My Birthing Tale

‘We need to take the baby out, your placenta is looking pale and it’s likely to separate from the walls of the womb’ the doctor said looking very serious as he explained the situation after my ultra sound examination. Why were doctors offices always so cold! I was past my due date and I had deliberately missed my appointment last week since I dreaded having to undergo a caesarean section.

‘What could happen if the placenta separates from the womb' I asked already dreading the answer since he looked so serious and the previous welcoming demeanor had turned to a stern face.

‘ You could die, the baby as well' he explained, ‘ you need to be admitted immediately’ he continued. My worst nightmare was coming to past, I didn’t want to be cut open. Most importantly I also didn’t want to endanger my baby or myself. Sure this pregnancy had seemed to span years especially in the last trimester. My first pregnancy was so different, I merely breezed through the nine months. But this second one, I was experiencing that time was moving as though watching paint dry.

‘ I have to go home and pack a bag’ I looked pleadingly at the doctor. I needed to be alone to let all these pent up emotions out. The fear and anxiety were like cloaks almost swallowing me whole.

‘ You don’t seem to appreciate the gravity of your situation Mrs Peprah' the doctor queried, his brows furrowed in concentration.

‘Dr Senyo, I assure you I will come right back after getting my pregnancy bag’ I pleaded with him. He had already expressed his displeasure with my missing my appointment last week, I guess he could sense I was a flight risk but since I was in a dire situation there was no thought of running in my mind. Everything had come full circle and my greatest fear was materializing.

‘ Can’t you get someone to bring your things?’ he enquired, still looking serious.

‘There’s no one at home at the moment, Dr Senyo I will not endanger myself or the baby, but I really need to get home, pack a bag and get back here’ I was adamant, I guess he heard something in my voice because he sighed loudly clearly not in agreement but took a piece of paper and wrote something on it, before giving it to me and keying something into his computer.

‘ I expect you to have been checked in by 6pm today as i have scheduled the C-S for early tomorrow morning' he stated. I stared at the paper which had the check in time as well as Dr Senyo's name and signature at the bottom. I thanked him and shuffled out of the office before he changed his mind.

I don’t recall how I got home since I was so lost in my head. But I remember taking a very long shower during which I broke down and cried till my tears mixed with the water running over me. ‘ why me?’ was a constant refrain in my mind. I didn’t want to hate my baby but I was walking a thin line between fear, anger and blame. I finally got myself composed enough to call my husband and as if he sensed something in my voice his response to my ‘hi' was ‘Dearie what’s wrong?’ After explaining what the doctor had said he tried consoling me, assuring me that the long awaited baby was finally making an appearance bringing an end to a long pregnancy. He had attended a couple of doctors appointments with me so was aware of my reservations about a caesarean section even though the doctor had warned it could be a possibility considering the length of time between my first and second pregnancy. We agreed to meet at the hospital since traffic wouldn’t allow any other alternative if I was to meet the 6pm check in deadline by the doctor.

I got to the hospital with 30 minutes to spare before the deadline. Checking in procedure went smoothly and I was ushered into a room in the maternity wing.

I was watching the television that came with the room when there was a knock on the door, before I could respond, hubby entered and immediately approached the bed and enveloped me in a hug. My eyes got teary and my nose and throat were choked up. I guess I made a sound since hubby said “ hey, no tears ok” as he rubbed by back and kissed my forehead before taking the seat by the door and dragging it next to the bed to sit on. ‘ I know you haven’t eaten so I brought food" he said trying to lighten the mood. ‘ am not hungry' I replied. ‘ You are eating for two and Dr Senyo said the procedure is early in the morning so you need to eat now’ he added firmly. I knew I wouldn’t hear the end of it so I capitulated. ‘ Ok, only if you eat with me' I smiled for the first time since that afternoon after hearing the news from the doctor.

After the meal which hubby had to urge me to take a few more bites till he realised I really couldn’t eat anymore and had to devour it along with his.

Sleep was fitful as j kept tossing and turning and hubby stayed by me through out. Though he would encourage me to get some sleep each time I turned, I realised he was also pensive and quiet each of us lost in our thoughts, prayers and expectations.

Friday dawned and after a restless evening, a nurse came in to prepare me for the scheduled caesarean section. At this point I was unnaturally calm. Dr Senyo came in to speak with us about what to expect. He was very patient and explained everything extensively.

Being wheeled into the O.R with hubby walking beside me, the cold temperature in the room. The anaesthetic making conversation and explaining what is being administered. Hubby’s presence next to my head and his words of comfort and affirmation. The feeling of numbness from my waist down as the anaesthetic kicked in. The almost out of body experience of seeing something happening but not feeling only hoping and waiting .

Then the most beautiful sound in the world, a cry of a baby, my baby boy was finally here!. The tears, the joy, being kissed by hubby with tears in his eyes. His lingering words of “ you did good Dearie, you did good"

Written By Doreen Addison