the day she was born

 

Smoothly, calmly, peacefully - this is how our Sybil Mae came to us.

I woke up on that Tuesday morning with mild contractions. After pouring milk over bowls of cereal and packing apples into backpacks I guessed I was in labor. I kissed the boys off to school, telling them what might happen if the baby comes today, and watched the bus doors shut behind them. 

Back in the door I asked David to hang back a little before going into work. His face lit up. He is my favorite to share news with. Then everything became quicker. I tossed my phone and wallet into my pretty purple bag and packed an over night one for the boys. Made some phone calls.

The contractions became stronger and closer together. I got nervous. and scared. I was shaking. David laid his hands on my head and gave me a Priesthood Blessing. The spirit filled my heart and there was no more fear or panic or worry. Peace entered and calm stayed.

A glass of dark grape juice. A bran muffin. My bedroom. Quiet. A tall stack of pillows. Mid morning light coming in through the curtains. Dave pushing on my back in just the right spot to counter the pain. 1 minute long, 3 minutes apart.

I stayed in my space while Dave took care of a few things (new couch delivery! Thanks to Jane and Blake : ) and a rather persistent delivery man). 

Then it was time to call the taxi. The taxi man took one look at us and our empty car seat, bags, and belly and said "Baby?!" We nodded. He didn't say another word but drove on quick and steady. 

Through the hospital doors, up the stairs, down the hall, stopping for contractions. Dilated to a 5, a sweet Phillipina nurse, another stack of pillows. Water broke at 12:30pm. Intense. Intense. Intense. But still calm. A smiling anesthesiologist, a big needle and then an epidural.  

 

Praise. 

We dimmed the lights, held hands, called family and waited for our sweet girl.

After some guidance from our doctor and some hard work pushing, she was born. 4:22pm. Straight into her Daddy's hands. Then they handed her to me wrapped in a blue cloth.

Screaming, covered, and beautiful. She was here. 

I saw both Noah and Gage in her face. But mostly herself. Our daughter. Our Sybil Mae.

We had a great experience having a baby in Singapore. Most things were very similar to the US, with a few differences.  They were very hands off and let me do what I wanted. No midnight blood pressure checks. Measurements made in kg and cm. Our doctor, who is usually clad in a striped shirt and tie, came into the delivery room wearing a white tshirt, jeans, and huge galoshes. No scrubs? I had to specifically request ice water instead of warm water. The nurses laughed when I was too tall for the stretcher to transfer rooms. After being here for 3 years we are used to most of the accents, but the nice Indian nurse asking me if I needed to "make a big poo poo" with her head tilting back and forth cracked us up!

Papaya fish soup was served to "help with breastfeeding."

And Milo was served with pandan cake every couple hours. I didn't mind this part at all : )

The boys came the next morning to see their new sister. Dave opened the door when they arrived but Gage did not even glance at him, he just ran pell mell into the room, "Where's Sybil?!!" Then he couldn't stop giggling and smiling he was so excited to see her. He wanted to see her tiny feet, and her tiny hands, and her tiny ears.

Noah came with a gift and cooed and cooed at Sybil until she held onto it. That sweet gentle voice melted this mama heart.