“Obnoxious kid…that was me!”
I delivered our son after 16 hours of labor without medication. Up until the last push, the nurses told us that our hospital room was one of the quietest they had ever witnessed. Why? Because it took all of my concentration to focus on what was happening to me. Now, before I continue… do you remember that obnoxious kid in grade school whose eyes got a little wider when they were faced with the treacherous “double dare”? Yeah, I was that child. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have an incessant need to prove myself. It’s a horrible trait and I’m working on it.
In my second trimester my husband and I were leaving my uncle’s house, and I was asked, “Are you going to deliver the baby naturally?” Before, I could even answer, everyone was already laughing at the thought of me denying medication. In my head, they just as sure to have double dared me.
My husband loves me and hates to see me in any pain. He encouraged me to drop my idea of a natural birth. But, the more he questioned me, the more indignant I became. One day I was so drunk off my defiant indignation that we had a conversation that went like this:
Him: Baby, everyone knows how strong you are, when the time comes just take the epidural.
Me: Years ago my ancestors, slaves, would trudge through the cotton field literally barefoot and pregnant, and as the pain of giving birth would strike their bodies, do you know what they would do?
Him: <side eye> I don’t like where this is going, but I am sure you’re still going to tell me…
Me: <ignoring his sarcasm> They would squat where they stood…
Him: <interrupting> Are we sure they “squatted” or was it more of a “kneel”?
Me: <ignoring his sarcasm…again> THEY WOULD SQUAT…
Him: <interrupting…again> Hold on! You weren’t there, what makes you think they didn’t “kneel”?
Me: FINE!!! <now shouting> THEY WOULD KNEEL IN THE SPOT THEY ONCE STOOD AND WITH ALL THE POWER IN THEIR BODY (DESIGNED BY GOD TO CARRY AND GIVE LIFE) THEY WOULD BITE DOWN ON A STICK AND PUSH OUT THE BABY, PRAY OVER THEM, STAND-UP AND CONTINUE PICKING COTTON. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M SAYING?
Him: <pause> Baby, you’re not a slave and sticks aren’t covered under our insurance.
Such the funny guy! Here’s the real point, after being blessed to deliver a healthy 6 lbs. 12.2 ounce, 19-inches long, beautiful baby boy, I realized that no matter how you deliver a child whether naturally, with an epidural, c-section, or stick… the fact that your child is here makes you a HERO.
My diary entry is this, “It’s childbirth, not a competition. Everyone receives the same door prize at the end.”
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I love your blog. The stories you share are so touching, inspiring and honest. This one made me laugh out loud. As you might imagine, I can absolutely relate to that stubborn and “incessant need to prove myself.” Like you, I’m working on it. 🙂 Keep writing. This is wonderful.
This compliment coming from a REAL writer like you is a badge of honor! Thank you so much for the support. Aries Rule.