, please call me–in Colorado. I lived in Michigan for 62 years–three of them in Mt. Pleasant and my husband used to fish in Weidman Pond. We moved from S E Mich. to Boyne City for 13 lovely years and then went to N. Carolina where I nearly melted every summer so I understand where Tony is coming from about summer heat!
Love you all.