Jimmy's Birth
Jimmy was born on the 10th of March at 7.08 pm, 13 days before his due date. I went in to work on Monday the 9th feeling normal but by the afternoon I began to feel "funny" and just wanted to go home and sleep. I also had an appointment with my OB at 5pm who on examining me asked me whether I was getting any contractions, I wasn't. He said I was in labour and was 2 cm dilated! He told me to go home, get my stuff and hurry back to the hospital. I asked my hubby, George, on the way home what he thought of having the kid in the evening. We both got really excited at the thought of FINALLY getting to meet our baby. (BTW: We resisted the temptation to find out what sex he was).
By 6am the following morning, I had dilated to 5 cm and still no contractions. Since this was our first baby neither of us had a clue as to what was coming and I remember we laughed and talked the whole night away.
My OB then thought it best to break my water so that he could hurry the labour along. That was when I started getting mild contractions which gradually increased in intensity but were still bearable. By 2:30 pm, I was 9 cms dilated, having to work my way through the contractions and the baby was nowhere! He was stuck, they later told us his face had presented down and he had jammed two-fifths down the birth canal. My OB didn't think I should be given any pain relievers when I asked him, he said it would affect the baby.
By 4pm I was desperate and tired. The resident doctor told the nurses to wheel me into theatre if I hadn't delivered by 5pm. I lived for 5pm! George kept telling me the wrong time and hiding his watch from me. We prayed to God for a safe delivery as I was being wheeled to the theatre. They didn't allow him in.
The doctors who performed the C-section took their time to clean up and scrub, I remember this because I was still getting awful, non-stop contractions and it was a long wait. I finally got the epidural and some anaesthesia because I could still feel the pain of the incision/s? The nurse thought I was lying though. I drifted off to La-La Land and had several nice dreams but more remarkably I kept hearing a voice telling me that there is only one God. I was comforted to know that I was in His hands and I relaxed becausec.z. I knew my baby was going to be okay. I think I heard a baby crying and someone asking me what I wanted. I said any because all children are blessings from God. They told me it was a boy!
When I came to i.e. focus on one scene out of the many that didn't flicker away, I had the shakes and for the fifth time (apparently) I asked whether I had had a boy or a girl. I yapped away like a yob (I actually heard myself talking incessantly but couldn't stop myself) and then apologizing to the nurse who was monitoring me. I thanked both doctors individually for operating on me and the nurses who had helped out. I wanted to see my husband, my baby and my mum in that order.
I was wheeled out of theatre and received like a returning heroine by EVERYBODY. George was grinning from ear to ear. They had all seen the kid two hours ago and I felt a bit sorry that I was the last to see him. The senior nurse finally brought him and this tiny, brown, bundle (weighing 3.55 kgs.) was actually my son?! His eyes were open and he was looking around and yes! smiling.
Almost two months down the road and my handsome, baby boy still smiles as much as when he was born. He is the joy of our lives and I am forever grateful to the Lord for seeing us through his birth and most especially that sweet assurance of His Presence during my operation.
Nyaki
NyakatoK@wfp.or.ug
