Madeleine's Birthday Story

Due Date: Sunday, October 17th, 2010

Pain Management Method: HypnoBirthing

Monday, October 18th

12:38 am: Wakeup hungry, head to the kitchen to get a bowl of Cheerios cereal and eat them in bed. As I finish I notice discomfort/pain similar to a contraction. I sit still and think “I am having a contraction.” I put my cereal away, use the restroom, come back to bed and am almost giddy - “I’m having a contraction!” and even have a few chills. I then notice that although I have just begun feeling them they are really close apart - 2/3 minutes.

I poke at Joseph and say, “Hey, I’m having contractions. I’m in labor”

Joseph responds, “Am what?” half asleep still

Me: “I think we should go to the hospital.”

Joseph: “Now? Are you sure?”

Me: “Yes they’re really close.”

Joseph remains growling in bed. I begin packing my bag but stop to focus on my contractions. Joseph wakes up, gets dressed and finishes packing. I remain calm and relaxed doing my breathing exercises during each contraction. Joseph gives me a blessing. We wake up grandma and head to the car.

1:45 We drive to the hospital - I have to tell Joseph to slow down over the speed bumps.

2:00ish we check-in and go to Triage. They check me and I am “at about a 5 or 6” cm dilated so they will admit me. The nurse comments how well I am managing my contractions and lets me take a break to manage them in between paperwork.

3:00 We get set up in our room. They tell me that I can have intermittent fetal monitoring - 5 mins on, 30 mins off because my first baby was healthy. Since I had been monitored in triage they said I could start my 30 mins off monitors and that they would be back in 30 mins to check in on me.

3:15ish - “Joseph I need to use the restroom.” We walk over to the restroom and sit on the pot. Catherine says: “Oh gosh, Joseph!!”. Up to this point she hadn’t made a sound, not even a groan. She does this about another 2 times and says: “The baby’s coming!!” I look down in between her legs and, sure enough, our daughter’s head has popped out and is hanging out of her.

3:30ish- I run out of the restroom to get a nurse (never-mind that there’s a cord I can pull in the restroom). I go into the hall and don’t see anyone and I yell out: “I need help, the baby’s coming!!” I saw one nurse down the hall in another room try and get around stuff to get to us and so I went back to the restroom. I find Catherine standing in a pool of blood holding our daughter in her hands. She seemed to be in shock and so I take the baby. I was so excited and happy to see her.

3:35ish- about five nurses run into our room. One nurse takes Madeleine from me and asked: “Is she breathing? Is everything okay?” Part of me is thinking: “Yeah, everything is great:)” the other part of me is saying: “Wait, you’re the one who’s suppose to let me know if my daughter is breathing and is okay.” Anyway, I get to cut the umbilical cord and the nurses whisk away the baby to get her wrapped up and warm. Meanwhile, Catherine is put in a wheelchair and taken to her bed. The doctor cleans her up, no problems- a couple of minor tears, that’s it.

3:45- The nurse is filling out paperwork and asks with a giggle in her voice: “Hey doc, what’s the time of birth?” Everyone in the room gives their guess and we finally agree, “3:37.”

This was a great experience:) With the exception of the saying, “oh my gosh the baby’s coming,” Catherine didn’t say one word or make a sound during labor. I’ve thought of my wife as a superwoman lately, but after this experience, she has claimed a spot with the likes of Dilene Seaman and Julie Beck. She is remarkable in so many ways that it has left the words of a friend resounding in my ears. When I met Catherine, I confided to this friend that I would marry her someday. He responded, “she’s out of your league!”

Well, that’s the crazy story of Madeleine’s arrival. To all of you reading this posting, we love you:)