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GYN Problems Patient Stories, PCOS Education

My Life with PCOS – A Patient’s Story

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Elizabeth was diagnosed with PCOS at just 23, even though she’d had symptoms since she was 11. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health problem that affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. PCOS can happen at any age after puberty, but most women don’t discover they have it until their 20s and 30s – when they have problems getting pregnant. We were fortunate to hear Elizabeth’s story which includes her struggles of living with symptoms of PCOS and finding a doctor that would take her symptoms seriously. Heavy Bleeding and Painful Periods Elizabeth was in the sixth grade and 11 years old when she had her first period, which is a relatively normal age to experience your first menstrual cycle. “It may be odd that I can remember the exact month and year that I got my first period. Maybe it’s because I didn’t realize I had started my period. And when my mom confirmed that’s what it was, I couldn’t stop crying,” Elizabeth recalls. “I don’t remember having considerable pain, but my mom would have to pick me up from school because my period would surprise me, and I would bleed through my pants. It was terribly embarrassing.” – Elizabeth   Even though Elizabeth’s periods were very irregular and spaced out, she experienced no other symptoms so her mom figured they would become regular and ’even out’ as Elizabeth entered high school. However, Elizabeth couldn’t help but notice she was the only one of her friend group to have problems. “Is this normal”, Elizabeth began to question. My Pediatrician Classified Me as Overweight, But Provided No Help Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s symptoms didn’t ‘even out’ at all – in fact, they got worse. Her symptoms included weight gain and very painful periods. “My self-esteem plummeted. I was classified as overweight by my pediatrician, and I was noticeably larger than my friends,” she explains. The most frustrating part was that it didn’t seem to make sense. After all, she was very physically active. She lifted weights, played rugby and even carefully watched her diet.   Heavy bleeding and severe pain plagued Elizabeth during her menstrual cycle, which came only every three to four months. She and her mom just assumed it was irregular due to her active lifestyle. However, that didn’t explain the intense pain and heavy bleeding. In fact, they were so severe that she couldn’t attend school, go outside, or even move during the first day of her menstrual cycle. “It was so bad. My mom would take the day off of work to tend to me, because I was in so much pain. Over-the-counter pain medication wouldn’t even take the edge off. I would just rock back and forth on the couch all day, dragging myself to the bathroom to change my menstrual pad or to vomit.” – Elizabeth I Just Learned to Live with the Pain and Heavy Bleeding Elizabeth said she learned to just deal with the symptoms and found ways to work around them. It was mainly the first day of her cycle that she was out-of-commission, so on those days, her teachers and coaches were very understanding and would let her go home without any penalties. Again, Elizabeth and her mom hoped her symptoms would simply ‘level out’ as Elizabeth became older. As Elizabeth was preparing to go off to college, she knew she had to do something. If the first day of her period fell on a day where she had class or an exam, she would be in major trouble. She had heard birth control could help ease the pain and bleeding of periods, so she scheduled an appointment with the school’s GYN. The gynecologist ran bloodwork and performed an annual exam. The results shocked Elizabeth – the bloodwork revealed that she had high testosterone levels! After Elizabeth spoke to her mother about her results, Elizabeth discovered her mom had polycystic ovary syndrome. “You’d think this is when I would be diagnosed with PCOS, right? Unfortunately, my GYN at the time told me it would be useless to do further testing since, as she put it, ‘I didn’t want to have kids yet and I was going on birth control anyway.’” Finally, the GYN at Cherokee Women’s Health Diagnosed Me With PCOS As Elizabeth was attending college, she noticed her pain and heavy bleeding were relieved, but she was very fatigued, and was eventually diagnosed with depression. After graduation, Elizabeth moved to Woodstock, GA, where she discovered Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists. After visiting a gynecologist and having more bloodwork tests, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. “Even though I suspected I had PCOS for a while, it was a major relief to get a formal diagnosis. I was much kinder to myself and was excited to finally stop suffering from my symptoms.” Receiving a Treatment Plan for PCOS Her doctor discussed the different treatment options, and together they chose the best option for her situation. Each patient diagnosed with PCOS has different symptoms and is in various phases of life. Discussing the treatment plans with your physician is the best way to manage and control your PCOS symptoms to be able to enjoy the best quality of life. Our GYNs Can Help Diagnose Female Health Issues Polycystic ovary syndrome is not a health condition that can go away, so make an appointment with your gynecologist. They will help rule out other potential causes and come up with a treatment plan. At Cherokee Women’s Health, our board-certified OB/GYNs are very experienced in diagnosing and treating symptoms of PCOS. schedule an appointment online or call us today at 770.720.7733.

