Welcome to the World Jack

Our precious little boy Jack Terence McCarthy has arrived.

Jack was welcomed into the world on Saturday 26 January 2013 at 4.23pm, weighing 3130 grams (6 pounds 9 ounces) and 50 cm long.

If you have followed along with our journey particularly through my pregnancy with Jack you will know that I had complications with an incompetent cervix diagnosed at 22 weeks. It was picked up at a routine follow up ultrasound, however we lost a baby in 2011 at 19 weeks so the doctors suspected a weak cervix and therefore my cervix was checked at each ultrasound.

Jack Terence McCarthy 27/1/13

At 22 weeks a rescue cerclage was placed and I was on bed rest until 36 weeks when the stitch was removed. At my 36 week ultrasound Jack decided to flip and was breech, by the end of the week he was head down again. At my regular Drs appointment last Friday (37 weeks 5 days) we discovered that Jack was now transverse (lying diagonally with head down on my right side, bottom up on my left side). 

Unfortunately the position Jack was in was not great, with my weak cervix it was possible I could dilate without realising it and my membranes could rupture then the umbilical cord could prolapse, bub could move down quickly and put pressure on the cord cutting off oxygen and blood supply and endangering bubs life, so we decided that I wasn't going home and the best thing to do was book in a c section as soon as possible.

I was admitted to hospital that afternoon and given a booster shot of steroids, I was placed on the emergency theatre list for the next day (Australia Day) and after fasting from midnight we were finally wheeled into theatre at 3pm. One last ultrasound showed that Jack was now head down but face up with his back to my back :-) After all the prep and with the spinal block inserted I was ready to go and Jack was finally yanked out at 4.23pm. 

one last pic the night before Jack was born, @ 37 + 6 weeks

I had an emergency c section with Nicholas 13 years ago and I am pleased to say that the semi-planned surgery was much better and I am amazed at how quickly my body is recovering. I came home yesterday and haven't had any painkillers since my two panadol this morning. I was advised to take panadol regularly (3 times daily) to keep on top of the pain for at least a week, but truthfully I forgot after my first lot this morning.

Jack is settling in well so far and we are all so excited and thankful to finally have him here.

Thank you for all of your wonderful support and encouragement throughout the whole journey, it has been amazing. 

xx