Mia Juliet Kahn was born January 5, 2009 at 6:52pm. She arrived a 7 pound, 5 ounce bundle of joy, stretching 18 1/4 inches long. This is how it happened…
January 4th was a quiet Sunday at Staci and Ian’s condo in South Boston. The nursery had been organized, the doctors were on call, the weather was mild for the time of year, and Staci and Ian waited patiently for a sign that the baby was coming. Staci and Ian woke at a typical hour, after having had a nice dinner out the night before. Staci made banana pancakes with yogurt and maple syrup for breakfast and Ian had coffee and a bagel. Ian went to the gym and prepared for a quiet day that would probably be highlighted by watching football playoff games on television and sharing a game of cribbage with Eric Young. Staci made plans to go shopping that day with Jennifer Young. The day began to unfold as planned, with the two passing the time casually while waiting for the baby to show a sign that it was her time to arrive.
At 7 pm Staci began to feel intermittent cramps, which were not overpowering, but still, different than usual. Staci and Ian did not know at the time, but this was early labor and it would continue for several hours.
By 11 am the contractions were getting stronger, but they were still somewhat sporadic. Staci tried going to bed but sleeping would not be easy on this night. After tossing and turning for some time, Staci realized that she would not be able to sleep. January 4th had passed and by 1am on January 5th it became clear that active labor was starting. Staci and Ian recorded each contraction on a sheet of paper for an hour and they were consistently 5 minutes apart, with most lasting for nearly a minute. Things were happening, but active labor for first time parents can last for a long time.
At 2am Staci took a shower. Taking a shower helps to relax through the contractions and cooled down Staci and allowed her to feel refreshed. After Staci had finished her shower and dressed, the contractions continued. By 2:45 it was clear that it was time to get moving to the hospital. A call was placed to Staci's Doctor and then messages sent to family and close friends while bags were gathered for the trip to Beth Israel.
After packing the car, Ian drove Staci to the hospital at 3am. The drive was made with caution due to freezing rain conditions, but there was no traffic at this time of night, so the trip was easily made.
Staci and Ian arrived at Beth Israel by 3:30am, which was expecting the couple on the 10th floor. Triage confirmed that active labor was well underway and admitted Staci and Ian into labor and delivery, room 14. The nurse, Maura, told Staci and Ian at 4am that Staci was 3 cms dilated and 90% effaced. Staci's contractions were strong and it was now only a matter of time before that baby would arrive.
The delivery room was fantastic. It was spacious and private with a great view of Cambridge and Fenway Park. Staci was breathing through her contractions while listening to music from the portable iPod stereo. By 6am a new nurse, Cheryl, had taken over for Maura, and Staci was 5 cms dilated and 100% effaced. Meanwhile, the contractions kept getting longer, stronger, and closer together. Still, Staci kept breathing through each contraction. She was doing great, but the contractions were becoming difficult to bear. By 8am, an epidural was in order to lessen the pain and by 9am Dr. Mary Carson said Staci was at 6cms. By the next exam at 11, Staci was up to 8cms, with only 2 more to go until pushing would begin. While this was good news, Dr. Carson also found that the baby was slightly turned to the right, meaning a less than ideal, but still fully deliverable, position. Dr. Carson was hopeful that her position would improve through the rest of labor, but did not believe this would be a significant roadblock.
By 1pm Staci was 9 cms dilated, but not yet fully dilated. The doctors started pitosin, which is a naturally occurring hormone that when administered promotes stronger more regular contractions. The purpose of the pitosin was to move things along to 10 cms. The pitosin started with a light dosage and was increased gradually over an extended period of time.
By 3pm a new nurse, Abby, took over for Cheryl, and Dr. Carson was getting concerned about the lack of significant progress – Staci was still at 9 cms despite significant pitosin dosages and labor was now much longer than expected and getting harder and harder for Staci and the baby to tolerate. Dr. Carson talked about the possibility of needing to do a C section if things did not improve. The baby's heart rate was already getting higher than it should during contractions and Staci was on antibiotics because she had a fever of 101.
