Birth Stories

Acadia's Birth Story
By Avarie Q.

Hello! My name is Avarie and I am nine years old. My mother had a baby on September 3rd and I got to go in the delivery room with her, Ray and our doula, Dena. This is the story of my sister.

I got to see Mommy in labor. I got to stay home from school. I went to Carolyn and Sean's house to play with Katelyn before we went to the hospital. It was very exciting, but also kind of scary for me. My mom was having a baby!

At the hospital, I wrote down the things that happened in my diary. About two hours before the baby was born, Mommy's contractions were about a minute long and two to four minutes apart. She liked to be rubbed and to lay down
comfortably. I sat in the rocking chair and watched. I took pictures of the room. I got lunch at the cafeteria with Dena while Ray stayed with Mommy. I played with my pipe cleaners.

An hour before the baby came, Mommy was hurting a lot. She was in a lot of pain. Then she took a shower. My mom's voice was kind of whiny and strange when she was in the shower. She didn't sound like herself. It was weird.

I went into the bathroom to give Mommy her bathrobe. I said "Hi Mommy."

She said "Hi Avarie. I love you." Mommy told me that she loved me a lot that day.

Then I went out of the bathroom and talked to Dena for a little bit. Then Dena went into the bathroom to help Mommy. I was by myself and I felt afraid then. I cried a little bit when Dena went away because I didn't want to be
alone.

But then Mommy said that she needed to push and that was exciting, but scary, too! Dena and Ray helped her out of the bathtub and it was time for the baby to come. I was very nervous when Dena asked me to stand by Mommy when it was time to push. When Mommy did the last yell, I wanted to leave the room, but then the head popped out and I wanted to stay. All my fears went away and I cried! I got a sibling! After all the stress, I finally got to see the gender of the baby. My baby sister Acadia was out.

I saw the yucky umbilical cord and placenta. I watched Ray cut the cord. It was kind of gross. I can't believe that the baby had to look at the placenta all the time that she was in Mommy's body. It was yucky! After that, I helped the nurse weigh the baby. She weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces. Then I got to help with the footprints. I took pictures of Acadia and of Ray holding her. Then I got to hold her! It was cool and I didn't want to share her. I didn't want to give her back to Mommy and Ray. I thought she was so small and I worried that with one poke I might break her leg.

Then it was time for Mommy to feed the baby. Ray and I went and bought Mommy some flowers. Ray bought me a cookie and chocolate milk. Later, I watched the baby have her first bath. I couldn't go in the nursery, so I had to watch through the window. Then, I watched Sponge Bob on Mommy's TV while I held my new sister. Grandma and Grandpa came to visit then. They took me home and spent the night with me. I got to stay up really late even though it was a school night! They brought me a present, too, and one for the baby.

The next day we brought Acadia home. At first, we had a lot of visitors. Mommy ate a lot of Chips Ahoy cookies. Almost everyone that gave the baby a present brought a gift for me, too. Mommy and Acadia slept a lot and I didn't get to spend much time with them. I was sad and angry to have to share Mommy. I still am, because I didn't have to share Mommy for over nine years and now I have to. It is frustrating.

Now there is lots of crying at night. Also, there are a lot of poopy diapers to change. I really don't get to spend a lot of time with my mom anymore like I used to. The thing I hate doing to the most is always being quiet. Our cats don't really pay attention to the baby much.

I do like to hold Acadia though. I like to pick out her clothes. I like to watch her grow. It's cool when she smiles at me. Soon, I will be able to take a bath with her and that will be fun. When she is bigger, I will teach her how to scrapbook, read, write and how to get A's in school. Someday, I will get to babysit her and when I'm older, I'll take her shopping.

As you can see, having someone new in the family is kind of weird for a girl who hasn't had to share her mom, but it's kind of cool, also!