rainbow baby in blanket
OB Patient Stories

Rainbow Baby – Ashley’s Story of Hope After Two Miscarriages

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Ashley experienced two miscarriages in one year and feared she’d never have a baby. She and her husband were devastated, as they were excited to start a family. After Ashley’s miscarriages, she decided to make an appointment with Cherokee Women’s Health. Ashley learned that miscarriages are more common than one might think, with one in four women experiencing at least one in their lifetime. She wanted to see if there was a specific reason for her two losses so close together. Ashley had blood tests done and figured out she had two clotting disorders. Determined to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy, Ashley went to a hematologist for more answers. She was started on blood thinners; with hope, that this was the answer. We’re Pregnant! Only three months after starting the blood thinners, Ashley had a positive pregnancy test! While Ashley and Nathaniel were overjoyed, they were understandably hesitant to get their hopes too high. They waited until Ashley was twelve weeks along to share the news with family and friends. “When I figured out that I was pregnant, I was hesitant to share with anyone because going through that twice in a row, you kind of don’t want to share anything until you’re in the ‘safe zone’. After going through two losses, you can’t help but think, is it going to happen again?” – Mom-to-be Ashley Sharing the News Ashley and her husband Nathaniel were on vacation with family and decided there was no better time to tell everyone the exciting news. They both felt a lot better, and their excitement trumped their fears, once they told their loved ones. “You can’t just go living in fear,” Ashley said. After each appointment, and learning that she and the baby were healthy, Ashley’s worries and fears started to fade. She remembers telling herself, “I think this is actually going to be okay in the end.” And she was right! Breech Baby Ashley had a smooth pregnancy, that is, until her third trimester. She went to the hospital three times with early contractions. It was during that last visit that she learned her baby was in a breech position. Due to her blood thinner medication, she knew her options were to be induced or to have a C-section. Since her little one was in a breech position, her OB/GYN of Cherokee Women’s Health scheduled Ashley for a C-section. Ashley was worried for her baby, however, she completely trusted her OB/GYN for a safe delivery. “My OB/GYN knew all about my blood thinners. Not everyone understands them and why I was taking them, so this was such a relief. She was amazing. She was like ‘I have a game plan for you… this is what’s going to happen, this is what you need to do,’ and I was like okay! Let’s do this!” – Mom-to-be Ashley, just before giving birth Welcoming Baby Enz Kai On March 1st, baby Enzo Kai was brought into the world, healthy and beautiful. Ashley, Nathaniel, and Enzo were in and out of the hospital in two days. Now they are settling in at home, soaking up all the love that a newborn brings to a family. “To think that a year ago, I didn’t think I was ever going to be a mom. Now today, I have the most beautiful little boy in my arms. He was the missing piece that I needed to feel completely whole.” – Proud mom Ashley  

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OB Patient Stories

Twins Times Two!

