The Day it Happened

Monday, September 29

10:58 pm. Just as my head hits the pillow to sleep, I hear Leah call out from the bathroom, "Whoa. I think my water is breaking." My eyes go wide as I yell, "What!?!" I get to the bathroom as she mumbles something about "not being able to control it." 

11:00. Leah is told over the phone by a nurse that YES YOU NEED TO COME IN NOW.

11:01. We rush around the house, trying to get everything ready to go, occasionally calling out things like: "Are you serious!?!", "Are you sure your water is breaking?", and "Do you need to wear a diaper?"

11:05. We realize we can't locate the camera (people who really know me are nodding their heads right now). Slight panic breaks out. However, we resolve to not leave the house until we find the camera.

11:09. Still looking.

11:11. I accuse Leah of having the camera last.

11:12. I find the camera in my school bag.

11:13. We back out of the driveway, realizing it could be the final time as a two-person family.

11:20. We try to enter through the back entrance of the hospital. It is locked. 12 hours of pre-natal classes and we never asked which way to enter when in labor.

11:22. Enter through the front and after a few quick tests are told, "Yeah, you are here for the long haul."

11:32. Leah feels the first contractions. At this time she is considering an all-natural delivery. She is still feeling tough and describes the pain as a "1 or 2 out of 10."

Tuesday, September 30

12:05 am. Midnight creeps past with only a few slight contractions. Leah mentions a friend who recently gave birth without any drugs, so it's still in the back of her mind. She is measuring "1".

12:38. Our first walk around the hospital. Leah is moving fast and is full of energy as usual. She leads us all over, even surging up and down stairs. At this point I was half-expecting her to break out a Shawn Johnson floor exercise routine down the hall. I could even hear John Tesh. "Oh! And she bumped into the gurney at the end of that flip! That will be a deduction!"

1:23. The walks are paying off--she is now dilated at 2 centimeters.

2:22. Contractions come with a little more power now. Leah mentions, "Yeah, I guess I can see why people use drugs for this." Her armor is cracking. 

3:03. Another walk. We feel rebellious and venture into parts unknown. We are kindly told that we can't walk down a certain hallway.

3:04. Leah feels nauseous. Thankfully, a restroom is a few feet away.

4:05. We fall asleep.

4:30. That was short.

5:11. Leah has now been nauseous a few more times. She is convinced it is because of the pain. I decide not to ask if she still wants to try without drugs. Instead, we take another walk.

6:03. Contractions are getting nastier now. I try to help by starting conversations. In this case, I was working on our baby book. Specifically, the page that asks you to write down what events are happening in the world on your baby's birth day, such as how much gas costs, what bands are popular, etc. Leah is hit with some serious contractions. Stupidly, I ask, "Honey, what are some popular movies and actors right now?" Leah mentions (I couldn't tell if her teeth were clenched) fairly firmly that she doesn't care about that and not to ask her that stuff again. 

6:55. Dr. VandeZande stops in. Leah is now measuring a "tight 4" and grimacing frequently.

8:00. Contractions are now up to a "5 or 6" out of 10 Leah's toughness scale.

9:12. We take our 5th and final walk. This one is painful. Leah has to stop every fifteen feet or so to close her eyes and deal with the pain. We only travel up and down the hall once but it takes us quite a while.

9:30. Dr. VandeZande checks in. Leah is now measuring at 5. They agree that it is time for the intrathecal shot, which will be coming soon.

9:55. The anesthesiologist arrives with the goods. Says Leah after the shot: "I feel like a queen." Somehow I don't think she is talking about my wonderful support.

10:45. The doctor returns and checks Leah again. "Whoa!" he says. "Go get the table. She could go any time."

11:15. Leah starts to push for 10 seconds at a time, 3 times with each contraction. I'm soon asked to hoist her leg because it will help with pushing. I figure it's the least I can do.

11:21. On Round 4 of pushing, Cayla Joy's head emerges into the world. Quickly, the doctor sucks at the gooberish stuff from her mouth and nose and tells Leah to push some more.

11:24. Finally, Leah sends out the rest of Cayla. Seconds later, I grab the scissors and cut the umbilical cord. It's all over. Leah is exhausted and happy. Cayla is measured and weighed. And Dr. VandeZande is giving me the handshake I've been waiting a long time for.

11:49. The room has cleared but for the three of us. Cayla is on Mommy's lap. Tears fall as happy parents thank the Almighty One.