May 3, 2009
10:59am
7 pounds, 0 ounces
When I met with Loretta for the first time, I was very fond of her. She was a sweet Jamaican woman, pregnant with her first baby, and a little bit nervous about her upcoming labor and delivery. I assured her that we would labor at home for as long as possible, hoping that would progress her labor some before we arrived at the hospital. But, you can never be sure about the plan of action until the day actually comes. Loretta’s labor started a few days after her due date but seemed to keep slowing down and stalling over the course of about 3 days. And than, early Sunday morning, at about 3:30 a.m. she called me to say that they were going to the hospital because her contractions had picked up quite a bit. I was happy and excited and on my way. When I arrived, I was surprised when the nurse at the Labor and Delivery check in desk told me to wait in the waiting area until Loretta was out of the triage room. Okay, fine, I thought, at least she has her partner, Damien, with her. A few minutes later, Damien comes strolling off the elevator. Now I was a little confused and upset that Loretta was by herself. Damien went to the L&D desk and asked if he could go back there to be with Loretta. The same nurse replied, with the same answer. We waited patiently for a few minutes which turned into an hour. Finally, we were allowed to go see Loretta. She looked a little scared and was hooked up to monitors, IVs and an oxygen mask already. The doctor explained that there had been some meconium in her water when they were broken so they had to keep a close eye on her and her baby. We got settled and figured out ways to work with the machines to help her get through her contractions. She did an amazing job, breathing through each one, and taking them one at a time. Hours passed and she was slowly but surely dilating. Dr. Josephs was very supportive and allowed her to stand up, in hopes of making Loretta as comfortable as possible. By 9:00 a.m., Loretta was beginning to feel very uncomfortable so she decided to request an epidural. There was an emergency in the hospital so the anesthesiologist was unavailable. Loretta managed her pain beautifully, and I was very impressed with her goddess-like strength. Damien and I worked together to provide emotional support for Loretta as she progressed. Soon she reached 10 centimeters but still wanted an epidural. Dr. Josephs said that it might be a good idea because she would probably be pushing for a while.
When the head doctor came in to check to see if she would be a good candidate for an epidural at this point, she announced that Loretta would need to deliver her baby via C-section. We were all a bit shocked because there was no mention of this possibility up until this point. They explained that there were a few different factors stacked up against her, and did not think the baby would handle the pushing stage very well. I could tell Loretta was confused. All of that, for a C-section? I tried to reassure her, telling her she did well and the best she could. Damien seemed a little bit sad but realized that his baby’s health might be in jeopardy if he was not delivered soon. The next couple of hours were slow, as I waited for Loretta and Damien to come out of the operating room. Baby Raheem was born at 10:59 on Sunday, May 3rd. He was 7 pounds. I was able to see Loretta in recovery after her surgery. She seemed tired but happy that her baby was here. I gave her my best, and left, as she needed to rest up. Raheem was in the NICU, being monitored. I got the chance to go with Dad to visit him, which was very exciting and is usually not allowed in this hospital. I was grateful. He looked beautiful. It was a long journey but Mom, Dad and baby seemed to be happy, and healthy. I was happy and proud of Loretta for all of her hard work.
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