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Being told you are expecting twins can be quite shocking, but hearing it again four years later is an even bigger shock. That’s exactly what happened with our patient Bethany and her husband Zach. With no family history of twins and no infertility treatments, this thought never really crossed their minds. The night before her first doctor’s appointment at eight weeks pregnant, Bethany had a very vivid dream that her brother and his wife announced they were pregnant and expecting twins. She awoke and thought it was a strange dream but didn’t really think more about it. Later that day, she and Zach were at her ultrasound appointment and were told they were expecting twins. They were completely shocked! The Odds of Having Twins – Twice The incident of twins is 1 in 250, which is not that high of odds. Some factors that do increase the odds of having twins include the following: family history of twins, BMI greater than 30, being taller than 5’5”, and getting pregnant while you are still breastfeeding. However, most of these factors didn’t apply to Bethany. The ideal time to deliver twins, which is considered full-term, is right around 37 weeks. Often twin pregnancies have more complications as they have increased rates of preterm delivery, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, or twin-to twin-transfusion, all of which require delivery before the desired gestational age of 37 weeks.  Throughout her pregnancy, Bethany saw the OBs at Cherokee Women’s Health. “Everyone was awesome. They were always very willing to answer the many questions I had.” Bethany, referring to her doctor appointments Fraternal Twins At her 20-week appointment, Bethany and Zach found out they were expecting a boy and a girl, which is the most common of fraternal twins. Bethany had no complications, and her entire pregnancy went great. As a full-time high-end cake decorator, she stayed very busy and worked until three days before her scheduled C-section. At a little over 36 weeks, Bethany gave birth to two beautiful healthy babies, named Jaxson and Ava. Both Jaxson and Ava were over six pounds which is a very nice weight for twins. Although Ava had to spend four days in the NICU, and Jackson had to spend 13 days to monitor their lung function, both babies left the hospital in great shape. Time for Another Baby – or Twins! Bethany and Zach had always wanted three children so a few years later, they decided it was time for another baby. Even though she was told that after having one set of twins, her chances of having another set of twins were doubled, they really didn’t expect it to happen. The day before Jaxson and Ava turned four, Bethany found out they were expecting again. The pregnancy test turned positive immediately, just like last time. She had a strong feeling it could be twins again. Bethany attended her 8-week ultrasound and as she watched the ultrasound screen, the minute the wand touched her belly, she saw two sacs and knew they were having twins again! She was surprised but not quite as much as the first time.  Pregnant with Twins This twin pregnancy turned out to be more difficult. She had been doing lots of reading about twin pregnancies and the risks associated with it. The first time around she really didn’t think about that. She began to wonder, “How can we be lucky enough to have two twin pregnancies with no problems?” This time was much harder on Bethany’s body too, as she began having heart palpitations which really scared her. She had to visit a cardiologist for monitoring. She was very tired all the time. Like last time, she had appointments with most of the doctors at Cherokee Women’s and felt they all went above and beyond to help her. “Every time I saw Bethany she was smiling and never had any major complaints. She did a great job following through with the extra prenatal care we recommended to make sure her pregnancy went smoothly. This included more frequent ultrasounds, and more prenatal visits to watch out for blood pressure changes and diabetes and to also make sure the babies were growing appropriately and thriving.” – Bethany’s doctor recalls Though Bethany had worked until three days before delivery the first time, this time she stopped working two months before. And like last time, she had a C-section right about 37 weeks. She was happy to be at Northside Cherokee Hospital this time and marveled at how much more spacious and luxurious the rooms were compared to the old hospital. Twin Boys! Bethany and Zach had chosen not to find out the sex of the babies this time. She was thrilled when it was announced that she had two sons — the least common of fraternal twins. Her doctor shared, “It is always an honor and a privilege to help a mother deliver her baby (or babies, in this case) safely into this world.” Like their older siblings, Eli and Grayson were over six pounds and healthy. Both only needed to stay in the hospital for two days and got to go home with their mom. “Jaxson and Ava are loving being a big brother and sister. They are constantly rubbing their little heads or kissing their cheeks,” Bethany explained. “These babies are so loved by all and we are so blessed.” One Big Happy Family Because Zach works late many nights, Bethany’s mom has been a big support, coming each day to help. Bethany is very appreciative since she now has four little ones at home and will soon be getting back to her baking business. “Put your pride aside and ask for help. It’s okay to admit you can’t do it all.” Bethany’s advice for new moms Oh, and remember the weird dream Bethany had right before her first doctor’s appointment? Well, about 3-1/2 years later, that dream came true. Her brother and his wife had their own set of twins! Now when someone asks Bethany

GYN Problems Patient Stories, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Education, Urogynecology Patient Stories

