Kaden's Birth Story: The Delivery.

Picking up where I left off in Part 1 of Kaden's birth story. 
 
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I was unaware at the time, but Mandi started having the mild tightening again around 2100. They were faint and she just slept through them, but she knew she was having them when she was awake. At around 2230 they were becoming a bit more noticeable, like the night before. She didn’t wake Kev, but called the nurse in to do another strip because they wanted to know of any changes.

At 2320 I received a text from Mandi. “It may be time”.

I responded asking if they wanted me to come now.

There was no response so I called Kevin and asked how they were holding up. Every part of me wanted to rush over, but I didn’t want to be the over eager doula. He said they were just doing a tracing and that he’d call back. I got dressed and sat there ready to spring into action.

At 2333 Kev texted “sure” and I was on my way. This was during/after the first contraction that Mandi needed to focus on.

I arrived at the hospital at 2338 and waited for the emergency lady to buzz me through. Then, at Labour and Delivery I waited a little bit more.

Some cranky nurse came to the window and said, “It’s kind of late, you know.”

To which I replied, “Yup, Mandi called me though so I’m here.”

Cranky Pants hummed and hawed and said, “well, ok, but…”

She buzzed me in.

Mandi was the furthest room from the entrance so the cranky nurse scurried past me saying, in a rather condescending tone, “I’m going to make sure you’re allowed.”

I respectfully stopped outside the door, but I overheard a nurse say, “yup, you’re at 7cm” so I waltzed my ass by Ms. Cranky Pants to Mandi’s side.

She was lying on her left side with Kevin sitting in front of her so I crawled onto the bed beside her and started rubbing her hip and bottom. Mand was tense and her hips were raised off the bed when I arrived, but she instantly responded to my touch and lowered her hips into the bed.

I was afraid of asking her to relax because the last time she laboured she sang that ridiculous “relax, don’t do it” song in her head – not very relaxing. So instead I used words like “loosen” and “release”. It worked like a charm.

I arrived at the birth suite a 2345 and Mandi was already 9cm dilated when the doctor arrived five minutes later at 2350.  The doc said she would be at 10cm with one more contraction. At 2400 Mandi was ready to push, but the pediatrician hadn’t arrived so she was asked to resist the urge. She didn’t even need to pant to refrain from pushing – she just relaxed.

Three more contractions came before the pediatrician arrived at 2410 so Mandi flipped onto her back, ready to push. She had to wait for another contraction to come and even said, “of course none comes now that I it to!” Mand’s legs were shaking uncontrollably as we waited and she kept apologizing for it. Her doc laughed telling her there was nothing she could do about it. The nurse needed to be on Manid’s right so I jumped over and joined Kev on her left.

While we waited for the next contraction the Mandi’s doctor asked the pediatrician if she could bring the baby to Mandi’s chest. The pediatrician said that would be fine and she would take him away if she needed to. She said he could stay with Mandi for a few minutes, but that she would need to take him to the warmer to check him out thoroughly and, obviously, she would take him immediately if things weren’t looking good.

When the next contraction did come she pushed and pushed. She had her head back so I touched her chest and she pulled her chin up. She didn’t want to hold her legs like she did last time, but put her hands under her buttocks, as her hips were the most painful. 

I saw Zeus’ head coming and was all choked up when I told Mandi that I could see him and he was coming!!

Little Zeus was born at 0015 after one giant push.

He came out kicking and screaming and angry so he was brought immediately to Mandi’s chest. Mandi got to have him skin-to-skin for five minutes, which was awesome!! The little man’s apgar’s were 9 and 9. I got to cut the cord again as it grossed Kevin out. The boy needed no suctioning, no oxygen, and no extra attention. The pediatrician checked him out and said that he was perfect! And big! He weighed 5lb and 7oz!!

My tears were freely flowing, as you can imagine, and my heart was bursting with joy. I couldn't even talk because every time I tried I would just squeak/choke out something incomprehensible. I was so proud of Mandi and so relieved that the baby was so healthy. And my adrenaline was pumping because of the whole experience. 

Kevin went with little Zeus to the nursery and I stayed with Mandi. We were told we could join the little one after an hour or two – they wanted to make sure Mandi was doing well. She had the tiniest of tears, but she was just fine. We sat in bed together and I showed her some of the pictures I snapped before they took the boy away. We hand expressed 3ml of colostrum because a nurse came saying he was a hungry little fella and then we went to join the boys at 0100.

They put the little one on her chest again when we got to the nursery. They put him upright high on her chest and he grabbed on, pulled himself down and over to her nipple and then proceeded to latched himself – completely unassisted! It was one of the coolest things ever! I know it happens often and it’s a natural instinct for babies, but he was six weeks early!! Amazing.

Kevin and Mandi settled on the name Kaden John for the little boy. A good strong name for a tough little guy.