As I hold the scalpel over the patient’s abdomen, I notice my clenched hand is shaking ever so slightly. Taking a deep breath, I loosen my grip but can still feel the adrenaline in my veins. As I wait for anesthesia to insert the breathing tube so I can start the c-section, I reluctantly glance at the clock: 3:08 am. The baby’s heart rate has been low for 12 minutes. The only vital sign we have on a baby in labor is the heart rate, and right now the baby is telling me that he’s not getting enough oxygen.
Continue reading What an Emergency C-Section is Really Like at Grace for Moms.
