Little Kids, Big City: Tales from a Real House in New York City (With Lessons on Life and Love for Your Own Concrete Jungle) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hadn’t arrived yet as it was so last minute. We were shuffled through maternity triage and told I had to stay on a fetal monitor for at least 20 minutes before I could be “qualified” to be released to the birthing center. As Simon puffed up his chest and prepared for battle, we were incredibly lucky to see a familiar face. Elissa, a midwife from Elizabeth Seton, was taking on extra work as a labor and delivery nurse, and happened to be on duty. Although it had been over two years since we’d seen each other, she jumped in and ran interference for us, and after giving me a once over, disconnected the monitor and announced to the triage staff that she was taking me upstairs before I gave birth right there on the floor.
     

    Newborn Johan with Elaine (Simon’s mum)

     
    The one thing not to love about a short labor was the aftershock. Having had such an amazing experience the first time, my expectations were pretty high for the adrenaline rush and glowing moments of bonding. Instead, I continued to have heavy contractions for several minutes afterward. Johan was fussy, too, and didn’t immediately latch on to nurse as François had; we both sort of had whiplash. After about 15 minutes we both calmed down and were able to begin enjoying each other. Simon brought in Tex-Mex, a Champagne split for me and a pitcher of gin and tonic in a plastic bottle for him. His mum, Elaine, arrived shortly thereafter and we all sat down to relax.
    I’ve always been stubborn about wanting to do things my way, and was intent on proving (to myself, I guess) that I could have a newborn and a toddler and still hang on to my identity. Part of that includes not lying low—so the first thing I did as a mom of two was walk home from the hospital. We were only a few blocks away from the house, and we proudly walked home with newborn Johan in the infant seat and François riding on the buggy board behind him.
     
    Simon
    The thing I learned from one birth to the next was that I wanted to avoid having our sons scream in pain if it was unnecessary. Since the 1960s all babies born in the U.S.A. are tested for phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic illness that can lead to mental disabilities, and in New York State this test must be given in the hospital prior to discharge, irrespective of what time the parents and baby leave. No one bothered to point out that if we left the hospital before 24 hours passed, the test results wouldn’t count. We learned this the hard way much to François’ pain and were determined not to repeat our mistake with Johan. François was born in the early evening and by noon the following day we were hurtling across the Brooklyn Bridge in a Yellow Taxi on our way to our then home, Park Slope. Prior to leaving the hospital François was taken to have his heel pricked so blood could be drawn for the PKU test, but as this was conducted within 24 hours of birth we were told we’d have to have him tested again. This we did at our pediatrician’s and in fact it took a total of three tests—three goes by different nurses squeezing his heel for enough blood to fill the blotter paper before a valid test was performed. So when Johan came along at 2:15 p.m. we knew we’d not only stay the night, but this time we’d stay in the hospital so that at 2:16 the following day he could have just one PKU test and not rack up his older brother’s record of three.
    10 THINGS WE’LL REMEMBER THAT HAPPENED DURING PREGNANCIES:
     
    10. Threw up while crossing Eighth Avenue before I was showing. People around me thought I was hungover.
    9. At the airport in St Martin Simon whispered that a guy was checking me out from behind I turned around to face him and he was shocked to see my belly “I didn’t know you were preg nant” he exclaimed
    8. A rolling pin is great for massaging your lower back during contractions.
    7. Walking up 14 flights of stairs in August 2003 during the big citywide blackout. Although I was seven months pregnant, I wanted