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December 08, 2002
Cameron
Just the facts:
Our baby boy, Cameron Thomas Merrells, was born this morning, Sunday 8th December, at 6:22 am in El Camino Hospital, Mountain View, California. He weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces and is 20 inches in length. He's a very healthy, happy and loud baby!
The gory details:
The birth was long, very long. We had two days of intermittent contractions that just wouldn't become convincingly frequent, long and hard. By Saturday night we were exhausted and thinking about serious medication to get some sleep. Our doula, a lovely lady who does professional labour support , suggested we try a bath. To our delight (and dismay) the contractions then came really fast and strong. Sam laboured hard at home for four hours, mostly standing, leaning against a table, me pushing her back as hard as I could. We then went into the hospital at 2:30 am to see how far we'd got. She was 5 cm dialated, which was great. Our labour nurse was really nice. She'd worked at El Camino for 40 years and our baby was to be her last delivery before retirement. She was very supportive of our desire to have a natural birth. We were both dispondant that we might have another five hours of dialation to go, but our doula persuaded us to keep going a bit longer. The next 45mins was quite surreal. Sam was sat on a plastic chair in the shower and I squatted on the other side of the curtain ready to push her lower back as each contraction came. I nearly lost it here. I couldn't stand to see her in so much pain. At the next check Sam was 9cm dialated and burst into tears with shock that she'd got so far so quickly. We started the pushing phase soon after and Sam learnt fast, but the contractions died down with being in bed. Sam pushed hard for an hour. I almost lost it. Our doula came to the rescue again and we did a couple of pushes squatting on the bed. Our regular doctor was away so the oncall doctor came to perform the delivery. We were so lucky as she totally accepted our desire for as little medical intervension as possible and patiently waited for nature to take its course. He appeared at 6:22 am. I cut the cord. He yelled and yelled and threw his arms and legs around. He was straight onto Sam's chest. It was the most amazing moment. I was so totally shocked. I'm not sure why, as we'd been anticipating this moment for five years. I had such a head rush that blood started pouring out of my right nostril. Sam is just the strongest woman. To breath through all that pain and to be totally exhuasted and still push the baby out is just the most amazing thing. I'm in awe.
Posted by John at December 8, 2002 11:06 PM
Comments
Fantastic News - I cannot wait to give my Great! (-in every sense of the word)nephew a big kiss and hug.
With lots of love from all the family in England.
We have been thinking of you all and welcome Cameron to the family with love.
A special kiss from his maternal great grandmother
Audrey x
Posted by: Lin Beekar at December 9, 2002 01:38 AM
congratulations!!!!!
x
Posted by: zoe at December 9, 2002 04:46 AM
Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you both!! It is amazing what we women can do! :) My husband said similar things after I gave birth.
Posted by: Thida at December 9, 2002 11:03 AM
Congratulations to all three of you. John, your story was great. Sam, your endurance will become legend. CT, welcome to the world. Congrats on picking great parents.
Posted by: David at December 9, 2002 10:47 PM
Congratulations! Wow - what a story! We are so happy to hear all three of you are well... Way to go, Sam! Can't wait to meet Cameron!
Posted by: Eileen at December 13, 2002 03:33 PM
Congratulations
I'm very thrilled for you both and I loved the photos.
Have a great Christmas and Sam don't forget those all important exercises!!!!
Ashley, Boy, Rose and Co.
Posted by: Rose at December 22, 2002 11:57 AM