It was 6:21am on Saturday, April 28th 2001 when Charlene called to let me know she was in labor. Her contractions had started around 3:00am and they were now coming every two to five minutes. Charlene and Roy waited until about 8:30am to call the doctor and headed for the hospital around 8:45am I arrived at the hospital at about 9:25am and joined Charlene and Roy in their labor and delivery room, the gang was all here now we wait for the guest of honor.

After being on the monitor for over an hour, Charlene was mobile and doing beautifully. Using deep breathing and holding onto Roy during her contractions then walking between them. When we were in the room they used their good luck talisman- Tristan-san, which was a small porcelain black cat (named after their own cat) which has been loaned to friends and family alike for good luck during trying times. Charlene informs me that she received the news yesterday that she passed the bar, WOW! What a weekend, first the bar and then a baby. It is no wonder that Charlene is doing so great through out this labor.

At around noon the nurse Jollie checked on Charlene's progress and found that she was 4-5 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced at station -1 to 0. Charlene is working through the contractions, feeling tired, but good in between them. More walking and moving. Dr. Sabella is the doctor on today. Not a doctor from Charlene's practice but she is great, she and the nurses continually praised Charlene for her strength and perseverance, Charlene is in the zone, the place where she just deals with her body and getting through the pain. At 12:34 p.m. Charlene's water breaks, nice and clear, baby is doing great too. Charlene notices immediately that her contractions have changed, in no time she is starting to feel some pressure but working so well with Roy through each contraction. We head into the shower for a little while until the pressure becomes too great. Jollie checks Charlene again and she is 9 centimeters with a lip and baby is at station + 1. Charlene wants to push so badly but it is not quite time so all we can do is blow through those pushing pains. Charlene breaths through each contraction doing such a fantastic job, she is so strong. Roy and I get Charlene up into a kneeling position over the back of the bed hoping for gravity to help us out and it does.

At 2:30pm Charlene is complete and ready to push, and boy can she push. At 3:00pm on this beautiful spring Saturday in April, Johanna Madeline is born. Beautiful APGARS of 7 and 8 weighing in at 6 pounds 10 ounces and 20.5 inches long. She is a gorgeous girl who just seems to be content to lay and watch her parents. Such a happy little family.

The staff at Arlington hospital were full of praise for the wonderful job that Charlene did laboring naturally, and Roy is beaming at his wife and child with pride. Dr. Sabella was terrific, very warm and easy going. Johanna was born a little dusky, with some rapid breathing and full of mucous, so she and Roy left to head for the nursery for a little bit of observation, while Charlene settled down and tried to relax. By 5:30 p.m. Johanna joined her mother back in the room and waited to meet her grandparents who were on their way to meet the newest member of the family.

Kathy Hoppe, works with Pioneer Doula

© 2001 Please e-mail any comments to gomes@speckhardt.org