3.14.10
21 1/4"
7.51 lbs
Adrayn, you share a Birthday with Albert Einstein, Billy Crystal, and Quincey Jones.
This date is also known as Pi Day.
Where to start?
I could start from the moment that I saw your beautiful eyes, the moment we set off to the hospital, or the start of what ended up being labor. I think I'll start this tale from labor.
Labor started around 5am 3/14/10 (with the time change included) and I was just uncomfortable sleeping, it was comparable to period cramps. I woke up that morning letting Jeremy know that things felt different (as in more painful that previous contractions) but nothing was screaming "this is it" so we went about our business.
I called my friends to seek assistance, when should I go to the hospital?! Everyone said that I'd know!
Still contractions were about 5 minutes apart and steady so we just decided to head out even though nothing was screaming for us to.
We hopped in the car and I remember not getting any contractions for 10 minutes and was starting to question why I was so impatient! Then, BOOM it was like I was socked right in the belly with the worst cramp ever and I was stuck sitting in a car with no way to work through it but by breathing. I was in tears at this point it was so overpowering... thus, I was 100% down for going to the hospital.
We entered HCMC ER area (as told by our midwife) and I was then placed in a wheelchair and we were taken to the Midwife wing. I was met by an RN, and later met the midwife.
I was tested and was found to have dilated 3-4cm at this point so they decided to keep us. I was so excited and scared at this point... no REAL pain yet, but I knew it was coming, and could tell just how bad it may get by the woman screaming and groaning down the hall.... yeah, that's a bit intimidating!
All of this starts to become a blur, time was actually moving so quickly.... I was at 5cm, then 6cm, then it was time to move to the birthing tub... not once did any medication cross my mind. I had a wonderful support team that cheered me on (Jeremy, and our RN, Sarah).
I was a champ breathing right through all the contractions, and even cracking some jokes as I recall. Once in the birth pool the contractions intensified, but were also easier to handle. I noticed the tub filling up with not so fun things, but at this point no one cares... vanity is out the window... I'm completely naked with my bum in full view sprinkled with hemorrhoids, so nothing was really too gross at this point. I was just so ready to meet you that I was willing to move the process along by any means.
From start to finish Jeremy was my heart.. he kept my chin up when I was exhausted, he looked me right in the eye when I was in the thick of the pain, and his eyes only spoke sweetness. I could not have asked for a better labor/birth partner.
I remember a false "I feel the head" by the RN, but in my mind it just made me want to prove to the midwife that I will make the head happen... and I/we did.
I heard everyone, and everything and took it all into account. All the encouragement was used... deep groans eased the pain, short pushes helped dilation and moved you down the birth canal. At this point the midwife stated she was going to break the water since it had not done so on it's own. I guess in some cultures it is forbidden to break the water, that it should break on it's own, and some babies are born in their amniotic sacs?! As much as I wouldn't have minded seeing that, I wanted to meet you, so we broke yours.
As soon as my moans turned into more of a holding my breath the midwife entered the room. I went from 8cm at 10pm to 10cm at 11pm, then finally delivering a you at 11:21pm.
I remember the RN that had been with us all day stating that her shift was over at 11:30pm, and I really wanted you to meet her. Later my mom told me that Sarah (RN) had gone to the waiting area, and told them that yours was one of the most beautiful births she'd witnessed, and that she would remember it for the rest of her life. I'm glad she got to meet you Adrayn. She played a great feminine role in your birth.
Going back to the pushing segment, I guess I was a record breaker for my first child, 21 minutes of pushing is insane?! Who knew?
Ahhhhh Adrayn..... am I really holding you?!
When your Papa caught your slippery fragile body in the birthing tub he immediately placed you on my chest. I felt as though I was in a dream state, or more so that I had been dreaming my whole life and just woke when I saw your face.
There you were... my little, wrinkled, beautiful, baby boy! I could now hold you and hug you and feel you close to me.
The nurse took you while I worked on getting out of the tub, and to a bed in order to deliver the placenta (not sanitary to do so in the tub). I was beyond exhausted at this point but did notice all the blood involved in giving birth. My legs were shaking, but I made it to the bed. I began the lovely process of delivering the placenta, but noticed I couldn't feel any contractions. The midwife was telling me when to push, and finally about 15 minutes later the placenta was delivered... the midwife said it was a heart-shaped placenta. After that I was stitched up and you were laid on my chest to feed. At this point I was MORE than exhausted.
I started noticing that things were looking funny, and I felt as though I was going to faint. I told this to Jeremy and he calmly stated "You just had a baby honey, and your body has been through a lot, just relax, I'm sure all is fine". I knew something was wrong and repeated myself and asked for a nurse... this time when Papa Jeremy saw my face he noticed it was as pale as a ghost. So he immediately got a nurse.
Although my dream of a natural birth came true (Yes, I did the whole labor/birth drug free!!!) I was placed on pitocin in order to contract my uterus faster to stop the bleeding and clotting.
All in all in an average birth a woman will lose 300ml of blood. In my case I lost 750ml.
After that whole ordeal my parents were allowed into the room to meet their new and only grandson; Adrayn. Many pictures were taken, and finally Mama and Papa were off to rest.
This was the only night we got any rest in that hospital. I must say that the labor/birth experience was wonderful, but the post delivery experience was nothing but disappointing. RN's, Dr.'s, who knows who else were popping in every hour to run the same tests of poking and prodding Mama and baby day and night... I was more than ready to get back to my bed after night 2 with no sleep in the hospital.
Here we are now, at home... a run to Target already under our belts. I grow to love you more and more each day, each hour, each second I look into your beautiful eyes.
You are quite the charmer with your dimples. I can see the determination in you as you are already lifting your head and looking at people that talk to you in the eye.
I know many people are anxious to hear this story, so I will post this sooner than later... if I remember more I will just add more blogs. I am so happy you are here Adrayn. I know now why mothers never tell the "gory details" of labor and birth.. because in the end you are so overjoyed to have such an amazing thing... a life that you and your partner created... that no matter how scary or gory the situation was... it will always pale in comparison.
I love you Adrayn. I think I'll turn around and give you a kiss now. :)
Mucho Love!
Mama
