The Birth Story part II

Jen got settled into her gown and room. It wasn’t all that comfortable for her. She had contractions every 4 minutes and with each contraction she had to go to the bathroom. She’s have to unhook the baby heart monitor and drag the IV all the way over to the bathroom. The IV pole wouldn’t fit under the door frame so it sat outside with the tube running into the bathroom. And Jen would get done doing her business just in time for another contraction and for her to sit on the toilet again. Poor girl.

We got her to the L&D at 4:30pm and by 5:30 she got the epidural in place. Jen’s doctor recommended this as a way to deal with a prior back issue. (Jen was recovering from having her L4-L5 disc replaced when we got reaquainted online back in 2006) Her dr said that by having the epidural, Jen could "labor down" in which the contractions would do most of the work of moving the baby along until pushing was needed to deliver the baby. This also helped since she had a catheter so she didn’t have to get up for the bathroom every four minutes.

When we checked in and go situated, Jen was 3 cm dialated. Just a week before she was 2 cm. An hour after the epidural was put in, she was 5cm. About 12:30, Jen was at 10 around 12am maybe 1230 and her Doctor was called in. She lived 30 minutes away.

Because of the epidural, the nurse and I had to assist Jen with each contractions because she had no control of her legs. And through out the night, I could see Maddie’s head peeking out. And I could see her twist her head back and forth as she was trying to help push herself through. Jen could even feel Maddie kicking off her ribs like a springboard.

About an hour into the final stages of labor, the doctor came back into the room at the nurse’s request. The doctor got all she needed into position and we waited for 45 minutes. During that time, the doctor said she was giving the baby her famus Mattson mohawk. There she was playing with the baby’s hair. I asked her when she started doing that. Her reply was when she got bored waiting for some babies to be delivered. It’s something she does with every delivery now.

The head was crowning. About 40 or so minutes since the doctor coming into the room, the baby’s heart rate had dropped. the doctor looked at the monitor and said, "Hmm the heart rate changed." Jen asked what meant. "Oh it means that the heart rate is lower than I’d like it to be because she’s been in the birth canal for some time. And it means that with the next contraction she’s coming out." And within minutes of that statement, out came Madelyn Jenna.

It happened so fast. It is all a blur in my memory. I remember seeing this purpley bundle come sliding on out into the doctor’s experienced hands (she’s delivered around 3,000 babies) and placed the baby right onto Mommy’s belly and placed to clamps into place. this was all done in one motion with the baby being born to the clamps being placed on the umbilical cord. The nurse started rubbing the baby down while Mommy was helping a litle all they while say "Oh she’s so perfect. She’s just beautiful." I am trying to take it all in.

Dr asked if I wanted to cut the umbilical cord. I said of course with confidence of a proud father. And I did. I think I had to say so with confidence because I think if I hesitated, I may have gotten quesy. I was told it was like cutting through a thick rubber band. Then the baby nurses came in to add the clamp on the baby’s belly button, get her warmed up, weighed and measured, and put her first diaper on. I heard on nurse ask if they should give her to the mom or dad. I am standing behind them and said I would take her and they pretty much just dropped her in my arms. I was a little of guard with that because I was expecting an "oh here ya go, take her nice and gently, make sure you support her head" not a "here" thinkg. All is good. I think the nurses have done this often enough not to worry about passing the baby of to her parents.

The next couple of days were spent getting to know Maddie. For tests to be conducted (like for jaundice), weight to be monitored, feeding consulting and for mommy to heal. Family and friends came to visit. Finally, Friday came. We had been there since tuesday, late afternoon. We went home.

Madelyn Jenna was home for one day before her grandma (Jen’s mom) came for a week to help out around the home. On Sunday, her grandparents, Papa B and Nana (my parents) came for a couple of days. All were excited. Maddie is the first grandbaby on both sides.

Now here we are, Sunday evening, a week and a half since Maddie was born. It is finally quiet. No other family. Jen and I were home with the baby for one day before it got busy with family. Now the 3B’s can get adjusted to normal life.

Madelyn Jenna was born weighing 7lbs. 10.4 oz. and measured at 20 inches long.

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