29 Years Ago Today
I remember this day well. There was over 10 inches of snow and an Arctic chill had our valley shivering in it's grasp.
Several hours of my morning were spent concentrating on an icicle growing towards the ground outside my living room window. I breathed a rhythmic chant of hee hee hee hee, hoo hoo hoo hoo. The hubby timed contractions.
Our middle daughter was anxious to make her debut.
During one excruciating contraction the water broke with an audible pop. It would have matched the sound made when Lou Ferrigno performs his infamous blow up of a hot water bottle . I provided a little extra thrill by splattering ambiotic fluid all over the bed and the wall.
The eyes of the student nurse (who was assigned to me for her maternity rotation) flew wide with astonishment and wonder. Later, she told me the same could be said of mine. I wonder if she has heard anything like that since. The OB nurse said it was a rare occurence.
I also immediately experienced bearing down pains and knew this baby was on it's way, no holds barred.
Today's maternity wards strap your belly up to all sorts of bells and whistles. Not so, then. Had they done that I'm sure we would have all been worried. This baby was being strangled by the umbilical cord as her head popped into the world.
"Don't push!" yelled my Obstetrician.
Natural childbirth, the unbearable urge to push, and the rush of unimaginable pain. At that point in time telling a woman to stop pushing is tantamount to telling someone not to have an epileptic seizure.
In an effort that took my entire being, I was able to control something - and the noose around her neck was cut and she slipped into the bright lights making all the right sounds and displaying all the colorful hue's expected.
Her daddy held her in his arms and I swear her eyes followed the sound of his voice. He said he would never ever forget what she looked like at
that very moment.
In these many years I've had an occasion to ask him, "Do you remember what she looked like at that very moment."
He will pause in quiet reflection and his eyes will grow soft.
Yeah, baby girl, I think he remembers.
Happy Birthday Jen!
Several hours of my morning were spent concentrating on an icicle growing towards the ground outside my living room window. I breathed a rhythmic chant of hee hee hee hee, hoo hoo hoo hoo. The hubby timed contractions.
Our middle daughter was anxious to make her debut.
During one excruciating contraction the water broke with an audible pop. It would have matched the sound made when Lou Ferrigno performs his infamous blow up of a hot water bottle . I provided a little extra thrill by splattering ambiotic fluid all over the bed and the wall.
The eyes of the student nurse (who was assigned to me for her maternity rotation) flew wide with astonishment and wonder. Later, she told me the same could be said of mine. I wonder if she has heard anything like that since. The OB nurse said it was a rare occurence.
I also immediately experienced bearing down pains and knew this baby was on it's way, no holds barred.
Today's maternity wards strap your belly up to all sorts of bells and whistles. Not so, then. Had they done that I'm sure we would have all been worried. This baby was being strangled by the umbilical cord as her head popped into the world.
"Don't push!" yelled my Obstetrician.
Natural childbirth, the unbearable urge to push, and the rush of unimaginable pain. At that point in time telling a woman to stop pushing is tantamount to telling someone not to have an epileptic seizure.
In an effort that took my entire being, I was able to control something - and the noose around her neck was cut and she slipped into the bright lights making all the right sounds and displaying all the colorful hue's expected.
Her daddy held her in his arms and I swear her eyes followed the sound of his voice. He said he would never ever forget what she looked like at
that very moment.In these many years I've had an occasion to ask him, "Do you remember what she looked like at that very moment."
He will pause in quiet reflection and his eyes will grow soft.
Yeah, baby girl, I think he remembers.
Happy Birthday Jen!
Comments
With BB, I dilated so quickly that there wasn't time for an epidural. I know what you mean about pushing through the pain. My doctor told me not to push but I couldn't help it. BB came flying out and they had to catch her by her feet. DH said she looked like a fish that you hold up by it's tail. LOL!
I had the same experience with the cord when I had my son almost 38 yrs ago!
He had to be worked on for quite a while before he would breathe. Very scary!!
I am of course biased... but I thought she was a beautiful baby
She was pink and pretty and everything a little doll should be
"they" say women forget the pain.
HA
great story to go along with it too.
Happy Birthday, Jen!!!!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy new year to you and yours :o)
Happy Birthday, Jen!! What an amazing entrance! What a wonderful mom!!
And a very Happy New Year to you all!!
What a beautiful story. The last part reminded my of my husband when my kids were born. Awww.
Happy belated birthday to your Jen!
The way you told this, with such tenderness and detail, is why I come back again and again and again.