Julianna's Birth Story

We began our second surrogacy journey on 30th November 2006 when Carol offered to complete our family.  For those who know us, we already have a 3 year old daughter born through surrogacy with a little help from Sarah Lolly.  We had always dreamed of having a second child to complete our family.  So in April 2007 we did our first inseminations and just 9 days later Carol tested positive!  That was the beginning of what was to be… Julianna.

Carol’s pregnancy was not an easy one.  She suffered with nausea, sickness, bleeding, restless legs and various other pregnancy ailments.  Towards the end of the pregnancy there was an onset of strong pelvic pains, similar to what she had experienced in a previous pregnancy.  Julianna’s due date was 11th January 2008.  However, due to the severity of Carol’s pelvic pains, our consultant recommended an induction to be carried out on Thursday 3rd January.  The only complication being that baby was lying transverse in the most recent scan.  The consultant did not seem worried at this, Carol would be scanned again on induction date and if baby was still lying transverse she would be manipulated to move into the ‘head down’ position, then Carol’s labour would be induced.

We were slightly apprehensive about this as if everything else failed it would mean that Julianna would be born by Caesarean section.  Carol has always given birth naturally so of course being told that this baby might be delivered in theatre was both daunting and scary for all of us.

In addition, we all panicked when given this induction date!  On a more positive note it meant that we could make some firm arrangements regarding travel and accommodation to Cheltenham.  We wanted to make sure that Georgina was going to be within close proximity of the hospital so as to see her baby sister soon after she was born.  Therefore, we booked our accommodation and planned to bring Bambos’s father along in order to look after Georgina while we were in hospital.  We travelled down on Wednesday evening, checked in and settled for a good night’s sleep.  We were both extremely nervous and excited, as I’m sure Carol and Dermott were.

Early on induction morning, we drove to collect Carol and Dermott and go to the hospital.  Carol explained how she had been feeling bruised inside as the baby was pushing and moving around the womb more than usual.  She felt that the baby was now lying in a different position!  We all secretly wished that the baby was now ‘head down’ which would hopefully mean no C section for our dear surrogate!
On admission into the labour ward, Carol was scanned to see how the baby was lying.  Miraculously, she was lying ‘head down’!!!  What a clever girl!  We all breathed an enormous sigh of relief!  It felt as if a weight was lifted off our shoulders!  Smiles and happiness all round.  The induction could now take place without any manipulation.

Carol was taken into the MAC (Maternity Assessment Centre) and at 1pm she was given a pessary for the induction to start.  She was strapped onto a baby heart monitor for the duration of the induction.  Soon afterwards she started getting mild backaches and pains.  This was indication that the induction was beginning to work.  Everything was progressing well, or so we thought…

At 2:15pm Carol was re-examined.  To our shock horror, the midwife reported that the baby had moved up, slowly burrowing under Carol’s ribcage!  All was not well.  The midwife acted immediately trying to scoop out the remains of the pessary to delay the onset of labour, but to no avail.  As the baby had moved up, she could no longer reach the area.  The contractions had already started and Carol was getting uncomfortable with the baby’s new position.

The midwife and doctors went away to discuss the best course of action leaving the four of us waiting in disbelief.  After much deliberation, they came back and explained that they had opted for a breech birth.  They showed us diagrams in a midwifery book which showed that it is possible to deliver a breech baby naturally or, if necessary, with some medical intervention.

They also reassured us that this was the best option in our situation due to Carol’s history of natural deliveries.  They informed us that the birth would have to take place in theatre, just in case there was a need for any medical intervention or an emergency C-section.

This of course came down like a
tonne of bricks on us all, including Carol, who broke down.  As I hugged her, I wished there was something I could do to take the fear and pain away.  For those who know Carol, you will know what a strong person she is, but even she was scared of the unknown.  This was going to be a new experience for her.

At around 4pm Carol was moved into the labour suite where gas and air was provided.  A new midwife introduced herself to us.  She strapped Carol’s tummy onto a monitor which began monitoring the baby’s heartbeat and Carol’s contractions.

Carol had elected to have an epidural so the Anaesthetist began to prepare her for this.  She sat incredibly still as the needle was inserted in her back.  We all stood and watched as the epidural was administered and as I hugged my husband I felt this amazing love for my surrogate; the enormity of what Carol was doing for us suddenly hit home. 

