New Baby: The Delivery
The Epidural
With each delivery, Mrs Levee insists on the creme de pain relief. In fact, she refuses to deliver babies outside of office hours or at weekends. So, as the pace of the contractions picked up, the anesthesiologist was called for to administer the epidural. In a very short space of time, a little Indian doctor arrived, cracking jokes and explaining the procedure.
All very well. Er…except the part where I almost fainted!
Yep. Mr Levee ‘whited out’ for a minute! As the anesthesiologist put the needle in Mrs Levee’s back, he issued the warning that she should not move her back at all. I don’t know why, but this got to me. I could feel my head getting lighter. The blood was draining out of my face. Yet all I could think of was not causing a distraction - just in case Mrs L moved!
So, I persevered until the needle was removed. But it was too late. I tried to leave the room, but my legs wouldn’t work! My world was a whirlwind of lights, the midwife, the little Indian doctor….all spinning around….
Just as I thought I was going to fall, the midwife caught me and guided me out of the delivery suite, where a chair had magically appeared! Took a little while to recover, but eventually after a drink of water and some fresh air, I was able to go back inside for the final stages of the labour.
Thanks for that fantastic post - as a rather squeamish expectant father (is there such a thing ?) your post has helped me get my head around our expected new delivery in January !
Found your blog while trialing the new google blog search (keyword:cushendall - I grew up there but left NI almost 10 years ago for England and a few other parts of the world).
All the best to you and your family,
Seamus
Seamus, thanks for dropping by. I’m originally a Ballycastle man myself!
Of course the birth is just the beginning of the story, but it’s a really special time.
I remember when our first was born, I was so overwhelmed by emotion I couldn’t stop crying and neither could Mrs Levee.
I hope the delivery goes smoothly and you and your wife/partner are blessed with a wonderful new addition! When’s the baby due?