So here I am. With two sleeping kids on a snowy Friday night in Colorado. Organizing documents and files and running into this letter. It was the birth story written by my doula on Arsam's birth which I had intended to type( she didn't provide an electronic copy) for the longest time, but never got the chance with sicknesses, moving, remodeling, school work,... I couldn't resist. I think to myself tonight is somehow the night! I've got this. I'll make an effort to document my second born's life from the get go until now in however detail and length possible. I owe it to myself and to him and perhaps his future family to narrate his story. He was an unexpected( long anticipated), tender, sweet surprise beyond anything I could ask for in life. I love my Arah to bits and can't imagine my life without her, but Arsam, oh boy, having come from a family of only girls, I didn't know what to expect as truth be told, never in my wildest dreams could I imagine I would be blessed with a boy someday. The learning curve was pretty STEEP for this mama to say the least and still is but truly the most joyous! He has a tender heart, laid back personality and knows how to roll around with the school pick ups, gymnastics and swimming lessons, and homeworks as a second child. He'll have a special spot in my heart forever. But here, is how it all started:
"October 19, 2013
Dear Arsam,
Hello and welcome to this world sweet baby boy. My name is Terri Burleson and I had the honor of being your mom's doula at your birth. I always feel like God has a hand in the births I attend, and this was no exception. I first met your mom only a couple of weeks before your due date. I enjoyed getting to know her and admired the amount of thought and planning she had put into your birth. She looked so beautiful pregnant! I was excited to meet your dad and your big sister but since your due date was so soon there wasn't time before your birthday. It was fun spending some time with your mom planning your birth.
Your due date September 24th and your parents had chosen Exempla Lutheran Medical Center to deliver you at. Your mom was hoping you would make your way into the world soon because your aunt and grandma were going to be in town visiting in order to help watch Arah when it was time to go to the hospital. Although your parents were anxious to hold you, they decided it would be best to try and avoid an induction and let you pick your due date. I was excited when your mom called at 1:08 am the morning of Sept 29th to let me know her water had broken about an hour before then. She was having a little cramping and your parents were getting ready to head to the hospital.
Your parents called again at 2:30 am to let me know they were all checked in. Your mom was barely dilated and comfortable. I was hoping this meant your parents would be able to get a few more hours of sleep before labor kicked in . Your dad called at 3:35am to let me know your mom was starting to feel the contractions. She was doing okay but thought she could use some extra support. I hurried and got ready and jumped in my car. I was just down the street from the hospital when your dad called again at 4:30am to see how close I was. I was quite surprised when he told me your mom's labor was really intense already. I hurried to the room to find your mom doing her best to cope with some very strong contractions. The contractions were close together, about every 2-3 minutes apart, and they were intense! Nurse Brandi was helping get your mom ready for an epidural and your dad was by your mom's side offering her support. Your Aunt [Parveen] was also there supporting your mom through prayer. The contractions made it hard for your mom to focus, but she found the inner strength and began breathing through each contraction and working with her body.
She was very happy when the anesthesiologist, Dr. Waltz, came to give her the epidural at 5:10am. The process took a little while and your mom did a wonderful job of breathing and relaxing through each contraction. By 5:30am she was much more comfortable. The contractions were about every 4-5 minutes apart and your mom cold still feel them but they were manageable. This allowed her to get a little bit of rest between the contractions. Your dad and aunt were also able to get a little bit of sleep.
Unfortunately, your mom started feeling a little more uncomfortable pretty soon after and by 6:15am, after pushing the bolus button on the epidural a couple of times, we were wondering if the anesthesiologist should come back in and adjust the epidural. Nurse Brandi decided to check your mom to help her make a decision. We were all so surprised to hear she was 8cm! It is remarkable that she dilated that much in less than 4 hours and it certainly explained why the contractions were so intense before she got an epidural.
At 7:15am Brandi's shift was over and nurse Jamie came in to take care of your mom. Jamie was very supportive and caring! When your sister was born your mom pushed for a very long time and she was hoping it would be different with you. Although your mom was feeling the contractions some she was wondering if it might be best to turn the epidural down so she could work with her body better when it came time to push. After talking with Jamie she decided to leave it alone. That proved to be a great decision because the contractions really started to pick up right after that. Your mom did such a wonderful job of using her breathing to relax and get through each contraction. At 7:50 am we got the great news that your mom was 10cm! :) We were all very excited that we would be meeting you soon. Even though your mom was completely dilated they let your mom wait to start pushing to help you come down on your own. This is called Passive Descent and it can help speed up the pushing phase which was really important to your mom. Your mom continued to breathe through each contraction and try and rest a little in between them.
Finally it was time to start pushing. With your dad and me by her side, your mom started pushing at 9:38am. Pushing is hard work and your mom did amazing! She did so well, in fact, that nurse Jamie told your mom to stop pushing until Dr. Saunders was able to get there. Thankfully he arrived right then and your mom resumed pushing. It was beautiful to see her work so well with her body and listen to its cues. It wasn't long at all until we all celebrated when you made your way into the world at 9:52am. You were perfectly healthy weighing 8 lbs and you were 21 inches long. You were delivered right to your mom's arms and there you stayed for quite a while. You were so adorable! You recognized your mom and dad's voice and would calm down when you heard them. It was beautiful watching your parents instantly fall in love with you. We were all a little surprised at how fast you came, but what a great surprise it was! :)
Each birth I have the pleasure of attending is a wonderful and unique experience, but I felt especially blessed to be able to be at your birth. You are one lucky boy to be born into such an amazing family!
