Samala's Story

The night of December 28 was not a normal night at our house. My mother; my husband, Kevin; and I were sitting around chatting when all of a sudden my water broke. After calling the hospital, we found out that we needed to wait until my contractions were 2 to 3 minutes apart to be admitted.

Because I wasn't having any labor pains, we decided to go to bed and try to get some sleep. It was only an hour later when I awoke to contractions 2 to 3 minutes apart.

At the hospital, I was not happy. The pain was too much for me, and the bed I was lying on was as hard as a board. My mother was kind enough to warn the nurses of my mood. I wanted so much to breathe and concentrate so that I could have the baby right away.

But the midwife held up her hand and said, "Don't push! Just give me 5 minutes to check you out." She quickly washed, donned her gown and gloves, and examined me. Finally, my cervix was effaced and I was ready to go!

As each contraction became harder and longer, my mood didn't improve any. I was feeling frustrated because I didn't think I was making progress. That's when the midwife asked if I wanted to touch the baby's head. As I reached down and felt my baby's head, I was instantly filled with excitement and determination. Right then, I knew I was going to have a baby.

Only minutes later I heard my mother and my husband scream, "It's a boy! We've got a boy!" As the cries of my son filled the air and I was filled with a feeling of exhilaration, my son was placed on my abdomen. What a beautiful baby he was!

Because all of the fluid had not been pushed out of Liam's lungs at birth, he was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for observation. Thankfully, he was out within 4 hours.

What a beautiful, healthy baby boy we have been blessed with! His blue eyes, blond hair, big smile like his daddy's, and his funny antics fill our days with love and laughter. We often wonder what we did before being blessed so richly.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2011

Related Resources

International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) ICEA offers professional certification programs for childbirth educators and includes a list of ICEA-certified educators for expectant parents wishing to attend prepared childbirth classes.

American Academy of Husband-Coached Birth This website describes the goals of the Bradley method of childbirth and can help expectant parents find an instructor in their area.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) The AAP is committed to the health and well-being of infants, adolescents, and young adults. The website offers news articles and tips on health for families.

American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) The ACNM supports the practice of midwifery through research, accreditation of midwife education programs, and establishment of clinical practice standards.

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