May Garden
• Nov. 8, 2007 - Happy Birthday Michalina
Three years ago Michalina was born.
Michalina Giovanna Montalto
I woke at 2 a.m. on November 8, 2004 thinking of my baby. I somehow knew baby would be a girl and I wanted to have a middle name fo r her. I knew she'd be born soon!
I'd finally found an old 1930's ethnic names origin book from the library that gave me many to think over. With our last name being so strongly Italian I felt I needed a strong ethnic name.
I prayed about the name Giovanna meaning John in Hebrew and Italian.
John means The lord is gracious.
Oh, how gracious He was to give us another baby. This precious one came after our first miscarried baby.
Michalina Giovanna ... how pretty!
We'd opted not to have a Michael jr. with our first son so Michalina was a creative variation of daddy's name for our first girl!
Michalina means... resembles God. We believe strongly that the Bible is God's words to us and it is written that we are made in the image of our creator.
I was tired and lay back down to rest but by 6 a.m. I was awake in true labor.
I got to pulling the last loose ends of our needs together.
Michael would be home early around 7 a.m. so I figured I'd do best to let the boys wake around that time and give them their breakfast and get them dressed.
Labor was picking up pretty quick.
So I was very sure of myself when Mike stepped in the door I announced
" This is it! " and " We will have baby in arms in a few hours! "
I gave the boys some breakfast cookies I had already made and told them it was going to be an exciting day.
Oh, dear their shoes were full of mud from our last outdoors adventure.
I stood at the sink scrubbing them and counting contractions while dad was upstairs showering.
I labored on the potty off and on.
By the time I was done cleaning the shoes the contractions were strong and close enough together to call the hospital and let them know that I was planning to come in.
The nurses at maternity told me to call the OB at his office. I called and got to talk to the OB on his cell phone.
He told me to give him an hour and a half to get to the hospital. I replied " Well we'll see what I can do."
So before we left I finished a few things up and worked through the contractions. I pretty much relieved my bowels while I was at home. I liked leaning against a counter or a wall or spending time on the potty.
We took time to take a few pictures of me and the boys together. Stop at the bank across the street from our apartment building for a little cash. And take the five minute drive to the hospital. I knew we were a bit earlier than the OB would have liked but I knew I was close to transition.
Mike left me off at the main entrance so I could make my way to the maternity ward I had to stop several times to work through contractions. Mike parked the van and brought the boys up with him. The nurses had told us previously that they were more than happy to have one lady stay with the children when I was almost ready to have the baby if they weren't too busy. So we were unsure if Mike was gonna be able to be with me or not until I reached the floor and announced that I was there to have a baby and they were clearly not too busy.
So all the prep of things for them to do and snacks and such were really not gonna be used but I was glad that I'd done what I could.
I put the robe on and answered a few questions and asked a few of my own. I was able to stay on my feet for only a short while.
Though I'd been told when I first talked to them months before the birth that they had allowed a Filipino woman to deliver in a squatting position I was not allowed to do so.
Of course as soon as I had the monitor around my waist and had to lie down I started to feel real pain for the first time.
Then the I.V. for 'just in case' was put in.
I said I didn't want an epi ... they sent the tech up 'just in case.'
I declined again. She had to take blood for something so after a contraction I gave the go ahead for that.
I was going into shock by now and the pain was great.
Where was the OB?
I continued to pray and work thought the contractions.
I was close to wanting to push.
Ah... the OB was here. He was telling the nurse all about his troubles at the airport during his trip! He told me that I was good to have waited until he returned. I guess he'd gotten in that night.
I am so glad that the suggestion to be induced a few weeks prior was followed up by an ultra sound showing that the supposed 9-10lb baby was only 7lb. !! I suppose his upcoming trip, my largeness and uncomfortable state all contributed to his idea of a big baby. She was a few weeks later ready to come on her own only 2 1/2 weeks early.
He was still putting on his gloves when I wanted to push. Thankfully the LD nurse was a pretty good one and she sensed I was really wanting to get on with it all and told the OB so.
He broke the waters and I almost immediately wanted to push.
