It was a Monday, April
27th to be exact. I was in my last trimester of pregnancy, huge and swollen
from head to toe. I had completed a full day of work only to come home to my
one and a half year old and husband and work my second full time job as mommy
and wife. I was tired, but determined to keep pushing because we had a few
things that we needed for the house. As I walked from aisle to aisle in Target,
I knew that something was not right, I looked at my husband and said, “we need
to go to the hospital.. NOW!” My water was breaking with every step. We left
the cart where we were in line and scrammed to the car in a panic. Just as we
reached our car, there was a gush, my water had completely broken. Thankfully,
we had planned for this delivery of my son our bags were packed and we had
arrangements with a family member made for my daughter.
We dropped my daughter off on the way to the hospital, contractions getting stronger and stronger by every twist and turn. Within a few minutes of reaching the hospital, the ER nurse was giving my husband his operation room attire and contacting my OB/GYN to inform her that I was in labor. Within thirty minutes of arriving to the hospital, I was completely prepped and in the operating room. I had been given a good dose of some sort of medicine that numbed me from my neck down. I was staring up at my husband, dosing off on and off for what seemed liked forever (but in reality 1-2 minutes at a time) asking him each time I awoke what was going on. In no time, my son had been delivered by c-section. I heard him cry out just before he was rushed out of the operating room to be cleaned up. My son had been delivered three minutes after midnight, weighing 8lbs 3oz at 2 weeks early.
Just as soon as my son was cleaned up he was brought to my room. It was then that I was able to truly hold him for the first time and even immediately begin to breastfeed him. I have always read about the importance of skin to skin contact with mother and newborn and the fact that it promotes a lasting, positive bond and relationship between mom and baby and knew I would want that experience with my own children.
We dropped my daughter off on the way to the hospital, contractions getting stronger and stronger by every twist and turn. Within a few minutes of reaching the hospital, the ER nurse was giving my husband his operation room attire and contacting my OB/GYN to inform her that I was in labor. Within thirty minutes of arriving to the hospital, I was completely prepped and in the operating room. I had been given a good dose of some sort of medicine that numbed me from my neck down. I was staring up at my husband, dosing off on and off for what seemed liked forever (but in reality 1-2 minutes at a time) asking him each time I awoke what was going on. In no time, my son had been delivered by c-section. I heard him cry out just before he was rushed out of the operating room to be cleaned up. My son had been delivered three minutes after midnight, weighing 8lbs 3oz at 2 weeks early.
Just as soon as my son was cleaned up he was brought to my room. It was then that I was able to truly hold him for the first time and even immediately begin to breastfeed him. I have always read about the importance of skin to skin contact with mother and newborn and the fact that it promotes a lasting, positive bond and relationship between mom and baby and knew I would want that experience with my own children.
In Africa, one in 22
women dies in pregnancy or childbirth. In the UK, it is just one in 8,000.
African women are likely to die from conditions such as high blood pressure,
breech births and hemorrhaging because they lack access to good quality health
care or a trained midwife. Only 37% of births in the least developed countries
are attended by a skilled health worker. (Giving Birth, 2012)
References:
Giving
birth - the most dangerous thing an African woman can do? (2012, March 9).
Retrieved November 1, 2015, from
http://www.theguardian.com/journalismcompetition/giving-birth-the-most-dangerous-thing-an-african-woman-can-do
I had a hard time reading your post because of the font you used, but I really enjoyed reading your post. There is nothing like forming a bond with your child while breastfeeding. That is just something that every mother should experience for themselves. I have learned that both the mother and newborn benefit from having that skin to skin contact. I have read that mothers who hold their newborn directly to their skin after birth have increased maternal instinct, show more trust and faith in caring for their babies while breastfeeding for longer time frames, the baby is able to maintain a normal body temperature, and less like to cry. Having that skin to skin contact with the mother guards and defends the newborn form the effects of separation.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that so many women are losing their life period because of something so simple as not having quality healthcare or a midwife. This results in the child growing up without a mother which is so sad. I just wanted to thank you for sharing your birth experience with us. I can't wait to read your future posts.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you, LaSahana for your feedback. After reading your post, I tried reading my initial post a second time and I can definitely understand what you mean about having some difficulty reading it. I was trying to add a little spunk, but I will definitely keep that in mind from here on out.
DeleteI am glad that overall, you enjoyed the post. I enjoyed the assignment simply because, typical mommy behavior, I love talking about my little people whenever I can so this post came easy for me.
(I removed my comment and added it back simply to make sure my name was correct, the first was my maiden name).
Great story. I have yet to have children but I understand the importance of breast feeding. That bond can never be broken. Thank you for sharing the information of pregnancy issues in Africa. I found that to be very informative.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nicole. I am the biggest cheerleader for Team Mommy, but I will say, take your time, enjoy life and only when you're truly ready should you have a little person. It is my personal believe that when you wait, until your ready, it is less stressful and therefore even more enjoyable.
DeleteBest Wishes to you, when that time does come for you and your family!!