Mama Kat‘s writing prompt today couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. It’s my birthday, so what’s more appropriate than the story of my birth as told by my mom? I know–super exciting, huh?
I was able to interview my mom last year and recorded all the juicy details. If you don’t want all the juicy details….sorry.
My mom was due with her first child (me!) around October 20th, but by the 14th she had been in labor for several days. Finally, at her last OB check up, the doctor was merciful and told her that several days worth of contractions 5 minutes apart was enough reason to send her in to the hospital. They scheduled her induction for the next day, October 15th.
Once she got to the hospital (San Leandro Memorial Hospital in California), they started her on pitocin. When she was about 3 cm dilated, they broke her water. Mom was laboring in a shared room, and the lady in the bed next to her was moaning constantly. Mom was determined not to be loud like her neighbor, so she quietly endured her pain. The nurse happened to notice Mom biting her hand, and asked he if she was in a lot of pain. “Um, Yes!” The nurse figured she’d check Mom’s progress…..and there was my head. And a cute head it was.
The doctor was called, Mom was swiftly moved into the delivery room, and everything was a frenzy. No time for drugs. The doctor walked in, slipped into his gown and gloves, and reached down to catch me as I was born. Mom was in the hospital for about 2 hours, and in the delivery room for less than 10 minutes before I was born, at 12:24 PM on October 15. 
I was 8 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long.
My mom remembers that the doctor was still wearing his white pants and white patent leather shoes (he figured Mom would be laboring for a lot longer than she did, so he didn’t have time to change). After I was born, the doctor exclaimed, “Didn’t get a drop of blood on me!”
That’s when Mom started to hemmorage. Again, the room switched pace and everyone started working quickly. My mom could hear the blood gushing with each heart beat. (They were able to get the bleeding under control after my birth, but Mom almost died after my next sister was born 4 years later. Luckily, they were prepared for the next babies and got it under control before it was a problem)
Mom stayed in the hospital for 3 days and two nights, where she spent most of her time in the hospital bed watching the Oakland A’s (the local team) win their 3rd World Series. She really got into it that year.
Here are a few pictures of me after coming home from the hospital. I still have the blanket I was laying on and the dress that I was wearing that day.
Do you know your birth story? I challenge you to find out about it if you don’t. And then write it down! I’d love to hear your stories, too!
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