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12-14-09 9:40 am 8 pounds 21 inches!
This morning (last night, really) I couldn't sleep. I stayed up going to the bathroom for no reason, reading a book that was okay (but, not all that) until after 5:15 this morning. I was falling asleep and waking almost immediately to read another couple of paragraphs.
At 5:45 am this morning my daughter (#2 of 3) called me to ask if I could take her to the birthing center in Brooklyn( we live in Queens) since her hubby had to work. I hesitated in the hope that she would tell him that he HAD to do this. It didn't work. She called me again at 6:30 and said, " Dad, I need you to do this!"
So, I did. We loaded up a whole bunch of snacks (none of which I liked! She is on an organic kick!), a change of clothes, her laptop, etc. 4 bags of stuff and a Daughter that was counting seconds! The highway was busy (this WAS Rush Hour!) and I had to get directions for the first time to a place I hadn't been near in at least 26 years!
We got there nearing 8:00 am. Nowhere to park! Got her in the buikding, drove away to park and walk back.
Get back and she's still counting, I bring the bags in and setup the laptop so she could watch the movie, Knocked Up!, which she wasn't since she is married, but, the choice had everyone laughing!
Nothing for an hour. I went back out to call my sister, who was her Alternate Coach, put more money in the meter where I parked, it is only 2 hour parking there, and check and see if Daddy was going to change his mind and forget about work and dash over and do the thing!
I come back to the Birthing Center and setup the movie on her laptop, and find out that her water has broken. This isn't a major thing I thing since in the past her mother's water broke and I had time to walk 5 blocks- take the bus 15 mins to my parents house- borrow the car-take her to the hospital before there was any concern about the time!
How times have changed! No sooner did I get the DVD setup on her laptop, than she said she was ready for the tub! (Turns out that she couldn't have the water birth she was hoping for, since the baby had had a bm and they couldn't do the water birth with the bm in the amniotic fluid!) But, she never even made it into the tub! Before she could get in the tub, she got some WICKED contractions! They got her back to the room, I came back from feeding the meter (glad I DIDN"T get that cup of coffee!), and setup to start the delivery.
My sister, Tia to my Daughters, wasn't there yet! She had done all of the videos, and pamphlets, and whatnot. I hadn't done any of that! My daughter asked me to help her so I did. I became Coach #1 on the spot!
I only had the directions that the midwiffe gave her and the memories of a few things that I had seen on the Discovery Channel to work with.
I sat at the sid e of the bed and placed her head in my lap( I know, MEN don't have laps! But, you know what I mean!), I held one hand while she held her leg up, (something to do with leverage) with the other. I stroked her head and told her that she was doing GREAT, and whatever other directions the midwife was offering, and It WAS FANTASTIC! In just a couple of pushes the baby's head was out! The midwife suctioned out the fluid from her lungs and she made just a little bit of an attempt at crying. With a couple of more pushes that I "coached" taking my words from the midwife, it was over!
I never had the oppurtunity to do this with any of my 3 daughters. I had never done anything like this. It was Fantastic!
M. A. S-T. Was born! (Please forgive me for not posting her name) I touched one of my grand-children during their FIRST minute of life! Not something I ever thought would happen!
I look back and understand that the intestinal discomfort that I had had the night before and the resistance to sleep, were signs that I HAD something to do and could not afford to be in deep sleep when the time came.
This is the nicest thing that I have EVER had to do! I thought that I was doing a great job when I went and got Mom's car to take my wife to the hospital. That was no way less, but, not nearly as amazingas this!
To conclude this day, I offer my thanks to the Lord! Giving me the strength and the ability to handle new situations is a Blessing! Giving me a new Grand-Daughter is a Blessing! Giving me the oppurtunity to be there for a Daughter that I left so many years ago, is a Blessing!
This is a Blessed Day and I thank God for letting me be here!