I was not comfortable for so long that I was numb with pain.
I did not like having to pull up into a sitting position during pushing.
After the first two pushes I started to hyperventilate a bit. I did not like the oxygen mask it seemed to suffocate me more.
Mike came in and gave me a little moral support the last few pushes. Unfortunately because I was listening to the coached count push I got tired out in the middle of a push and the baby's head was already half out but I just needed to wait until the next contraction came.
Mike almost got to cut the cord but I guess it was wrapped a bit around her neck and so the OB took the scissors away from him and did it himself.
Baby was a girl. Wow!
I was able to hold her almost right away. And nurse her.
They gave me the picotin to move the placenta along.
There was some tearing but not much a few stitches and that was all.
She was briefly weighed and cleaned up and swaddled thankfully she wasn't 'scrubbed.' They did the eye drops and all.
I was sad to see her little nose was off to one side and some blood vessels had broken underneath from me stopping in the middle of that push.
She was a healthy girl at 8.3 lbs. my biggest baby!
The boys were brought in. And marveled over her and hugged her.
She was dark like Timmy dark hair and eyes! Her name was indeed fitting.
It worked out great for the boys. They stayed in the waiting room for such a short while!
Then they got to be apart of our joy.
One of the nurses set up a little table for them to have snacks at and brought me a lunch. I had to decline sausage and sourkraut ... didn't quite seem the best thing to eat after such an event. So a sandwich was brought up and I ate well.
Daddy was exhausted and falling asleep in a comfortable recliner. We had to wake him up and move to the next room.
The family didn't stay too much longer... they went home so they could nap.
A new nurse came on to help me.
I was asked did I plan a tubal ligation because if I did she wouldn't remove the I.V. yet.
I really wish she would have looked on my chart before blurting that out because it was a downer after such a special time of birthing.
I guess she only had two kids and figured three was unusual and having more would be really unusual.
I was having a hard time urinating... I was forcing the fluids to make myself go so I wouldn't have to have a catheter. I even drank a pop which I usually don't do because the nurse said it often times helps one to go.
Well I couldn't go and the pain and unrest from this got to be too much.
So finally I gave into the catheter. It was a good relief as two pans were taken away!
Now I could concentrate more on baby.
She was in the nursery a bit but mostly roomed in with me after the after birth business was complete.
The night was tiring with checks and being in a place other than home.
The next morning was nice. I showered. And got a visit from the family.
And I spent time nursing baby.
This hospital was so different then any other I'd been because it was small and not as busy as the huge one back in Toledo that I delivered the boys at.
I stayed two or three days and wasn't rushed out like the other times either!
Though I missed the boys and Michael they of course visited and I was happy to have some time with baby alone.
I was able to tell the nurses what a big difference this experience was for me.
I did notice that the nurse that helped me deliver was pretty quiet with me when she was on duty again.
I think she knew my experience could have been even better.
So did I but I was very pleased at the time with baby in arms and all.
I was encouraged that the OB did emphasis that I was the one that delivered her.
And I had really one of the most rewarding births because I felt I had prayed a lot more and gotten my strength from the Lord. There was little fear involved and the care was more personal and less hurried than my previous birthing experiences.
I did not have bed rest or an extra hospital stay nor an hour and a half trip away from my family to the big city for extra care involved in this pregnancy all were a possibility none came to pass.
This was another birth to grow on... I'd once again learned more about my God, myself, and others. |
Post A Comment! :: Send to a Friend!
|
|
|
|
|
• Nov. 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
BTW-you said you had to labor in the bed but for your last one were you able to alternate? You had a homebirth, right? I've found that with my last two I have to stand and deliver. With my second one I kicked one of the nurses across the room and there were 4 holding my legs!!! They don't have any stirrups in the birthing center because they want it to be more like a homebirth but I recommended them for moms who want them. I can't see pushing on the bed w/out them (for me) Oh, they won't do a knotted rope from the ceiling either because of liability (guess they're afraid a woman might commit suicide?) but my hubby was able to support my weight while I stood and pushed-what a trooper! Oh, and I've not had any tearing this way. It's also less painful to me.
God bless, Pam