Dear Brianna Nicole This is the story of your birth written by

							Dear Brianna Nicole,
This is the story of your birth written by one who was honored and
privileged to be a part of it. My name is Janet Villani Garratt and I was your
mom’s doula. I’ll never forget you because you were my first birth, thank
you!


You were born in the evening of what was a warm, clear, beautiful summer
day. July 24, 2006 at 8:56 pm. If you don’t know it already you are going to
learn what amazing parents you have; brave, strong beyond belief and full of
love for each other.


Your mom’s water broke at 2:45 am. She called me at 3 am to say I may as
well come over since she couldn’t sleep anyway. When I arrived at your
house it was 4:40 am, her contractions were 10-20 seconds in duration and
2-3 minutes apart. The Dr. suggested she come into the office at 9 am. After
about one hour, things seemed to intensify so we headed to the birth center
to meet the Dr. there. Everyone packed up in a hurry, (forgetting the pillows
and grandma’s pain medication). The road pavers on 9G slowed us down a
bit, but I was told that mom did great in the car. We arrived at the birth
center at 7 am. Your mom was checked for the first time and found to be 3
cm dilated. We got your mom into the shower and she liked that, she said the
water felt good on her belly. She ate half a banana in the shower. Don’t get
excited about the food she ate on your birthday because none of it managed
to stay down!


By 9 am Dr. Block came by and confirmed that your mom was 3-4 cm
dilated and that you were at station -1. Mom was getting very tired. The
contractions were still coming every 2 minutes and they were lasting longer
now so she decided to try to rest with the help of Nubain at 10 am. By 11:45
we were back in the shower, she didn’t get much rest. It was 12:15 pm now,
Dr. Block came by again, told us your mom was now 4-5 cm and you were
in a posterior position. That means your back was against your mom’s back,
that position makes labor more painful and progress slower. Dr. Block
suggested Pitocin for more powerful contractions, which may help you to
turn, and an intra-thecal for the pain. He also suggested movement, forward
leaning positions and sitting on the toilet. He left for his office shortly after
that.


After resting a bit in bed mom was able to get up and sit on the toilet until
1:30 pm when we went for a half an hour walk. The nurse checked your
mom and said 5 cm. She was discouraged by this news. She was working so
hard, dealing with nausea, fatigue and the pain but she kept up the hard work
and was back in the shower at 3 pm. Dad got her some ice cream, sounds
good, but not to mom! At 4:15 pm mom was feeling more pressure and even
an urge to push. She was 6-7 cm, she was standing then tried bouncing on
the birth ball. At 5:45 pm it was back to the toilet. By 6 pm mom was 10 cm!
She made it!


There was still a lot of hard work ahead, pushing you out! What I was about
to witness was amazing. Your mom became a force of nature; she seemed to
find the strength of a hurricane. She used that strength and power from
within herself for the two hours and twenty minutes it took to push you out
into this world. There was a lot of activity and excitement during this stage.
Your grandma didn’t leave your mom’s side the entire time. She stood
supporting your mom on her left side; I was on your right. One would never
guess she had just had surgery on her foot. Skip and I kept the ice chips and
honey coming. Your dad was ready and willing to do anything necessary to
help your mom.


At about 6:40 pm your heart rate went up to 190. Up until now mom was
pushing in a few different positions, the toilet, squatting at the end of the
bed, on her left side and by 7:45 pm on her back. This is when Dr. Block
put an internal fetal monitor on your scalp. At 8:15 pm an oxygen mask was
put on mom and at 8:30 pm the Dr. tried to assist your birth with the vacuum
suction device. The nurse told your mom to open her eyes and look at a
mirror she held up so she could see your scalp. I saw a flash in her eyes and
she only needed a few more pushes after that. Dr. Block cut an episiotomy
and at 8:56 pm you made your first dramatic appearance! What a beautiful
sight! Dr. Block said to your mom, “Tonya reach down and pull out your
baby!” She pulled you up to her stomach and saw you for the first time.
Your grandma cut the cord and everyone was overjoyed.


Your birth proved your mom be an amazing, powerful woman. Your dad is a
patient, funny and loving man. You are a lucky girl to have been born to
such wonderful parents, and they are lucky to have a beauty like you. But
luck doesn’t have anything to do with it, does it?


Of course there’s more to the story, like your mom spending some time in
the ICU, but I’ll let them tell you about it since I wasn’t there.


Welcome to the world and Happy Birthday Brianna Nicole!