A Birth Story

Whew! third an final installment of the letter of a birth story to my son. Part one and Part two are here.
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I expected someone to announce what sex you were, say congrats or something. I looked at your dad and he looked at you. I wanted someone to tell me what's going on.  They put you on my belly and rubbed you and shook you around a little. O Dear God- please let everything be okay. I tried to grab you but something wasn't right. The doctor asked your dad if he was ready to cut the chord. So camera in one hand, scissors in the other- he cut the chord- you were no longer attached to me and you were now supporting yourself.

They whisked you over to the incubator and I asked "What's going on?!"...

Your dad looked panicked and he rubbed my leg. I just tried to breathe and I said my first prayer for you outside of the womb.

"Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread
And forgive us our debts, and we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen."

The nurse pressed a blue button on the wall and it started flashing. The doctor got up from in front of me and went over to you. At the same time a whole bunch of people wearing scrubs came dashing into the room. O Lord, please save my child.

Then you began to wail. He's crying- please tell me that's a good thing.

The nurse said to them "never mind" then I exhaled. She invited your dad over to take pictures of you. Good, everything is gonna be okay. Your dad looked back at me and said "We have a boy!" Is he okay??

The doctor calmly explained to me what happened. "His umbilical cord was compressed while he was in the birth canal so he wasn't getting enough air. He's a little blue right now but it will be okay. You have a small tear so you're gonna need about two stitches but you did wonderful!" She made me feel a little bit better. Dad came back over to me to tell me how perfect you were. I asked him if you were okay and he told me it will be fine. I believed him- he was your dad. He leaned over and kissed me and we shed tears.

The nurse continued to work to make you better. She swaddled you and told me to hold you for a little bit but they have to take you away for observation and to make sure everything is ok. I was so happy to have you in my arms and didn't want them to take you away. It seemed like forever for the doctor to finish with me. I did feel the afterbirth (which is kind of weird because I was supposed to be numb) being delivered and a few other things went on. After I got cleaned up your Aunt and Uncle came in to meet you. We all got to spend a little time with you before they took you to the nursery. You had a slew of family and friends surrounding you and praying for you. Later that day when they bought you to me and told me everything was perfect- I couldn't count my blessings high enough. Everything after that is pretty much a blur. More family and friends came to visit over the weekend. The nurses were very helpful teaching us how to take care of you. One nurse showed us how to give you a bath while other nurses showed mommy helpful ways to breastfeed you. We are having a rough beginning to breastfeeding but I'm sure we'll both get it. We have so much to learn- which is ironic because I had to past 2 different types of test in order to obtain driving privileges but they just sent you home with us- no questions asked! Mommy did have to take a postpartum assessment quiz and I aced it! I'd say the easiest thing about this whole process was carrying you in my belly. The funnest part was a long weekend out of town in December =) and the most rewarding part is you :). Now here comes the hard part.

Every time I hold you I thank god for the precious gift he has given me. Welcome to the family!!!!!