Despite the challenges of labor, Staci finally made it to 10 cms at 4pm and it was time for pushing to begin. Staci pushed vigorously for 90 minutes. She pushed as hard as anyone could, despite exhaustion from being in labor for so long. Eventually, pushing had to stop, because although Staci made some progress, a lot remained and Staci's fever was persisting while the baby's heart rate remained high. The doctors said it would be best to opt for a C section. While this was a difficult thing to accept, after so much labor and so much pushing, this was the best thing for Staci and the baby.
By 5:30 Staci and Ian were on the move from delivery room 14 to a nearby operating room. The Doctors took Staci for preparation and Ian got dressed for the operating room and let the family know the news. By 6 Staci and Ian were in the operating room together. Staci was given a local anesthesia but was fully awake and aware of what was happening. Ian sat by her side, holding her hand and talking her through every moment, experiencing the birth and in the company of a large group of some of the world's best medical professionals.
The experience of a C section is surreal. The mother experiences the process through her ears, unable to feel as a result of numbing anesthesia, and unable to see from a large blue curtain, but the noise is spectacular at times. The father can hear and see, though parts of the operation are hidden by curtain, and the baby, instead of being pushed out as nature intends will experience being pulled.
Staci took the operation very well, which took roughly 20 minutes from incision to baby. During that time, little was known by Staci and Ian, who had never been through this and were not planning to have a C section. You could say Staci and Ian were not well prepared for this process. After about 20 minutes, a loud, very clear sucking sound took over the room as the baby was pulled from the womb. Crying followed, and Mia Juliet Kahn was born. It was exactly 6:52 pm.
January 4th was a quiet Sunday at Staci and Ian’s condo in South Boston. The nursery had been organized, the doctors were on call, the weather was mild for the time of year, and Staci and Ian waited patiently for a sign that the baby was coming. Staci and Ian woke at a typical hour, after having had a nice dinner out the night before. Staci made banana pancakes with yogurt and maple syrup for breakfast and Ian had coffee and a bagel. Ian went to the gym and prepared for a quiet day that would probably be highlighted by watching football playoff games on television and sharing a game of cribbage with Eric Young. Staci made plans to go shopping that day with Jennifer Young. The day began to unfold as planned, with the two passing the time casually while waiting for the baby to show a sign that it was her time to arrive.
At 7 pm Staci began to feel intermittent cramps, which were not overpowering, but still, different than usual. Staci and Ian did not know at the time, but this was early labor and it would continue for several hours.
By 11 am the contractions were getting stronger, but they were still somewhat sporadic. Staci tried going to bed but sleeping would not be easy on this night. After tossing and turning for some time, Staci realized that she would not be able to sleep. January 4th had passed and by 1am on January 5th it became clear that active labor was starting. Staci and Ian recorded each contraction on a sheet of paper for an hour and they were consistently 5 minutes apart, with most lasting for nearly a minute. Things were happening, but active labor for first time parents can last for a long time.
At 2am Staci took a shower. Taking a shower helps to relax through the contractions and cooled down Staci and allowed her to feel refreshed. After Staci had finished her shower and dressed, the contractions continued. By 2:45 it was clear that it was time to get moving to the hospital. A call was placed to Staci's Doctor and then messages sent to family and close friends while bags were gathered for the trip to Beth Israel.
After packing the car, Ian drove Staci to the hospital at 3am. The drive was made with caution due to freezing rain conditions, but there was no traffic at this time of night, so the trip was easily made.
Staci and Ian arrived at Beth Israel by 3:30am, which was expecting the couple on the 10th floor. Triage confirmed that active labor was well underway and admitted Staci and Ian into labor and delivery, room 14. The nurse, Maura, told Staci and Ian at 4am that Staci was 3 cms dilated and 90% effaced. Staci's contractions were strong and it was now only a matter of time before that baby would arrive.
