On Sunday, March 18, Valancy went into labour. She called me early in the afternoon to say that she'd dreamed that she'd given birth, and that when she got up, she had a bit of "show". She said that she thought that something might happen that day. She also felt a few contractions that later stopped; so she wasn't sure. She called later on that afternoon to let us know that they'd decided to keep a dinner date with friends, since "not much" was happening.
An hour later, they were back at home. She's started having regular contractions at the friends' home. So now they were timing them, to see when they should go to the hospital. I said we were just about to have supper (roast beef). Val called again to say they were heading to the hospital. We ate supper in record time and headed into Ottawa. Val and Dave had arrived at 8:00 pm; we arrived at 8:30. Val's contractions were already only 3 minutes apart! No one had checked her cervical dilation yet, although a resident had come to inquire, but gone away because Val was in the middle of a contraction. Valancy was wondering what stage she was at, so after I time I asked if they would please check her. She was already 8-9 cm!
They decided to move Val to a birthing room, so Mike went off to the waiting room. Valancy was quite nervous and shaky to begin with, but as she became used to the contractions and knew what to expect, she became much more confident and focussed. Mike said "It looks like it will be a long night." I said, "I don't know - I'm betting 11:25 pm."
As labour began in earnest, the nurse and I each held a leg as Dave supported Val's head and shoulders, and encouraged her
quietly. She was amazing! I couldn't believe how fast things were progressing, for a first baby. She was pushing really well, and had quite the time in refraining from pushing when asked. The doctor, Dr. Caughey, suggested an episiotomy, but Valancy and David conferred and she refused it. They had hooked Valancy up to an IV, but Valancy had somehow dislodged it. She had no drugs for pain. I held and then relaxed her leg, sometimes supporting both legs while the nurse attended to other things. The nurses joked that they had done "all the paperwork" for March 18. It was 11:50.
It took a while for the baby to "turn the corner" and "rock" around the pelvic bone. I watched in awe to see his head starting to crown. He had hair! Because Val's water had not seemed to break, the nurse and doctor had masks handing in case of splashing when the baby was born. Then at one minute after midnight, little Andrew Jack Michael burst into the room. There was no splashing. It was an amazing sight. My heart felt almost too full. He looked sooo perfect! No cone head, no bruising. He was looking around, checking us out! Amazing. I thanked God. It is a humbling experience. Andrew gave a throaty little cry.
The doctor took Andrew off and wiped him down, but he really didn't need much wiping. She said to him, "I'd sure like to hear another throaty cry like that last one!" Andrew complied, and she smilingly lifted him aloft in triumph. What a doll!
They weighed him - the digital scale said "8 39" in red numerals. Then he was off to Mummy and Daddy. Doesn't Mama look just like the cat who swallowed the canary? Two gorgeous creatures!
Welcome to the family, our beautiful, beautiful boy!
