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Dear Luc,
Dec 19, 2011 Birthday Dec 15, 2011
You are now four days old and such a good boy. I got to tell your birthing story over and over again at work today and everyone is so excited for us. I still can’t believe how lucky we are to have you. It all started on Tuesday Dec 13 when your Mama started to have little contractions almost immediately after we met with Asia at 6 pm. We then went out for India food and tried to pretend that nothing was happening. The little contractions lasted all night getting stronger bit by bit. Wednesday morning we went for one last acupuncture appointment and the contractions kept building to about 45 seconds in duration, every 10 minutes. Unfortunately we had to make one more stop before going home and this was for another ultrasound test to make sure you were ok. The contractions were really coming on strong now at 1 pm so much so that some lady in the mall stopped to ask if Mama was ok when she was having a contraction. After this appointment we hurried home and started keeping track of the contractions. By 6 pm, Mama was having contractions every 4 to 6 minutes and they were lasting over a minute. This was good progress but Asia wanted to make sure you were ok again so we met Asia, Mariam, and our Doula Tracey at the birth center to watch your heart beat. Everything was good so we all came home and prepared for your arrival. I was running around getting things for the midwives and Tracey and setting up the pool all while trying to be supportive to your Mama. Time went by very quickly and at 11 pm Asia checked Mama to see how far things had progressed. I knew right away that Asia didn’t have good news. It was tough to hear but we were 8 cm dilated which was good but Asia thought your head was very swollen and big and might not be able to be delivered at home. Mama said a bad word into the pillow and then we talked it over with Tracey and decided to try the birth pool until 1:30 am and then be checked again to see where we were at. The water seemed to keep Mama focused and at 1:30 Asia did her check and we were almost fully dilated and we could hear it in her voice that she had confidence that you could be delivered at home and not be in danger. Everyone had a little cheer and congratulated Mama on her hard work. The atmosphere had changed to a very positive environment. Everyone was confident that Mama could do it and your Mama really believed in herself. Two quick hours later, at around 4 am on Thursday Dec 15 Mama felt the natural urge to push. She took this as an opportunity to take control and really pushed with determination. Asia and Tracey had us try a couple different positions to push and soon Asia said she could see your head. I was overfilled with emotion and couldn’t speak for twenty minutes. I got to touch your head and watched as Mama was pushing you closer and closer out. Progress was a bit slow so we moved to the toilet to get some serious pushing done. After a couple pushes in this position Mama reached down and touched your head and I did again too. You were getting very close to having your head delivered so we moved back to the bedroom to try some standing squats. I was holding Mama up and she pushed down with all the focus and power she could muster up. Tracy, Mariam and Asia were all cheering Mama on loudly as she pushed. I did all I could do to just hold Mama up as she pushed down. Somewhere close to 6 am your head was delivered and a serious, electric, loud, powerful energy filled the room. We didn’t know at the time but your shoulders were stuck and Asia had to maneuver you through the pelvis and pull you out. We were all waiting for one last contraction to deliver your body but it just wouldn’t come so Asia just said PUSH and Mama PUSHED with all here might as she was so exhausted it really was every last bit of power she had left. Asia finally managed to pull you out and you laid on the floor while Asia and Mariam worked on getting you breathing. I think they used the aspirator and the bag respirator to help you to breathe. All I remember is Mama saying “it’s a BOY”. I looked down around Mama’s legs and saw that yes you were a boy. You were a bit stunned by the whole ordeal of getting stuck and I think I took a minute for them to get you to take your first breath. Tracey that was telling us to talk to you, and call your name so that you would come to us. Mama did of course and I am sure you could hear her familiar voice. I couldn’t say a word, it was easily the most emotional I have ever been in my life and when Asia put you in our arms it felt like a miracle just happened. I don’t think I ever thought you were really in danger but just the miracle of life coming full circle was overwhelming. The mood in the room turned to relief as everyone breathed a sigh of accomplishment. I was able to collect myself and start speaking to you quickly and we just relaxed and stared at each other. You just barely opened your eyes to see us a few times but it seemed as though you were full of energy and alert. Much later I cut your cord and you nursed for about an hour. Then we had some alone time together and I just held you face to face. A couple hours later a bath was drawn for Mama and you joined her for your first bath. You were so cute, this was the first picture I took of you. Then I think you nursed again before having a nap in Mama’s arms. Even though you were 17 days after your due date you looked great. Just your big hands and feet were really wrinkly but I think it added to how perfect you were already. Mariam put you on the scale and we thought it wasn’t calibrated correctly as it showed your weighted 9 lbs 9 oz, this couldn’t be true but it was – you were a big beautiful baby. At this point everyone was light hearted and the joy of your birth was bursting out the windows. Finally the midwives and Tracey had to go and the three of us were left to rest.
That is your birth story as I saw it through my eyes. I love you so much already and think you are the cutest most perfect baby I have ever seen.
Never forget we love you.
Papa
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