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Welcoming Your Baby

 
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I was in the hospital having my first baby. I just received my epidural and was comfortable and happy. Finally, I could get some rest. Prior to getting the epidural, I was tired but too afraid to sleep. I had heard horror stories about women that had “missed their window.” I was determined, that would not be me.

I drifted in and out of sleep as nurses checked on me and my baby throughout the night. Every couple of hours they would flip me from one side to the other. Because of the epidural, my legs were mostly numb but I could wiggle my toes and roll my ankles. I was so happy to be out of pain but still fully awake and alert to remember and enjoy the event that I had waited for almost a year to happen.

I remember the story that my Mom told me about when I was born. She went to the hospital, they put her to sleep and woke her up to tell her that she had delivered a baby girl. She was too medicated to remember or enjoy her delivery.

As I dilated and the baby moved down, his head was so close to being out that the nurse could see it. “If you reach down, you can touch his hair” she told me. Why would I want to do THAT?? “Ah…no thanks. I’ll wait for the whole baby.” I tell her. “Would you like to feel your baby’s head?” she then asked my husband. He looked at me and I could tell we were thinking the same thing. “No, thanks. I’ll wait too.” It is not that we aren’t loving parents. We just weren’t comfortable with the messy stuff. The nurses tried to tell me that as soon as he was born, they would put him right up on my chest. “Would you mind cleaning him off first? ” I couldn’t wait to hold my nice, CLEAN swaddled baby. They were sure that I would change my mind in the moment that he arrived. Not likely. I have a weak stomach when it come to blood and other body fluids.

At some point during labor, I start to feel nauseous and become afraid to drink for fear of throwing up. I sparingly suck on ice chips. I welcome the small amount of water that melts from the ice. My mouth is dry and I am so thirsty. As I sleep, I dream of endless bottles of water, juice, and Gatorade. In my dream, I drink them one after another, with the liquid dripping down the corners of my mouth. As I wake, I feel like there is sand in my mouth. Please let him come out soon.

The time finally comes the next afternoon when my baby boy is ready to make his appearance. So the nurses get my feet into the stirrps, the doctor arrives and everyone is ready. “Okay,” the nurse tells me, “On the next contraction, I want you to push.” SUDDENLY, I freeze. My heart starts beating faster and I panic. “I can’t remember how to breathe or push!!” All those baby preparation classes and I freeze up at show time.

The nurse reminds me how to push and breathe and with the next contraction, I push and try to visualize my baby making his way down the birth canal. I do this same thing with every contraction that follows. After 45 minutes, my 8 pound 14 ounce healthy baby boy is born. They clean him, as requested, and bring him to me. My husband and I are so caught up in admiring our creation that I don’t even realize that the doctor is delivering the placenta and cleaning me up.

“Would you like anything?” My nurse asks me. “Could I have some juice?” I ask with excitement. “You just delivered a BABY! I can bring you anything you want.” She kindly tells me. She brings me four juices. I drink each one. They are so cold that they are slushy. My mouth waters as I raise each container to my lips. It was the best juice I ever had. To this day, I remember how refreshing it was.

I made it through my labor. Our baby boy was beautiful with his big eyes searching the room when he heard us speak. His smooth, soft skin. That tiny nose and little pursed lips. Welcome to the world, sweet boy. My greatest accomplishment.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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