Most (if not all) women say that the day their baby was born was the greatest day of their life. In some ways, yes that's true for me, but really, in terms of how I was feeling and the whole process, the day Nyla was born was disastrous.
My blood pressure had spiked about three weeks before Nyla was born. I was put on medication and strict orders to not overdo myself (although I stayed working!), and we decided with the doctor that we would induce labor on the morning of March 15th. Paul and I were elated! We finally had an end in sight and knew when we were going to finally meet our girl!
We checked in, per doctor's orders, the night before to just monitor me and the baby for a few hours. Then at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, March 15th, they started the Pitocin to induce labor. They also gave me a cervical exam. Nothing better than waking up at 5 a.m. to be spread eagle and have a nurse probe you. Lovely.
The Pitocin started at a small dose and the nurses assured me, "Oh Elizabeth, the contractions will start right away. You'll start feeling the pain and the cervix will open. We should have a baby by the early afternoon." 10 a.m. passes, 11, 12, 1, 2...nothing. No baby. No cervix opening. No progression of dilating. In this time, I had been examined at least once every hour. There is just no modesty in childbirth.
Sure, I was having contractions, but they weren't doing anything. Damnit. So they upped the Pitocin. The contractions got stronger, the examinations got more frequent, but still nothing. The doctor came in around 5, and I wanted to rip his balls off because I was in a fair amount of pain.
"Well Elizabeth, let's go for another few hours. I'll be back at 9 (!!) and if we're in the same situation, we'll deliver via C-section...unless you'd like to wait." NO I WOULD NOT LIKE TO WAIT.
Four hours pass, I'm about to kill Paul, I'm nauseated, there's nothing good on TV, I'm still being examined, Nyla is rolling all over the place in my tummy, and the contractions are coming one after the other. Did I dilate? NO. Ugh.
The nurse suggested a bath to comfort me. There's nothing more comforting than being the size of a whale, taking a bath in front of your husband and nurses. I can assure you, I was the definition of disgusting.
The bath was the catalyst for Nyla's delivery. When I got out and back on the monitors, Nyla had relaxed so much that she fell asleep. Her heart rate was dropping and my blood pressure was unstable. We made the executive decision around 9:30 to have the baby delivered via C-section. Now I thought that if I had to have a Cesarean, I would be devastated. In reality, it was quite the opposite reaction. I was thrilled! I was ecstatic! I was ready to not be pregnant anymore!
Into the operating room I went, and they just about bolted me down to the table like the character on the game Operation. I was numbed up and ready to deliver the baby. Paul was able to come in and sit by my head, although I would have preferred him to be anywhere else because I thought I was going to barf on him the whole time. There are no words for the amount of nausea that was waving over me.
"Okay Paul, stand up!" and it was at that moment that our Nylabear was delivered. I will forever be jealous of Paul because he has known her since literally her first second of life. The very first moment she entered the world, Paul was there to see it. I'm surprised Paul didn't pass out from the different emotions he was feeling.
They brought Nyla over for, what's supposed to be, the greatest moment of a mother's life: her first look and kiss for the baby. Yeah, I was excited to see her, but I actually had to have them move her away because I was afraid of barfing on her. What a lovely first impression that would have made for Nyla. "Oh there's my mommy...she just barfed on me!" No thank you.
I don't remember much after that. I remember them rolling me down the hall with Nyla in front of me, I remember getting back to the room and barfing. But then everything is a blur until the first time I held my Nyla. I remember that very clearly. That was the greatest moment of my life. Nothing compares to that moment for me. And my first thought for her: "You look like your daddy."
Nylabear, I love you. I am so glad you're in my life. I have waited forever for you. Thank you for being here and completing my life.
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| My sweet girl. |
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