The Sun Came Out

I thought I was prepared, having read all those articles from my hardbound books, magazines from the hospitals, to tips and all information from women who had gone through it…two weeks past due when my doctor finally said the word, induce! Eighteen hours of labor, pain and tears.

I remember the most conspicuous people in the hospital room, the huge yet so gentle Fijian midwives/doulas and my four girlfriends, who were there by my feet as the lever for the birthing bed was raised to curve and separate my legs. Why were they watching the whole process? I told myself, “I would avenge my dignity when this is over” but like real fairies, they stayed with me for the duration of labor and delivery, whispered to me all kinds of incantations to alleviate my evident agony and were all as jubilant when “sunrise” came. I love them forever.

She just would not come out. My mother who could not stand to see me in so much pain (or horrible position) had asked my husband to just let me undergo a cesarean delivery but the believer in all natural ways that he was (or the cost of a knife’s cut) he said, ‘she’d make it’. Alas, an hour and eight minutes after midnight, the Sun came out. My Sunny, such things they call, a bundle of joy, was exactly what it was. Amazingly, the indescribable pain just vanished even with physical traces on my body. I only remember that it was excruciating and also, embarrassing.