September 12, 2011
It was Monday at work when I started to feel a little off. My stomach felt very tight- like a Braxton Hicks that lasted way too long. I wasn’t in pain, but uncomfortable. I thought it was just gas so I bought some Gas-X.
My discomfort did not, however, stop me from arranging a group of friends to go to the Wild Goose to lend me moral support while the Patriots pummeled my Dolphins. Although the Dolphins were losing big time, that was not the reason I left at halftime. I started to feel extremely uncomfortable. I went home, put my pj’s on, took two Gas-X and went to bed.
September 13, 2011
Tuesday morning I pretty much felt the same way. The only difference is later that night I started to get some back pain. I talked to my mom and she told me to call my doctor. So I did- and she told me to take two Tylenol, but if the pain persists to go to the hospital. I did as the doctor ordered and popped two Tylenol and the pain subsided some, so I went to bed.
McPherson Elementary, Chicago Public Schools
September 14, 2011
Woke up Wednesday with cramps. The pain wasn’t constant, therefore, tolerable, so I went to work. As the day progressed, the cramps got worse. I talked to several friends who have been through pregnancy to get their advice about how I was feeling. My friend Michelle suggested I call my doctor. This time she said I should probably go to the hospital considering this was the second day I was calling, she said just to be on the safe side.
Well, I have a high threshold for pain, so I decided to go to lunch and see if I could make it through the work day. I got to the teacher’s lounge and started eating lunch with my friend Becca. That’s when it got worse. I couldn’t sit, stand, walk, or lay down- it all hurt! This is when Becca went downstairs and told my principal that she needed to take me to the hospital. My principal came up to my room and said take only what you need- you’re going to the hospital right now.
Did I mention Lou was in Iowa?! So at this point I thought I was going to the hospital to talk to a doctor, they would reassure me everything was fine and send me home. So while sitting in the waiting room, I texted Lou: Don’t want to alarm you, but left school and am at the hospital… been having sharp pains all day. This was at 1:05 pm.
I was brought to a room with Becca at my side by 1:15 pm. The doctor comes in and gives me an ultrasound to see what’s going on. I remember thinking- how cool… Becca’s going to see the baby and hear the heartbeat (well who knew she was going to see A LOT more of me than that in the 3 hours to follow). The doctor examines the baby and examines me and says your baby is breech (butt first) and by the way… you’re 5 cm dilated. So you’re telling me I’m having this baby today?! Holy Crap! Apparently those cramps were actually contractions. Good to know!
Becca calls Lou- who immediately gets in his rental car and starts speeding home. The only problem- he’s 5 hours away, at best. Lou’s story to be continued later…
The doctor comes back and asks me two questions: do you want an epidural? Which I immediately say ”YES!” since the contractions were so brutal (even though my original plan was to go without). But the only stipulation was that I would have to wait 30-45 minutes for the ONLY anesthesiologist on duty to get out of a C-Section happening at the same time. Second question: Do you want to deliver this baby vaginally or through a C-Section? Although the baby was breech (butt first), “it” was small enough to birth naturally. So, I went with the former and prayed that I could do this without having a C-Section…
The doctor leaves and it’s just Becca and I in the room. Panic sets in- Am I seriously having this baby right now!?
15 minutes later, after I talk to my mom and brother who are both trying to calm me down, my water breaks! Like Niagara Falls, like a dam breaking, like a giant hose all over the bed and rushing down the sides. I then proceeded to try to hide it for Becca’s sake, but there was no hiding it! I guess at this point I couldn’t be embarrassed about anything since apparently this baby was coming today. Becca runs and tells the doctor my water broke, and he tells me it’s too late for an epidural. They rush me to the operating room just in case they have to do an emergency C-Section. Yikes.
The contractions are getting pretty bad, but they won’t let me push until my doctor arrives. Where the hell is my doctor!! And while this is all going on, Becca has Lou on speaker. He’s trying to calm me down, and telling me to do my yoga breathing. All that practicing was completely forgotten- F the yoga breathing… all I wanted to do was get this baby out!
The doctor finally arrives and I start pushing. Becca’s holding my hand through the whole ordeal while Lou is screaming Breathe, Breathe!! About 10 pushes later, at 4:08 pm our beautiful baby boy, Jacob Nicholas was born- 4 lbs 7 oz and 17 ¾ inches in length. To top it all off, I had a heart shaped placenta, which is considered rare and the doctor made sure to show me (if you’re curious about this, I have a picture!).
Overall, it was a crazy 3 hours! Although I wished Lou could have been there with me and to witness the birth of his first child, he was able to hear the whole thing and even better, hear his son cry for the first time. Becca was definitely my angel- and I couldn’t have done it without her! She will for sure be my “doula” for the next one (if that’s ok with you, Becca).
Becca Rosenbaum, AKA, "doula"
After 2 weeks in the Special Care Unit, Jake is home and mommy and daddy are adjusting well to our new lives. Lou is on paternity leave through November so we’re happy to have this time together with our newly formed family.
Much Love, Ang, Lou, and Jake XOXO
