After spending Monday (4/9) with my dad on State Street, I came home and prepped for my interview till midnight and dozed off. I woke up at 5:30 am on Tuesday, 4/10 to get ready for my interview at 8:30 am. However, when I woke up, I did not feel good. I went to the restroom and found some discharge. As I was contemplating what to do, I started having abdominal cramps which were painful but sporadic. I decided to sleep a little more but could not rest completely since the cramps came and went often. I woke up K and also called the doctor who advised me to call back if I get the cramps (maybe contractions?) every 4-5 mins. I was getting them every 11 mins or so. I spoke to K and asked him what I should do about the interview. He said if I feel up to it, I should just go for it and have it done with. But, after another 20 mins or so, I decided not to go for the interview but take it easy. I started timing myself – I was getting the cramps every 8 mins or so and the pain lasted ~1 min. During that minute, the pain was unbearable and I was having a hard time being civil to anyone who asked me anything in that minute. This went on till 10 am or so.
I had a light lunch around 10:30 am and decided to spend some time in the living room with my dad, in-laws, and K. I was fine for the most part except for those minutes of severe pain. Around 1:30 pm or so, we decided to call the doc’s office again. Though the interval between the bouts of pain was not 4 mins, the office advised me to go to Prentice hospital for an OB evaluation just to be safe. So, all of us left for Prentice – as I was leaving the thought crossed my mind that the next time I come home, it will be with our bundle of joy. K pulled the car in front – we had already loaded our hospital bag in the car.
We went to Prentice where I checked in at the front desk and was taken for evaluation very soon. Susan, the nurse who checked me said I was dilated quite a bit and that she felt I would be asked to stay back at the hospital for my delivery! Following this, Dr. Barton came and checked me as well – she agreed with the nurse and said she expects the baby to be delivered by midnight!! The pain was increasing by the minute and they asked me if I need an epi – I said YES please:-) After weeks of contemplating this decision, both K and I had decided that I will take the epidural.
I was wheeled from the eval room to the delivery room. I should say that the facilities at Prentice is top notch. As one of my friends said, Prentice is the Four Seasons of maternity hospitals. The epi “people” came by and got done in a matter of 15 mins after which my family was allowed to come in and spend some time with me. Then Dr. B came by, broke my water, and the pushing started around 6 pm. K was so good during this entire process and a real pillar of support. He held my hands the entire time and encouraged me gently without being annoying:) The first thing he said was “I see a lot of hair!”. After 2 hours, they all said we are almost there,asked me to give a big push, and voila – there was M, so sweet and tender, with a full head of hair. That instant is forever etched in my memory and is a mental photograph that I will never forget.
M was silent which Dr.B said would be the case. The neonatal folks were there by this time. Dr. B cut the cord and passed M to them.By the time they walked to their examination table, M let out her first breath and cry and all was well with the world. They checked her and said she was A-ok and all her vitals were recorded. After about 30 mins, I was good to go by which time M was safely cocooned in my arms. K was beaming with pride and happiness and the first time he held M is also a mental picture I will treasure forever. Then the grandparents came in and it was so nice to see them all hold M. I think I saw a tear in my macho dad’s eyes – I could see that he was thinking of my Mom and so was I…
epiphanu 