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Introduction

Ms. Makena Simone! Makena was born on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 at 3:38 p.m. during what had to be one of the best labor/deliveries a girl could hope for. She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was 21 inches long.

This is Makena’s birth story. It will probably get to be a little wordy, but I’ve got to make sure I get it all in. Enjoy.

We (Michael, my parents and I) arrived at the hospital for induction early Wednesday morning. Not exactly on time – but we made it. I think we were there around 5:40 as opposed to 5:30, but like my mother said – they couldn’t start without me!

I’d pre-registered, but still had to do a little paperwork and get various bracelets attached to my wrist. At about 6:15 a.m. we were in the labor room, I was given the
oh-so-charming hospital gown, and we got the show on the road. I had an enema, and while it wasn’t the most pleasant experience of my young life, it wasn’t the horror that I’d been led to believe it would be. The nurse then made two attempts to start an IV in my left hand – those both blew, and the IV expert was called in. This lady got the IV started on the first try – on my right hand. Thank you God. Two bags were hung from the IV – pitocin and “volume.” My nurse’s name was Susie and she really was a dear – IV skills aside.

The doctor made it there at 7:45 or so, checked me, and told me that I was dilated to six! Six? I had not felt a thing. By then, I was on the monitor for contractions, and sure enough, I was having them regularly, they were strong, and I still felt nothing. As far as I was concerned, this labor stuff was not so bad. At 8:00, the pitocin drip was started and we waited.

Now, I’ve decided that all I can do is document my labor experience. I realize that labor, much like pregnancy, is different for each woman, and that what I experienced may or may not be all that common.

I felt nothing. Nothing at all. No pain, no discomfort, nada. In hindsight, as worried and reluctant as I was about being induced, I am now glad that I was. I probably would’ve gotten to 10, not felt a thing and delivered my baby girl in less than ideal surroundings.

So, the nurse is coming in regularly, and checking me and asking me if I want something for the pain. But, of course I don’t, because I don’t feel anything. I tell her that I’ll wait for the pain to start and then consider my pain relief options. By now, I’m around 8 cm and I remember looking at my mother and asking when the pains were going to start coming. I believe she called me a freak of nature!

At around 9 cm I started feeling discomfort – I still can’t describe the sensation as painful, because it wasn’t. I’d have Michael hold my hand, do some deep breathing, and then it was over. Next thing I knew, it was 3:15, the nurse told me that I was at 10, and that we were going to do a few practice pushes. The pushing didn’t come as naturally as I’d thought it would. Apparently I was using my stomach muscles and not the muscles one uses when having a BM. Not to mention the fact that she wanted me to curl up over my belly, hold my legs and push. What? Everything I’d seen on TV showed the lady using stirrups. I told her that the women on TV had stirrups, and I wanted stirrups too. Okay, not real smooth on my part, but hey – I got my stirrups. I pushed a few times and she told me to hold it. Next thing I know, the doctor is running in and getting ready for delivery. The whole thing was so surreal. I felt like I was an observer, and not a participant.

Anyhoo, I pushed for around 15 minutes, I heard a cry, the doctor said “it’s a girl,” and there you have it! Michael was awesome support during the whole thing. All I really required was a little hand holding and a totally quiet room. My parents basically dozed on the couch while I labored.

I was released from the hospital Friday afternoon, and since then we’ve pretty much been in the house. My mother is truly old school, and refuses to let me out before 6 weeks have passed. We took the baby in for her 2 day follow up on Sunday afternoon, she was a little jaundiced, and went back in today, where her bilirubin levels have dropped, but she’s still got some jaundice. Apparently, her levels are supposed to be 10 or below, today she was a little over 12. We’ve got her two week appointment next Wednesday, when I guess they’ll check her levels again. At her appointment today she weighed 8.11. My breast milk has most definitely come in, and she most definitely has the feeding thing under control.

So, there you are. We’ve got our baby girl, and couldn’t be more thrilled. Her first name (Makena) is Kikuyu (from Kenya I believe) is pronounced Ma-kay-na and will probably be mispronounced as Makenna for the rest of her life – sorry kid! It means “happy one.” Her middle name Simone is Hebrew and means “one who listens” – it is also from the singer Nina Simone whose work I enjoy. We’d been pondering a few different names, and just decided to see who we thought she might be when she arrived before deciding on a name.

I hope that all is well in your world, and look forward to updating you on our little family every few weeks or so. For now, I’ve got a precious baby who I’ve got to go spend some time with.

Peace be with you and yours.

Amani B