Once the epidural was in place and pains began to subside, Carol became more comfortable again.  This put a smile on our faces and we all began to relax a little.  I remember lots of jokes flying around the room!

For several months I had been following a medical protocol to induce lactation so I could breastfeed Julianna, as I did with Georgina.  Part of this protocol involved expressing every 3 hours using an electric breastpump so during the course of the day I managed to express on a couple of occasions to sustain my supply.

In the meantime, the midwife was in and out of our room every 15 minutes, monitoring Carol and taking notes about the progress.  By now, lots of leads and machines where attached to Carol, to monitor her and the baby.  As time moved on, the contractions were beginning to happen almost every minute but none were as strong as they should have been by that point.

At 10pm our consultant was called in to review the situation.  She scanned Carol’s tummy and explained that it would be safest for both Carol and baby if the baby was to be delivered by Caesarean section.  She ordered for the theatre to be prepared.

We all tried to remain calm and collected.  We knew that only one of us could accompany Carol into theatre.  It was down to her to decide who she wanted to take in with her.  After much deliberation she said:  “It’s Andria’s baby, she should come in.”  I was very nervous but delighted!  I know she would have wanted Dermott to be there to support her especially as she was also very scared of the surgery and it must have been a very hard decision for her to make.  Being the selfless person that she is, I know she chose me so I could witness the miracle of my daughter’s birth.  I felt humbled and emotional as I went off to change into my scrubs.

As soon as I came back, it was all systems go.  Dermott and Bambos kissed Carol and I followed behind her as she was wheeled into the Anaesthesia room.  There she was attached to several monitors as her epidural was topped up and notes were taken.  There must have been about 4-5 people in the room.  At this point Carol said she felt sick and when I looked at her she was as white as a sheet.  She started heaving and shivering.  It must have been such a scary situation for her, she had never been inside a theatre before, never had any form of surgery, so I can’t begin to imagine how unbelievably scared she must have felt at that point.  An anti-sickness injection was given to her.

I held Carol’s hand as I watched everyone and stared at the monitors around us.  Suddenly, the theatre doors opened and Carol was wheeled through.  I was asked to bring along the little stool I was sitting on but not to touch anything else!  Carol was moved onto the theatre table and made comfortable.  She was surrounded by nurses and was hooked up to several monitors.  There was a baby resuscitation machine at one side and probably a dozen theatre staff and doctors in the room.  Our consultant was amongst them.  Soon, a screen was put up in front of Carol hiding her abdomen and the operation began in earnest.

I remember Carol trembling for most of the operation; she was awake throughout which must have been such a weird sensation!  She said she could feel people tugging at her abdomen and on occasions asked me what they were doing!

At 10:48pm I watched as my baby daughter came into the world!  I cried with joy as she was lifted up for me to see her.  She was perfect in every way!  She weighed 7lb 9oz.  She was pink, covered in lots of vernix and a bit of blood.  She was immediately taken to the resuscitation table where a Paediatrician worked on her.  I watched as she was given oxygen and rubbed down.  I panicked a little as she did not make any sounds or movements but was soon reassured that she was well even though she had some problems breathing.  A little cry from Julianna put my mind at rest and I smiled as I hugged Carol and whispered “She’s absolutely perfect, thank you!”  Words cannot describe how I felt when my little girl was bundled up and brought to me to hold for the first time, even just for a few seconds.  I held her close so Carol could see her, she smiled but remained focussed.

Julianna was then whisked off to the Special Care Baby Unit for monitoring.  I stayed with Carol until the surgery was over.  Outside the theatre, baby Julianna was rushed down the corridor past Bambos and Dermott.  The doctors did not stop to show the men who were anxiously waiting for news so they were both left wondering if that baby was really our own or not!  They waited a bit more, anxiety was killing them by that stage.

It was almost an hour later when Carol came out of theatre and was wheeled into the room for recovery.  She ordered me and Bambos to go see our daughter!!!  Dermott stayed by her side as we toddled off down the corridor with excitement.

