Monday, July 13, 2009

Judge Not...

I'll have to remember the next time I need a pick me up to post a picture of my hair. Wow, you guys are too nice and generous with your compliments. Thank you!

******

Every once in awhile, I'll read a story in the newspaper that just makes me shake my head and wonder. What are people thinking? Then I decide that they quite simply must not be thinking. They must be ... lacking in intelligence, in judgement, in some basic functioning.

Soooo, a friend of mine had a baby a couple weeks ago. He was due July 20, but he came early. In fact, two days before he was born, his mom was at my house for playgroup, and we were talking about how she wasn't looking forward to the birth. All her children had been born late and with painful labors, including three plus hours of pushing for each of her two previous children.

Then, I got the call.

On that Thursday, she started having contractions, but they weren't too painful, and they were pretty far apart. She calle her doctor to ask if she should come in, and her doctor told her to go to the hospital if she felt they were a concern, but that from what she was describing, it sounded like nothing serious at the time. It was up to her. She stayed home, figuring that it was Braxton-Hicks.

At a little after 9pm, the contractions changed. They were suddenly quite painful and three minutes apart without warning. She and her husband decided to go to the hospital, since it was a good forty minutes or so away.

The got into his car, backed out the driveway, turned right out of their cul de sac, turned left onto the next street, and then right onto the main road.

That's when she screamed at him. "WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. CALL 911 NOW."

As he started to dial and she continued to panic, they spotted a fire station. He quickly pulled into the parking lot and ran to the door. We now know that after hours, fire stations lock their doors, but fortunately, they have doorbells.

He yelled into the intercom that his wife was having a baby and that they didn't have time to get to a hospital. One firefighter ran out, in his stocking feet, and sprinted to the car.

He managed to catch the baby just before it hit the floor of the car. He shouted to those following him to get the OB kit because he needed to suction. Umm, yikes!

Baby safely born, they loaded her into the ambulance and took her to the closer hospital - ironically this is the one we as her friends preferred but her doctor doesn't deliver there.

Mom and baby were completely fine, thank God. Her husband's car? Not so much. He took it the next morning to be detailed. I haven't had the courage to ask how that went.

We joke with her now about her three hours of pushing, but at the same time I understand the parents who have babies in their cars a little more now. This is an experienced mom. She's been through labor twice before and knows what it feels like. She knows when contractions begin for real. For her, there truly wasn't time to get to the hospital. From the time those contractions started for real until the time her son came into this world, just over twenty minutes passed.

While I would be grateful for such a short and effective labor, this isn't really what I'm going for (and NO I'm not having any more children -- this is hypothetical). The next time I read a story about this though? I'm just going to heave a sigh of relief that everyone's ok. I certainly won't be wondering what those people were thinking.

16 comments:

morninglight mama July 13, 2009 at 8:40 AM  

Holy smoke!! So glad to hear that everyone is doing well-- that is a story to tell for years to come!

Kristi Nommensen Dorson July 13, 2009 at 9:22 AM  

That's crazy! Glad everyone was ok! I loved the hospital I was at so much with my first son that I kept them for my second pregnancy, even though we lived 45 minutes to an hour away. All was well for us but towards the end of the pregnancy, scenes much like this played out in my head and I was very much judging what *I* was thinking, lol. And that ride to the hospital in labor wasn't all that much fun either. I'm still glad I stayed with them but IF we ever do it again (a big IF), I'll pick a closer hospital, lol.

I think the bottom line is that birth is unpredictable, hehe. We do the best we can and it usually, thankfully, works out all right. :)

Roxane July 13, 2009 at 9:54 AM  

My goodness gracious! I can't imagine. I'm so glad everyone was ok. RIP car seats lol

septembermom July 13, 2009 at 10:14 AM  

Oh, that's a close one! So glad that mom and baby are o.k. My second son was a quick labor. I knew as we were driving to the hospital that things were moving quick. When I got there, I was 10 cm dilated and had to push right away. He came out soon after. If we listened to the doctor who said to stay home, I think he would have been born on my living room floor:)

xxxx July 13, 2009 at 10:38 AM  

That just happened to a girl I know on her FOURTH! Some are just in a bigger rush to get out, I guess :)

(And PS your hair looks AWESOME!)

Lady Di July 13, 2009 at 7:10 PM  

Oh, I can not even imagine how scary that would have been. Glad they found a fire station in time and at least had some one there with medical experience to help. I'm thinking overdue baby might not be a bad thing after all.

Karen July 14, 2009 at 7:50 AM  

Good heavens! I never would have thought to stop at a fire station. I'm glad everyone was alright.

Heather July 14, 2009 at 10:00 AM  

Hair looks great! I'm afraid to cut my hair too short, even for something as noble as donating it.

Anonymous July 14, 2009 at 2:12 PM  

Oh wow! I can't even imagine how terrifying that must have been. I'm glad mom and baby are fine! What an exciting birth story she has to tell now, though.

And the car? Oh well.

Claudya Martinez July 14, 2009 at 2:33 PM  

That is a crazy story!

Michelle July 14, 2009 at 10:18 PM  

morninglight mama - No kidding. The best part is that for her baby gift, she chose a fire truck blanket!

Kristi - Having a hospital and doctors you love is definitely important. I didn't have either that I LOVED, but I definitely know where I'd go now that I know more!

Roxane - Ummm yeah. Those poor car seats. and to think I used to complain about the barfy spot growing up!

septembermom - Wasn't it? So glad you didn't have your child on the floor, but still impressive!

Swishy - Yikes! Yet another reason for me to not have four kids ;) and thank you!

Lady Di - Nope, overdue baby is definitely not a bad thing. Enjoy it while you can!

Karen - That was the mom in labor thinking. Dad couldn't figure out the number to 911 ;)

Heather - Aww thanks! It's scary having short hair, but so far so good....

Reluctant Housewife - I'd have to sell the car. I really would. And yep, terrified would not begin to describe me, I don't think.

Unknown Mami - Isn't it though? I'm just glad it's someone else's story and not mine!

Pat July 15, 2009 at 8:02 AM  

That reminded me of a friend whose third baby came fast and her husband delivered him on a narrow, steep and winding mountain road 10 minutes away from their house on the way to the hospital. He's a chiropractor and had been involved in his first two children's births, so that helped!

Mrs4444 July 16, 2009 at 9:36 AM  

So, I'm curious about baby names... Chevy? Ford? Chrysler? heehee

Michelle July 16, 2009 at 10:14 PM  

Pat - Oh wow. That sounds like it's in the dark and way scary. Yikes! Chiro or not, that wouldn't work for me :)

Mrs 4444 - They're Jewish, so they had to go with the name that was to honor the relative... and it wasn't a C or F. Maybe it could have been Jeep! But instead it was Jordan. I love that idea though -- everything about the baby is firetruck though!

anymommy July 17, 2009 at 3:24 PM  

Oh my gosh. Seriously, you just never know about anything until you (or someone you know well) walks that path. I'm so glad they were all okay. I agree with you and other commenters, I might have to sell the car!!

Michelle July 18, 2009 at 9:16 PM  

Stacey - See, aren't you glad I didn't post this until after Nathan was born? I would have already sold the car, but ... apparently that's just US ;)

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