The Birth Story
Tuesday was Az’s day off and my mother was in town waiting for me to have the baby. We decided to take advantage of our eager, trustworthy babysitter and go out without kids for the day. It was positively datelike.
It was a beautiful spring day, so of course our first stop was the library. He picked out a couple of grammars he hadn’t read yet (really - Spanish, Arabic and something I don’t remember) and I chose some travel narratives (my favorite postpartum genre) and got a couple of movies.
After the library we went out for lunch at PF Chang’s. I started having contractions during lunch, but they were light, and I’d been having those on and off for a month. They continued for over an hour and were four minutes apart, so after lunch we decided to go to the hospital just to check.
Predictably, almost as soon as I got into a hospital robe, the contractions stopped. The nurse told me I was only two centimeters dilated, and that the doctor would probably tell me to go home. After a few minutes the doctor came in and started to tell me the same thing. Then they saw my blood pressure.
Apparently my bp was creeping up into the danger zone. The doctor said, “Hmm. I think your blood pressure just bought you a ticket to stay.” I threw my arms in the air and said, “Woo-hoo!” (my mom-in-law assures me this will be the only time in my life that I will be grateful for high blood pressure).
They started me on pitocin at 5:30 pm. The doctor came in to break my water with that enormous darning needle. I don’t respond quickly to pitocin, so they inserted some gadget that measures contractions from the inside. Gradually my contractions increased.
During my last delivery, the epidural was so strong that I could not move my legs for hours. I hated that even worse than the pain, so I tried to hold off this time until the contractions were good and strong. The epidural took the edge off and I got a break from the pain for about two hours. I took a brief nap.
By 11 pm the contractions were hard and painful and almost constant. The epidural was not as effective as last time. It was my most painful labor. The baby was ready to come, but the doctor had not arrived yet. I spent the last half hour before the doctor arrived clutching the side of the bed and moaning and hollering. I am not a “silent birth” person. Az did the only thing a husband can do: he stood by the bedside while I was in pain and he tried not to be annoying.
Finally the doctor came in. I pushed through two contractions and saw her little head. He told me not to push through the third but to let the contraction ease her out on its own. And then there she was, all 9 pounds 8 ounces of her.
Az had our name list, which he had been pestering me with all day. He teased me in front of the doctor and nurses about how many names were on it until I finally snapped, “Would you stop making fun of me? I just had your baby.” Then he shut up.
And the name that JellyBean had been pushing for the last month until even her daddy capitulated was perfect. It suited her exactly. I had no doubts. We gave her my mother’s name for a middle name.
Tags: baby
Blog Antagonist
Congratulations!! What an absolutely beautiful name. It’s wonderfully unique without being silly. I love it.
Wow…9lbs 8 oz. My DO was 9lbs 5 oz and that was…tough. Take care of yourself and get plenty of rest.
Kelli
“Flower Queen”
It’s beautiful
hehe.
Really, it’s a beautiful name. I’m so excited for you and the family!
Hope to see lots of pics soon
Pieces
Oh, I’m so glad that it is over. And just beginning. I wish she would have been an easier babe to birth but maybe she will be the most content infant in the world.
A perfect lovely name. Maybe her bloggy name should be Kelli’s idea: Flower Queen. Or at least Princess.
Congratulations!
bubandpie
Such a beautiful way to share her name. It brought tears to my eyes.
Posh Mama
First time commenting, but being an expectant mama for the 3rd time, I thought I would say congrats! And should we have a girl (we didn’t find out) I know how I am revealing her name!! Thanks for the idea!
BooMama
Beautiful name - and congratulations on yet another sweet baby girl.
Beck
A perfect, lovely name - and I’m so glad she’s here and you’re well.
Silent birthing is overrated, or so I’ve heard. I’m a yeller, myself.
chickadee
loved how you let us know the name. i was afraid you would leave us hanging. sounds lovely. i hope you’ll share a picture too.
Poppy Fields
Congratulations! I love the name of your little “flower queen”.
Kit
Congratulations - lovely flower name, but I’m still guessing the identity of the Queen! A friend here had her baby on the 18th too - a little girl.
Kacey
Congratulations! What a lovely name — and a cute way of telling us! Does she have a kickname to go along with JellyBean and SweetPea? You could call her Bitsy, because she is definitely not! (9 pounds and 5 ounces — no wonder you were uncomortable!
Kacey
Excuse me — 9 pounds 8 ounces — I goofed!
Jenny from Queensland, enjoying Jakarta
What a beautiful name!
My third was 9′9″ so I know how you feel! LOL
I hope you are taking it easy… or easy as you can with third lovely girls.
Jennifer
Congratulations! And welcome to the world “Flower Queen”.
Laura
Mazal tov, sweetie!
edj
Great post! Love the name–it’s the one my 10 year-old daughter thinks is the prettiest name in the world.
(If only I’d named her that) Congratulations again. Enjoy her. (She’s almost as big as the twins put together! If you must birth large amounts of baby, it’s easier if you can do it in installments, I found)
Lynanne
Congrats!!!! I *love* the name. The first name is actually our second choice for our little girl. If we would have had a girl this time, I’m certain we would have used it - they are my favorite flower.