10 Days Late

The full moon was setting as we pulled into the parking lot of the Alta View Hospital Women's Center, clearly visible above the Oquirrh Mountians to the west, Monday, March 5, 2007.

We had talked to our daughter on the cell phone as we drove down just after 7 am.

She was completely effaced and dilated to 4 cm. She received her epidural about a half-hour earlier, so she was very relaxed when we got to her labor room, 204. In fact, she nodded off as we visited, the continuing contractions mechanically noted, but not consciously felt.

The nurse stopped in at 8 am to check her vitals, but didn't check her delivery progress. We were getting all settled in for a several hour wait. The doctor had moved her appointments in anticipation of an afternoon delivery.

My daughter's mother-in-law, Jill, made it a point to remind the nurse that they had checked her delivery progress every hour through-out the night, so when the nurse came in at 9 am, she performed her check.

We had just moved in to the waiting room to let the daughter sleep.

Before I even sat down, I saw my wife walking towards us in a hurry.

"She's dilated to a 9 and they've called the doctor back," she breathlessly told us.

I called my parents, who were already on their way, and let them know things might go quicker than we thought.

The doctor, whose office is "only twenty minutes away" arrived at about 9:50 am. The nurses had the daughter push once before the doctor arrived, but the baby's head was "RIGHT THERE", so they told her to stop.

My wife remained in the room with our daughter and her husband, while Jill and I stayed in the hallway, listening at the door.

They tried using the vaccuum first, but it didn't work. After an episiotomy to a 2, the Doctor took things in her own hands, unwrapped the cord encircling Audrey's neck and at 10:06 am, Audrey started to cry.

I was pretty close to that state my own self.

Audrey had a little difficulty breathing to begin with, so the nurse rushed her into the nursery, giving us a quick flash of Audrey's face as she took her across the hall. The put an IV into her as a precaution.

By then, my parents had arrived along with some other in-laws.

Eventually, we all got to meet Audrey.

She complements our extended family marvelously.

I am excited to get to know her better in the days to come.