Anticipating the birth of your first child is both an exciting and anxious
experience, but for Amethea Keyser of Brunswick, Ga., the uncertainty
of when and where her baby might be born intensified as Hurricane Matthew
approached Southeast Georgia.
Her due date was Oct. 22, but with the baby in a breach position, Jason
Joseph, M.D., board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, Southeast
Georgia Physician Associates-Obstetrics & Gynecology, a strategic
affiliate of the Southeast Georgia Health System, scheduled Keyser for
a cesarean section on Oct. 17.
“We had no idea what was going to happen but decided to go to Statesboro
to be near a hospital with electricity,” says Keyser of the decision
she and the baby’s father, Kyle Davis, made to evacuate Thursday
morning, Oct. 6. “I was very nervous and had the car seat, baby
bag and my medical records all packed.”
Ironically, power went out in Statesboro Friday, Oct. 7, and was off all
day Saturday. Davis says, “We decided if were going to be without
power anyway, we wanted to be home.”
Adding to the decision to head back home was news that the Health System
was reopening Sunday evening, Oct. 9. “This is my first baby,”
notes Keyser. “I wanted Dr. Joseph to deliver my baby. I like his
personality and am comfortable with him. He is always very informative
and never rushes me.”
As usual with pregnancy and delivery, timing is everything. Experiencing
contractions and learning her amniotic fluid was low during an appointment
with Joseph on Monday, Oct. 10, Keyser was admitted to the Health System’s
Miriam & Hugh Nunnally Maternity Care Center and her cesarean was
re-scheduled for the next morning.
Rhett Lee Davis made his debut at 7:57 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Sporting
a headful of dark hair, he weighed in at seven pounds, five ounces and
was 20 inches long. Baby Rhett, mom and dad are all doing well, and ready
to go home.
Looking back, Keyser says, “It has been a very emotional and overwhelming
few days. We didn’t know which direction we were going in, but it
all worked out. Everyone here at the Health System has been wonderful,
and all my nurses so helpful. It has been a great first experience.”