Boxing Day 2006

Whew! We made it through. We were touch and go for a while there but in the end all played out exactly as it was supposed to.

As I believe I have previously posted, I had a client (#1) due December 21st. I also had a pre-eclamptic mom (#2) due January 17th but likely to be induced any time. Saturday I got a call from client #2 that her blood pressure was WAY up and the doctor was starting the induction. It may be a day or two but that is what I could expect. Great! December 23rd and a houseful of people arriving on the 25th. Nothing happened on the 23rd.

The afternoon of the 24th I received a call from client #1 informing me that her contractions were about 9 minutes apart but they had been inconsistent all day. Should she travel the 30-40 minutes north to Orangeville for Christmas dinner with her family? Sure, I say. Go and don't forget to have a glass of wine to see if we can get this whole process to slow to a stop.

No sooner am I off the phone with number one and number 2 calls to let me know that they have given her another Cervadil and that nothing is really happening. Perfect. I make sure the rice stuffing is cooked and the cranberries are ready in case I miss dinner on the 25th.

At 7:45 p.m. on the 24th client #1 calls, contractions are 5 minutes apart and they really hurt. She was having trouble smiling and being nice at her cousins so they have decided to head home from Orangeville. Her husband wants to keep going to the hospital but since they have their 3 year old with them we agree to meet at their place in 30 minutes. They will call the babysitter so she can meet us at the house and take the 3 year old.

Great, at least one of them is doing something. If I can get one to deliver then I will feel less stressed. Hold that thought . . . the phone is ringing again.

Hi Client #2! Your water just broke. You're kidding. Are you contracting? No? Okay. Try to get some sleep now while you can. (S#!T!)

I practically break my neck to get to the house of #1 to find them and get her in my car to take to the hospital. Her husband will follow once he gets the 3 year old settled.

I speak again to the husband of client #2 and advise that if they offer a sedative she should take it as she has not slept all day and her body will kick in any time. I advise him that I am with client #1 but that he should call and leave a message on my phone with any updates. I would go straight to them after #1 delivered if need be.

#1 Mom is now contracting 2-4 minutes apart and I am driving as fast as I dare. I don't want to scare the baby out and definitely not in the car. We stop once so she can vomit on the side of the road (at least I got warning) and we arrived at the hospital at 9:00 pm. Mom is admitted and is 4 cms. dilated. Great!

#1 Dad arrives at 9:30 and at 10:00 we go into the whirlpool room to help her relax. There is one fluorescent light so we close the drape but leave the door open with the light off to provide a moderately comfortable environment.

At 10:30 she tells me she needs an epidural. I mention this to the nurse who says the anesthetist is in with another case and will be at least two hours. "Besides, I think she is pretty much ready to go" I am told by the RN. (We had a FANTASTIC RN, btw.)

I go back and relate this news to #1 Mom who is not happy with me. We get her out of the tub, at her request, get her into her room and (at 10:50 p.m.) she is found to be 8-9 cms. dilated and while being checked her water breaks. Things get more intense. Mom is coping REALLY well but is a little freaked out at how fast it is going.

At 11:10 she has a slight anterior lip but doesn't want it moved for her so we wait through another contraction or two. Now it's 11:20 and she is pushing. Wow! The head is right there. As our RN reaches for the call button to call the Dr. he walks in behind her. 11:30 p.m. and we have a beautiful baby boy, 7 lbs. 12 oz. He is pretty cute. Seems to know what the breasts are for too!!

I am home around 2:00 a.m. No news from #2 Mom (who is now #1 Mom and really my only client of concern). I leave a message for them at the hospital to let them know to call me whenever they need me. I go to bed and toss and turn for the next several hours. He finally calls at 8:00 a.m. Nothing is happening yet but she is really uncomfortable. I remind him that I can go to them at any time and he says he knows this. He will call when there is something to tell but right now, they have indicated it is still early and they don't want to bother me on Christmas. "It's my job! That's what you've paid me for!" "I know. I'll call when there is something to report."

He did call again at 10:00 or so. The baby was almost 2 hours old and was born within a couple of minutes of his call to me. I missed it. My heart is broken because I know she was scared and was worried about bothering me. The baby went to the special care nursery and will be there all week as he is not due for a couple of weeks and was not breathing well on his own at birth. I guess I will do some extra work for them in their home once they get baby home.

Two boys in 9 hours. It's my new record, beating out the June 03, 2006 record of two births in 11 hours 40 minutes (although I did make it to both of those).

My family (immediate and extended) is great and we had a lovely time together yesterday. My brother and Chantel were greatly missed as was my BIL, Nino who was not able to come from Calgary this year. We shall see him in April when he and Jen get married and Nath and Chantel will, hopefully, be home this summer.

Now that Rhonda and Chris won't likely be getting married this year (maybe next but who knows) there isn't the same incentive for them to come back in time for any special events. (Except mom and dad's 40th this summer! That would be a great present for them!!)

Take care and hopefully I'll get a chance to write again before the new year!