Maya's Birth Story

I actually enjoyed pregnancy until I was placed on bedrest for the last eight weeks because of pregnancy-induced hypertension. I swelled to huge proportions and had some headaches, but I did not feel like I needed to stay in bed. I took off work, but did work from home via my laptop. I had non-stress tests twice weekly and blood pressure readings twice a day. Being on bedrest was like being a prisoner in my home.

The doctor opted to induce labor at 38 weeks, so on November 6, 2001, my husband and I went to the hospital at 7:00 a.m. They started Pitocin at 8:00, and I could not get up except to go to the bathroom, and I had to lie on my left side. We watched television and played dominos, and to this day, my husband will not admit I beat him. I felt fine, though the contractions were tough until about 4:30 p.m. I requested an epidural but the anesthesiologist tried about eight times and could not get it in so they called in a specialist. By this time, I was deciding against getting the epidural but after it was finally in, I was glad.

At 6:30 p.m., I was fully dilated and began pushing. It was wonderful and surprisingly easy. Maya Elizabeth was born at 7:20 p.m. She had some difficulty breathing and had to be taken to the nursery. Meanwhile, my husband and family followed the baby and left me alone. Thirty minutes later, I asked a visiting friend to find my child and husband.

An hour after I gave birth, the nurse finally arrived with Maya and reported that she was doing wonderful. I asked everyone to leave so I could nurse my child for the first time. She did not nurse well for over a week, and I think she would have done better had I nursed her immediately, but she finally caught on. She is a joy and this was the most wonderful experience ever. Right away, I told my husband I wanted ten more children! I have changed my mind after many sleepless nights, but it is wonderful being Maya's mom!