Due date, August 15. Doctor visit, September 16. The doctor finally agrees to induce the next day. Kent spends the evening cleaning the house (mom and dad are coming up) and after a restless night we headed to the hospital at 7:00 a.m. Sixteen hours of pitocin later, Lindsay was born! And I know why they don't warn you about back labor ahead of time.
Dads in the delivery room were still about a 50/50 split in our area when Lindsay was born. We did the lamaze classes and Kent was a terrific coach. "Rooming in" was the new trend, except dad wasn't allowed to stay over then. So dad headed home about 2 in the morning, and was back early the next day. It's amazing to me that when I was born my mom stayed in the hospital for ten days (no complications, just how it was), and barely was allowed any time each day with me. I had full care of my daughter from the first, and now with my grandchildren I see how involved dads are allowed to be.
Missi and Kathi visited with the grandparents (couldn't come in my room, so we had to use the "visitor's room".) Missi wanted to know why Lindsay was wearing a hat, and my dad told her it was to "keep her hair clean". I think she believed him, but as she got to know him better, she learned about his teasing. :)
We headed home on Monday (19th) and arrived just before my dad had to leave, so he got to hold his first grandchild (yeah, only dads were allowed in the patient's room when baby was in there, and he had to scrub up.) Mom stayed on with us to help, because in just another week we were heading to California.....
- Dana
With a due date within 4 days of my birthday I was naturally hopeful that I would share that date with a son. In hindsight that was really funny. The 15th arrived and departed with no baby. The 19th came and went, then the following days, then the month of August. Finally the doctor relented and agreed to induce. It was always my understanding that the nesting function was a pink function. Must have been a typo, eh?
Since I have the best in-laws in the world (and I am serious about that), I really didn't mind cleaning before their arrival. So it was clean, sleep, gather the goody bag and leave for the hospital.
Regardless of the biased statements made above, I was a mediocre coach at best. Remembering and encouraging the when and how of LaMaze breathing was spotty at best. Nerves were intense. My one redemption was that I could rub a back til my arms fell off. Still, 16 hours is a long time to give a back rub.
Finally, the PUSH command was ordered, and I was excited and eager and anxious. Then the most amazing thing happened. A beautiful little girl appeared where the boy was supposed to be and in a nano second I had lost my heart to another female. This was better than any plan I could have come up with. I got to hold her and she was magnificent. I didn't want to leave but I was exhausted and I knew there were others waiting to hear the news, so I relented.
Ten days later my two ladies and I were headed west, with Grandma to her house, and then Dana, Lindsay and I were off to California. Early indoctrination into the travel mindset is essential.
-- Kent
Dads in the delivery room were still about a 50/50 split in our area when Lindsay was born. We did the lamaze classes and Kent was a terrific coach. "Rooming in" was the new trend, except dad wasn't allowed to stay over then. So dad headed home about 2 in the morning, and was back early the next day. It's amazing to me that when I was born my mom stayed in the hospital for ten days (no complications, just how it was), and barely was allowed any time each day with me. I had full care of my daughter from the first, and now with my grandchildren I see how involved dads are allowed to be.
Missi and Kathi visited with the grandparents (couldn't come in my room, so we had to use the "visitor's room".) Missi wanted to know why Lindsay was wearing a hat, and my dad told her it was to "keep her hair clean". I think she believed him, but as she got to know him better, she learned about his teasing. :)
We headed home on Monday (19th) and arrived just before my dad had to leave, so he got to hold his first grandchild (yeah, only dads were allowed in the patient's room when baby was in there, and he had to scrub up.) Mom stayed on with us to help, because in just another week we were heading to California.....
- Dana
With a due date within 4 days of my birthday I was naturally hopeful that I would share that date with a son. In hindsight that was really funny. The 15th arrived and departed with no baby. The 19th came and went, then the following days, then the month of August. Finally the doctor relented and agreed to induce. It was always my understanding that the nesting function was a pink function. Must have been a typo, eh?
Since I have the best in-laws in the world (and I am serious about that), I really didn't mind cleaning before their arrival. So it was clean, sleep, gather the goody bag and leave for the hospital.
Regardless of the biased statements made above, I was a mediocre coach at best. Remembering and encouraging the when and how of LaMaze breathing was spotty at best. Nerves were intense. My one redemption was that I could rub a back til my arms fell off. Still, 16 hours is a long time to give a back rub.
Finally, the PUSH command was ordered, and I was excited and eager and anxious. Then the most amazing thing happened. A beautiful little girl appeared where the boy was supposed to be and in a nano second I had lost my heart to another female. This was better than any plan I could have come up with. I got to hold her and she was magnificent. I didn't want to leave but I was exhausted and I knew there were others waiting to hear the news, so I relented.
Ten days later my two ladies and I were headed west, with Grandma to her house, and then Dana, Lindsay and I were off to California. Early indoctrination into the travel mindset is essential.
-- Kent
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