My Bundle of Joy at the Hospital

While discussing the topic of newborn babies, and swapping 'at the hospital stories', my friends all had me beat when it came to drama, and danger, and even heartbreak. My offering was cute, and funny, and meant to lighten the mood.

I had decided, after the birth of my son, that I wanted all boys. Now mind you, today I may have been able to assure that I got my wish, but back in the late 70's and early 80's, we waited to know the gender, and we took we took what we got ( Insert humor here). We were happy if they were healthy, that was the most important, not sex, eye color, or any of the other designer genetic predispositions science is working to perfect.

When I went in to labor, before the date that had been scheduled for my C-Section, the doctor said go straight to the hospital. I did. They hustled and bustled me through admissions, and hooked me up with a belt, to monitor contractions, and made arrangements to reserve the operating room, and called in additional staff to assist. According to the monitor belt the contractions stopped. I was still having back labor, but as the hours passed, with no response from the contraction monitor they finally told me I was not in labor. They decided to send home the additional staff, release the reservation on the operating room, and send me home. Mothers you know what I am talking about if you have been there.

The nurse came in to remove the belt, telling me " go ahead and get dressed", as she reached down to unplug the machine, " Do you feel that ? " She asked, looking incredulous, and I said " No more so than I have been, I told you my back hurt". She said " Well sit tight you might not be going home after all", and left to report to the doctor. Sure enough, it was on, and so was the rush to call back everyone they sent home.

As I said it was to be a caesarean, and I Really wanted another boy. When I woke up from the anesthesia, they brought in the little bundle. I said to the nurse " Is it a boy?" She got the biggest grin on her face, and tipped the blanket back a bit, " I hope not, because your baby would need a haircut already" she said, outright laughing now.

She was beautiful. So tiny and petite. With hair that was so long, the dark curls danced on her little shoulders, well below the little familiar stretchy stocking cap.

Over the next few days, while I recuperated from the surgery the nursery staff adopted my little girl into their hearts. She was so cute, she was irresistible. She had them waiting on her hand and foot. I wish digital cameras had been in back then, I would have included here how much fun the staff had during our stay. She would be brought back from her check ups for feeding with bows and barretts, and Shirley temple ringlets, and even corn rolls, lol. The nurses had so much fun playing with all that hair! They kept threatening to hide her when it was time for us to go home, and joked about how long they could keep her a secret among the other newborns.

I have four children, and you know, none of my other children were sent home from the hospital with gifts from the staff. She had teddy bears, dresses, and of course all kinds of hair accessories to match.