Having my first child

The idea of being pregnant was something that always frightened me I would sometimes dream of finding myself suddenly large with child wondering suddenly large with children wondering how I could undo it without having to endure the unimaginable pain of child birth.

When I actually became pregnant, I was so excited that I managed to quell my fears by telling myself over and over that millions of women had done it before me. It helped that pregnancy treated me well. I had a few queasy moments in the first trimester, but the morning sickness that I dreaded never materialized to something negative.

In the ensuring months, I spent time thinking about baby names and preparing the nursery and shopping for the overwhelming baby items that seem indispensable but did not exist when I was a baby according to my role model.

During this period of pregnancy, one friend took the time to send me an email outlining all the gory details of childbirth that most people dont talk about and urging me to get an epidural. Despite my fears, I imagined that I would be able to bear the pain and avoid all the invasive medical equipment that I learned about in the birthing class at the hospital.

On my first few prenatal visits, I informed the doctors of my apprehension about labor as well as my reluctance to have an epidural or episiotomy. I was at least philosophically incline d toward a natural birth experience ad s possible.

As my due date drew near I began to panic about having every possible labor aid that I read about in my stack of pregnancy books and magazines. I also made good use of my mothers medicine ball to calm my nerves and reduce the tension that came with being pregnant. I also attended some relaxation classes which helped me to put things in prospective.

Everything was going on well with the pregnancy when my mother said that I should be induced. She drove me to the hospital to undergo the inducement. This is not something I was too kin about as I was looking forward to a normal delivery. We arrived in the hospital and checked myself in and proceeded to the nursing station to registered my name as an expecting mother.

After this I went into one of the room to have my blood pressure monitored. I also got the heart rate of the baby to be monitored. As the day progressed I went in and out of labour for the entire evening starting at 6:00 pm until 4:00 am in the morning. When the doctor decided to administer the epidural. So after this process I felt a little sign of relief because the pain level was subsided and I was not in so much distress

At about 9:00 am in the morning the nurse came and told me that since I have to undergo surgery, couple minute later I was presented with a bouncing baby boy that weighed 7 pounds 3 ozs. He continuously for a couple of minutes and laid his head on my chest.

My recovery was quick while I was in the hospital recovery room, I was well rested as my body went through it normal stages of becoming a mother. I was determined to breast feed my baby despite the instructions of my doctor not to do so due to the fact I was on anti-depressants. My role model was a grate sense of help as I listened to her music. It calmed my mind and reduces my stress level with the relaxing instrumentals.

However with the help of a lactation consultant, my room and supportive family and friends we I managed to get through those difficult weeks and really begin to enjoy my handsome child. I am still not sure whether I could endure all that again but I wouldn't trade him for anything.

Watching my son grow from a baby into a toddler has been a blessing in disguise. It has been the most terrifying and wonderful experience I've ever had. I'm always in awe of the things he comes up with when I am on the sidelines watching . I am proud of my little man. He is super smart, so watching him learn new things is mind blowing. my son stay pretty busy discovering the world around him from his fingers and toes to new textures and beyond. Once he reach the toddler age he expect you to be the constant source of entertainment fully charged both day and night. At any given moment he wants to be chased around tickled, sing and dance with.

By Avril Jones