The Story

Thursday, August 19, 2010
by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford

Everyone has a story.

What story? You don't have a story? No? Don't worry. You soon will. Where and when a baby comes into the world, there is a story.

Recently, a buddy forwarded me this article: www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/health/22birth.html. It took me down memory lane. Why?

Here's my story from the journal I kept throughout pregnancy (just another way to capture development: www.planningfamily.com/blog/capturing-development/).

Written 2/2007:

"You finally arrived! You are here with me now, sleeping so peacefully on my lap. It is so fun to see you. If I think about it too much, the tears will kick in.  It can be overwhelming at times.

On Monday, 2/12, I finally went into labor on my own. That night, I just didn't feel great and have to say that contractions are really anything but fun! By the morning of the next day, I decided that we needed to head into the hospital. For so long, nothing had progressed. It was so wonderful to hear that I was dilated to 3 cm!

I spent much of the day on monitors and with an epidural (God bless the epidural!). By evening, I was at 6 cm and Potocin was given to continue the labor process. By 9:45pm that evening, I was ready to push. The experience of working to deliver a baby is unbelievable. You really do have put your modesty aside, get to work, and "keep your eye on the prize."

Mark (the hubby) was there with me the whole time and amazing. He would breathe each time I would; he would look like he was pushing just as hard as I was.

After an hour, I heard the words that I hadn't planned on hearing, but somehow I guess I knew were coming. The doctor said "I don't think we are going to be able to deliver her this way." I knew what way she was talking about, a c-section (www.planningfamily.com/pregnancy/labor-and-delivery/information-on-c-sections/). I couldn't believe it. I think my exact words were "You've got to be frickin kidding me". Unfortunately she wasn't. Baby's heart rate was up. My temperature was up.

Shortly after 11pm, I was wheeled into the Operating Room and prepped. This is really the hardest part of the story for me. As they prepped me and tested the incision area, I kept saying I could feel their "test." I could feel it, the sharpness of whatever instrument they were about to use. The next thing I knew I was prepped to be put under which meant I wasn't going to be awake during the actually delivery. That was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to be awake, to hear her, to see her.

I left a state of consciousness and Mark was left alone. I don't know if I will fully know what happened or what he experienced. I do know that it left him very shaken. I think he was worried about the health and safety of the baby and of me. I know they had to really work to get the baby out. She was stuck in the birth canal area.

It is said that I was awake within 3 minutes of the delivery. I do remember hearing her cry. They did put her with me to ride back to the room. I remember the tears of having her here and I do remember Mark's tears.

It wasn't what I had envisioned, but she had arrived - February 13 (Tuesday) at 11:41pm weighing 9 pounds 4 ounces and 21 inches long.  My little girl was here."

And that's my story...the story of becoming a mother.

Fast forward a couple of years and I can honestly say, all has ended well. Though not the birth experience I planned, neither her nor my development was affected. We were (and are) both healthy and well. As for the NY Times article and whether I'd plan another c-section or not, I really don't know. At the end of the day, everyone was/is healthy and happy and that IS all I need.

Do you have a story to share?

 

 

Comments

Add a Comment

* Title	RE: The Story
Name
* Comment

Submit