DanCarson1

I know I'm new to this forum, but this is something I just had to share. Our son Daniel was just born and I'm still walking on air. I guess it comes from being a new Dad. Daniel's got his mother's blue eyes and everyone says he looks just like his Dad.

We wanted to go all natural for the birth, Kat (that's my wife) said she didn't want to have the experience fogged by drugs, but I knew from experience she doesn't like pain. No, I take that back, she absolutely hates pain. So as soon as we decided on an all natural birth, she had me online looking for ways to reduce pain without drugs. We finally decided on maternity acupressure, I got the book "Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth" and started poring over it. The idea sounded easy enough-- just press here and the pain starts to go away-- but I was afraid I'd push the wrong spot.

Then came the due date-- well it came and went, but Kat assured me it was normal. It might be normal but it didn't make things any easier for me, and I doubt I made it easier for her even though I tried. By the end of the week I was getting concerned, sure it was only three days after the due date but still I was wearing a hole in the carpet. Kat was looking at my book, the rest of it not just where to press to reduce pain, and told me there was a bit there about inducing labor through acupressure. I was all over that, and I think Kat was too.

I tried a few pressure points and at first it didn't seem to be doing anything, then Kat reached out and squeezed my hand, she was getting contractions.

I grabbed her bag and dumped it in the car, then went back for her. It took less time to drive to the hospital (even though we hit every single red light) than it did to check in, or at least that's the way it felt to me. Once Kat was safely signed in we went back to the acupressure. One of the nurses had a smile on her face when she saw what I was doing but the rest just seemed to ignore us.

It sure worked though, the Doctor took one look and wheeled Kat into the delivery room. Daniel was born just two hours later and I didn't have the crushed hand I expected.

There's nothing like seeing your child for the first time. Nothing. Especially when you can tell all the parts are there.