I thought I was done...

He was out! And he was alive and well. They took him right away to one of the little tables they had set up. They wiped him down and did a bunch of other things too. I couldn't really see everything but I could hear this tiny little cry and knew he was ok. They brought him to me briefly and I held him for just a moment. I thought I was done but I wasn't. There was the afterbirth to deal with. I didn't have to do anything to deliver the placenta. It just came out, all in one piece. A relative of mine had some major problems and hemorrhaging because part of the placenta had broken off. I can't believe I remembered that at the time but I asked if it had all come out and was assured that it had.

Then the doctor had to stitch me up. I swear it felt like it took longer to stitch than it did to push. I had only pushed for about 52 minutes and the stitches took about 30 minutes. I just wanted to be done already so I could hold me baby.

My son was born. It was a truly miraculous event. If you haven't been through it before, it is hard to imagine the emotions that run through you. I was relieved that he was out and I didn't have to push anymore. I was relieved that he had cried. I was relieved that he was ok and they didn't have to rush him out to the NICU. I was happy that my husband made it through without passing out. I was also very hungry and just exhausted.

As soon as they were done stitching me and cleaning up the room, my parents and my mother-in-law were brought in. My father-in-law was still on the golf course because no one expected the labor to go that quickly. From start to finish I was in labor for just under 7 and 1/2 hours. I wanted to hold the baby but I was just too hungry. I was shaky and felt like I was going to pass out. They brought me some food and I let the proud grandparents bond with their grandson while I shoved graham crackers and a turkey sandwich in my mouth.

When I did finally get to hold him and just be with him, I was shocked by his appearance. He had a cone head, of course. But the cone was very lopsided. I guess that was a result of him not coming out facing the right way. He was also very pasty white but his eyes and fingernails were bright red. His little face was very puffy. Again from the way he came out. But he was mine and he was beautiful. It is the most surreal feeling. This little tiny person had just lived in my body for 40 weeks and now he was in the world, completely helpless and dependent on me and my husband. The weight of the responsibility is overwhelming. But I was so happy to start this journey and to give him my whole heart.