Pelvic Organ Prolapse at Just 32 Years Old

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At just 32 years old, a uterine prolapse was the last thing Laurie expected. After all, everything had been going great for Laurie and her husband Christopher. Even though they had suffered from a devastating miscarriage at 10-1/2 weeks – after nine months of trying – they tried again, and were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby boy. Feeling – and Seeing – Something Strange Down There During a workout one evening, Laurie felt a strange pressure between her legs, sort of a tugging feeling. She wasn’t quite sure what it was, but she knew something wasn’t right. Later while washing herself in the shower she felt — and saw — a visible bulge. Laurie freaked out! She had no idea what was happening, or if this was something dangerous. After talking to her husband, they knew she needed to see her doctor. Consulting with Dr. Haley She had known Dr. James Haley for years and had trusted him with many of her GYN issues. She knew his expert advice would be valuable, since he was not only an OB/GYN, but also a double board-certified urogynecologist. She made an appointment with her doctor right away. During her exam, it was discovered that Laurie had a stage 3 uterine prolapse. A stage 3 uterine prolapse is when the uterus drops down and protrudes out of the vagina.  Laurie was confused and scared. Her doctor explained that while not dangerous or life-threatening, prolapse can cause pain and discomfort, and may make some desired activities difficult or impossible. It was also explained to her that if left untreated, it would stay the same or progressively get worse. ‘Worse’, Laurie thought, ‘what could be worse than a part of your body protruding out of your vagina?’ Her doctor told her it could lead to problems with incontinence, cause discomfort during sex, and lead to complications in another pregnancy, among other things.  Stage 3 Uterine Prolapse – How Did This Happen? Laurie wondered what could have caused this to happen. There can be numerous causes such as: Having one or more babies come through the birth canal Obesity Activities involving a lot of heavy lifting and straining Age Smoking, and other factors. All in the Family Pelvic organ prolapse can also be a hereditary disorder, meaning that it runs in families. Since our genes influence the strength of our bones, muscles, and connective tissue, some women are born with weaker tissues and are a higher risk for prolapse. After talking to her mom, Laurie discovered that she had a prolapse and a hysterectomy before she was 30 years old. Laurie had no idea! She also learned that all of her mom’s sisters experienced pelvic organ prolapse as well. Prolapse Solutions Laurie knew she had to learn what could be done to correct it, regardless of the cause. Her doctor told her that pelvic floor exercises can improve the symptoms in mild and moderate cases (first- to second-degree prolapse), and sometimes also prevent the organs from slipping down further. But in Laurie’s case, her prolapse was too far gone. Her doctor then explained that in cases as severe as hers, a hysterectomy is often needed to correct prolapse. Laurie knew she and Christopher wanted more children, so she didn’t even want to discuss that option, so her doctor suggested using a pessary. A Pessary Helps Hold the Uterus Up A pessary is a soft, removable device that can be inserted into the vagina to support its internal structure. Basically, it would help to hold her uterus up, back where it belonged. Her doctor would insert it and she would come back for follow-up visits to remove it and make sure all was going well. There are very few side effects with the use of a pessary, and they are usually alleviated by just removing it. Laurie went home that day feeling informed and hopeful. She discussed her options with Christopher, and they decided she should give the pessary a try. She thought, ‘Who knows, maybe the pessary would help the uterus stay where it belonged, even after she removed the device.’ That was not the case. The Pessary Worked for Years, But Wasn’t Ideal for Laurie The next few years went by with Laurie using the pessary and having it changed as needed. It wasn’t that it hurt, but she could often feel it during intercourse and while exercising. Not ideal. She and Christopher had discussed getting pregnant again but after a GYN appointment, it was affirmed that her prolapse was not any better and had actually gotten a little worse. Her doctor also informed her that the pessary would need to come out if she got pregnant and that, with the weight of a baby in her uterus, there was a big possibility she could spend much of her pregnancy on bedrest. Laurie had a full-time job, as well as a 3 ½ -year-old at home, so this was not an option for her. Making a Difficult Decision After lots of praying, discussing, and researching — and finally at 37 years old — Laurie and Christopher made the very difficult decision for her to have a hysterectomy. This was one of the toughest decisions Laurie ever had to make.   Laurie underwent a partial hysterectomy, vaginally, removing her uterus only. After six weeks, she was feeling back to normal, physically that is, but emotionally still feeling the loss of not being able to have any more children. She and Christopher felt very blessed though, they did have a healthy and active, 5-year-old. Thankful for Dr. Haley’s Expertise and Compassion Laurie was very thankful for the expertise and compassion of her doctor through the whole journey. “Dr. James Haley had been helping me with my OB/GYN issues for many years. So, when I needed an expert, I knew I could trust him. Dr. Haley helped me get my life back on track and guided me along my journey.” – Laurie While her case was severe, not

