motherhood monologue

Elliot James

Our new baby was due to be born in early December. I was busy enough with the renovations to our new house that I didn't mind the baby's later arrival. Still though, I was surprised that it was the 18th of December before contractions began with some regularity, around 1:00 p.m. Since they were milder than anything I experienced with the labor for John David, I was still hesitant to declare that this was it. I was even able to lie down and rest for a while. A few hours later, I went for a walk through the neighborhood with my mom. It was a beautiful day, a clear and cool Saturday one week before Christmas. David and I watched some of the movie of John David's first days.

This labor can actually be divided into the typical early, active, and transition stages. Around 7:00 p.m. I needed to focus more on my position and visualize why I was going through all this (I started having back pain). I thought about being with the new baby in front of the Christmas tree. I was relaxing pretty well, sitting on the floor with David's arms and legs wrapped around me, supporting me. Around 8:30, he thought I should be on my feet. We went into the kitchen, and I sucked on a few spoons of honey. By 9:30, I was shaking and having serious doubts about my progress and ability to continue. I mentioned something about pushing and David had me out of the door by 10:00. The car ride to the hospital was not too bad. I thought about the work the contractions were doing and that soon I could be holding my baby in my arms (rather than my belly).

Somehow I made it out of the car, through registration and mandatory fetal monitoring. I found out I was 7-8 cm dilated with a bulging bag of waters. That was such a relief. I made it to a labor bed within 30 minutes of the baby's birth. I was on my knees leaning forward against the back of the raised bed when I finally asked my midwife if I could push. She checked me and could feel the baby's head. I pushed three times and my baby boy was born, at 11:51 p.m.

This peaceful baby weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz., was 20.5 inches long, and had a 14 inch head circumference. In size and looks, he is so much John David. In his own sweet way though, he has inspired my awe.