FREE ESSAY ON THE BIRTH OF MY DAUGHTER

THE BIRTH OF MY DAUGHTER

The Birth of My Daughter
The moment to give birth to my daughter Anais came very quickly. My doctor, a young male
wearing blue scrubs wheeled me to the delivery room with the assistance of a female nurse
wearing green scrubs, and my husband, which was also wearing scrubs. 
The hospital delivery room felt very cold and very sterile. The walls were painted white
with gray tile covering one half of the walls, and there was a smell of soap in the air.

The delivery room was equipped with a gurney covered with white starchy linen, a large
stainless steel lamp with a microscope sticking out of one side stood next to the gurney,
a baby incubator that look like a large clear plastic rectangular box with two round
holes on one side, and a table covered with very neatly placed stainless steel surgical
instruments.
In the delivery room, were four people, a male anesthesiologist and three female nurses
wearing green scrubs, facemasks, and gloves. The anesthesiologist was seated next to the
head of the gurney with an air tank and IV, in the event I had to undergo a cesarean due
to having developed gestational diabetes during my pregnancy. 
One of the major problems a woman with gestational diabetes faces is a condition the baby
may develop called macrosomia. Macrosomia means large body and refers to a baby that is
considerably larger than normal. All of the nutrients the fetus receives come directly
from the mother's blood. If the mother's blood has too much glucose (simple sugar), the
pancreas of the fetus senses the high glucose levels and produces more insulin (a hormone
regulating the glucose level in blood) in an attempt to use the glucose. The fetus
converts the extra glucose to fat. Occasionally, the baby grows too large to be delivered
through the vagina and a cesarean delivery becomes necessary. 
On the other side of the gurney stood one of the nurses checking the baby incubator,
while the other two were standing next to the table with the surgical instruments. 
Immediately upon entering the delivery room, two of the nurses transferred me to the
gurney in the delivery room, where the doctor checked me and said I had a ways to go but
that I had already dilated to 7 centimeters (the amount the cervix has opened in
preparation for childbirth). The doctor proceeded to break my water (membranes that
surrounds the fetus) and said he would be back later. While the doctor was out of the
room I had several contractions. They were coming every two minutes with such a force
that I was left breathless. My husband and one of the nurses coached me through the
contractions reminding me to breath and not push until asked to do so. The pain caused by
the contractions seemed to get stronger and stronger. About 15 minutes later I began to
scream from the excruciating pain. While one of the nurses went to get the doctor the
other checked me. I had dilated to 10 centimeters in only 15 minutes. I was ready to
push! As soon as the doctor arrived, he sat at the foot of the gurney, where he placed my
legs on the stirrups and instructed me to push only when he asked me to do so. My
daughter Anais was born at 1:37 p.m. after only three pushes, and the pain magically
disappeared! 
Immediately upon my daughter's birth, my feelings at that moment were just amazing. I was
so awake, amazed, flabbergasted, delighted, ecstatic, happy and tremendously on a high
(which I never came down for three weeks later and then with a terrific bang). I felt
every emotion under the sun. I felt complete euphoria as the nurse put my daughter in my
waiting arms. I just sat with my new little miracle in my arms, just so emotional and
just so in awe of her. I could not believe that the 6lb 7oz baby who looked gigantic was
just a few minutes before, inside me. Oh, it was wonderful. I remember crying from the
strong emotions that were flowing through me. I said something like, "I can't believe she
is mine, she's perfect," while continuing to cry. My husband held and kissed us with
tears in his eyes, while the doctor, anesthesiologist and nurses voiced their
congratulations on the birth of our beautiful and healthy daughter. 
Soon thereafter, in my hospital room I had a moment to reflect and think about everything
that had happened. I cannot believe how I could so quickly and instinctively feel such a
strong bond with my daughter. As I discussed this with my husband, he told me he felt the
same way, and we just held and kissed each other while crying of pure joy.