Riley Kai Giovinazzo
October 25, 2003
3:04 a.m.
6 lbs. 9oz.
Proud Parents: Kendra Heckman and Nick Giovinazzo
From the point of view of the father, Nick:
Around 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 24, 2003, Kendra called me at work from her job to tell me she is experiencing early labor but wants to stay at work. Kendra’s coworkers and her mother convinced her to leave work. Since her surges were about 5 minutes apart and Kendra figured she still had time, she asked her manicurist if her appointment could be moved from 3:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The manicurist thought it was strange that a laboring mother would want to come in, but Kendra didn’t. Being in a massage chair while getting her nails done helped relax her. After the manicure, she drove home. Around 5:00 p.m., the surges became closer together, so we got our bags and paperwork ready for the hospital.
Around 11:00 p.m. we called our doula, the doctor, the hospital, and Kendra’s mom who would meet us at the hospital. We checked in around 1:00 a.m. on October 25. Kendra didn’t want to be in bed. She preferred walking and pacing. Our doula put up the “HypnoBirthing Family” sign in our room, played “Rainbow Relaxation”, and set out lavendar scents. To help Kendra relax, she read birth affirmations while I massaged her or stroked her hair. Kendra would look to me for strength and comfort during every surge. Nothing seemed to ease the surges except leaning on me for support.
The nurse called the doctor around 1:30 a.m. because Kendra was 7.5 cm. Around 2:30 a.m. Kendra started bearing down. She liked toilet-sitting, pacing, and leaning on the birthing ball with her knees on the floor. Her membranes released around 2:58 a.m. while she was squatting with the birthing ball, and the doctor was called again.
Kendra didn’t push at all. The actual birth was so fast! I thought something was wrong when I looked at Kendra’s face—like a deer in the headlights. When the nurse helped her into bed, the baby had crowned! It seemed like Baby Riley just shot out and it surprised all in the room, especially Kendra. I think she was expecting to be pushing like in all the videos we had seen. Riley was born only 6 minutes after her water broke.
Kendra never cried, screamed or asked for any drugs. Riley’s birth was an incredible experience. Kendra and I have such a strong bond and now we’re enjoying getting to know Riley. He’s such a calm, easy-going baby. He knows he’s loved and wanted.
Even though Kendra and I didn’t complete the HypnoBirthing® course,
we utilized HypnoBirthing® tools and they worked for us. We definitely recommend
HypnoBirthing® for a calm, positive birth experience.
Tanya C. Dorocak, M.A.
Certified HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator
(760) 471-9747
Tanya@TLCHypnoBirthing.com
© Copyright 2004 Tanya Dorocak · All Rights Reserved.