True to form, our own baby Audrey made her debut with a big splash and on her own schedule, bright and early on a glorious Saturday in the middle of a blizzard. I was awoken in the way I had become accustomed the past few weeks; with a painful contraction around 2:30am that told me it was time to visit the ladies' room. As typical, the contractions continued thereafter for a few minutes before settling down, and I fell back asleep. Most nights this would happen at least twice. This morning it happened at 2:30, at 3:15, and again at 3:45a.m. I lay there hoping this would be the last bad contraction, but another one came close on its heels. Finally I sighed and pushed the nurse call button. She went to get a monitor machine and by the time she got back I was immobilized by pain. She called Justin at my request, and five minutes later I felt the need to push. My awesome nurse knew I had had four babies, most without any pain meds, and bless her, she really believed me. She took the initiative and overrode protocol, grabbed another nurse and wheeled me over to Labor and Delivery at 4:23. The doctor on call tried to stop us in the hall and asked to go back to my room and check me, but relented when I moaned a definitive NOOOO. Labor and Delivery nurses gathered in the room and started to ask me lots of questions, to which I said: Drugs now. Talk later. They said they had to give me an IV. I think it took them about an hour to unwrap a syringe, and at least another hour to decide where to poke me, at which time the young nurse found a set of nerves on my wrist I did not know I had, and a way to make me scream worse than childbirth. I guess you could say we explored several options of pain management, including distraction. It took only two more attempts for them to find a suitable place for the IV, and a few long minutes later I was finally able to unlock my muscles enough for them to learn that yes, this baby really was coming, and no, there was not time to place an epidural in my spine after all. A few intense pushes later, and that sweet baby girl was sprawled out in front of me, looking as surprised and in shock as I was. It was 5:28am.
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| Brand new. She is about 20 minutes old in this picture. |
This
is about 15 minutes after birth. She had just had an IV placed, and
they put a suction tube in her mouth that will continually drain the
saliva from the "pouch" (her short esophagus).
I never got to hold her; she was destined for bright lights and a devoted following. As she whisked off to meet her public, my OB was up to her elbows inside me doing her best to stop me from bleeding to death. Success ensued, and the evidence was cleaned away just moments before Justin walked in the door. He'd been having lots of fun of his own, playing in 8 inch deep snow on the freeway in his little commuter car. He was immediately welcomed to come meet Audrey and observe her progress in the NICU. A few minutes later he came in to see me as the vanguard to announce her imminent arrival. We quickly discussed her name so that he could give her a name and a blessing as per the tradition of our faith. Her name would be Audrey Rose Dianna, to honor some of the strong women who have laid a wonderful example for her. At last she arrived!! Head on her hands, calm and snug on her belly, dark eyes wide and looking around at all there was to see. She knew our voices. I was allowed to touch her and to kiss her tiny arm. Time stood still for a few precious minutes while we touched, we prayed, we cried quietly, and we felt the angels watching over us.
Evening of the first day. She loves her warm spot and this cuddly position.
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