My son, Liam Ayden Sparrow, was born Tuesday, August 2nd 2011 at approximately 1:05AM, and weighed 7lbs 13ozs and was about 20 inches long. I didn’t get to hold him very long, because of the retained placenta, but the very first few secs that I did get to hold him in my arms was probably the happiest moment in my life. I was so happy to hear his little cry and looked to make sure his dad, Tom was with him when the nurses took him away to be cleaned. Tom was incredibly awesome. He was by Liam’s side making sure everything was ok, because I was still in so much pain and was still unable to hold my baby.

Liam’s birth was actually not that bad, compared to what I had to go through after. Liam’s due date was supposed to be on July 27th, but since that day came and went and there were no signs of him wanting to come out…my doctors decided it was probably best if I got induced. So it was decided that I would go to the hospital August 1st to get myself induced. Tom and I were at the hospital by 6:30 AM, and the nurses started the inducing process at around 7:30 AM. I was hooked up on a pictosen drip and because I was diagnosed with Group B streptococcus (GBS) I was also given Penicillin, which burned! My contractions started getting pretty regular by 9:00 AM, and continued to get stronger as each hour passed. The nurses basically checked me every couple of hours to make sure how dilated I was, and by 5pm I was told I was about 4 cm. Things seemed to be moving along, and I was getting pretty excited to meet my lil boy. Anyways, by 9:30pm we were told nothing much had changed, I was still stuck at 4cm dilated, and things didn’t look like it was going anywhere. Basically 4 hours had passed without much of a change, so the nurses and doctors told us that they were giving me another 30 minutes and if I was still at 4cm…they would have to do a C-section. Tom and I weren’t really happy with that prospect, and I guess our lil man wasn’t either, because by the time our doctor came back half an hour later, I had progressed to 6cm. Things were looking up! I was told to get ready to push at around 12 AM, August 2nd 2011. I only had to push an hour to get Liam out. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, and if I was even pushing right, but Tom and the nurses were great. They helped me along, encouraging me letting me know I was doing great, and they could see my baby. My baby came out an hour later, 5 fingers on each hand and 5 toes on each feet. He had a healthy cry and I was relieved. I was incredibly happy, he was out.

But despite my happiness and euphoria of finally bringing my baby out into the world…I was still in so much pain. My contractions which I thought should have stopped with the birth of my baby didn’t stop. Instead it was just getting stronger and stronger. I wasn’t sure what was happening, all I knew was that the pain didn’t stop and I just wanted it to go away. My doctor told me the reason I was still in pain was because my placenta was still inside me, he said it sometimes takes up to half an hour for the placenta to come out, and there was really nothing much we can do but to wait. So there I was on the bed, not able to do anything, trying my hardest to fight the pain I felt. It was just terrible. I started to get really cold and I was shaking and shivering. An hour had passed and my placenta was still stuck inside, it was by then the doctor knew there was no way the placenta was going to be coming out on it’s own. My uterus had already shrunk, and the placenta was still attached. There was only 2 ways to get it out, surgery, or manually going back inside and pulling it out. My doctor thought manually was the best option, and I am glad he did decide to go back in manually (manually means he had to place his hand inside me and detach the placenta that way). Having surgery right after a vaginal delivery just didn’t make any sense. Anyways, it was 3 hours AFTER Liam was out that my placenta was finally manually detached and I was re-stitched up (yup, I had to be stitched up TWICE!) . I had lost a lot of blood and I was incredibly weak, but I was glad it was over. What I went through with the retained placenta is something I would not wish on ANYBODY, even my worst enemy!

So that is my labor and delivery story, as I mentioned to a few people…delivering Liam wasn’t bad at all, and I would go through it again. I am so in love with my newborn son. He is absolutely perfect. Tom and I are so happy he is here now, and we are now a family.

You were born into a strange world.
Like a candle, you were meant to share the fire.
I don’t know where we come from, and I don’t know where we go.
But my arms were made to hold you, so I will never let you go.
Cuz you were born to change this life.
You were born to chase the light.
You were born…

Love your mother, yeah she’s s good one.
She’ll build you armor; keep you warm as a hen.
The stars may fall and the rains may pour,
But I will love you evermore.
You were born to make this right.
You were born to chase the light.
You were born…

Oh my precious, oh my love, when they come to take me,
I will hold you from above.
I don’t know why we’re here, and I don’t know how,
But I’m here with you now, I am here with you now.
Cuz you were born to change this life.
Cuz you were born to make this right.
Cuz you were born to chase the light.