Confession of a Stay at Home Dad: Chapter III
Monday, February 16 2009 00:00
Jodi was exhausted by this time. It was early March and the baby wasn’t due for another two weeks (around St. Patrick’s Day) and as far as Jodi was concerned it couldn’t come soon enough. My wife is a hard worker and made no excuses to try and get out of work, but after seeing her mid-wife she was ordered to stay home and rest the remainder of her pregnancy. Being told to rest is hard for someone like Jodi, but she listened to her doctor’s orders and we both anxiously awaited #3.
Days go by slow when you are so close to delivery. Time literally seems to come to a halt. As a dad you become hyper sensitive to your wife, her breathing and subtle pauses. “Is it time?” I kept asking myself in my head. You start thinking more and more about how the baby’s name will sound when you say it and you start thinking up ways to make the entire process go by faster. A friend said that two things worked for them: eating red meat and sex. I wasn’t about to go there—I mean, it just gets a little too weird when you think that you are bumpin’ around nearly a fully developed infant. It is kinda dirty and awkward in my mind to try act all sexy when mom is getting kicked and punched by a kid like every other minute. What if the baby kicks me? I would totally freak. So, needless to say we opted for steak. I got some aged, prime cut New York strips. I made a huge meal complete with the steaks, baked potatoes, béarnaise sauce (she loves that stuff) and asparagus. She stuffed herself. Jodi was ravenous—almost like a monster eating a tiny village. Shortly after the massive meal, the contractions started coming. Not the odd one here and there, but the consistent painful contractions that pointed toward the inevitable—number three.
We got Mady and Bella together and our overnight bags and made for the hospital. Even on the way (a twenty minute drive) the contractions began to speed up and get stronger. Jodi was in real pain, something that she was accustomed to during her previous two deliveries. She was doped up early on during both of her previous two deliveries and although she had discomfort what she was experiencing now was quite different. We finally arrived at the hospital and we signed in at Labor & Delivery ready to be admitted. Here’s where the story got interesting—they turned us away. Apparently, Jodi needed to be 8 centimeters dilated to be admitted and Jodi was hovering somewhere around four. We pleaded with the hospital that she just started getting these strong contractions and that they were getting stronger. We told them it would stand to reason that we would be back very soon, so why not admit us now? They seemed to have little sympathy for our dilemma and said to go home, try our best to relax and come back when we think we are a bit closer to delivering. Really?
Like I mentioned, we lived some twenty minutes from the hospital so going home and coming back meant a minimum of an hour when you figure in parking issues and getting young kids in and out of the car. We weren’t happy but there was little we could do but go home. Wouldn’t you know it, by the time we got home Jodi’s contractions were taking her breath away and she was sure that if we didn’t get to hospital soon I would have to start boiling water (at least that’s what they always do in movies to prepare for a home birth). At the time it seemed ridiculous and had us enraged but thinking back on it, it really was quite comedic. Going to hospital, being turned down, going home, sitting down for a minute and then rushing back to the hospital. There had to be a better way. What made matters worse is after Jodi was admitted and in the delivery room it was obvious that the baby would be arriving rather quickly. Jodi was administered an epidural but it had little time to take effect and Jodi, the trooper that she is, felt every squeeze and tear that came with delivery her third child. Although painful, the delivery was smooth and on pie day (March 14th) Sophia Jolie was born.
Remember, Stop by Every Monday for a New Installment
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Comments (3)
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written by MileHighDad, February 19, 2009
Yo Joe, and I qeote "Days go by slow when you are so close to delivery. Time literally seems to come to a halt. As a dad you become hyper sensitive to your wife, her breathing and subtle pauses. “Is it time?”
You begin to wondering, who it is your talking too, is it the "She Devil"? I don't know in your case but for me, I was doing all the "anti-demon" jigs I could think of! That supreme being if you will, is still makes an appearance monthly! Oh lucky me!
You begin to wondering, who it is your talking too, is it the "She Devil"? I don't know in your case but for me, I was doing all the "anti-demon" jigs I could think of! That supreme being if you will, is still makes an appearance monthly! Oh lucky me!
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written by Jason, February 25, 2009
We were always told they couldn't administer an epiderral once you were 8cm. On my wifes last delivery, she dialated so quickly after they broke her water that they told her if they would have checked her dialation before giving her the epiderral she probably wouldn't have gotten it.
And as far as the waiting and trying to induce labor goes...both of our boys were a minimum of 2 weeks late and each one required 2 inductions.
And as far as the waiting and trying to induce labor goes...both of our boys were a minimum of 2 weeks late and each one required 2 inductions.
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that's crazy that they wouldn't admit her until 8cm dilated. i was barely dilated when i got admitted w 1st child (had emergency c-sec) and both girls were scheduled inductions.