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Keegan's Story

On Thursday, March 2, 2000 I awoke around 4:30 a.m. with some mild surges. They were coming about every 8 minutes and were lasting for about a minute each. I was able to sleep through most of them and got up about 7:00 a.m. My husband decided he'd better not go in to work since the baby would most likely be making an appearance sometime soon. I called my parents and my mother-in-law about 7:30 to let them know I thought this was "it". My mom said she would skip work and come down, my dad would be coming later in the day, and my mother-in-law would come from work closer to the time we needed her.

The surges came and went throughout the day, always returning just at the time I was beginning to doubt that I was really in labor. By dinnertime the surges were very regular and gaining in length, but I was relaxed and calm and able to enjoy our meal at a favorite restaurant.

It was hard getting our 15-month-old daughter Delia to sleep that night, most likely because she was excited that her grandma and grandpa were spending the night. My husband S was exhausted and went to bed about 9 p.m. and I stayed up with Delia until 11 p.m. when she finally settled into sleep. I went to bed, a little disappointed that the baby hadn't arrived yet, but very certain that we?d have a baby by the next evening.

It was about 12:20 a.m. on Friday, March 3 when I awoke. The surge was much stronger than the previous ones and lasted for what seemed like an eternity. I was so relaxed though that I fell back asleep almost immediately after it ended. Twenty minutes later I again awoke at the peak of a surge. I calmed and relaxed myself with visualization and my breathing exercises. Again, I fell back asleep quickly and figured it would be at least another 20 minutes before the next one. The surges began to come closer together and by 1:30 a.m. I awakened S to let him know things were getting serious.

The surges were about 5 minutes apart and lasting approximately 1 minute by 2 a.m. S suggested we go to the hospital but I was perfectly comfortable relaxing in my own bed and declined his suggestion. By 3 a.m. the surges were 5 minutes or less apart and were lasting for about 2 minutes. S insisted that we leave for the hospital. I got out of bed, dressed and awakened my parents. We left for the hospital just shortly after 3 a.m. while my parents called my mother-in-law and got Delia ready to go.

We arrived at the hospital at 3:20 a.m. It was a beautiful night, very clear with lots of stars and crisp winter air. We walked into the hospital, declined the wheelchair (I heard the front desk clerk snicker about it!) and made our way down the hall to the birthing center. The nurse checked me and exclaimed that I was already dilated 6 to 7 centimeters and had a bulging bag of water! She was astounded that I was so calm and relaxed even though I was in "transition".

At 5:30 a.m. the nurse checked me again and said that I was at 9 centimeters. She thought the baby would be here within an hour. I was very excited to hear that! I had been using different positions and HypnoBirthing to relax during the surges and hearing that I only had an hour or so left gave me assurance that I would indeed birth this baby without any interventions. S was at my side for every surge, holding my hand and helping me with the techniques we had learned in the HypnoBirthing class.

Around 5:30 a.m., Delia woke up and was rather concerned about her surroundings. She had slept through being taken from her bed at home, driven to the hospital and being placed on the couch in my birthing room. My dad decided to take her out of the room and walk with her in the hall, hoping she would fall back asleep for a while.

I felt the baby moving down the birth path and began using the "J Breath" to nudge the baby along. As the baby crowned I noticed my dad and Delia had returned to the room and were standing by the door. Delia was awake and my dad was coming back to the room to check my progress. They were just in time. After just a couple of gentle pushes we welcomed Keegan Ronan into the world at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, March 3, 2000. He weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long.

As soon as Keegan was born he was placed on my chest. My dad brought Delia over to see her new brother and to join us in welcoming the newest member of our family. He nursed for the first time about 20 minutes after he was born.

Right after Keegan was born I noticed that the sunlight was beginning to show around the edges of the window shade. The official time of the sunrise was 6:28 a.m. Keegan wanted to arrive in time to make the most of the brand new day.

S. D. L.

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