We arrived in the Special Care Baby Unit and scrubbed up before we were shown to an incubator.  Our precious baby daughter was lying inside, looking lovely and pink.  She was given oxygen in the incubator and she was attached to some monitors.  It was a very emotional moment for us.  We stood together watching her as a nurse made some notes.  She began to cry, she was trying to ‘root’, opening her mouth and turning to one side.  I wanted to hold her in my arms but knew I couldn’t just yet.  I could feel my milk ‘stirring’ but there was nothing I could do but wait.  Time stood still as we watched Julianna.  It must have been close to midnight.  I was asked to get some rest and come back at 3am to feed her.

We walked back to Carol’s room only to find Dermott and a ‘crash team’ gathered around her bed.  She had had a bad turn and doctors, nurses and the anaesthetist were trying to figure out what was happening.  To everyone’s horror it turned out that the epidural had leaked into Carol’s lungs and had caused them to paralyse, so she couldn’t breathe properly.  She was finally hooked up to an ECG machine.  It was very scary, but she was soon made comfortable again.

Once Carol was fine again, Bambos and Dermott left the hospital.  A bed was set up for me in the same room as Carol and we both tried to get some sleep.  I was exhausted.  The midwife continued to monitor Carol every 15 minutes.  I remember hearing the blood pressure machine coming on and off every so often.

At 3am I got up to go to SCBU to feed Julianna.  I walked in, scrubbed up and waited by Julianna’s incubator for a nurse.  She was beginning to stir, trying to ‘root’ again.  I got myself ready and the nurse placed Julianna in my arms.  What an amazing feeling it was having skin to skin with my newborn baby.  I cried buckets as I whispered to her.  She latched on effortlessly despite having all sorts of leads on her arms and legs.  I felt complete at last!  I studied her face carefully, she was just perfect!  I felt this amazing connection and love as I fed her for the very first time.

Later that morning, Carol and I were moved into a lovely private room with TV and ensuite facilities.  At 2:30pm Bambos arrived with Georgina and his father to see the baby bringing flowers and cards for Carol.  At the same time Julianna came out of SCBU to join us!  She had to have antibiotics every 12 hours until the blood culture results came back the next day.

It was wonderful watching Georgina meet her baby sister at last!  Having followed the pregnancy and watched Carol’s tummy grow it was a natural end for her to see the result right before her eyes.  More tears of joy followed…

Later that afternoon, Pip arrived bringing Dermott, Lauren, Emily and Patrick along with masses of flowers and balloons for Carol and I!  For those who don’t know Pip, she is my ‘surrogate-sister-in-law’ (Carol had Kitty and Archie for her and Kevin a few years ago!)  It was so lovely to see Carol with her whole family who were so proud of her.  Lauren and Emily cuddled Julianna endlessly, they’ll make perfect baby sitters one day I think!

While everyone was fussing over Carol and the baby, I slipped away to have a shower.  I was feeling very tired having slept very little and knew I had to recharge my batteries for the night ahead!

Carol and I stayed in hospital with Julianna for a total of 4 days and were discharged late on Sunday afternoon.  It was a weird few days.  It felt like we had been in a bubble!  Having had a C section the time was hard for Carol but being the determined lady she is, she progressed slowly.  By the second day she was able to stand up and walk again.  I tried to help as much as I could and that included not making her laugh too much!  Although it was nice to spend the time together I longed to be back at home with my family, as Carol did.

Later on Sunday afternoon, Bambos returned to the hospital with Georgina to collect us.  We all went back to Carol’s and spent some time there.  Having spent 4 days in hospital together and having gone through such a major experience it was not easy for any of us to say goodbye.  I felt I was leaving part of me behind.  We planned to keep in touch over the next few days and we did; calling, sending photos and messages every day and checking on Carol’s progress.

A few weeks later we visited Carol to register the baby’s birth and to spend some time together.  At that point, the birth felt like a distant memory.  We were happy to see that Carol had recovered well after the operation and looked fantastic.

Julianna is 4 months old now and she has settled nicely into her routine.  She’s already sleeping through the night.  I am breastfeeding solely and loving every minute of being a new mum.  We feel utterly content to have a healthy and completed family thanks to our two special friends – Carol and Sarah – and their families.  Without these special ladies, neither of our children would be here today.

Andria Christophi