Lucas Mathewes arrived, scheduled but suddenly, on August 27th at 1:52 PM. 7lbs, 8oz, and 22 inches long. A hefty, healthy boy, with a full head of dark hair, and dark navy eyes.
Late pregnancy tired me out; I had been uncomfortable for weeks. Between trips to the bathroom and kicks to the ribs, I was up at all hours. A few days prior to my due date (the 22nd), I had a rough night of contractions that had me thinking, "This is it!" Steve timed them--they were strong.
Well, it was a total fakeout. The next day, the doctor checked me; 4cm dilated. "How are we not having this baby?" Steve kept asking me. I'd shrug, and keep drinking raspberry tea and going on long walks to try to get labor started.
The next week, I was almost 5cm dilated. When the doctor said she'd be happy to break my water, I was surprised when Steve and I looked at each other, and said, "Yes." Lucas was already big (I could tell), and since labor tends to go more quickly the second time around, we didn't want to end up having a kid in the backseat of a car. The doctor scheduled us for August 27th.
Thursday the 27th came. Our bags had been packed and prepared for the hospital for weeks now; we were ready. Frederica (Mamou), Stephen and I got up early and drove to the hospital. Aunt Megan and Fr. Gregory (Papa) watched Ruthie, and waited for news.
At the hospital, all our waiting was compounded and exacerbated by paperwork and procedures--very anti-climactic. I was itching to get going. I paced in my gown and socks. Steve seemed to twitch, and I felt badly that Frederica had gotten up so early to be with us and there wasn't much going on.
But then the doctor came in. I was nervous, and unsure of what to expect. I knew that once my water broke, it could mean complications. It meant I wasn't going to leave the hospital for awhile. It meant that, one way or another, I would have a baby boy in my arms at last.
And I did--I held him that afternoon. The doctor broke my water at 10:30, and let me walk the hallways. Each contraction was markedly more intense than the last. After an hour or so of walking and leaning on Steve, trying to hold conversation between contractions with Frederica, I gave up and got onto the bed. I lay down, I tossed, I hung over the edge. The pain was so much more intense than what I remembered; upon reflection it was a blessing to have had Ruth in the middle of the night, and have sleep-deprivation and passing out to dull the experience a bit.
I was wide awake, wildly aware. "I wanna die," I said. "I don't know if I can do it," I said. The doctor checked me--7cm dilated. "REALLY?" I said, astonished. In a flash, I thought, "I could ask for the drugs," but then the moment was gone in a sea of even more intense contractions and downward motion. In mere minutes, it felt, I was ready to push.
And push I did. For a half hour, I pushed. I strained. I struggled to feel the right muscles and make use of each contraction. I was losing steam and feeling defeated. Frederica and Stephen held my hands, encouraging me, helping me to breathe, making me try anew. The sooner I got this baby out, the sooner everything would be over and I'd feel that relief and happiness of The End of something that is also A Beginning.
That was Lucas' beginning. He arrived at 1:52, squalling. "He's here?" I said, with disbelief. I could still feel the contractions of afterbirth and felt twinges from a 3rd degree tear, but enjoyed the heavenly falling-in-love moments with him on my chest in the midst of the pain. I smiled, I relaxed. I looked at Steve and Frederica and my newborn son, freshly arrived. It was done.
Big sister visited the next day; disoriented and curious, Ruth looked wide-eyed around the room at the strange furniture. Thrilled to see me, she leaped into my arms and gave me a big hug. Then, she noticed Mamou holding Lucas, and started pointing out all his features--eyes, nose, ears--with an excited squeak.
And here we are now, a family of four. A new personality creates a new dynamic for us to learn and enjoy. I'm sure we'll have our share of frustration from time to time, but meanwhile the new addition to the family has made quite a splash.
Welcome, Lucas Alexander. You are loved!
