The Day I Became a Mom

I remember this morning 10 years ago. It was about 6 am and I had been having horrendous lower back pain… pain that I have never experienced before. It began at about 3 am, but I waited until 6 to get up and do anything about it. I tossed and turned for three hours before waking up my friend, Crystal, who had been fast asleep on the couch. She came into Anchorage from Elim to help out with the baby when he was born.

I told her, “I think it’s time!” She jumped right up off the couch and started scrambling around to get ready. We got ready and went straight to ANMC. I called up my other friend, Megan, and asked her to meet us at the hospital. Little did I know, it wasn’t really time. I was only dilated to 2 centimeters. I would be at the hospital ALL day! 

Keane was born at 3:54 PM on November 14, 2006 weighing 7 lbs 8 oz.

At the time, I was a single, young pregnant woman trying to go to college. I was only 20 years old. I had no idea what I was in for. An older native couple offered to adopt my son when he was born. Because I did not know them, I kindly turned down their offer. My older sister also offered to adopt him because she knew that I was young and wanted to get my college degree. I also turned down her offer.

I carried my child in my belly for 9 whole months. I had his whole name (Keane Wyatt Carter Ray Wilson) picked out since I was three months pregnant. I was attached, to say the least. I didn’t have a plan, but I couldn’t give him up. I was not married. I did not have a college degree, but I had an amazing support group.

At the hospital, I was encouraged to walk around to help dilate my cervix. It was hard. Every few steps I had to stop and grab ahold the rail along the hallway wall. Megan and Crystal walked right along side of me. If I remember right I tried out the Jacuzzi tub in my room. It gave me some relief, but the pain was more unbearable than I could handle. The nurses gave me Nubain through an IV to help with the pain. It was not enough so I gave in and requested an epidural.

We waited for so long for the anesthetist to arrive. He did not give me the epidural until I was dilated to about 8 cm. I wish I could have waited just 2 more centimeters to avoid the epidural, but at the time I was a big wuss. After I got the epidural I remember freaking out because I could not move my legs. I honestly thought that I was paralyzed. At times I got so uncomfortable lying on my back so I had Crystal and Megan move my legs for me.

Eventually, the epidural began wearing off. It was really time. I had been having contractions all day long. It wasn’t until 3:54 pm that Keane made his debut into the world. Today we celebrate him turning 10-years-old. It seems crazy how fast those 10 years went by because I can remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. He is my first-born child. Because of him, I earned my title of “Mom”. My life changed drastically, but for the better and I would not have it any other way.

Free-spirited and full of energy now at 10-years young!