birth story - Nile's version

My trip to U.S. was planned for a long time already. Initially I had announced my visit for at least one month earlier but then flights were more expensive during peak time and “ of course - I wasn't in time with the stuff I had to do for university, that's why I also brought my books with me. So I was rather astonished that Allison stayed so cool and was sure that I could visit any time I wanted to even if it was two weeks before the pronounced birth date. I'm sure there are many going to be mothers who wouldn't be so relaxed about it. When I arrived at JFK airport, Allison, Priya and Arun picked me up. They got there with the shuttle airport service having to cope with delays which made their journey even longer than it was anyways. Basically all the time it was amazing for me to see how much energy Allison still had to walk around, looking very healthy and in good shape. Also for the next three days we were running around a lot. I was feeling tired in the evening and couldn't make out any difference between me and Allison except for the extra weight that she was wearing in her belly and the happy beaming expression on her face.

For the first couple of days I stayed at Allisons and Aruns place. One afternoon when Priya was visiting, Allison wanted to do her gestational Yoga and we decided to join her. When the three of us were standing in front of the TV in a half circle, Priya and I were pretty surprised how exhausting Yoga for pregnant women can be. Allison was doing much better than we were doing.

The evening before Mia was born we went to see 'Vanity Fair' in a movie theatre. When Allsion and me were waiting for the Bus to take us back Midtown, she was telling me that she was having a slight bleeding, which could mean the beginning of the birth, but which could be caused also by all the running around that we had done all day long. To me it sounded pretty much like there was going to happen something soon, but Allison tried to stay calm. She didn't want to give wrong alarm and call Arun in the middle of the night for no reason at his parents place or make him return although not necessary. So we went to sleep after we got home. Thinking that she could wait till the amniotic sac would open or labor pains would start. Which would have been pretty late, considering how fast everything was happening this night, something we didn't know at that point.

I have difficulties to remember how this night exactely went on, so I'll try to get it together the best I remember. Not long after we had gone to sleep I woke up, around one I guess. Allison was going to the toilet and I was asking her if everything was okay. I think she said something like she wasn't feeling too well and wasn't sure if labor pain started. So she went back to bed, I set down next to her and we were talking about what to do. We decided that it would be a good idea to at least call Arun so that he could give his opinion on what to do. Arun wanted to check which was the next flight he could get to NY and called back saying he got the first flight around five in the morning. Not much later it was out of question if labor pain had started, it definitely had. We spend the next couple of hours talking and taking short naps, that were interupted by labor pains that got more and more regular. I can't even remember what we were talking about during that night, I was trying my best to take Allisons focus from the labor pain, which was kind of a silly try, 'cause when she was having labor pains of course there wasn't anything else she was able to focus on except for her breath maybe. So as the night went on, there was less talking and more breathing. At some point when labor pains were coming already in pretty short intervals and were long-standing, Allison decided to take a shower- I can't remember if this was because the amniotic sac had opened? But I remember that I was feeling already a little worried at that point if everything was going to be alright, but it did.

After the shower we changed place and went to the living room where we were listening to some classical music, one of the cd's was a record of a beethoven symphonie that I had brought from home. Labor pain was growing stronger very fast by that time and I strated getting worried. Before I had been pretty relaxed having been at my little sisters birth when I was eleven years old and my mother decided on getting her baby at home. So I knew in a certain way what was expecting me. But around six in the morning when labor pain got really strong and Allison squat on the floor, holding that green gym ball and started breathing very strong and I could read the pain on her face, I didn't feel very relaxed or experienced anymore.

I went out to get some getorade drink that the midwife had recommended (because of the minerals it contained), who Allison had finally been able to talk to. I found it hard in this situation to understand why the midwife was still so relaxed and couldn't do anything better than recommending an energy drink but I guess that's the large experience she has ahead of me. When I got back there was this weird music playing, kind of Hip Hop music, way to loud and not tranqualizing at all. I was irritated, wondering if Allison seriously wanted to listen to that kind of music in this situation. But when the wave of labor pain was over that she had to endure when I got home, she explained to me that the cd changer had chosen the cd and she wasn't able to stop the music because she was occupied with something different at that time, obviously. There wasn't much time left to drink the gettorade stuff while Mia was strongly asking for her way out by that time.

During another labor pain, Arun called and was telling me that he landed at the airport and was going to be home pretty soon. Good news! By that time I was already thinking that we would have to drive to the hospital without Arun, so it was a big relief to see him there half an hour later. When he got in, he seemed to deal pretty well with the situation, supporting Allison, having recommendations how to breathe and being much more in control of the situation than I felt. At least he seemed to be and maybe that's the good result of the preparatory course plus he was prepared much better and for a much longer time that he would experience the birth of his daughter while I hadn't expected to take part in it. Everything happened pretty fast. Arun called a cab that got there a short time later. He took the bags that they had packed for the hospital and then they left. I said good bye and wished them luck. From the window I only saw them entering the taxi, Allison rather crawling on all fours and then the cab was on the way to the hospital. I went to sleep for a couple of hours to take a rest, something that Allison still had to wait a little longer for.

After a couple of days, where Allison, Arun and Mia had had some time on their on and with their families, Priya and I went to visit and say hallo to Mia. It was a very good feeling to see the happy family and to hold Mia in my arms, knowing what this night was good for. Eventough I'm sure it would have been nicer for you Allison and Arun, to have experienced that whole night together when Mia was born, I'm grateful that I've had the opportunity to be there and share this with Allison. And at the right moment Arun made it there in time.

Much love to all three of you, Nile