Mekaelyn Paige's Birth Story
by
Lori Ramsey

7 am Sunday morning, September 8, 2002 I had the start of my labor contractions.  My due date was September 6, 2002, and I was officially over-due.  Every little grimace or sigh I had made the past 6 weeks were greeted with an "ARE you okay?"  This pregnancy I used natural progesterone cream till my 38^th week which I believe is why I carried my baby to term.  One of the many benefits of the natural progesterone cream to pregnant women is that it prevents preterm labor.  I didn't say anything, because I had gone way past the point I did with my others (who were born at 35, 36 and 37 weeks).  I thought I should start to time them when I had 4 by 7:30 a.m.  Phillip wanted to jump in the van and head to the hospital (40 miles away) and I wanted to make darn sure this was IT.  After an hour of us arguing about it being the real thing and the contractions coming every 6 to 9 minutes I called my mother and we headed to the hospital as soon as she arrived. 

By now I was getting nervous because the contractions were coming every 5 minutes and with this being my 4^th baby I was scared she'd come too quickly.  I told Phillip to floor it.  We finally arrived – about 30 minutes later – with me still huge pregnant.  I was hooked up in the L&D triage and checked – 4 cm dilated – which was 1 more cm than what I was the previous Tuesday.  Upon hooking me up to the monitors and seeing that yes, contractions were coming every 5 minutes and with me telling them that I go FAST –(My doc jokingly says I have a "trap door") they called the doctor in.  My doctor wasn't on call, so I got one of his partners.  By 10:30 am I was admitted into the birthing room. 

The doctor ordered an IV – because I wanted an epidural – and told them to make it snappy because he thought I'd go fast too.  By noon, I had the IV drip flood my system and the doctor came in and broke my water – I was 5 cm.  Anesthesiology finally came in and administered the epidural – which HURT.  I wasn't feeling much pain at that point and I think this made me feel the epidural all the more.  I maintained feeling in my legs the entire time yet my upper back became numb – which scared me.  The doctor asked me to predict a time when the baby would be born and I say "2 pm".  He left and said – "see ya around 2 then!" 

I tried to get some rest, suddenly I was extremely tired.  As I laid on my side trying to rest I began to feel intense pressure.  My nurse told me she'd be back at 1:30 to check me unless I felt pressure first.  I sat up – it was 1:30.  The nurse didn't show, so by 1:35 I called her saying "I'm feeling a lot of pressure and feel like something is coming out between my legs!" –TALK about having her to run in the very next second!!  She checked me and said "Well, I don't feel any cervix – let me get a 2^nd opinion."  I looked at Phillip and said "I NEED to push".  The 2^nd nurse followed by the doctor came in and she checked me – "Oh yeah, you're ready to push –but not yet – we're not ready." 

GEESH – they wanted the leg stirrups set up – and the "tray" and such – I was like "Heck –I’m pushing – so I did.  They were putting my legs up in those stirrups as I was pushing – it was funny.  This doctor had a different philosophy than my own doctor did.  With Arielle I got to sit up to deliver – this doctor wanted me flat on my back and I had the hardest time breathing.  I kept asking to sit up and he said "NO! If you want to have this baby you need to be on your back!"  GRRRRRR…..So at 1:45 I was flat on my back and grabbing the handles and pushing with all my might.  I felt each push and the pressure and the stretching.  My first 3 babies weighed in the 6 pound range, so I wasn't use to such a big baby coming out of me.   

I heard the scissors go snip snip snip as I was pushing – darn episiotomies!  He said I was about to rip so I had to have one.  I only had to push for 15 minutes – and guess what time Mekaelyn Paige was born?????  2 PM on the dot – just as I predicted!!!!!  She came out and I felt such RELIEF.  The doctor had me draped and wouldn't allow either my husband or me to touch anywhere from my waist down.  So when she came out he held her up for me to see and sent her on over to the warmer.  I just bawled, hearing her cry.  No matter how many babies I have, the moment of birth is such an awesome experience – one that always makes me cry! 

She weighed 8 pounds 8 ounces - 21 inches long – over 2 pounds bigger than my others!  She had real tears too – the nurses were commenting that was unusual for one to be that mature at birth.  I feel like I gave birth to a 4 week old baby in comparison to my others! 

When they finally handed her to me she latched on the breast right away.  She's an incredible baby – sleeps most all night too.  Very relaxed and alert when she's awake.  Head full of black hair too.  I'm so in love with my new little one!!  Though she was a surprise at the very beginning she is such a wonderful blessing and addition to our family!!

Lori Ramsey's website:  Stages in Pregnancy

© 2005 by Lori Ramsey.  Reproduction without permission is prohibited.