Georgia was born 36 minutes before midnight
on May 30, 2001.
My pregnancy was difficult at first - I had 24 hour nausea and vomiting. I
tried to keep as much food as possible down and managed to stay relatively hydrated. I was let go of my job 3 weeks into the
morning sickness and spent the next 3 months trying to battle the constant wooziness at home. I was prescribed phenergen which
helped me sleep and cut the nausea a bit. After 3 months of throwing up...the nausea disapeared and I was able to function
again. I had lost 8 pounds total. The vommiting persisted for two more months.....and without warning. While driving as well. No
nausea...just a sudden rise in sensation up my chest, as if I was going to sneeze - was the only warning for me to
get to the bathroom. I was thrilled to be relieved of the nausea and was even thankful after I would be sick.
I had no other complications and felt energetic and healthy throughout my last
two trimesters.
Georgia was very active. She rolled around constantly and kicked and pushed
at my ribcage.
My due date came and went. According to the date I knew I had conceived...Georgia
would have been due on May 9. My OBGYN had picked May 15 as his guesstimate. I agreed happily - I was eager for as much
time as possible. I did not want to be induced into labor. I was well aware that first time babies tend to be late,
and I was looking forward to a birth experince that was as natural as possible. Little did I know...ha.
I went into labor 3 weeks after my due date...24 hours before I was to be induced
at the hospital! My husband and I went on a long walk...2 hours to walk maybe 1/2 mile! I had to stop every 20 feet becasue
I started feeling crampy...prelabor???
I spontaneously went into labor 2 hours after we got home from our walk... a
few minutes before midnight.We were literally up all night. The contractions were 4 minutes apart and consistent. I started
to realize that this was the real thing. 4 hours later we were walking down the hall to the maternity wing...I had to stop
every few feet and wait for the contraction to pass. We checked into Marin General Hospital and they admited me. I was 3 centimeters
dialated. Contractions were consistent and uncomfortable. The next morning, 6 hours after being in labor my midwife/RN came
in and asked me hopw I was doing....It was increasingly difficult to speak when I was mid-contraction. I was still able to walk
through the halls, stopping occasionally and glancing at my reflection from the window. Thank God I was going into labor...because
I coudn't get any bigger!!! I was breathing through each knife stabbing pain, yet still functioning on zero sleep
since midnight. Contractions forced me to return to the hospital bed!
I tried to relax and practice my Bradley Method breathing...Forget it. The breathing
worked for the first 12 hours and I was losing any sense of control I believed I actually had. I was now exhausted and in
a substantial amount of pain.
At 2:00 pm my parents came into the room to ask how I was doing...and I was clutching
the bed rail and couldn't open my eyes! My husband was trying his best to be comforting..he was visually exhausted and worried
about my pain. I started crying, told my husband to RUN and get ourlabor nurse! I was in agony..Oh my GOD.
I was begging for the labor nurse to deliver any kind of relief!!!
15 minutes later I was giving the thumbs up to the anesthisiologist....loving him...drunk
from the epidural and subsequent IV pain releif.
There were several times that Georgia's heart rate dipped and I was warned that
if it happened again they would deliver her via c-section. My OB broke my water and discovered it was stained with moderate
meconium. Another concern.
At 8:00 pm that night I began to push....and 3 1/2 hours later Georgia was born.
She came out with both shoulders straight on....and caused signifigant pain and damage! She was whisked up over my head...very
blurry..my glasses were gone. But I remember a tiny white naked baby and that was exciting..until I felt another surge of
pain. I was screaming because the epidural wore off and my tearing was incredibly painful while delivering the placenta.
I began to wonder why Georgia was not crying.
They entubated...checked her lungs and pumped her with air. Ryan stood beside her
and watched as two teams of specialists hovered over Georgia.
My doctor was jumping up and down yelling..."she's beautiful!...she's beautiful!...look
at those eyes"!!!!! My doctor looked like Jed Clampet from the Beverly Hillbillies.
I looked across the room and Ryan was holding our baby wrapped tightly in a pink
and blue striped blanket. He was walking slowly over to me...it seemed like slow motion. I asked Ryan....."Does she have hair?"
He nodded, and smiled and I said...."hurry, hurry, I want to see her". I heard a nurse remind him to pat her bottom
to get her to cry...we needed to pink her lips up.
When I saw her....I was so surprised...stunned. He eyes were so blue and dark
and she was looking right at me. She looked just like Ryan through the eyes...and I knew she would. She was so quiet
in her blanket and once in awhile made a coo noise. I opened up the blanket and counted her fingers and toes....She was
so sweet. She was so beautiful.
