#NaPoWriMo'21

[torrentialmonsoon]

My Birth Story - Part 1

Last year at my 38th week appointment, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I was told to think about induction as high blood pressure is very dangerous for myself and the baby. The OB gave me the option of coming back 2 days later and having my BP checked again, and if it was normal, then we would go with the flow and wait for baby to arrive on his/her own (we didnt know the gender at the time even though we tried to find out). But if it was high again, it's recommended that I be induced.

I took the option of waiting the 2 days to see if it would become normal. Went to the clinic 2 days later, and low and behold, it was still high. I was already 1 cm dilated as well. My induction was booked at the hospital for April 15th.

I got my induction done. If you don't know about it, it's VERY painful. I cried. It isn't the worse pain I've felt though. The worse pain was when I was getting tests done at the fertility centre because I have fertility issues, and one of the procedures is to get your tubes flushed with water. That was something. I never want to do that again. Worst pain I have ever felt. Back to my story, after induction, they send me home and tell me that they will call me to come back the next morning. I went back the next morning, and they did some tests and said we will call you. Go home again. So I went. On the 16th, they called me back and said to come around 5 pm. We went. With all our bags that have been packed for many, many days. I wait 2 hours in the waiting room.

As I wait, I see woman after woman, coming in, visibly in strong active labour. As if they were about to pop a baby out any minute. They were sweating, breathing so hard, and in so much pain that they couldn't even speak. They all get priority before me, and rightfully so. A nurse comes towards the waiting area and calls my name. I was like, "finally!" She comes to me and says, the OB would like to speak to you in a few minutes. I said, "okay" and the nurse walks away. I sit back down and wait a few more minutes. I'm updating my husband as he isn't allowed in the hospital until I've been checked in completely. Covid rules. So annoying. He's waiting in the parking lot. It has almost been 2 hours. I can't imagine what he's thinking and going through. I'm sure time must have been like molasses for him.

The nurse calls my name again, and this time is accompanied by an OB. I walk behind them as they take me to a private room, which is actually a shared post partum area with tons of beds. They ask me to sit down and I'm now getting nervous.

"We wanted to ask you if you'd be willing to go to the Trillium hospital about 15 minutes away. Our hospital keeps getting pregnant woman after another in labour and babies keep getting born. Unfortunately, because it's the long Easter weekend, we are also under staff compared to the amount of babies that are being born. Would you be comfortable with going to Trillium instead? I don't want you to keep waiting as you're hitting the 24 hour mark with your induction already. I've already spoken to the OB there, Dr. Chu. She is absolutely amazing and they said that it's not that busy there. Because we are all under one system under Health Partners, they already have all your information. All you have to do is agree and I can make the phone call to let them know you are coming."

I call my husband and ask him what he thinks. He says, yes, we shouldn't wait any longer. Let's get going to the other hospital. We drive to Trillium, I enter the main entrance while Saqib parks the car. They ask me about any covid symptoms and the guy at the reception says, "You're the third pregnant patient they have sent in just the last few hours today." He was very nice and shared that the walk to the Labour and Assessment unit was very long. He offered a wheel chair for me to sit on. I decline politely, and regret this decision as soon as we start walking.

I get to the unit, they check me in, ask me a bunch of questions, I get changed into a gown. Dr. Chu pops in and says hello. She sounds super lovely and I feel a huge relief take over me, thinking I'll be in good hands. She says, "This baby has been through all of Mississauga today to just be born!" I smile and agree. And I tell her that the baby is ready to be born now. I'm finally checked in and go to a private room. I get attached to lots of wires that will monitor me and the baby. I'm finally allowed to call my husband in and I feel grateful to have him by my side.

The nurse is lovely and is pumping all the fluids and hormones in to me that are needed for me to continue the birthing process. The OB comes in again and says that they are going to break my water now, and she does. I thought it would be very painful, but it wasn't. But I did have to do lots of breathing while she removed the instruments from inside me to trigger the water breaking. She also checked my dilation and I was at a 2-3 cm.

The OB said to continue monitoring the contractions, that I'll start to feel them soon. And to let the nurse know if I would like the epidural. The nurse gives me a couple of juice boxes to drink to get the baby moving. And tells me I should eat some food that my husband brought. I eat it and I go to sleep.

At around 3 am, I really have to go to the washroom but I need help because I'm still attached to all the wires. I buzz the nurse, she comes in and helps me out. She then says that she will check my dilation. I'm at 5 cm now. But I feel no contractions. She offers that I take the epidural if I'm interested, so I can go to sleep after that. I decide to take it. It's not as painful as I thought. The OB steps in and says that her shift ends at 8 am and the other OB on duty will come in to check. If the baby doesn't arrive before 8 am, then the new OB will help deliver the baby in the morning.

