After 2 long and hard pushes this big PURPLE thing flew out with what looked like an umbilical card wrapped around it tightly.
Congratulations to all the new moms and moms to be. Get ready for the thrill of your life!
It’s more than joy to be blessed with having children. In my early twenties I thought I would miss this chance. I had a lot of female issues; endometrial fibroids, irregular periods, fibrosis cyst on my ovaries, abdominal pain, as well as being diagnosed with cervical cancer - twice.
I did overcome cervical cancer with a procedure called cryosurgery. The first time in my twenties and the second time in my late thirties.
Well with all these issues, I was told by my doctor, at the time, Dr Tau, that “if we don’t surgically remove the cysts from your ovaries, you will NEVER have children”
Hmm, I thought about it long and hard and decided that I was not ready for children anyway, and more importantly I would not have to worry about birth control.
Little that I knew, that the doctor assessment was not full proof, because soon after I got pregnant.
WTH!
What happened?
I thought I couldn’t have children?
Who goofed? The doctor, or me, or that stud I was hanging with?
Lol
I’m just kidding, that stud was my fiancé and he was ecstatic when he found out! 😂
But here I was, Pregnant and unmarried? I thought, to myself, what is my dad going to say?
The pregnancy started rough. I was put on bedrest at 6 months, which made it a very long pregnancy. I had premature labor contractions and had already dilated to 2-3 centimeters.
I was elated to be off work, and home everyday. But, being a person that is borderline ADHD - I found it extremely difficult for me to stay put. This was back in the day, when we had flip phones, and no Internet, no social media, and definitely no Amazon shopping - just the local video rental store. lol.
I found myself washing the blinds, mopping the floors, vacuuming, gardening and I even took on some construction projects.
Stupid me!
My due date finally came, and still no baby. A week later, still no baby. I start taking long walks at the beach in the sand, still no baby. Two more weeks go by - but still no baby.
It was late August and we had extremely hot weather, and to say the least I was miserable and frustrated! I had added fifty pounds to my once 105 pound body.
My body was swollen and I couldn’t wear shoes. For foot attire, I had to wear low slides or sandals.
The beginning of September, the mucus plug came out, but still no baby and I began to worry.
Every now and then, I was assured that the baby was ok, when I would see him stretch a arm, or kick a foot, or even when I felt him roll; as if he was spinning around in my uterus.
Finally, I was induced. I was thrilled because I knew the baby would be here soon right (I had been at 3 centimeters for quite some time).
But I was wrong, it would be several hours or days before any action.
I was given instruction to go home, eat ice chips, and absolutely eat NO Foods/solids. And only return to the hospital when my contractions were 5 minutes apart.
Did I listen?
Of course NOT.
I had my fiancé pull from Centinela Hospital, across the street to IHOP. And there I enjoyed a full meal, followed by a long walk at the beach, in the sand.
Finally, the contractions started, so we went back to the hospital. Water broke and the action began.
Unfortunately, me and my baby were immediately hooked to a special monitor because at every contraction, the baby’s heart rate would drop.
There were some concerns, so they prepped me for a c-section (in case of an emergency).
Contractions began to get intense, and my delicious meal began to show its ugly face! Some of it came out the top end with a colorful array of vomit, and the other half came out the bottom end - in a big pile of poop.
Finally at 10 centimeters and the baby’s head was heading out. After 2 long and hard pushes this big PURPLE thing flew out with what looked like an umbilical card wrapped around it tightly.
The room got quiet, no baby cry, and right away my doctor took this purple thing across the room.
I was confused as to why the attention was not on me, as my legs hung from the stirrups.
Dr Andrew said with a very calm voice “don’t worry he will be back”.
I then see the doctor unravel this object, turn it upside down and wack it on the back a few times.
This purple object was my baby boy. He came out purple and not breathing, with a faint heart beat.
Finally, a big cry yelled out. My baby, and first born child was back. The doctor placed his cold, slithery body on my belly and covered us with warm blankets.
I thought to myself, what just happened?
As I held my baby boy close to my bosom and felt his heart beat in concert with mine, I glanced down at him, and he looked at me. Once we made eye contact I cried with relief and joy.
Oh wow! What was I thinking?
I was young, but thought I knew everything. I was hard-headed, and didn’t want to listen. I had so many regrets. I should have stayed on bed rest. I should have followed the doctor’s orders. And most of all, why, oh why, did I go and eat food after being induced?
I had mixed emotions- and soberly embarrassed because I felt that I had let my baby down.
A Lesson learned!
Seek help, and listen to advice even if you don’t agree with it. But Consider it and do your own research.
We are superwomen, because we can carry another human in our bodies for 270 days all while being a good employee, business owner, mother to your other children, and wife or companion. But it doesn’t mean we have to prove it.
The days go quick and before you know it the baby is here. You are happy to have your baby, but at the same time you are crying your eyes out and don’t know why.
No one told me “This is normal”, so don’t freak out. Tears are good for the soul, and those same tears will water your harvest as they grow.
All in all, keep God first! Whom I call YAHWEH. Lean on family and friends, because it takes a village.
-Brenda, mother of 3