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It was 11 days before the
baby’s due date, and Jayson was leaving for Colorado later that
afternoon for an overnight business trip. “He’s jinxing you,” my doctor
warned the previous day during my weekly checkup. I was already 3cm
dilated and 60% effaced, but not feeling any contractions yet. I was
hoping the baby would wait until Daddy returned home.
At 4:49 a.m. on Tuesday, February 12, 2008, I woke up to my first
contraction. I knew immediately that today would be the day, and I
smiled, knowing Jayson wouldn’t get to go to Colorado. The contractions
continued every 10 minutes or so, and I lay in bed wondering how I would
tell Jayson he would have to postpone his trip. Around 7:00 a.m. Jayson
finally woke up. “Honey,” I whispered, “guess what?” He rolled over
and looked at me, knowing what I was about to say. “I’ve been having
contractions for the last two hours – you can’t go,” I said, trying not
to sound too gleeful.
I’m not sure if he grunted or moaned, but it didn’t sound pretty! “You
couldn’t wait two more days?” he asked, as if it was up to me. He got
up to use the bathroom and I started to get up myself, when I felt
something. Oh no!! “Jayson,” I yelled, “grab me a towel! Hurry!” I
got up and ran to the shower as my water broke! Although my
contractions weren’t unbearable yet, once your water breaks you have to
deliver within 24 hours so the baby is not vulnerable to infections. We
had to head to the hospital.
As I showered Jayson called Mom and Jerry, and we got Silas fed and
dressed. We told him we were going to the hospital to bring the baby
home. He was just happy to be with his Mimi and Papa. We left for the
hospital around 8:30 a.m.
Once at the hospital I got settled into my birthing/delivery room. The
nurse put in my IV (I was a bit dehydrated, and that stupid IV in my
hand hurt so much that it bothered me the entire day and was almost more
painful than my labor!). I also got a blood pressure cuff and soon
after, my beloved epidural. I was 4cm dilated when I got the epidural
and it was just starting to get uncomfortable.
And thus began the waiting game. Fortunately I was pretty well rested
and very excited to meet the new baby! Every hour or two when the nurse
would check my progress, we were happy to hear that I was dilated an
additional centimeter. No need for Pitocin this time!
At about 4:00 p.m. I could feel pressure during my contractions, and
they were starting to get painful, so the anesthesiologist came in and
gave me an additional boost of the epidural. Ahhh, that felt good!
Soon after, I was fully dilated and ready to push. Unfortunately,
thanks to the recent blast of epidural, I couldn’t feel the
contractions. So Jayson and the nurse would tell me when to push and I
would push, unable to feel what I was doing, and hoping that I was
pushing properly. It was actually fun, and Jayson put some music on so
we could further enjoy the process. We listened to one of my favorites,
“Bouncin’ ‘round the room” by Phish, as well as the Newsboys and Relient
K. Our nurse was a Christian (wife of a pastor), so she enjoyed the
music as well.
I guess the baby was turned on his side, so the doctors kept having me
switch positions while pushing until he was where they wanted him to
be. About an hour into it, I was able to feel what I was doing, and I
got down to business! As the baby was getting closer to being born, the
nurse called the doctor into our room. It was time for a shift change,
so I got the added benefit of having two doctors with me. Dr. Newell
and Dr. Lopopolo were very calm and made it a very easy process at the
very end. James came out without a problem, and as soon as they lay him
on my chest, I was literally overwhelmed with love.
I had wondered, as most second-time-parents-to-be often do, if I could
love my second child as much as I already love Silas, and I realized at
that moment that it’s precisely because I have Silas that I am able to
love James. I don’t know if that makes much sense, but already having
love for one child made it possible to love the second child equally. I
looked at James’ little face and thought how much he looked like Silas
when Silas was born.
Except James is blond! Whose kid is this?!? With blond peach fuzz all
over his head and bright blue eyes, James was the spitting image of
Jayson as a newborn. I still can’t believe I gave birth to a blond
baby!
Praise God for His blessings! We are now the Emerian Four! |