The baby doesn't like the epidural that much. The heart rate starts to go up fast. Another nurse comes in to check. There are 2 nurses in now, trying to get the baby’s heart rate to go back to normal. They pump some more hormones in me and that does the trick. Baby's heart rate is back to normal, but that was scary. I sleep really well for the rest of the night.

I don't remember the exact time the morning OB comes in but she is accompanied by a few more nurses. She's very enthusiastic, wakes me up, and says she's going to check my dilation. If I'm at 10 cm, we are ready to start pushing. I'm at 10 cm now.

She teaches me how to push and I begin doing so. I don't remember how many times I did. But I kept trying. I can hear one of the nurses say that I'm almost there, she can see the top of the baby’s head. My body temperature starts declining fast. The baby's heart rate starts skyrocketing. This is not good. The OB says we may have to do an emergency C section so both mom and baby are safe. She says to my husband, I want to try forceps, I can see him and we can pull him out. My husband asks, what are the cons of it. She says, that it's very rare but there could be a spinal issue for the baby or there could be some coning of the head. But if we don't do it, it could not be good news. We agree to the forceps.

She uses the forceps and our beautiful baby is born. I can't see him but my husband watches. He's crying and says, it's a boy. More professionals rush in and take the baby. I'm on edge because I'm waiting for the cry. And I finally hear it. I say Alhumdullilah. He's all good. I am exhausted. And I see the OB pulling out the placenta. I think, oh good, I didn't have to push again for that. My husband is calling my sister. I see the OB doing some stitches. Nurses are asking if I want skin to skin. I say yes. They place baby on me and he stops crying. We look into each other's eyes and find perfection. I say salaam to him. We name him Aariz. I feel extremely nauseous. I hear the OB say okay, she won't stop bleeding. I say, can someone get the baby, I'm about to throw up. They pick him fast and one nurse says turn to your left. As soon as I do, I throw up twice. The OB keeps calling my husband, saying dad, dad. But he is too occupied on the phone and doesn't realize he's a dad now. I yell out Saqib, and he finally looks at the OB.

I pass out.

[beautifleye]

Purple Variations

Depiction of royalty biblically Fruit of my fancy bears the deepest hue Basketball team adorned with a tint Intricate in my formation of ROY G BIV memorization Calming nature through its stations Popping out in a bouquet Enhancing flavors of beverages of content Stroking the psyche through the spray on my pillow nightly

[writinginnorthnorfolk]

Anxiety

My poem won’t do what I want it to. I chew my pen, my nails, my lip and resort to the key- board. No change. Words seem to have lives of their own. They’re off to have adventures, without me, they don’t care about poetry. Yet, they’ve guided me here, to a wordingfount, where poems are found. Kim M. Russell, 21st April 2023 Image: collaboration with Ave Calvar on Unsplash It’s day…

[fictionadventurer]

NaPoWriMo #21: A triolet

This poetry form with several repeating lines seemed perfect for a poem about time travel.

A Time Traveler's Romance

Although you first met me today I know you very well. We've loved in time's most tangled way Although you first met me today. When we've shared years of work and play, my younger self this tale you'll tell "Although you first met me today I know you very well."

[awyldepoetry]

that Spring

My gentle dog turned thirteen that Spring, I'd listen extra carefully to his exhales as he'd doze; holding onto him, memorizing what I still held we sat yearning by the sea on pebble beaches skipping stones, a day's drive from anywhere we'd ever been you pronouncing that word like it rhymes with between me writing strings of word and phrase to amuse you picking wild camas for the coffee table, I stitched a patch into each armpit of your favorite shirt

It was the year Thetis lake had that big algae bloom the year we laid the bedrock that became the path that marked the way, that led us here and we were young, wandering, wild even as we were bathed in bewilderment at the ferocity of it all I knew enough to hold him closer, listen closer to his sighs knew enough to leave worries unstirred, admire instead I didn't know how, but knew I'd get here, a single stem of skullcap illuminating my morning peaceful, still, reflecting on that Spring my gentle dog turned thirteen

-

A. Wylde

April 20th, 2024 NaPoWriMo 21/30

[l33lzonwheelz]

NaPoWriMo Day 21- Roots by Lily-Lucid

[guns-wanderingsoul]

Source: Found Poetry from Page 21 of The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

#thepoeming#shirleyjackson#hauntingofhillhousepoems#found poetry#30 poems in 30 days#napowrimo

[alixx-black]