Love to you, Arsam!
Terri Burleson
Colorado Caring Doulas"
"October 19, 2013
Dear Arsam,
Hello and welcome to this world sweet baby boy. My name is Terri Burleson and I had the honor of being your mom's doula at your birth. I always feel like God has a hand in the births I attend, and this was no exception. I first met your mom only a couple of weeks before your due date. I enjoyed getting to know her and admired the amount of thought and planning she had put into your birth. She looked so beautiful pregnant! I was excited to meet your dad and your big sister but since your due date was so soon there wasn't time before your birthday. It was fun spending some time with your mom planning your birth.
Your due date September 24th and your parents had chosen Exempla Lutheran Medical Center to deliver you at. Your mom was hoping you would make your way into the world soon because your aunt and grandma were going to be in town visiting in order to help watch Arah when it was time to go to the hospital. Although your parents were anxious to hold you, they decided it would be best to try and avoid an induction and let you pick your due date. I was excited when your mom called at 1:08 am the morning of Sept 29th to let me know her water had broken about an hour before then. She was having a little cramping and your parents were getting ready to head to the hospital.
Your parents called again at 2:30 am to let me know they were all checked in. Your mom was barely dilated and comfortable. I was hoping this meant your parents would be able to get a few more hours of sleep before labor kicked in . Your dad called at 3:35am to let me know your mom was starting to feel the contractions. She was doing okay but thought she could use some extra support. I hurried and got ready and jumped in my car. I was just down the street from the hospital when your dad called again at 4:30am to see how close I was. I was quite surprised when he told me your mom's labor was really intense already. I hurried to the room to find your mom doing her best to cope with some very strong contractions. The contractions were close together, about every 2-3 minutes apart, and they were intense! Nurse Brandi was helping get your mom ready for an epidural and your dad was by your mom's side offering her support. Your Aunt [Parveen] was also there supporting your mom through prayer. The contractions made it hard for your mom to focus, but she found the inner strength and began breathing through each contraction and working with her body.
She was very happy when the anesthesiologist, Dr. Waltz, came to give her the epidural at 5:10am. The process took a little while and your mom did a wonderful job of breathing and relaxing through each contraction. By 5:30am she was much more comfortable. The contractions were about every 4-5 minutes apart and your mom cold still feel them but they were manageable. This allowed her to get a little bit of rest between the contractions. Your dad and aunt were also able to get a little bit of sleep.
Unfortunately, your mom started feeling a little more uncomfortable pretty soon after and by 6:15am, after pushing the bolus button on the epidural a couple of times, we were wondering if the anesthesiologist should come back in and adjust the epidural. Nurse Brandi decided to check your mom to help her make a decision. We were all so surprised to hear she was 8cm! It is remarkable that she dilated that much in less than 4 hours and it certainly explained why the contractions were so intense before she got an epidural.
At 7:15am Brandi's shift was over and nurse Jamie came in to take care of your mom. Jamie was very supportive and caring! When your sister was born your mom pushed for a very long time and she was hoping it would be different with you. Although your mom was feeling the contractions some she was wondering if it might be best to turn the epidural down so she could work with her body better when it came time to push. After talking with Jamie she decided to leave it alone. That proved to be a great decision because the contractions really started to pick up right after that. Your mom did such a wonderful job of using her breathing to relax and get through each contraction. At 7:50 am we got the great news that your mom was 10cm! :) We were all very excited that we would be meeting you soon. Even though your mom was completely dilated they let your mom wait to start pushing to help you come down on your own. This is called Passive Descent and it can help speed up the pushing phase which was really important to your mom. Your mom continued to breathe through each contraction and try and rest a little in between them.
Finally it was time to start pushing. With your dad and me by her side, your mom started pushing at 9:38am. Pushing is hard work and your mom did amazing! She did so well, in fact, that nurse Jamie told your mom to stop pushing until Dr. Saunders was able to get there. Thankfully he arrived right then and your mom resumed pushing. It was beautiful to see her work so well with her body and listen to its cues. It wasn't long at all until we all celebrated when you made your way into the world at 9:52am. You were perfectly healthy weighing 8 lbs and you were 21 inches long. You were delivered right to your mom's arms and there you stayed for quite a while. You were so adorable! You recognized your mom and dad's voice and would calm down when you heard them. It was beautiful watching your parents instantly fall in love with you. We were all a little surprised at how fast you came, but what a great surprise it was! :)
Each birth I have the pleasure of attending is a wonderful and unique experience, but I felt especially blessed to be able to be at your birth. You are one lucky boy to be born into such an amazing family!
Love to you, Arsam!
Terri Burleson
Colorado Caring Doulas"
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