The delivery room was fantastic. It was spacious and private with a great view of Cambridge and Fenway Park. Staci was breathing through her contractions while listening to music from the portable iPod stereo. By 6am a new nurse, Cheryl, had taken over for Maura, and Staci was 5 cms dilated and 100% effaced. Meanwhile, the contractions kept getting longer, stronger, and closer together. Still, Staci kept breathing through each contraction. She was doing great, but the contractions were becoming difficult to bear. By 8am, an epidural was in order to lessen the pain and by 9am Dr. Mary Carson said Staci was at 6cms. By the next exam at 11, Staci was up to 8cms, with only 2 more to go until pushing would begin. While this was good news, Dr. Carson also found that the baby was slightly turned to the right, meaning a less than ideal, but still fully deliverable, position. Dr. Carson was hopeful that her position would improve through the rest of labor, but did not believe this would be a significant roadblock.
By 1pm Staci was 9 cms dilated, but not yet fully dilated. The doctors started pitosin, which is a naturally occurring hormone that when administered promotes stronger more regular contractions. The purpose of the pitosin was to move things along to 10 cms. The pitosin started with a light dosage and was increased gradually over an extended period of time.
By 3pm a new nurse, Abby, took over for Cheryl, and Dr. Carson was getting concerned about the lack of significant progress – Staci was still at 9 cms despite significant pitosin dosages and labor was now much longer than expected and getting harder and harder for Staci and the baby to tolerate. Dr. Carson talked about the possibility of needing to do a C section if things did not improve. The baby's heart rate was already getting higher than it should during contractions and Staci was on antibiotics because she had a fever of 101.
Despite the challenges of labor, Staci finally made it to 10 cms at 4pm and it was time for pushing to begin. Staci pushed vigorously for 90 minutes. She pushed as hard as anyone could, despite exhaustion from being in labor for so long. Eventually, pushing had to stop, because although Staci made some progress, a lot remained and Staci's fever was persisting while the baby's heart rate remained high. The doctors said it would be best to opt for a C section. While this was a difficult thing to accept, after so much labor and so much pushing, this was the best thing for Staci and the baby.
By 5:30 Staci and Ian were on the move from delivery room 14 to a nearby operating room. The Doctors took Staci for preparation and Ian got dressed for the operating room and let the family know the news. By 6 Staci and Ian were in the operating room together. Staci was given a local anesthesia but was fully awake and aware of what was happening. Ian sat by her side, holding her hand and talking her through every moment, experiencing the birth and in the company of a large group of some of the world's best medical professionals.
The experience of a C section is surreal. The mother experiences the process through her ears, unable to feel as a result of numbing anesthesia, and unable to see from a large blue curtain, but the noise is spectacular at times. The father can hear and see, though parts of the operation are hidden by curtain, and the baby, instead of being pushed out as nature intends will experience being pulled.
Staci took the operation very well, which took roughly 20 minutes from incision to baby. During that time, little was known by Staci and Ian, who had never been through this and were not planning to have a C section. You could say Staci and Ian were not well prepared for this process. After about 20 minutes, a loud, very clear sucking sound took over the room as the baby was pulled from the womb. Crying followed, and Mia Juliet Kahn was born. It was exactly 6:52 pm.
Mia was perfect and the earliest family pictures were taken right away in the operating room by a medical student who had been observing the operation. Mia made a brief visit to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she was examined to make sure she did not carry any infections from Mom's fever, and then quickly pronounced a healthy baby. Staci was moved to a recovery unit, and soon thereafter joined there by Mia, Ian, and later by Grandma Joanne. By 9:30 the family was joined by Papi Mitchell on the post pardom floor, room number 582, where they would stay for four nights of recovery and exploration of the new relationship that would blossom with the new parents and their new daughter, Mia Juliet.
1 comment:
Can we all play cribbage sometime? I used to play a lot, but need a refresher. It's a fun game!
This is a beautifully written post!
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