The Birth of the Swaddling Baby Jenna
By Mary M. Davis, MOM, RN
It all started with a very easy and uneventful pregnancy of our expected second child. Back in those "old" days we didn't have the wonders of such medical advances like ultra sounds which meant we had to wait the entire 9 months not knowing the sex of our child but no matter..............we only hoped and prayed for a healthy baby. If we had a girl that would be all the nicer to round out our family.
We had no idea of my due date so my doctor set a date to induce me hoping I would be home for Christmas. I was told to come to the hospital on the 15th and my labor would be induced. This was doubly nice because it also happened to be my dad's birthday so it would make that date even more special.
I called my Mom and she came down from Maine to take care of our 3 year old son, Jeff, because in those days we were kept in the hospital for a week after birth!Ahhhhh, some things in life were sweet. So she came to stay for the duration.
The 15th came and off Ian and I went to the hospital expecting to have a new baby that day. But alas, after a thorough "inspection" by the my doctor, he discovered I had not dilated at all and the baby was not ready to be induced out into this world just yet. (Jen's edit: Little did mom realize how hard it would be to pry me away from her for the next 24 years until I moved to AK!) So he sent us home and said come back in 3 days and we will try again.
Very down heartedly we trudged home in the awful cold and snowbanks up to the windowsills to sit and wait for "things" to happen. My mother was very glad to see us home because after we had left she went in the living room and found that the Christmas tree had fallen over. It was turning out to be not such a good day anywhere!
After three days and tying up the tree, back we went to the hospital. Ian was so kind to take me and leave me at the front door and then leave for work. He said he had to wait around for 3 days in the hospital for Jeff to make his appearance and he had put in his time. (Nice!)
I was put in a room and IV 's were started and the induction medicine was finally given. Earlier the doctor deemed things had progressed enough to get the show on the road. It wasn't long before the medicine started working and labor started with full blown intensity.
The hospital was under renovations at the time and there were workers all over the place. To my horror, in the middle of a #10 contraction I looked up and there were workers outside my door standing and gawking at me as I labored. I didn't much appreciate it and being a nurse on staff there I bellowed for one of my nurse friends to some get them out of the doorway and to SHUT the door!!!!.
Within 20 minutes things had progressed to delivery stage so I was moved to the delivery room in a big hurry and given a spinal. In the hurry of it all, the spinal was administered too high and I was unable to breathe which was pretty scary. But they sat me up high which kept the spinal from spreading any further upward and soon little Miss Jennifer Michelle Davis was born at 2:30 in the afternoon,weighing 6 pounds and 4 ounces.
It all started with a very easy and uneventful pregnancy of our expected second child. Back in those "old" days we didn't have the wonders of such medical advances like ultra sounds which meant we had to wait the entire 9 months not knowing the sex of our child but no matter..............we only hoped and prayed for a healthy baby. If we had a girl that would be all the nicer to round out our family.
We had no idea of my due date so my doctor set a date to induce me hoping I would be home for Christmas. I was told to come to the hospital on the 15th and my labor would be induced. This was doubly nice because it also happened to be my dad's birthday so it would make that date even more special.
I called my Mom and she came down from Maine to take care of our 3 year old son, Jeff, because in those days we were kept in the hospital for a week after birth!Ahhhhh, some things in life were sweet. So she came to stay for the duration.
The 15th came and off Ian and I went to the hospital expecting to have a new baby that day. But alas, after a thorough "inspection" by the my doctor, he discovered I had not dilated at all and the baby was not ready to be induced out into this world just yet. (Jen's edit: Little did mom realize how hard it would be to pry me away from her for the next 24 years until I moved to AK!) So he sent us home and said come back in 3 days and we will try again.
Very down heartedly we trudged home in the awful cold and snowbanks up to the windowsills to sit and wait for "things" to happen. My mother was very glad to see us home because after we had left she went in the living room and found that the Christmas tree had fallen over. It was turning out to be not such a good day anywhere!
After three days and tying up the tree, back we went to the hospital. Ian was so kind to take me and leave me at the front door and then leave for work. He said he had to wait around for 3 days in the hospital for Jeff to make his appearance and he had put in his time. (Nice!)
I was put in a room and IV 's were started and the induction medicine was finally given. Earlier the doctor deemed things had progressed enough to get the show on the road. It wasn't long before the medicine started working and labor started with full blown intensity.
The hospital was under renovations at the time and there were workers all over the place. To my horror, in the middle of a #10 contraction I looked up and there were workers outside my door standing and gawking at me as I labored. I didn't much appreciate it and being a nurse on staff there I bellowed for one of my nurse friends to some get them out of the doorway and to SHUT the door!!!!.
Within 20 minutes things had progressed to delivery stage so I was moved to the delivery room in a big hurry and given a spinal. In the hurry of it all, the spinal was administered too high and I was unable to breathe which was pretty scary. But they sat me up high which kept the spinal from spreading any further upward and soon little Miss Jennifer Michelle Davis was born at 2:30 in the afternoon,weighing 6 pounds and 4 ounces.
A GIRL!!! WE HAD OUR GIRL!!! And the best part was she was pink, adorable and healthy. What a wonderful moment! I have had two best moments in my life.......the birth of our son, Jeff and now the birth of our beautiful daughter, Jennifer. (Jen's edit: She HAD to write that, just in case Jeffrey actually reads this thing. But I think we all know the truth!)
The pediatrician came in and said she was all hale and hearty with a good set of lungs and all her working parts. He asked me if I was going to breast feed her and I said of course. He said good, he would send down to the pharmacy for a set of false teeth for Jennifer! ( His ill attempt at humor).....I replied "Go ahead. They gave me my spinal too high and my nipples are numb!" (I'm not sure you should put that in our blog Jen) (Jen's edit: My mother always told me never to put ANYTHING into writing I wouldn't want people to read. Sorry mom, it was too funny to edit!)
So alls well that ends well and we have had 34 years of pure pleasure and love from pure pink little bundle of joy!
Much Love on your 34th birthday my love,
MOM
The pediatrician came in and said she was all hale and hearty with a good set of lungs and all her working parts. He asked me if I was going to breast feed her and I said of course. He said good, he would send down to the pharmacy for a set of false teeth for Jennifer! ( His ill attempt at humor).....I replied "Go ahead. They gave me my spinal too high and my nipples are numb!" (I'm not sure you should put that in our blog Jen) (Jen's edit: My mother always told me never to put ANYTHING into writing I wouldn't want people to read. Sorry mom, it was too funny to edit!)
So alls well that ends well and we have had 34 years of pure pleasure and love from pure pink little bundle of joy!
Much Love on your 34th birthday my love,
MOM
(Jen's last edit: Yes, I actually DID use a calculator to check my age. 2008 - 1975 = 33. NOT 34 thank you very much!!!!!)
2 comments:
great story, jenna. that is so sweet that your mom wrote this for you.
how did 'jenna' come about? no jen, jenn, jenny, jennifer??? inquiring minds want to know.
i hope you have a great great great bday and lets plan on doing january get together at our house :)
Happy Birthday Jenna! I hope your day was everything you had hope it was going to be and more. I love the story and the background of your blog page as well! See you Sunday!
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