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Week by Week

GIVING BIRTH: LUCAS

Baby's stats:
Thursday, January 08th 1998, 10:03 AM
7 pounds 7 ounces (3370 grams)
20 inches (51 cm)
Apgars: 9 at 1st minute
10 at 5th minute

This story begins on June of 1996 when I married. Since me and Louis became husband and wife we decided to have a baby. On April of 1997 we had our vacations together and we decided to travel. We went to Italy and we kept traveling for almost one month. It was there we made our little baby.

When we came back home the only thing I thought was about being pregnant. No doubts!! The blood test showed me a baby was coming to us! It was May 19th 1997.

The beginning of pregnancy was very nice. I was happy but I had morning sickness. First time I did the ultra-sound exam, me and Louis could heard the little heart beating...TU,tum,tum,tum...I was in the 7th week of pregnancy. The second semester was the best! I worked a lot and felt myself very well. I could prepare all the baby's room with my husband's help. On November 17th I had a small bleeding and the doctor said I need to rest because the placenta was a little bit unfixed. I confess I was worry but less than a week on bed was enough to let me ok. My doctor said to stop working and to stay at home because this would be better. Another ultra-sound exam showed I was fine and the baby also. It was when I found out the baby was going to be a baby boy (Nov 27th).

The due date was January 12th 1998, but on January 07th I was not feeling so well... At 9:45 PM I went to the bathroom and saw the mucus sign on my underwear. I went to bed at 10:00 PM with a soft pain in my back and I was feeling my womb too heavy. I knew that would be labor. At 01:10 am I woke up and I couldn't sleep any more. The pain become stronger and I decided to leave Louis sleeping instead of wake up him. After all that dawn was supposed to be long...I was having contractions 10-15 minutes apart and they lasted about 30 seconds. But I felt this was just the beginning...At 5:00 am I woke up Louis telling him the pain was awful, after all the contractions were 5-7 minutes apart and lasted 60 seconds. I was calm enough to let him take a shower and shave. So, at 5:45 am we arrived in the Hospital, which is not very far from home.

The obstetric nurse examined me and said I was 5 ½ cm dilated!! I called my mother and my husband's mother and sooner than I imagined they were there with me. The contractions were really terrible but I had around me people helping me to avoid pain and people with sweet words to keep me calm.

The most interest thing is that I couldn't stop walking. I just stopped when the pain was too strong and then I started walking again... At 8:25 am my doctor arrived and said I was well enough to a natural birth. That moment I was sure I began to win, because I did everything to avoid a cesarean. The nurses prepared me to the Obstetric Room and put me a very ugly dress open on my back. While I was being prepared, Louis changed his clothes and put doctor's clothes, after all he was going to the obstetric room with me.

At 9:10 am we entered in the OBs. Room and the anesthetist gave me an epidural which was the most wonderful thing in my life. I could enjoy the baby coming without feeling any pain. As I was not feeling, the nurse kept her hands on my belly to feel when the contractions were coming. Then, I stared pushing...pushing...pushing...When suddenly we heard a sweet cry of our baby. Me and Louis started crying also. The doctor took the baby, put on my arms and said "Here it is your little boy!". It was January 08th 1998 at 10:03 am.

I can't imagine another moment of peace like that. Our little boy was already crying when doctor gave Felipe the scissors to cut the cord. We laughed and cried at the very same time. I stayed in the OBs room for a while to deliver the placenta and because of the episiotomy. At 11:00 am I arrived in the room to receive congratulations of my mom and mother in law who were waiting for me. My doctor said everything was all right and I was great! A doctor from the nursery informed us our little Lucas was fine and he had to pass for a cleanings in his stomach because he swallowamniotic liquid during the birth.

At 1:30pm I could stood up and take a shower and just few minutes later Lucas came to the room to breastfeed. I could know he was born 7 lbs 7oz.(3370 grams) and 20 inches (51 cm) with Apgars 9 and 10. I always say that those moments were the greatest in my life and my husband's life! PS: English is not the first language in my country. I would like to apologize any mistake...Thank you!