Ethan's Arrival

(From my recollection) I received the epidural between 4:30am - 5:00am Tuesday, July 29th at which time I was only dilated a whopping 2 centimeters. Before I knew it and 5 hours later, I was finally 10 centimeters. About 10:30am my nurse, Joy, instructed me on the proper delivery technique, and so we began to try to push little Ethan right on out. I must say that ...that whole scenario was nothing like I thought it would be. The doctor didn't even come in the room while I was trying to deliver. It was very quiet, and it was just me, Sajid and Joy. This part really isn't too exciting.

Once again before I knew it, 2 hours had passed (of pushing) and still no Ethan. He came a little ways down the birth canal, but he wasn't coming any further. Joy suggested that we take a break for a little while b/c she said that I was exhausted. At that point, my epidural was wearing off, and I requested another dose. After they administered the second dose, Joy and Dr. Brown informed me that I would have to have a C-section. There again, this was extremely upsetting to me. Looking back, I don't know why, but at the time it just broke my heart. When I ever imagined the birth of my child, I never imagined it by c-section. Plus, I was very scared. My wonderful mama reminded me that I had never had surgery before nor stayed overnight in the hospital. I was so upset, but I didn't have a choice. Sajid did an exellent job throughout the unsuccessful labor process and at comforting me.

So, they wheeled me down to O.R. And, boy when that door flung open it was a mad house. There were people (nurses, doctors, anesthesiologists) everywhere. They quickly lifted me from my bed to the operating table. Strapped my arms down, place tubes in my nose, put a blanket shield over me, and who knows what else. Sajid, dressed in his scrubs, sat down right next me and held onto my hand as best he could. He knew how scared I was.

Then, someone else dressed in scrubs leaned over and said, "Amy, I'm here." I said, "ok." I gues she knew that I did not recognize who she was. In fact, at the time, I didn't even know if it was a man or woman. All that was visible was his/her eye glasses. Then, this individual said, "it's Dr. Palmer." I never doubted Dr. Brown's abilities - not once not for a second - but to know that Dr. Palmer was also in the room assisting with the c-section was a huge comfort. I can't explain that either, but it was. A few things I remember are:

1) the anesthesiologist who was at my head the entire time and wearing some sort of headphones said, "it's about to feel like I'm sitting on your chest." I remember thinking, "ok - whatever." 2 seconds later, Dr. Palmer comes around behind me, and it feels like she's literaly pushing on my chest, but now I know she was pushing from the top of my stomach downward I guess to help Ethan come out.

2) Sajid saying, "he's about to come; he's about to come." How did Sajid know that? Oh - he had his head peeped around the blue shield the entire time, watching the whole process. Then, sure enough I heard my baby's cry, and Sajid and I both burst into tears. Sajid leaned in towards me and we just cried tears of joy together.

3) Lastly, I remember Dr. Brown whisking Ethan to a table behind me where the nurses washed him off and wrapped him up. Then, Joy, breifly brought my precious bundle, swaddled in a blanket over to where I was still laying and let me see him. I think she brought him close enough to me where I could kiss him.

(ALL Photos by: Kyle Hitchcock http://www.kylehitchcock.com/)

Ethan was born at 1:30pm on July 29, 2008 at Oconee Regional Medical Center.