My sister's baby arrived yesterday, nearly crashing her own baby shower planned for next Saturday. Rebecca June was born at 6:33 pm, weighing an itty-bitty 4 pounds 11 ounces. Which makes sense since her actual due date is May 2nd.
Suzy had developed pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, for which the only "cure" is delivering the baby. Unfortunately, despite the fact that her body was sick, it was not ready to let go of the baby and Suzy endured a torturous four-day delivery-induction process. To lower her blood pressure, she was put on intravenous magnesium (called "mag" by nurses; dubbed "megadeath" by my sister). It caused hallucinations. It made her throw up. It made her want to give up multiple times.
But Suzy is nothing if not tenacious, and she hung on and was finally able to deliver her beautiful daughter who cried and flailed just like she was supposed to.
I was in the delivery room along with her husband Jim, acting as labor coach, massage therapist, patient advocate, photographer, and cord cutter. I feel so lucky that my sister and I have the kind of relationship in which we welcome each other into the most important moments of our lives. She was in the delivery room when Willa was born 10 years ago.
I wasn't sure I'd be able to get my two-hour run in today. I've basically been in NYC since Thursday and not getting much sleep. But I didn't want to skip the run, so I headed out figuring I'd do as much as I could. Lately my long runs have pretty much sucked, so I wasn't too hopeful. But today it was better than ever.
I found myself thinking about how hard Suzy's last week had been and how much she had suffered and managed to accomplish something she didn't think she could do. The last two hours of her labor were intense. The epidural wasn't working, so she felt every inch of the pain. When the contractions came fast and furious, she found strength she didn't know she had and she coped.
Rebecca June is in the NICU probably for the next week, but the doctors are impressed with how she's doing. And Suzy is just fine, especially now that she's off the megadeath.
I am in love with the name Rebecca June. I can't stop saying it. It sounds like the title of a poem, or a song. Rebecca is also my middle name and the name of our maternal grandmother.
Mom and baby before she was hurried off to the NICU.
5 of you had something to say:
Baby stories always make me happy and teary. thanks for sharing. Motherhood is definitely the ultimate adventure!
-Karen of SCAG
Congratulations!
Congratulations, your sis sounds like an incredibly brave and strong woman.
I love the name too, esp because it has family ties.
Glad your run went well too.
This was a very inspiring story, thanks for sharing.
congrats, auntie leah! I gotta say, a four-day birth process makes anything else sound easy...and way to go on the run. inspiration always helps.
I second Dimity. That's exactly what I thought: A four day labour must be like an ultra endurance event. Congratulations to mother and aunty and Rebecca June is absolutely gorgeous. I agree with you. The name has a very nice ring.
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