Although Gabriela was in pain now, the nurses did not signal that the birth was near, the Doctor had still not arrived however Gabriela was getting more attention as she moved from contractions and pain to relative calm. The lights seemed to be brighter in the room and the focus in the last hour had turned to the bed. I didn’t feel I was much help, moral support, encouragement, some reminders of the breathing drills we had practiced.
A couple of times I wondered if the doctor was going to get there at all, but I was quiet about my concern as we saw nurses more and more frequently. When Gabriela asked for something for the pain I found out that she was getting close to delivery, she was too far along to get the block for the pain. The doctor arrived. There was a lot more attention for Gabriela and I was relegated to an observer. The baby was repositioned a couple of times and then the doctor showed me the babies head. She lingered for what seemed a long time and then suddenly appeared a bloody mass being held in the doctor’s hands. I waited for the babies cry but heard none. The cord was cut. The mother and baby were cleaned up. The mother was exhausted but finally at rest.
It had been a very fast delivery I was told. It was a bit too fast and therefore painful, but of course afterwards one is just glad it is over. I first saw the child on what looked like a hot plate and took the first picture of the baby. Later that evening both Gabriela and I would hold her for the first time. We were told she was less than 6 pounds and therefore needed special attention from the hospital, blood checked several times a day. The next day when she was weighed the nurse discovered the post-birth weigh-in was incorrect and the child was taken off the special program.
At some time that evening I left the hospital for the first time that day and walked out on the street. I was hungry but walking on the street less then twelve hours since I had entered the hospital I felt like a different person. I wandered the familiar street hungry and not knowing what I wanted to eat. I brought back some food to the room but Gabriela was not interested in food. That evening I held the tiny girl for a while. I remember looking down at the bundle and trying to focus on her finger nails. Of course I saw her black hair too and marveled at her weight and size. I remember the child on Gabriela’s stomach and next to her and feel so happy to see them both together and peaceful.
I remember a sound sleep that night.