LONE TREE, Colo. — You know who doesn’t care about snowstorms? Not even really big ones?
Babies.
Expecting moms with due dates, inductions, or C-sections scheduled for Thursday are about to welcome their babies into the world in true Colorado style: in a snowstorm.
“We have a scheduled C-section [Thursday] at noon,” said Chelsea Cloyd, who, along with her husband Ben, is expecting a second child any day now. “When we first booked it, the 10-day forecast didn’t go that far. Had a whole different set of clothes planned.”
The Cloyds have a son who is nearly 2 years old. So they called in grandma to help a little early, and planned to spend Wednesday night in a hotel near Sky Ridge Medical Center.
“We’re going to stay at a hotel that’s less than a mile from the hospital tonight. So worst case, we could walk?” Chelsea joked.
Ben added, “Yeah, we’re bringing a snow shovel.”
While babies don’t care about the forecast, these parents feel grateful that if they have to deliver during a storm, at least they have a plan.
“It’s nice having it scheduled because, mentally, I’m wrapping my head around a C-section and what that would mean, and how that would be different than our first," Chelsea said. "And just being able to plan, make sure everything is being addressed, and that we’re safe.”
Doctors are also preparing.
“All of my surgeries scheduled tomorrow I’ve called and said, hey, plan right now is to move forward, but we just don’t know what the night’s going to hold, what the morning will look like,” said Dr. Rebecca Surrey, an OBGYN at Esprit OBGYN Center, based out of Sky Ridge. “I plan to be there, regardless, but if you feel unsafe, better to stay home. We can always reschedule.”
Surrey is on call during the storm, working 7 a.m. Thursday through 7 a.m. Friday – and plans to deliver the Cloyds' baby during that time. She’s prepared for a long 24 hours ahead.
“Babies are just not good listeners while they’re inside, are they?” she said.
“There's a bit of a misery loves company. Everybody braves the storm to be able to be there for the birthday party. And so there’s this sort of [sense that] we went to battle together and came out on the other side with this beautiful baby and amazing that it worked out OK,” she said.
“I’ve got a Subaru with 4WD, so I think I’m set up for success. We'll just kind of see and play it by ear.”
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Feature stories