family with two babies photo
OB Patient Stories, PCOS Education

Two Babies in Two Years

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The journey to pregnancy and starting a family looks different for everyone. For Cherokee Women’s Health patient Katie, it was not always an easy journey, but she and her husband David came out blessed on the other side with two healthy girls. Infertility Struggles  Katie and her husband, David, were settled in their careers before trying for a baby. Once they started trying, they had some struggles, going to two separate infertility clinics over a two-year span. Neither clinics were successful, but they did not give up hope. They prayed about their next steps towards having a family and decided to stop with the clinics. Without the medicine, shots, or extra ultrasounds, they finally got a positive pregnancy test 2-3 months later. They could not believe it, but it was true!  Diagnosed With PCOS Katie decided to seek help from Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists. She explained that she had 90-day cycles and that her attempts to become pregnant had not been successful. Her OB/GYN diagnosed her with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and explained how PCOS can commonly lead to fertility struggles. Yes, We’re Pregnant! Once they had an answer as to why they weren’t getting pregnant, Katie didn’t feel as much pressure and was able to relax a bit. “I had heard that when people who struggle to get pregnant that they suddenly once they take the pressure off. That’s what happened with us. We were pregnant!”  Going into her first appointment after the positive pregnancy test was very scary. She was worried that at age 33, and her history of infertility struggles might have a negative impact. It was not until her first trimester was over that she realized she was healthy and that having her baby was really going to happen. They later learned they were having a baby girl, and suddenly all the morning sickness didn’t matter as much.  Welcome Baby Mary-Katherine Fast forward to January 2019. Katie’s water broke at 37 weeks at around 3:00 in the morning. Being a new mom, she was not exactly sure what to expect. “It just felt like I peed myself a couple of times,” Katie shared. They headed to Northside Hospital and learned that her water did indeed break! Everything started happening so quickly once she got to the hospital.  “You’re running on adrenaline because you don’t believe it’s really happening. There is no way to really prepare for it, you just have to experience it as you’re going.” First time mom, Katie Dr. James Haley of Cherokee Women’s Health delivered her baby. He didn’t even have to ask her to push because her baby girl was already crowning. Her baby came so fast that Katie had a grade-3 tear that Dr. Haley quickly repaired. Moments later, Mary-Katherine was born and, at 7 pounds, 7 ounces, was in the 90th percentile health range.  Coombs Positive  Although Mary-Katherine was born a healthy weight and size, she tested positive for Coombs. The Coombs test is typically done on newborns, and the test searches the blood for “foreign” antibodies that attack red blood cells. Coombs typically happens when the baby’s blood type inherited from the father does not mix well with the mother’s blood type. Having this positive test meant baby Mary-Katherine had a higher chance of jaundice.  Mary-Katherine stayed in the hospital’s nursery an extra night for observation. Katie recalls that leaving the hospital without her newborn was very hard for her and David, especially with it being their first baby. Thankfully, Mary-Katherine was released the following day. When Mary-Katherine went to her first pediatrician appointment, they were sent to Children’s Health of Atlanta for three days where she went through phototherapy for her high levels of bilirubin.  “I was trying to heal, and in quite a bit of pain from delivery. It was a very trying first week for us. But now she is thriving and has her own little personality.”  – Katie Having Baby #2 Because they had trouble their first time getting pregnant, Katie and David decided to start trying again within a year of having Mary-Katherine. This time was much easier and Katie became pregnant in April! Having had her first baby, she felt more prepared for her second. Since she and David were able to do all of the pregnancy activities ‘firsts’ with Mary-Katherine, being pregnant for the second time made her stronger and more mentally prepared. They did not have a gender reveal party for their second but finding out the gender was still one to remember. They were on vacation with her in-laws when her 10-week blood work results popped up on the app on her phone. Katie and David announced Katie’s pregnancy to all of their friends and family at 20 weeks. “It was a totally different experience than with a gender reveal. Part of me felt it was a boy and I sort of convinced my husband that it was too. Turns out it was a girl and I realized we needed to start saving now for two weddings later in their future!” – Katie on learning the sex of their 2nd baby Gestational Diabetes At around 30 weeks into her second pregnancy, Katie was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. This was a shock for her as she had been physically active her whole life, and diabetes did not run in her family. She later learned that her placenta was having to overcompensate for insulin resistance, which is an underlying part of PCOS. Because of the size of Mary-Katherine and Katie’s recent diagnosis of gestational diabetes, she modified her diet and became more aware of what she was eating. Because of her diagnosis, Katie went into the office for stress tests once a week. Her baby was very active during the stress tests. Knowing her baby was healthy was a huge relief. “It was so reassuring to feel my baby being so active, kicking and moving. I felt that the baby was in good shape,” she recalled. False Alarm One day, after arriving home from a stress test at

