Annelises’ birth has to be one of the most special birthdays I have ever attended. It was such an exciting day for both myself and mommy. Things didn’t happen exactly as you think when you came into world. Without getting into too much detail you didn’t want to leave mommies womb. I guess you were enjoying the unlimited food and laying around in never-ending hot tub. We were told by the doctor that it was time for you to come out and join us in our world. So he set the date to induce mommies pregnancy on Tuesday, November 26, 2013. That morning when we awoke was surreal to us. We both looked at each other with fear of the unknown and happiness that we are going to become parents that day…so we thought. We both went to our respective bathrooms to begin the day. As we showered, dried ourselves, brushed our teeth the nervousness that over came us fluctuated. It was a constant high and low of warmth accompanied with joy and apprehension with jitters. As we dressed, pulling over a shirt or pulling on pants over our legs, the thoughts of a new human being will be living with us. An entirely new person who is unknown that we will have to learn who they are. I must say it was overwhelming at times. We were finally ready to leave the house and make our way to South Side hospital. As we drove to the hospital there was this comfortable silence where we both embraced the reality of the situation. Half-way through the trip we started to talk about the trip back home. The trip back home there will be a little girl in the back seat. As I was driving I looked into the rear-view mirror and saw your brand new little car seat that you will be placed in. I have to tell you Annelise…as I write this I realize how much emotion I was going through knowing that I was going to meet you. It almost felt exactly the way I felt when I was a little boy and my parents left for a trip to Europe and left me with my grandparents for a week. It reminded me of going to the airport with my grandfather and the excitement I felt that I would be reunited with my parents. I remember standing by the U.S Customs entry with butterflies in my stomach eager to see them.
We finally made it to the hospital and got mommy checked in and placed in her room to begin preparations to get you out of her belly. We first had to make sure mommy eats a little so she has her energy. The next step would be blood work and vitals. Lastly room preparation and to make sure mommy is dilated. If not, a little medicine never hurt to help with dilation. Sufficit to say things didn’t work out as expected. Our “lil girl” was not ready to come out. Regardless of all the steps taken to make your entry into our world as easy as possible…you were not coming out. Medication was given to mommy to help her dilate. Nurses and doctors were attending to her every hour on the hour. As a “new-to-be” father who was anxious all I could do is be by mommies side. It seemed as if time stopped. Everytime I looked at the clock where I felt an hour went by, in reality an hour passed. It was a long day.
That long day which came to an end transformed into the long night that was going to await us. The medicine they gave mommy started to work and made your mother start contractions. Contractions started and you could measure each one by the clock. The rhythm was so consistent that I was able to predict the next contraction. This went on for hours. So at this point we are into November 27, 2013 the following day and its around 1am. The doctor finally comes in and sees that mom is in a great deal of pain. He orders an epidermal which will help mommy manage the pain. I remember when the physicians assistant who entered our room asked me to leave while the administered the epidermal asked me to leave. My senses told me not to leave but I did. When I came back it turns out mommy passed out and her blood pressure went down to low numbers. To make a long story short they were able to restore moms blood pressure. You cannot even imagine how scared and stressed out I was to hear this news. The stress doubled for me because now I have two people to worry about…You and mommy. So now the only thing we have to deal with is the never ending tic-toc’s of the clock as time passed at the slowest pace. I would not leave mommies side. I sat with her to comfort her and to let her sleep knowing that I will not let anything happen to her. This part of the pregnancy was not fun with all the additional drama and a sleepless night. As the night progressed so did mommy’s pain and discomfort. The doctor was now checking on mommy every hour on the hour. You know what was amazing? At one point the doctor walked in to check on mommy and he was there briefly. He stated I will come back in a few minutes because he has to deliver a baby. He would then give mommy a thorough check up and he stepped away. For those few minutes mommy and I talked about how much closer we are getting to meet our first child, our first “lil girl.” As we were engrossed in speaking with one another and lost track of time the doctor walks in. I stated to him “aren’t you delivering a baby?” He responded “I delivered the baby already.” We got excited to see how fast a baby could be delivered and thought the same in your case. However, that was not the case with you Annelise. You were a bit challenging
