When my daughter was placed in my arms, my first thought was finally.
Six years of infertility treatments.
Eighteen months after I lost my twin sons at six months pregnant.
The day my daughter was born was full of drama. I woke up late, groggy from late pregnancy fatigue. My phone rang, waking me up unexpectedly, and my friend Jim said, “Cecily, I just had this overwhelming feeling that I should call you.”
It was a real God moment.
As I surfaced to wakefulness, I realized I was cramping badly. As I stood up out of bed, I felt a horrible sensation and when I looked down I realized that blood was gushing down my legs. Like in a horror movie.
My placenta had abrupted (become detached).
Blessedly, it was a fast drive to the hospital, and less than an hour after Jim called me my daughter was born. Blessedly, 30% of my placenta was still hanging on so my daughter was receiving oxygen and didn’t suffer from cerebral palsey (placental abruption is one of the leading caused of cerebral palsey).
My emergency c-section was very slash and burn, just rushing to get the baby out before she suffered any ill-effects. I was fully anesthetized for the surgery and woke up a couple of hours later alone in a recovery suite, my daughter nowhere in site. It took nearly eight hours after she was born before she was put in my arms.
I held her close, her perfect little body, her perfect little smell, and just loved her. Magically, instantly, intently. It was the most beautiful moment in my life.
Childbirth is such an incredible moment, and I’d love to know what went through your mind when you held your baby for the first time? By replying, you will be entered to win an exclusive Million Moms Challenge Gift Pack, which includes an iPad2, a custom-made Million Moms Challenge pendant and a $50 donation in your name to Global Giving.
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Million Moms Challenge. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest runs October 17 to November 13, 2011. A random winner will be announced by November 15, 2011.