Gage was due on February 1, 2005. We knew we were having a boy, we had chosen his name, and his room was perfectly decorated and ready months before he arrived. I remember spending many hours hanging out in his room before he was born, putting away baby clothes, looking through all the books we had bought for him, and just sitting in the rocking chair trying to imagine what it would be like when he finally joined our family. I was working full time, and looking forward to my maternity leave.
December 25, 2004
At my weekly doctor visit about 3 weeks before my due date, I was already dilated 3 centimeters...by the following week it was 4. I wasn't having contractions, but Dr. Phillips said he wouldn't be surprised if I went into labor at any time. That was the morning of January 19, and when I told him I was still working full time he said, "Not anymore!" A week later, I still hadn't had any contractions and Dr. Phillips decided it was time to induce. I remember he offered to do it the very next day (January 26) which terrified me, and I asked him if we could wait one more day. I had lunch with my friend Holly the next day, and I remember her saying "Tomorrow you'll be a mom..." That night Scott and I went out to dinner at Johnny Carino's...our last night out as (only) a couple.
The next morning we were to arrive at the hospital at 7:30 am. We woke to a cold, stormy day. Traffic was terrible because of the rain. My parents and Scott's parents were going to meet us at the hospital, and I expected them to all be there waiting when we arrived...but for once they were running late so there was no welcoming committee. We got settled in our room, and then all the parents showed up, along with my best friend Shauna and her daughter, Lindsey, and my friend Holly. Everyone was hanging out in the labor and delivery room...they had started my IV medication, and we were all just waiting for it to do its job. The nurse said I could have my epidural at any time since I was already so far dilated, but I felt like I should at least wait until the contractions started (why, I'm not sure??). When they did, I decided I wanted that epidural sooner rather than later...I wasn't afraid of getting the epidural...I knew from watching Shauna's labor with her son Jack that the whole experience would be much more pleasant when my lower half was numb.
After a while, Dr. Phillips came in and broke my water. I'm not exactly sure on the time, but I think I started pushing at about 1:00 in the afternoon. FOUR LONG HOURS LATER, and still no Gage. I remember being tired but not necessarily feeling like I wanted to give up. Dr. Phillips came in and laid out the options... I could keep pushing, but after that long the chances of delivering without some kind of intervention were not good, and eventually could put stress on the baby. They could use suction or forceps to try to move things along, but there were risks to the baby and to me...I don't remember them all, but I definitely remember "incontinence" and "sexual dysfunction" being mentioned...and I remember the stricken look on Scott's face. Or I could opt for a c-section. For me it was not a hard decision...having a c-section would earn me two extra weeks of paid leave!
I remember being wheeled into the operating room...the only time I was separated from Scott, as he got "prepped"...and the only time I felt scared. The anesthesiologist started pumping the stronger drugs into my epidural...and just as he said "you may feel a little nauseous"...sure enough, I hurled...right into my own hair. Lovely. I remember how cold the room was...I remember Scott holding my hand as he watched over the drape at my waist...I remember my labor and delivery nurse by my side...and I remember hearing that first small cry from my first child. "Is he all right?"..."He's perfect!" I was overcome. Scott was crying, and it was the first time I had ever seen him cry.
Gage Cameron was born at 6:30 p.m. on January 27, 2005.
He weighed 8 pounds and was 20 1/2 inches long.
I was thrilled. I was exhausted. I had vomit in my hair. I was a mom.
2 comments:
It's wonderful. I have tears dripping from my eyes. I'm so glad you have this down.
Beautiful.
Hey, I was waiting in that room with Holly and Shauna too. I stayed and finally caught a glimpse of Mr. Gage, but not the beautiful mommy.
Plus, I was only their after work...I wasn't there the entire day like everyone else.
You girls have inspired me to try to pull my birth stories up from the sledge I call my brain and get them down in writing.
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