On Thursday November 17 at about 1:00pm, I went into labor. I wasn't very sure it was real labor, so I went about my day as usual, pausing to wince a little during a contraction and then continuing on, allowing them to build up until I was really sure that calling family wouldn't turn into a "false alarm" moment later on.
Patton didn't get here until Saturday morning. There is so much to write about how labor went. Forty-three hours of intense, adrenaline fueled labor followed that afternoon, and no one realized Patton would enter the world in a posterior (sunny-side up) position until the moment of his arrival. I later learned that my midwife had her suspicions, but didn't want to let on because she didn't want to scare me. A posterior presentation is not necessarily dangerous, but it is notorious for being exponentially more painful, causing labor to be much longer and more likely to end in cesarean section.
The bodies of laboring women are powerhouses. We are suddenly able to function at peak performance for hours on end, exerting more force than we ever have before. In my case, I had been awake for exactly 48 hours to the minute when Patton made his appearance. Forty-three of them were heavy breathing hours, painful, sweaty, determined hours. By the time the pushing phase was upon us, I was so deliriously tired that I had begun to almost pass out between contractions, falling asleep for 30 seconds at a time, entering vignette dreams and waking up to push again for 3 hard pushes. I remember at one point mumbling something about needing to get a flat screen TV as I woke up to push again. But on we went, Patton and I, working on this thing together, getting him a little bit closer to his family with each push.
Patton was born Saturday morning at 7:24am. He weighed 8 lbs, 5 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.
Either my heart has grown to the size of an 8 lb, 5 oz baby, or my whole life has shrunk down to the size of one. I can't figure out which one it is. But the shape and specter and shade of it is wholly different, a change I have longed for, and one for which I will be eternally grateful.
Til next time.
Patton didn't get here until Saturday morning. There is so much to write about how labor went. Forty-three hours of intense, adrenaline fueled labor followed that afternoon, and no one realized Patton would enter the world in a posterior (sunny-side up) position until the moment of his arrival. I later learned that my midwife had her suspicions, but didn't want to let on because she didn't want to scare me. A posterior presentation is not necessarily dangerous, but it is notorious for being exponentially more painful, causing labor to be much longer and more likely to end in cesarean section.
The bodies of laboring women are powerhouses. We are suddenly able to function at peak performance for hours on end, exerting more force than we ever have before. In my case, I had been awake for exactly 48 hours to the minute when Patton made his appearance. Forty-three of them were heavy breathing hours, painful, sweaty, determined hours. By the time the pushing phase was upon us, I was so deliriously tired that I had begun to almost pass out between contractions, falling asleep for 30 seconds at a time, entering vignette dreams and waking up to push again for 3 hard pushes. I remember at one point mumbling something about needing to get a flat screen TV as I woke up to push again. But on we went, Patton and I, working on this thing together, getting him a little bit closer to his family with each push.
Patton was born Saturday morning at 7:24am. He weighed 8 lbs, 5 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.
Either my heart has grown to the size of an 8 lb, 5 oz baby, or my whole life has shrunk down to the size of one. I can't figure out which one it is. But the shape and specter and shade of it is wholly different, a change I have longed for, and one for which I will be eternally grateful.
He is absolutely adorable and I'm not just saying that...a lot of newborns don't have that cuteness to them. He's precious. Congrats Dare and Tim... I LOVE your commentary Dare <3
ReplyDeleteLove it Dare. Welcome to Parenthood again. It's gonna be a pretty crazy ride, I'm here to tell you :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, I knew you could do it! I feel you on the posterior labor ;)
ReplyDeleteHe's absolutely perfect.
Anya (butt4rfly)
Both. Your heart has grown; and your life has gotten smaller. It is just as it should be...as is Patton. You are a wonderful mother, sissy, and I love you.
ReplyDelete