From Breech Baby Battles to Postpartum Health Crises: Cameron Bass' Labor & Delivery Story

Experiencing pregnancy for the first time is a unique and transformative experience. The anticipation and excitement that accompany this life-changing event are nothing short of miraculous, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a couple's shared journey. Zachary and Cameron Bass could not have been more ecstatic about their soon-coming little one.

Cameron beams, "The pregnancy was really smooth. We didn't have any complications at all. The only thing that was a bit scary happened toward the end when we found out our daughter was breech."

New Birth Plans for a Breech Baby

At 35-weeks pregnant, the couple learned not only was their daughter breech, but they would also likely need to deliver her by cesarean section. 

Cameron shares," It was not ideal. I'd already had in mind a natural birth. I had been working with labor doulas and doing meditations. I'd planned on no pain medication."

A Speedy Delivery

The couple didn't have long to consider the ramifications of the transition from a natural to a cesarean section delivery because just two-and-a-half weeks later, Cameron began experiencing what she initially thought were Braxton Hicks contractions. She began contracting at 3:00 am on June 8. By 2 pm the next day, she knew the baby was coming, so she and Zachary sped to the nearest hospital. 

"I was definitely in labor," recalls Cameron. "In fact, I feared I would have my sweet Delaney on the side of the highway. By the time we arrived to the hospital, I was nine centimeters dilated and feeling ready to push, but the team insisted on an emergency cesarean section, so I had her at 4:30 pm that day. It was very, very rough. I lost a lot of blood."

Due to the high up positioning of their daughter in utero, the care team had to perform abdominal compressions. It caused bowel obstruction symptoms immediately after birth.

"I didn't understand what was wrong," laments Cameron. "I wasn't hungry and felt nauseous. My stomach was also full, and I could not produce a bowel movement. The providers weren't worried about that though since it is a common issue following a cesarean section."

A Return to the Hospital — This Time to State-of-the-Art Care at WakeMed

 

Seven days after Delaney was born, Cameron could get no relief. Her husband had insisted she drink protein shakes for nourishment as she was nursing their newborn around the clock. Yet, she'd still not had a bowel movement, could barely eat, was in excruciating pain and was growing increasingly nauseous. 

"My sister came by my house with a stethoscope, listening for sounds in my stomach. She was alarmed at hearing no bowel sounds and suggested we go urgently to an emergency room. 

Zachary jumped in the car with his wife, while she vomited into a bucket, leaving their newborn in the care of Cameron's mom. As they drove, Cameron's other sister, Kenslee Hecht, a WakeMed nurse in the Mother Baby unit, urged them to go speedily to WakeMed Raleigh Campus Emergency Department.

Upon arrival on June 14, the care team, led by Bo Zhang, MD, a WakeMed general surgeon, performed a computed tomography (CT) scan and located the bowel obstruction. She was immediately admitted. 

"My husband and I were both very, very scared. Yet, I found the care at WakeMed — from the moment I entered — to be nothing short of impressive. Immediately following my diagnosis, Dr. Zhang and team inserted a nasogastric (NG) tube. It made me feel instantly better because it relieved all the pressure and build-up that was happening in my stomach."

The Need to Nourish Her Newborn

Cameron's greatest concern was providing milk for her daughter. WakeMed Mother Baby staff provided the couple a loaner breast pump, which she used throughout her hospitalization, so her husband and sister could tag team taking the milk home to Delaney. 

"CNA Talia from Med Surg along with a few others, were so great about coming every two hours to collect the milk that I had pumped — labeling it, bagging it and hand delivering it to Mother Baby to ensure it would be frozen in the right place. It was an ordeal. Talia was consistent in showing every few hours to collect my milk. She is such a valuable addition to WakeMed." 

A Sister Indeed in Times of Need

A couple of days into her hospitalization, Dr. Zhang, Zachary and Cameron all noticed that despite the NG tube, she wasn't getting better.

Feeling discouraged, Cameron relished in the kindness of her sister. 

"Kenslee Hecht kept the ship rolling while I was in the hospital, coordinating everything at home with my mom and making sure my extremely stressed-out husband was okay. My sister spent time with me. She gave me a head-to-toe, full-body shower while I was in the hospital because I couldn't do it myself since I was in so much pain. She washed my hair. She changed my diaper several times. I know I'm so lucky. She was my rock."

A Search for the Root of the Problem

Dr. Zhang explained to the couple that she would need to go in laparoscopically to avoid reopening her stomach to find what was amiss.

Dr. Zhang explains, “We were hopeful that Cameron would get better with decompression alone, but when she didn't, we knew we had to intervene surgically. Thankfully, we were able to resolve the underlying problem laparoscopically.” 

Tuesday, June 17, was the exploratory surgery. Dr. Zhang went in with a camera. Before long, she found adhesions on Cameron's bowels. She then performed an adhesiolysis to cut and remove the adhesions causing the bowel obstruction.

Cameron recalls, "The surgery was successful. I woke up and felt immediately better. I was able to have a bowel movement the next day, which was awesome for me. Even better, because Dr. Zhang's surgery was minimally invasive, I've only two teeny tiny scars."

Surgery Success and Then More Setbacks

By June 18, Cameron was feeling much better and hopeful to go home, but she experienced vaginal swelling, so the team felt it best to keep her another day to monitor the condition.

"They were concerned about a possible blood clot in my nether regions. Luckily, it was totally fine. It happened as a result of sitting too much in my hospital bed."

Excited for the good news, the couple eagerly anticipated a reunion with their baby, only to learn of yet another setback.

"Around 2:00 am, June 19, my temperature spiked. They ran all kinds of tests and found I had COVID-19. I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me?"

Cameron had been eager to head home to her newborn, but now she was afraid. 

"I didn't want to get Delaney sick."

The standard was to keep moms and newborns together even if the mother had a virus, so the team began to build her confidence that going home to her little one was best. 

"We had so many great people at WakeMed. My sister and others from Mother Baby visited me because I was concerned about my breast milk and COVID. Lactation consultants also encouraged me in breastfeeding. They stressed the importance of not separating mothers and babies. It made me feel a lot better. They were all the sweetest people I'd ever met, angels really, but also very down-to-earth. Chatting with them was like talking to my girlfriends. That was just so nice and meant so much."

Home At Last

On Sunday, June 22, Cameron was discharged from the hospital. 

"I am healthy. I have normal bowel movements now. Everything's going great. I love that for me. Delaney is also happy and healthy. She is such a good baby." 

Gratitude for the Most Compassionate and Comprehensive Care

In considering her experience, Cameron was especially impressed with the consistency of care from Dr. Zhang.

"Dr. Zhang was an absolutely amazing and wonderful surgeon who was with me literally every step of the way — from the first night I arrived — to the last day I was in the hospital. She checked on us every morning. She explained things realistically, giving us a lot of hope. I never felt rushed with my questions when she visited. She also always asked about Delaney. I feel very lucky she was assigned to me."

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