So Dr. Pilliteri examined mommy around 8:30am and said if your not dilated within the next 2-3 hours than he would have to make the decision and have you induced. In basic terms you were being kicked out of mommy’s womb. Luckily, mommy had the forsight to hire a “Doula.” A doula is someone that is a birth companion. They’re not really a nurse but trained to help a mother in the steps of giving birth. The hospital staff cannot be around mommy every minute because they have other patience to attend too. So a doula was that person that could be around every minute. Granted I was there but what do I know about giving birth? No more than what I have seen on television or the movies. So the doula got to work and started implementing some exercises that would help with dilation. This went on for about 2 hours. The best thing that happened as we were nearing the doctors deadline for induction was the nursing staff. Some of the nurses were part time “doulas.” You have to understand one thing in this country especially in the medical world. People do not believe is holistic treatments. That means a natural way to treat and heal the body. To our surprise to see actual medical staff believe in this type of treatment to help mommy dilate encouraged us even more. The head nurse took charge with our doula and they began many exercises with mom. By the time doctor walked in there is was an increase in dilation. So the doctor stated “keep doing what your doing and call me when she is ready.” So after all the exercises and pain mommy experienced here comes the doctor who is going to put mommy through more discomfort. As you can see by the photograph the doctor is checking on you Annelise. He’s making sure you are positioned correctly, making sure your vitals are exactly where they need to be. He’s also making sure where your umbilical chord is so that you don’t end up getting choked to death by it. No one can imagine how much thought and detail is put into place to bring a child into the world. So as the process began I stood by mommy’s side holding her hand listening attentively to the doctor and his instructions. After he was done giving his instructions to me and mom he started with his staff. We are all in this room, bright light shining down from the ceiling on mommy so the doctor can see. The sound of metal tools clanking each other as the staff is hurrying along to provide what-ever tool the doctor needs as soon as he asks for it. It was intense but then it all settled down. Don’t get me wrong the stress and intensity was there but it shifted because you. You were coming out but we had to let it all happen naturally. To this day I will never forget this, one of the nurses asks me: “Mr. Markiewicz would you like to come over here by the doctor and take a look at your daughters head. Your wife is crowning.” Crowning basically means that the head is protruding through the vagina. I was very skeptical and uneasy about seeing this. I expected it to be disgusting. But I realized this is my daughter, my little girl coming out to see me. I have to meet her half way…how could I not. So walked over a bit nervous and l turned my head towards mommy and there you were. I saw the top of your head with your black hair with some amniotic fluid and blood in it. I was so overwhelmed I had no words. I was the first to see you. I had the privilege of seeing you with my own eyes for the first time. Until this day I always think about that moment. I was one of the best moments of my life.
We continue. Mommy was opening up more and more. She pushed and pushed. Nurses yelling “C’mon Mom you can do it!” C’mon Nina you got this!” C’mon Mrs Mercedes push as hard as you can…PUSH!PUSH!” Then the doctor chimed in…”OKAY Nina your baby girl is coming out. I need you to take a deep breath and PUSH! Tom, pull her leg back.” And as the doctor yelled PUSH, it finally came out of his mouth…”Shes Here…We got her.” And all we can hear is that beautiful cry from you. You had some lungs on you. You could be heard to the parking lot. But there you were Annelise, alive and well. Now this was the most amazing scene ever. Your probably asking yourself how in the world did daddy
photograph this when he was holding mommy’s hand and pulling on her leg to help the doctor. Remember that doula? She grabbed the camera and was taking photos while all this happened. I was over joyed to find these photographs on my camera. These photos alone tell a wonderful story. I have many more on an album that you can see. I used the best ones to tell you exactly what was happening at this particular moment in your new life. You were born November 27, 2013 at 1:56 PM. And you weighed in at 6lbs 12ounces and the length of your body was 19-3/4 inches. What a great moment.
