Amanda's arrival

Sabrina's pre-natal appointments started out monthly, then every two weeks and finally weekly. At the end of each appointment, they'd give her a pamphlet about what to expect in the next time period. At least until she hit 40 weeks and they had no 41st week instructions. Sabrina's doctor, an elderly doctor that ebbed experience, suggested that if the baby did not arrive on its own by Wednesday, that Sabrina check in the hospital and induce labor.

With that, on Wednesday May 17th, we woke up, loaded the car with a couple days supplies, and dropped of our dog Kobe at Yang's apartment before proceeding to the hospital. First things first - make sure we can pay. Check. Then to a patient room on the second floor, room 202, to get settled. First comes routine checks of Sabrina and then two doctors arrive. They strongly suggest - given Sabrina's age and elevated blood sugar - a c-section. They go back and forth. The conversation is of course in Chinese and I can't quite follow. After they leave, Sabrina says she wants to try natural birth. I told her to listen to the doctors. Don't be a hero. Her health and Amanda health is what matters. Sabrina wants to stick to natural birth. It is her body and I supported.

Around lunch time, they Sabrina up to the fourth floor where they do deliveries and if needed c-section. They start the induction medicine - oxytocin - at a low dose. Over the next several hours they increase the dosage. The baby heart rate and Sabrina's contractions are being monitored. By 8pm or so, without much progress, we are sent down to the 2nd floor room to have a rest for the night.

Thursday morning, the 18th, starts with flurry of checkups and hospital admin things. Then up to the fourth floor again for induction. They check on Sabrina every couple of hours. By noon, the contractions are strong, and Sabrina is feeling it. She asks for the epidural which they give after confirming she's three fingers. I have a wave of emotion when I see the shot. The epidural is no longer a onetime shot, but a line, and Sabrina's pain subsides. They ask her to rest.  By 5PM, still three fingers but the baby's head is facing down and ready. For the first time, the doctor is hopeful Sabrina will be able to have a natural birth. The delivery doctors are younger and ebb competence. Five fingers by 7pm. They lie Sabrina sideways and put a yoga ball between her legs to help with the baby positioning. Eight fingers by 9pm. Time to get ready. Sabrina does a rehearsal push and the doctor gives her some suggestions. Pain doesn't seem to be a big problem for her at this point. At around 11pm, Sabrina is fully open and they prepare the room for delivery. She beings to push - the doctor counting in Chinese 1.2.3.4.5.6.7...wait a beat then 1.2.3.4.5.6.7..wait..1.2.3.4.5.6.7. Sabrina is working hard. Another nurse or doctor comes in and helps push the baby while Sabrina pushes. After about an hour of pushing, they ask Sabrina if its ok to make a cut. She agrees. They prep the room. More nurses come in. Since I don't really understand what's going on, I don't know how long the process will be. It's not long. Tears well in Sabrina's eyes.

At 12:29am on May 19th, the doctor says something to Sabrina and Sabrina tells me to take a screen snap. Took me a bit to catch it. They want to capture the time. The time. Then the baby's out. I see Amanda. No sound. Small panic. Then crying and moving. They cut the cord and move her to cleaning table. I take some short videos before they say not allowed. Amanda cleans up nicely and then is placed on Sabrina's chest.  There is a lot to clean up and doctor keeps working on Sabrina. Then they are done and we are alone. The three of us have a moment.

We stay in the delivery room until 2am or so and when they transfer us down to the 2nd floor. Sabrina on a gurney with Amanda in between her legs. Amanda is placed in a hospital bassinet. We are tired but can't rest. Amanda has her first breast feeding and then her first poop. First poop at 2:40am. I recorded it.

The next morning another flurry of activity. Amanda's blood test shows it's a bit thick and she needs liquid, and she will likely have jaundice. Jaundice is not a surprise since Aidan, Lydia, and Sabrina all had it. We defer putting her in an incubator hoping the portable blue light would work well enough.  

The blue light did not work good enough and the next day the doctor suggests we move her to an incubator. The hospital doesn't have the facilities to allow Sabrina to stay with Amanda while they do this. We call another larger hospital to see if they can but we get nowhere.

Sabrina and I stay nearby at my ex-mother in law's apartment. We drop off pumped milk and visit during visiting ours.  The light works but when they take Amada off the light, the jaundice returns. By the end of the second day, all signs look good and the doctor lets us know we can likely take Amanda home on the third day.

The third day comes and we prep and wait for the doctor. There is another baby being wheeled quickly into the ICU which we thinks explains the reason for the wait. Eventually, the doctor comes out and says all signs are good and we can take Amanda home.

After settling the bill..which seems to take longer than labor and slightly less painful..we pick up Amanda and exit the hospital. I drive ever so carefully to our apartment 25 minutes away. Squeeze into our way to small parking spot. Walk to the elevator. Up to our floor. Through the door. Home. Amanda's home.