Leah’s Birth Story

Monday, August 19, 2019

9:00 AM: “You are dilated 2CM!” my doctor tells me at my regular OBGYN routine appointment. I thought nothing of it, since women can sometimes remain dilated that much for days. I still texted Carl and told him the news and we both said it might be happening soon – perhaps by the next morning!

10:15 AM: I found a cute little coffee shop, The Merchant, near the OBGYN. It became a habit to stop by every time I went for a checkup. Today was not exception: I went to the get coffee and then I went to Trader Joes nearby.

11:00 AM: Upon arriving home, I went to the restroom and got a period-like cramp. Again, I didn’t worry because I had cramps with Julianna as well and I was in labor with her for 14 hours.

11:00 AM-2:00 PM- The cramps got slightly stronger, but I still thought nothing of it. Carl and I decided that we would still go to the hospital in the evening just to be safe. Being the pessimist that I am, I do not get my hopes up as I know that the doctors will check me and send me right back home.

2:00 PM: I am texting Ruby and talking about our upcoming Mamacita Market. We needed an updated flyer so that is what I start on right away.

Cramping (contractions) are now 10 minutes apart.

2:15 PM: Carl calls me to tell me he is out of work. I tell him that if needed to stay that he should. My contractions are not “horrible”, and I didn’t think Leah would be coming any time soon. “I would rather not take the chance and come home.”

“Can you pick up Julianna on the way home?” Julianna was with my stepmom and I wanted to see her one last time before rushing to the hospital. “NO! If the cramps are getting stronger and stronger, we need to rush you to the hospital and there is no time to pick her up. I don’t think that’s a good idea” Carl tells me.

We argue back and forth for five minutes.

Reluctantly, Carl finally agrees.

Carl’s commute on the way home is about 1.5 – 2 hours long.

3:00 PM: I finish the flyer for the Mamacita Market and I tell Ruby I was going to go shower and rest. THIS is where the cramping starts getting a big stronger.

3:25 PM: Carl is home with Julianna. I am trying to breathe through my contractions. I knew it was serious when I couldn’t talk through them and I tried so hard to breathe through them. I am explaining to Julianna that mom will feel a lot of pain when the baby will come and that it is normal. She was trying to help me breathe through the contractions. Through all of this, I am trying to finish packing my hospital bag, dry my hair, and finish packing Julianna’s bag.

4:20 PM: We head to my dad’s home to drop off Julianna. “AHHHHHH” It was in the car that I start screaming. I am feeling more pain, more pressure… heat running through my whole body. Carl is trying to rush through the rush hour traffic. “I told you picking up Julianna was not a good idea.” (not the best thing to tell a woman who is in labor, lol). I look back to glance at Julianna and she looks extremely worried. “I am okay, baby. I am okay”.

4:30 PM: We drop off Julianna and my heart hurts after I see that she is crying so worried about me.

4:30-4:53PM: I am screaming through the pain. I am not even breathing. The pain is so intense, like nothing I had experienced before. Contractions are about 3 minutes apart and I am trying to squeeze anything I can get my hands on. Carl is going as fast as he could and zooming through traffic. Right before arriving to the hospital, he runs a red light. I feel intense pressure and heat running through my whole body “I THINK THE BABY IS COMING OUT!!” I scream.

4:53PM: We arrive to the hospital. Carl doesn’t get the chance to look for parking, he parks right in front of the hospital.

He runs towards the security guy “Can I please leave my car here; my wife is in active labor?!” At that second, I let out another scream and I hold onto the car handle as hard as I can.

“Go right ahead to the second floor”, the guard says.

I am literally walking with my legs open to the elevator.

An elderly lady tries to make conversation inside the elevator. Carl and I are not having it.

The doors open and we approach the front desk. I get another contraction and I let another scream. “I am so sorry,” I tell the front nurse “You have nothing to apologize, girl. You let it out. We go through this all day long.”

Carl gives her my paperwork and tells her I am very active. Less than a minute later, another contraction and another scream. The nurse immediately picks up the phone “Can you meet me right now in Room 15? I have a very “active” one.” She runs and grabs a wheelchair. We arrive at the room.

From this point on, everything is happening super-fast and it is all blur.

There are nurses running around. They help me onto the bed. My doctor wasn’t available at that moment and the doctor on call came in and checked me. “You have no cervix. You are ready to have this baby.”

‘Excuse me, nurse!! Can I get the epidural?! I say through a contraction. “Honey, I am so sorry. It’s too late for the epidural. We don’t have time for an epidural, IV… nothing.”

SHIT! I felt fear creep up on me and I started crying. There was also no time to change me, I was still wearing the dress I came in with. “I am so scared” I manage to say. Everything was happening SO fast. “Don’t worry girl!! You got this mama!” a nurse tells me. Carl is holding my hand and I can tell we are both extremely nervous.

“Excuse me, do you think I should go move my car? I didn’t have time to park it” Carl asks. “If you leave, you will definitely miss your daughters birth.” “Gotcha!” Carl responds and goes back by my side.

Nurses are asking me questions left and right:

Did you have any complications?

Is this your first pregnancy?

Any allergies?

Questions coming at me left and right and I am trying to answer through the contractions. All of the pressure… all of the pain and screaming

My doctor walks in and my water breaks seconds after. I felt a gush of hot water come out. SO. MUCH. WATER. A nurse is trying to check on Leah’s heartbeat with the contractions. She then throws a hospital gown on top of my dress.

“Alright Janet, you are going to start pushing. You got this. Your daughter will be here soon.” The doctor tells me. Contraction come and I start screaming and I try to push. Another contraction and I start screaming and pushing.

“Janet, you need to listen to me. You are not breathing through your contractions. If you don’t breathe, your daughter is not going to come out. Do this for her. I need you to breathe and push down as if you are going to poop. Grab your legs and push down.”

“Okay, Okay.” I say through breaths. It was then, I try to focus, and I push through a contraction.

The release of pressure you feel when your baby comes out is UNREAL!!!! “She’s out babe, she’s out!!” Carl tells me. His eyes get teary staring at Leah. I hear the cry, I see her tiny body. It happened. She’s out. I start crying.

5:14PM: Leah is born.

I am trying to focus on her while the doctor is starting to help me take out my placenta. Again, so much pain. She’s’ pushing down on my stomach as I am pushing as well. I felt such a release as the placenta comes out. Then, the doctor starts to stitch me up. I got a first-degree tear. (nothing compared to what I got with Julianna, thank God).

“Do you mind getting your dress dirty with all the gunk?” – the nurses ask.

“Of course I don’t mind!” – I responded.

They bring Leah to me, and she was tucked inside my dress to enjoy skin to skin right away. My mother didn’t make it on time to witness the birth, but she arrived around 30 min after I delivered. Having Leah on my chest and breastfeeding her was the best feeling ever. I couldn’t stop smiling, I couldn’t stop crying.

I will NEVER forget Leah’s birth. The way she came into my life, the way she fiercely entered earth. It was unforgettable and I am so happy it happened so fast. I thank God for being able to become a mother a second time and for making me Leah’s and Julianna’s mother. Forever thankful.