I am from Korea, and I was diagnosed with placenta previa earlier in my pregnancy. A prenatal ultrasound discovers complete placenta previa, where the placenta covers the cervical opening, making a vaginal delivery both dangerous and not an option.

I scheduled a Cesarean, but a few weeks before my appointment, I began to bleed. A Cesarean was to be performed that day.

My husband (an American) asked for and was allowed to photograph the birth of our first born. I wanted this because I would be asleep, and I would have liked to know what actually went on that day.

I was admitted to Kyongpook National University Hospital, considered the best hospital in Taegu, a city of 4 million people. I nervously waited to be prepped for surgery once in a room. I began bleeding earlier in that day, and the bleeding did not stop. My sister and my husband both donated blood since they matched my type, in case of an emergency. A situation like this is treated as very serious.

Finally, after being wheeled to the room, I was put to sleep under general anesthesia. I was intubated and monitored from then on. After this point, I know nothing. But, according to my husband and the pictures, I can explain what happened from here on.

Then, my surgery began. There were two anesthesiologists in the room monitoring me and watching the surgery with interest. The baby was transverse, facing up, so the doctors had to be very careful to avoid both the placenta and the baby.

An anesthesiologist checked my medication, while doctors prepared to pull the baby out. Finally, the head was out, and the nurse handed the doctor a red suctioning bulb to clear the baby's nose and mouth. Some gentle traction was put on his head, and a healthy, 6-pound, 5-ounce baby boy was brought into the world.

The doctors clamped and cut the baby's umbilical cord (all while Mom was sound asleep). The baby was immediately taken over to the isolette. Then, once again, the baby was suctioned. The cord was clamped shorter, and the final cut was made.

Then, after all that, my beautiful baby was bundled up and ready to go. The uterus was then removed from my abdomen, and repair of the uterus was begun. The clock read 3:26 p.m., only four minutes after birth, but still the team was hard at work.

The uterus was held firmly in place while it was being stitched up. Then they prepared to return the uterus to my abdomen. Then the final touches are made.

The baby had been long since gone to the nursery to be cleaned up and checked over. After all that was over, I was then moved into a recovery room (which, by the way, looks quite different than what you'd see in America).

My beautiful baby boy rested and waited for his mommy. Dad could finally take a breather, and was able to snuggle and enjoy his son. I finally woke up and found out I had just delivered a baby boy! I was ecstatic.

I was finally able to hold the baby I had done so much to protect. The day after surgery, I was able to sit up in bed and admire my little James Cooke Hamilton IV, who was born January 21 2001, at 3:22 p.m.

I had no idea how everything went in the delivery room, but, with the help of my husband's words and his pictures, I was able to know EXACTLY what went on with myself and my boy.