Photos of Camille, Daniel (and family and friends)

Daniel Robert came into our world at 9:13 PM on Tuesday, 22 Jan 02.  The labor was short, intense, painful, and unmitigated by pharmaceutical agents.  Molly started “pre-labor” (milder contractions) at 3 AM.  She couldn’t sleep after that.

Molly came to work with me.  The contractions became more intense mid-day.  We went to lunch and Molly could talk through her contractions.  We left my office around 4 PM and went home.  Our good friend Melissa McClintock came over to be a labor support person.  About 7 PM, the contractions intensified and quickened.  She was in transition at this point, but we didn’t know it.  We went to the Ballard Swedish hospital.  They checked her right away and she was 6 cm dilated.  We had called the midwife an hour before and again when we left for the hospital.  Nonetheless, she didn’t arrive for 40 minutes and we were a bit panicky.   Of course, the nurses are pros and could deliver a baby without a hitch, but we wanted the midwife with whom we developed a rapport.

Before the mid-wife got there, dozens (OK, not dozens, but it seemed like it) of nurses started rolling in all the sterile instrument trays, set up the bright lights, and dropped the neonatal tray down (it’s like an advance changing table you see in locker rooms and bathrooms), and turned on the warming lights.  They checked Molly again and she was 9 cm (10 is fully dilated).

Finally, the midwife charged in, followed shortly by her student.  Sally was clearly in a rush.  She whipped on the surgical gloves and checked Molly herself.  Molly’s contractions were coming quickly and intensely at this point.  We were all convinced she was going to sliding out a baby within minutes.

Alas, the water finally broke and the contractions eased just a little bit and the baby’s entrance was slightly delayed.  But, after a few minutes Molly’s contractions were coming fast and furious again.  She leaned on me for a while (I thought my legs would give out) and sat on a rubber exercise ball in between contractions.  Then she got on the bed and used the squat bar for a while until her hips ached.

After a bit, she was in a semi-reclined position pulling her thighs toward her shoulders (with help).  After a lot of screaming (screw the “hee-hee-hoo” stuff) and a bit of tearing, out came a squished little head (but not misshapen), followed very quickly by the shoulders and the rest of him.  I was overcome with emotion and pronounced, “He’s a male!”  (I know you’re supposed to say “It’s a boy!” but my tongue slipped.)

He wasn’t too thrilled about being removed from his comfortable abode.  He cried for the first hour or so.    When he was finally swaddled, he calmed down, opened his eyes and started bonding.

Poor guy!  All naked and dry.  Nothing like the sweet, soft, wet, muffled comfort of Molly’s uterus.

Dad tries his best to soothe a distressed child.

Here is proof of his birth weight (7 lbs 12 oz).  I can’t remember, but Molly thinks he was 19.5 inches long.  He has some hair, which is light brown (possibly with blond highlights).  The nurse said it was a little curly,  but it’s too short for me to see it.  His eyes are very dark.  The nurse said he scored two “nines” on his  Apgar tests (once at birth and another at 15 minutes later).  The maximum is a ten – he got a point off for being a bit blue in his extremities (see the photo below).

Daniel finally gets a few comforting words from Molly.  Maybe a few kisses, too.

Finally Daniel settles in for some eye contact and imprinting with his mother.  Thus begins his life in our family.

This picture does not promote the use of birth control.  Isn’t he cute? Sleeping babies have a way of tugging at your heart strings, don’t they?

Camille, with bed head and all, steals part most of Mommy’s fine hospital breakfast the day after the birth.   She liked the toast with jelly best.

Dr. Camille examines the patient.  She thought he had an odd heart sound, but it was just gas.  Daniel got a thumbs up!

Dad gets practice sharing his lap.  A scene to be repeated many times in the future.

Melissa was a great help in Molly’s labor.  She soothed Molly and brought her cold water and wet washcloths.  Here is a partial reward – getting to hold Daniel.

Dad and Daniel bond for a moment in the hospital.

Back home, Camille gives Daniel a tender kiss while he sleeps.

Contented madonna and child after a breastfeeding session.  Besides breastfeeding, Daniel is also known to poop, sleep, and spend brief periods of time with his eyes open.

Aunt Bonnie (Molly’s mother’s sister) came to help right after the birth.  She’s been very helpful in keeping Camille happy.  Here, they play a game together.

Bonnie holds Daniel while she reads.  Daniel like to be held.