Almost 15 years ago...Kailie

My first born entered the world. Looking back, I remember quite a bit of her birth, but ask me what I wore yesterday and I'd be hardpressed to tell you.


They did an ultrasound when I arrived at the hospital-or was it a few days prior? Anyway, something about my kidneys or her kidneys, but everything was well. They told me then, that they thought she was a big baby. My eyes were as wide as saucers. I'd expected a 5-6 lbs baby as her father & I both weighed under 6 lbs! Of course, both our mothers smoked during pregnancy...


I had intended upon going natural and opted only for Stadol and Demerol to 'take the edge off" the pain. They broke my water, hooked me up to Pitocin (my labor was not progressing fast enough apparently) and her father, shite that he is, ate a Moon Pie in front of me knowing I could not eat a thing. Remind you, this was almost 15 years ago. So much has changed since then! I had the most wonderful nurse (Lt.Quesenbury-sp?) at Ft. Knox. I hated that hospital and opted not to call for the midwife I'd chosen as a doctor was there when I arrived. Certainly I would not be there overly long (such naivity!) Doc left, new midwife arrived. Pfah. The one midwife of the entire facility I'd seen whom I did not like. Poor bedside manner, didn't listen and never said a word about what was going on or what to expect. Horrible woman. I hated her.


I was in pain, but not so much pain that I couldn't bear it. They advised getting an Epidural could speed up labor. I said ok. But sometime into it, I remember having the urge to push-remember feeling that it was impossible to stop that urge. Made my eyes bug out!! But I had an epidural-how was this possible? I remember saying (yelling?) I can't do it. Over and over. Her father, stood next to me, holding (allowing me break?) his hand. I Pushed. I pushed. Out she came. All 9 lbs, 12 ozs and 20" (or was it 19"?) of her. All fat and squishy faced, covered in blood. She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Thinking back...I wonder if I had an Epidural at all??? Maybe I didn't? I'll have to check. Certainly having a baby so big, I'd have had an Epidural? But maybe that's why I remained so adamant about not having another child for so long! hmmmm




so, this beautiful daughter emerged and quickly was whisked to the NICU bc she was lethargic and bluesque. Long story short (on this birth story), she had a Strep B infection. They now test for those things-at the time, they did not, or at least, the military hospital did not. They seemed stuck in dark ages there, so there really is no way to determine the reasons for not testing. Just a hypothesis. So, we took her home and were told immediately to bring her back so she can begin treatment for a week of IV antibiotics. blech Try breastfeeding when your newborn has an iv in her hand the size of a football and she weighs almost 10 lbs and you have these humungous boobies that get in the way.... it's not easy, lemme assure you.


All grown up now, my almost 15 yr old has a boyfriend, plays softball, gets good grades and thankfully does not drink or do drugs. She's finally matured past the rotten teen beginnings and we are becoming a little closer than the fraught filled moments of puberty. Kailie, my dear, I love you.


Mom
Keep a lookout for more stories as I get time to write them.