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07 April 2011
It's hard to believe that four years ago, Speedy was born. In the last four years, I haven't thought a lot about the dramatic events that led up to his birth. It's been a whirlwind of activity, learning and basic childlike busyness, so I thought I'd revisit it all. It's such a reminder of how much a blessing he really is.
Part 2: Contractions...
The mild pains started during my hour-long afternoon commute to work. I almost didn't call the office, but I was stuck in traffic and bored, so I talked myself into it.
"I'm just having little pains," I told Christy, my doctor's nurse.
"Well, are they regular?" she asked.
"I guess they sort of are, but I'm only 24 weeks. They're not strong enough to bend over the steering wheel, but strong enough to get my attention," I answered.
"I'm sure it's nothing, but I'll set you up an appointment for tomorrow morning," she said. "These things sometimes happen in your second trimester, but better safe than sorry. So, we'll see you at 9 a.m. Try to take it easy until then."
"Take it easy? Is that even possible when you're pregnant?" I thought to myself as I drove the rest of the way to work. The pains continued, but she said it was nothing to worry about it. So I didn't. My all male co-workers did... but I didn't.
The next morning I was shuffled right into the office where the "nothing is wrong" attitude brightened my morning. The pains had let up for the most part, so I was sure it was going to be chalked up to nothing and I would be sent home.
The doctor came in, found the heartbeat and played his usual trick of making the heartbeat echo to sound like two. "Funny doc," I said as he laughed.
A little machine was brought in and a big strap was hooked around my belly.
"We're gonna have to double this over," Christy said. "Not used to hooking this up to people so small.
"Small?!? Oh now I know you're trying to ease my mind," I told her as I looked at what I thought was a bulging belly.
She laughed and said, "Honey, this is a machine to tell if you're having contractions. We don't usually hook it up to women in their 24th week."
"Contractions? Who said anything about contractions?" I asked.
"Relax, we just want to be sure the pains aren't contractions. Lay back, the doctor will be back in a few minutes and then we'll get you out of here. I'll turn this up so you can listen to his heartbeat."
The fast, rhythmic sound of my baby's heart filled the room. This was the first time I was alone hearing it, so I couldn't resist trying to make up a song to the beat. "I'm thinking Bond," I said quietly as I started singing my favorite theme song. "Ba-da-BE-yah, Ba-da-dah. Ba-dah-da-dah, Da-dah-daaah."
When the doctor returned, he looked at the little paper coming out of the machine. "It looks like you're having contractions," he said like this happens every day.
Before the shock could even set in, I was in the stirrups, told I was three inches dilated, and Dr. Tony started explaining how he was going to get the labor to stop.
"Wait, back up," I called out. "I'm in labor? RIGHT NOW?!?!"
"Well, yes," he said never losing that caring tone in his voice.
As my mind raced, I said "But I'm not even in pain. Am I losing this baby?"
"No. The baby is fine. I'm not worried about the baby at all. I'm worried about you. The baby will be fine," he answered. "I can't control what happens to the baby, that is in God's hands. I can control what's going on with you right now though. We'll leave the rest up to God."
"But you said the baby is fine," I said, now less upset but much more confused.
"The baby is fine. The heartbeat is strong," he said and then continued to explain what needed to happen to ensure the baby stayed fine and inside where he belonged.
This whole scene played through my mind as I waited by the phone in my 36th week of pregnancy.
"You okay?" Sweet-D asked as he walked past the couch.
"Just thinking about everything that's happened. Each time I've been told "the heartbeat is strong." That always meant the baby was fine. The heartbeat was strong this time, so what could be wrong?" I asked, emotionless from the long day.
"Honey, it's almost 6:30. The office has been closed for two hours. If something was wrong, they would have called by now," he said as he kissed me on the forehead and headed next door for his previously planned gaming night with his best friend.
"You're probably right," I said as he walked out the door.
At 6:36, the phone finally rang.
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