preemie baby with mom
OB Patient Stories

High-Risk Pregnancy – Sarah’s Story

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Sarah learned she had a high-risk pregnancy, after having been in a new country for just two years — and during a pandemic. After moving from England to the United States with her husband Joseph and 4-year old son Stanley, Sarah says, “We came for an adventure and we love it here. Everything has been so amazing.” But amidst the excitement, being pregnant so far from home and family posed some challenges. Not only did she have little knowledge of the hospital system in the United States, but she was identified as high-risk from the beginning of her pregnancy. High-Risk Pregnancy 16 weeks into her pregnancy, Sarah was advised to start receiving scans at the Center for Perinatal Medicine at Northside Hospital Cherokee. Originally, there were concerns the baby might have spina bifida, so Sarah was encouraged to start receiving extra scans. It was revealed that the baby did not have spina bifida. However, it did identify a placental abnormality called circumvallate placenta, which occurs when the fetal membranes “double back” on the fetal side around the edge of the placenta. Sarah was told that making it to 28 weeks was the goal, and it was at the 28-week mark when all looked well. However, her appointments were increased to two times per week, just to be safe. Sarah says of the care she received, “Everyone took such great care of me at both Cherokee Women’s Health and Northside Hospital Cherokee. They kept me so informed, took their time, and explained everything,” explains Sarah. Baby Diagnosed with Heart Dips During a routine Monday appointment at Cherokee Women’s Health, Dr. Jim Haley noticed a dip in her baby’s heart. Immediately concerned, he instructed Sarah to go directly to the hospital. Once there, she and her baby continued to be monitored. The baby’s heart continued to have dips, so a decision was made to perform a C-section that evening. A Preemie is Born! Early the next morning, little Alfie was born. He weighed a mere 2 lbs., 11 oz. so he remained in the NICU for four weeks. Sarah was in the hospital for one week and was with him every single day. Sarah was so impressed with how the nurses at Northside Hospital Cherokee worked in the unit. Sarah says they told her, ‘We perform like a pit crew, we work fast but we know what we’re doing.’ “The whole surgical experience was wonderful,” Sarah recalls. “My firstborn was a vaginal delivery but after this experience, I would choose a C-section all over again!” Sarah’s first delivery with son Stanley, aged 4, was in England and she remembers it being a very different experience. She went on to say that the entire labor and delivery process is “much better here.”  After Sarah was told she had high AFP levels, she did some research and ultimately learned that what she was reading online was mostly false information, and only putting unnecessary worry into her mind. So, when asked what advice she would give to other women who are identified as high-risk, Sarah said, “Don’t Google anything. Leave it up to the specialists to give you the information.” Grateful for Dr. Haley “If I hadn’t had the routine stress test on that Monday, I dread to think what would’ve happened,” Sarah says. She’s so grateful that Dr. Haley made the decision to send her to the hospital that day. “Without his knowledge, experience and care, my little boy would not be the thriving little bundle of joy he is right now!”

Maverick newborn onesie photo
OB Patient Stories

Breech Baby – Nicole’s Story

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Nicole was pregnant with her third child and her anxiety levels were through the roof. Throughout her pregnancy, she continued following her doctor’s guidelines, while she homeschooled her two girls; Bella, 11 and Charlie, 5, and her husband Eddie worked from home. as well as the mandated quarantine. Breech Baby During one of her OB appointments, Nicole learned that her baby was breech. At her 37-week appointment, the baby still had not turned, so her doctor decided to try an External Cephalic Version (ECV). This is a method where the doctor externally tries to turn the baby. An ECV has a 50% success rate, and there is a small risk that the mom may go into labor. There’s also a chance that the baby can go into distress. An emergency C-section would have to be performed, if either scenario occurred. Nicole spent the next week trying at-home techniques to get the baby to turn, but nothing changed. At 38-1/2 weeks, an ECV was performed. It was successful! “My doctor flipped the baby in less than five minutes. I was so thankful! I had both of my daughters vaginally so I wanted to do the same with this baby.” – Nicole A Healthy Baby Boy Nicole began to having contractions while she was being monitored over the next hour. She then began to dilate about a centimeter an hour. Finally, at 3:30 a.m. her baby boy was delivered, whom she and Eddie named Maverick. “We loved all the doctors we had seen at Cherokee Women’s Health during the course of my pregnancy.” – Nicole regarding the care she received Support from Friends “Our friends were so wonderful. They kept Bella and Charlie while I was in the hospital and even took them on vacation the week we got home. Getting to spend that quality bonding time with just baby Maverick and Eddie was priceless. Then my mom made the trek from Tennessee and got to meet her new grandson for the first time! It was great!” shares Nicole. Nicole’s Advice for New Moms “Do all you can to protect your health and your baby’s. Follow your doctor’s orders and remember that in the big picture, nine months is a short amount of time. It’s a small sacrifice for such a wonderful outcome”. – Nicole Wonderful it has been. Nicole and Eddie are enjoying having so much time together as a family with their newest addition, Maverick. And of course, Bella and Charlie are loving their new roles as big sisters.

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