Here's the letter I wrote to my son after he was born:
Your birth story starts three weeks before you were due (five days before you arrived and 36 weeks and one day pregnant). I was asked to monitor my own blood pressure at home for possible preeclampsia, which was a little high after walking a Greek festival in 100 degree heat. I went into triage at 11:30 p.m. at night to "check a box" and go back home. After one hour, I was given a room and an IV of Magnesium, being told I was positive for preeclampsia and the only way for it to go away was to have you. I only brought a fleece sweater and my purse with me, so I was beyond shocked that I was having you so soon! The next few days I was slowly given Pitocin to help start contractions, staying on Magnesium to relax me at the same time. After a couple of days they filled a balloon to push against my cervix, broke my water and continued to up my dose of Pitocin to continue the process. Some of them were very painful, but I knew it was getting me closer to meeting you. On my birthday I thought for sure you would come, but it came and went. I was very thankful for your Grandma Christie, your dad and your Great Grandma Kay for helping me celebrate from my hospital bed. The day before you arrived I sat in the spa bath for three hours as they slowly up'd the contractions again. It finally started to feel different and I knew I'd be meeting you soon! I always knew you were coming in the middle of the night, so we all took bets on the whiteboard as to when you'd come. My guess was at 12:30 p.m., and crazy enough that's when I felt the urge to push. They gave me an oxygen mask to help you heart rate, as it was slowing down during the contractions. With a push of a button they called in an entire team to get you out as quickly as possible, but I stayed calm and in three pushes you were in my arms. I got to hold you for a second, and then we each had teams making sure we both were okay. Soon enough you were back in my arms for good and I knew it'd be okay. We had lots of visitors stop by to welcome you to the world, and then on day seven Dad and I were discharged to take you home. I was very lucky to have you at such a great facility, as UCSF opened a new facility months before. You were still born under the same hospital and city that your Dad was years before, so it was very special. We've been proud of you since the day you were born, and that will never change. It will always be one of the happiest days of my life. I love you!
I have tears reading and re-living it all over again. What a special week for our family!
How was your birthing experience? Feel free to share or comment below.
