evening

In the evening sometime (I lost track of time) I started to shake uncontrollably and feel nauseous and like I was going to pass out. The night nurse, Carol - who was wonderfully motherly, said it was almost time to push but gave me something in my IV for the nausea/lightheaded/shaking in the meantime and let me rest.

The doctor checked in occasionally as I pushed. Jesse was seated on my right by my head and was a fantastic coach - offering oxygen, ice or juice, playing Marley or Dead or Huckleberry Flynt and holding my head at the appropriate times. And providing lots of encouragement.

Baby was turned face up - sunny side up - which isn't ideal. You want their butt in the front and their face to your back. So there was some maneuvering. Eventually he rolled and the pushes were more effective and the doctor - who was 37 weeks pregnant herself - said, "look at that dark brown hair!" I said, "dark brown hair?!" How is that possible?