Terminal (21): The Problem of Death

TERIMINAL: The Problem of Death - Chapter 21 - This project is an #epicpoem inspired by #escapril2024 prompts telling the story of a six-year-old with #childhoodcancer #napowrimo #letsescapril

An epic poem inspired by Escparil 2024’s prompts. How could a child have the words to describe the words that tell the story about her bones splintering under her weight and her lungs ripping with each breath; Instead Aviana says that she can’t breathe, that she can’t move, and so she spends most days in bed; The decision came to pass that she needs an at home nurse, which was important to…

[lovejakecallerworld]

April Poetry Madness 2024 April 26 to April 30, 2024 Poems

April Poetry Madness 2024 April 26 to April 30, 2024 Poems This is the fifth and final batch of my April Poetry Madness challenge poems, (for April 21 to April 25), following daily prompts supplied by Poetry Superhighway, Writer’s Digest, Writing Com Dew Drop Inn, and NaPoWriMo. I am not posting any more PSH poems, as I need to keep some unpublished for future submissions. I have included the…

[secretsinthedarkthepodcast]

NaPoWriMo (2024) Day 21: The fight

Today asks us to write about a fight between unlikely objects but I went with three for a more nuanced take. The sea fought the sun raysAs the sky rescued itAnd it flew along, a hurried distanceAngry at the seaAnxious at the prospect of beingSwallowed whole again.And it went on and on tillThe skyMade a case, Which of us, do you think has seen moreAnd the sea claimed its depthThe many worlds that…

[astoryscribbler]

NaPoWriMo - Day 21

Ode to an Asskick on a Sunday Morning

When the sun lights the chosen battleground

That is when the comrades in arms arrive

Ready to bring banter, let friendships thrive

In this test of arms renowned 

Bring blood pounding in time with every blow

Weapons clash and clatter until lungs burn

Until each strike slows and weakens in turn

While strength and skill both grow

Only stop when the sun’s zenith appears

Mark the moment to rest with head held high

Break bread, regale those gathered with good cheer

While acquaintances become new allies

[coloradomcpoeticslave]

Hurdles Haiku (Poem #21, NaPoWriMo 2024)

By Daniel Paiz Words are not always forthcoming on some days, which is a great reason to write Hurdles Haiku for the NaPoWriMo entry. There isn’t a lot to say, but there is something to ponder on days like this. Enjoy. Hurdles Haiku Work through the hurdle, Effort will keep you going, One step at a time. PC: Daniel Paiz

[musicalpoet]

day 21- On Catching up on a week of napowrimo in an hour

I ran a marathon with my words

The finish line I am still to pass

But as each letter typed is read,

I know that a bit of me stays in it.

I could die. The world feels heavy

On shoulders so weak, but as

Each letter typed is read,

My strength grows and the burden lifts.

The power of the word is a unique power

An awesome and so mighty gift

As each letter typed is read

I ponder what tomorrow’s poem will bring.

[mbfrezon]

https://quiltr.com/?p=24539

NaPoWriMo 2024 Day 21

closed my eyes briefly • now the hills are fringed in white • lacy wild cherries

[peaamlipoetrydoctor]

Today I Walked With So Much Death

I touched this memory – breath became air –

time capsule for his child, a paper plane –

life in the day of a lonely old man…

caged into a routine they used to share,

traces of that lost life/love everywhere –

no way to reconnect until he can –

fruit pulp soaking the soil where life began –

Dostoyevsky trembling – reprieved – in the square –

And where would I go with this, if I could?

Endure with turtles? Fizzle like fireflies?

Sew soul to atoms – follow as they flood

the biome and, re-hosted, re-arise?

I’ll linger here, flesh pilgrim, powered by blood

and gossip – consciousness, my prize.

Today's prompt (for Day 18) was about who you might want to be if you were someone or something else - the first poem was about coming back as a tomato and that led me to thinking about resetting after death and well TLDR I decided to hang on here instead.

Here are some of the influences that happened across my inbox as I was considering what to write about - I think you might see why it is that thoughts of mortality began to seep in...

Also, [still] on a sombre, serious note, I read with sadness on X-formerly-known-as-Twitter that Caitlin Thomas, much loved daughter of Michael and Lynne Thomas, died yesterday at 21, of the LT complications of living with Aicardi Syndrome. RIP.

And - with thanks to Cutting Hail of this year's Napowrimo gang and also today's featured poet for a poem arising from a Pink Martini song -

[mabhsavage]

NaPoWriMo Day 21: Don’t be a part of the problem; be the entire problem

Note: This is entirely UPG, I don’t claim to carry messages from deities or other beings! While in the hot tub Loki says, “In the chaos be the calm (or cause).”