Another contraction, another round of push and Maria saw the baby's head. Maria ordered "Stop, stop, stop!". She then called the Ob. While waiting for her, Maria asked me if I wanted to feel the baby's head. I did. It felt like a rounded bone.

At last the doctor showed up, put on her gown as additional facilities were wheeled in and the spotlight was turned on. The show was about to start. I then saw a team of other doctors coming in to prepare the "baby's room". I heard Maria tell the doctor that she didn't expect them to come that quickly. I was told to scoot down and put my feet in the stirrups. Finally the homestretch.

But there was a problem, I was told to rest from pushing, the monitor showed my baby's heartbeat slowing to below a hundred (it should be between 120-170). I was told to lie on my left side to see if it will normalize, if it didn't, I'd switch to my right. When it eventually did we would go back to do more pushing. The baby's heart slowed down again. Some tense moments where we couldn't hear the heartbeat at all. Maria had to readjust NST wire on my tummy a number of times. We waited out several contractions. The doctor explained that in cases like this the most likely cause would be the umbilical chord getting tangled up with the baby. This happened about 4-5 times.

With an urgent tone to her voice Maria told me that if I'm going to push, I should push really hard because prolonging it wasn't good for the baby. And by golly, that I did.

45 minutes after the first, the final push was anti-climactic, I didn't even really feel the baby come out. All I heard was that the doctor was amazed at how the umblical chord was wound all over the baby's body, from his arms, torso and legs. Relieved I just hit the bed, laid there and listened to the doctor/nurse conversation.

Then Maria turned to me excitedly, "did you see the baby?" Tired as I was I could only shake my head. "Look," she said and out came into view from what was obstructed by my legs, held by the Ob and handed to the other doctors was my Evan, wet, covered in white patches, looking too big for something to come out of me and best of all, he looked normal. And when the doctors placed Evan into a table, I could see him punching his fists and kicking his legs furiously in the air.

I tearfully turned to look at my husband who was sitting quietly in a chair by the bed, just slightly above where my head was. "Can you see him?" "Yes," the happy dad smiled. Still I motioned for him to adjust his chair so he will have a clearer view of what was going on in the other room. I heard Tom ask Maria if cases like Evan's often happen. Her reply was vague to me but she did say that usually babies who undergo something like this wouldn't look good, not like Evan.

Since the Ob was still stitching me up, Evan was first handed to Tom. Watching the brand new dad talking softly to his son gingerly cradled in his arms - not through my tummy this time, is a memory I will forever cherish. I just gave Tom the greatest gift.

Then when I was ready it was my turn to hold Evan. While looking at this person who I carried for nine months I couldn't believe something this wonderful, beautiful and perfect could come from inside me. Maria told us that we will be staying in the delivery room for an hour to rest and to nurse the baby. So the 3 of us were left alone in the room to get to know each other. The three of us - Tom and I were no longer a couple unit, with little Evan into our lives we are now a family. That day was a beginning of a new chapter for us.

to be concluded...

Evan At 2 Weeks

A funny photo of Evan. Most of his hats are still too big for him yet.

Evan had his 2nd doctor's check up last Tuesday. He has gained 6.5 oz and 1 inch. 1 inch in a week! I never realized babies could grow that fast. He is starting to fill out his clothes, Tom even remarked with amusement yesterday that his stomach is starting to bulge. Well he should, my sore breasts can attest to that. He is always a hungry little puppy.

New photos in his album.

Currently listening to: Michael Buble's CD
Currently reading: Truman Capote's In Cold Blood
Currently watching: Parrots On Telegraph Hill