Baby on The Hill: Becoming a Mom

It is hard to believe that my first official Mother's Day has already come and gone. Sure, my adorable dogs gave me cards in years past (they were so thoughtful!) and last year I was a mommy-to-be, but this this year was THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY! As suggested by my use of capital letters, the day is really important and special to me: more than just being a Hallmark holiday, being able to celebrate Mother's Day means that I now have a lifetime membership to a club that I had no idea I would love so much.

I became a mother on October 2, 2011 after forty-two weeks of pregnancy, four days of labor (I had to be induced), three hours of pushing, and a c-section. And I loved every minute of it. If you're a Facebook friend, you can attest to the fact that I posted two gazillion bump photos. I just couldn't help myself---I had the best time being pregnant, which was a complete shock to me. Of course, there were times when my body ached and I was uncomfortable, but I was fortunate enough to have a very enjoyable pregnancy. My favorite activity last summer was lying on the couch with my shirt up so that I could stare at my stomach and wait to see the baby move---it was so much better than anything on tv. I was convinced that the baby was going to be a ninja based on her kicks and punches. Since we don't have curtains, I'll take this opportunity to apologize to our neighbors for having exposed them to my stretch-marked stomach. 

I didn't even really mind going over my due date because my mom traveled from back home to be with us so I had two good weeks of being pampered by her (my poor husband had one of his most challenging and intensive medical rotations at the time, so he was at the hospital non-stop) and there's really nothing better than a hug from your mom. I started my maternity leave on my due date so I ended up having those two weeks to just rest, finalize some nursery details, and enjoy Boston without a stroller (although, at that point I really could have used a stroller myself since I had the slowest waddle known to man). By the time my induction date arrived, however, I was ready to get the show on the road---my dad arrived from Logan and was in our apartment long enough to put down his suitcase and then the four of us walked down Cambridge Street to the hospital. That was one of the most surreal walks of my life, knowing that we would be coming out with a baby, as a family. Our lives would be completely different. Of course, I posted the moment on Facebook.

I went to the hospital on the evening of Thursday, September 29th and pretty much immediately started the pitocin (magic induction medicine), but I didn't have the baby that night. Or the next day. Or the next night. Or the following day. Or the following night. She was pretty comfortable in my uterus and basically became a squatter, ignoring the eviction notices. I was in labor longer than Kim Kardashian was married. My husband, Bill, was so smart to pick out and suggest a vein on the exterior part of my arm for the nurse to use for my IV, so I was actually pretty comfortable and mobile. I was able to shower and give my hair fabulous blow outs to relax. Since Bill's a resident at MGH, my room was regularly filled with coworker visitors and, of course, they all got to know my medical stats in great detail. The St. Louis Cardinals were in the playoffs against the Phillies so Bill and my dad sat in the room, watching baseball (I still think that I should have had total control over the TV since, you know, I was the one in labor!) while my mom and I just did stuff. Bill kept hoping to be able to watch a Cardinals game with his baby and my mom wanted to share her October 1 birthday with her first grandchild, so both of them put the pressure on me to deliver (literally).

When it FINALLY came time to push and get my epidural, having a friend in the anesthesia service made me a very happy camper. I'm pretty sure that I proposed marriage to multiple folks that morning. Pushing for three hours was no joke, but it also wasn't something that I felt like I couldn't do---I don't know where I got the strength and focus from, but I was IN THE ZONE. My medical record actually says "tremendous pushing." I want to frame that and put it on the wall with my diplomas and Dean's List award from law school. My stubborn child still wasn't getting the message, however, so I ended up having a c-section. I remember feeling the same sense of excitement as I did on my wedding day when I was waiting for the trolley to take me to the beach, where Bill was waiting for me: I wasn't scared, I was just so excited to finally see and hold my baby. If I could have jumped up and down, I probably would have. I've pretty much had a smile on my face every day since.

So fast-foward 7 months, and I got to spend my first Mother's Day with my own precious duckling, watching the parade, and feeling so lucky to be a mom. The dog didn't get me a card this year, however...