Sarah Nigbor

Eleven years ago, I was about to give birth to my daughter. Her due date of July 1 had come and gone and I was uncomfortable, cranky and longing to see my feet again. She finally made her debut in the world at 1:33 a.m. July 11 and it went anything but smoothly. This year will be her golden birthday.

When I found out I was pregnant with Carolina, I was elated but terrified. Growing up an only child, I had zero experience with babies. I had never even changed a diaper. I had no idea how to give a baby a bottle, bathe her, anything. I attended classes at the hospital, which helped ease my worry immensely.

As her due date came and went, everyone and their mother gave me advice on how to force her out. Eat spicy food! Drink castor oil and orange juice! Walk around the block! Nothing worked. I believe Carolina was inside laughing at me. She was cozy and staying put. She came in her own time and still does. Let’s just say getting her moving is not easy. She has no concept of the word “hurry.”

Carolina’s dad worked road construction, so he was on the road in northeastern Wisconsin when my water finally broke at 2:30 a.m. July 10. My mother took me to the hospital and the fun began. I finally gave in and took pain medication after 20 hours of labor. I had wanted to take none, but the pain became too much. Finally, the doctor gave us the news (Carolina’s dad had arrived in time) that the baby’s heartbeat was failing and she was stuck in the birth canal. I was prepped for an emergency C-section and given an epidural.

I had heard from friends that an epidural made you feel nothing from the waist down, but I could still feel everything. I tried to tell the nurses, but they insisted I was just nervous. You better believe they finally listened to me when they started opening up my abdomen. I felt every bit. I can officially say I know what it’s like to be gutted like a deer (graphic, I know, but true). As I cried out in the worst pain I’ve ever felt, everything went black. I thought I was dying.

I woke up two hours later alone in a recovery room. No baby. No husband. My mouth was so dry I couldn’t speak. I croaked out a “hello?” and a nurse came from somewhere. She told me that the baby was born healthy, 8 pounds, 14.5 ounces and 21 inches long. The doctor had had to give me anesthesia because the epidural didn’t work. So I was unconscious when my beautiful daughter came into this world. That’s something that still bothers me, even though I can’t change it.

I have had so many bad experiences with anesthesia/pain medication that I just hate it. It’s no surprise to me the epidural didn’t work properly. I woke up in the middle of my tonsil surgery when I was 14. All I remember is hearing someone shout, “She’s awake!” and then everything went black again. Same thing with my wisdom teeth.

When my daughter was finally placed into my arms, I could hardly believe it. She was finally here. And since my birthday is July 8, she was the best birthday present I ever received. Happy Birthday, my sweet Carolina!