It’s the first of July. Your doctor would like you to come in for yet another stress test. Enough already! You are tired but agree to go to his office to have the third test this week done. Something is up; losing weight this late in a pregnancy isn’t normal.
Your best friend called threatening bodily harm if you don’t show up at ten. Dyan is also the only one who understands your husband is a wimp about this; she is your support line and birthing coach.
The baby you have carried for the past thirty four weeks is not the most active child but your mother has told you on more than one occasion she had fears your brother would be a stillborn and “See, he’s perfectly normal.”
“Mom, I’m not sure that is normal.” You respond, thinking of how laid back this particular brother has been for the past thirty two years. The two of you laugh as the nurse comes to take you back to the room you consider a second home now.
You lay there, wishing this baby to make a move you can feel because the medical staff has caught on to you’re cheating. The doctor comes in announcing maybe a sonogram will wake the baby. The sonogram is not encouraging. He wants you at the hospital in an hour.
“Carmen, you are aware Dyan is throwing me a shower. If I’m a no show, it will be on your head.”
“Lynda, I want you at Children’s Hospital no later than one o’clock for testing. Their equipment is more high tech.” Your doctor is clearly afraid of Dyan.
Dyan and Alicia (another partner in crime) have out done themselves at the shower. They have prepared a feast like the last supper. You are “eating for two” after all so your plate gets filled twice before heading off the have testing done.
Your mom takes you to the hospital; you’re hustled into a labor room. Your labor nurse is your Lamaze teacher on Tuesday. The attending pediatric physician is a woman you have known since she was a medical student. She questions you on everything under the sun.
“No, my water did not break.” “No, I’ve had no leakage.” “Yes, I’m sure.” You’re prodded for what seems hours.
After getting settled into a room in labor and delivery; you’re strapped to machinery monitoring the baby’s heart rate, your heart rate and by the look on the nurse’s face, everyone else’s heart rate.
Your nurse announces you will have labor induced. According to her, there is no fluids surrounding the sac and your baby is dying. Of course, anything to save the baby’s life you will do. Now for the hard part, you will have call Gary. He’s remodeling his sister’s home.
After listening to him as he rants about you getting talked into anything, you hand the telephone off to your mom. She talks to Gary, he hangs up on her. Now that took guts and you’re seeing him in a whole new light; one of stupidity. He never asked if you are at the doctor’s office or the hospital. You let mom field this one as you give her the number of your sister-in-law.
The labor nurse comes in. She goes over the inducement procedure; explains each monitor. You nervously joke about child birthing classes which start on Tuesday…can you get a refund?
Mom has set off for your house to pack you a hospital bag. You will not be leaving for a few days. There is a call from security, “Mrs. Wood? There is a man down here with a crazed look saying he is your husband. Shall I send him up?”
“Does he have blue eyes and a moustache?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Send him up.”
The monitor goes off. The nurse rushes in. She rushes out. The baby is in distress, you will be having a caesarian section. A doctor comes in. Not your doctor. He introduces himself as the newest member of the practice. He also mentions you are his first c-section. Panic now plants itself on your husband’s face. You explain to Gary he has done hundreds before. You ask for your own doctor; he’s in delivery at another hospital. What about Dr. Santos? He’s on his honeymoon. These men do not stand a chance once they show themselves again.
Gary goes with you only until the anesthesiologist takes over. You hear him telling the nurses he has only known you for the past three days. Thinking about his whereabouts when your stepson was born, the poor jokes are not so bad. He went to California for a mop.
After several calls, Dyan is unable to get to the hospital but the anesthesiologist is willing to be your coach. Later, you discover the charge nurse will not let her off work. You’re only request is not to know when the cutting begins. He knows a surgeon from your hospital and gossips with you until you hear these words, “It’s a girl.” You’ve known all along she was.
As Dr. Mas sews you back together, Dr. Goodwin brings you your daughter. She has a single eyebrow. You notice the dark peach fuzz covering her body. There is not an ounce of fat on her. Her tiny bottom looks like an old, wrinkled elephant’s. She’s your little monkey and she is beautiful. You beg Dr, Goodwin, “Do what you have to do to keep her alive, I will sign anything later.”
You are moved to a room called “Recovery”. God only knows why it’s called such…no recovery is done in this room. You’ve given the nurse the pediatrician’s name before delivery yet she comes to you asking again for his name. “Dr. McGravey.”
“Thank you. There is a crazed man in the waiting room, claims to be your husband, accusing us of killing you. Can we send him back?”
“Blue eyes and a moustache?” she nods.
You tell her, “Send him back.”
And so the parade begins, your husband, “Why are you so bloated and shivering?” Your mom is next,”Why are you so bloated and shivering?” His brother, your sister, “You look bloated. Why are your teeth chattering?” Ok, your mom also mentions she is proud of you.
Between the parade of family members, the recovery nurse has asked three times more, “What is the name of the baby’s pediatrician? Each answer is the same, Dr. McGravey. Finally, it will dawn on you to ask why?
“A ‘Dr. Vitrano’ keeps calling about you. Why is he calling?”
You smile, “He is a wonderful friend.”
Gary will come in once more before leaving. “I’ve been thinking, Samantha is a stupid name.”
“No, it’s not a stupid name. You just spent an hour and a half with my mom who thinks it’s a stupid name.”
“What was that other name you wanted?” You really want to name her Lenora Susan.
“Laura Elizabeth” comes from your mouth. This will teach you to never watch ‘Little House on the Prairie’ before an important decision. You will also be forever grateful you weren’t watching the ‘Walton’s’ before delivery. Gary leaves to tell your stepson about his new sister. It never dawns on you Gary doesn’t tell him of the name change. He will go on for a month thinking his sister’s name is Samantha.
You are moved to your room. You hear the nurses whispering outside your room. “There is too much blood; she will end up in surgery again.” Having worked in labor and delivery, you know they are discussing you. Picking up the phone, you call the NICU.
“Is she all right?”
“Do you hear that cry? You do? That would be your daughter. She has a great set of lungs.”
When you hear the sound, it’s all worth it. The pregnancy, the high blood pressure, amniocentesis, early contractions, stress tests, the works. Even when you get the call from security the next evening…
“Mrs. Wood, there is a man at the desk claiming to be your husband and your baby’s father. We have the father’s visitor pass out to your room. Yes, he has blue eyes and a moustache. Send him up? Are you sure you would like us to do that? Of course, he is on his way up.”
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