Harper Maguire Savage

Harper Maguire Savage

Early this morning at 12:20am Harper Maguire Savage entered in to the world. Weighing in at 8lbs 9ozs and measuring 21.5ins she is quite the bundle of joy. It has been a long, wonderful day. 

Mom is recovering well after what, in some books could be called a 22 hour labor. Early on Wednesday morning, Amanda we downstairs with some cramps and a bit of discharge. After a visit to the clinic at about 9:20am, it was discovered that her amniotc sack had a tear and that the process was beginning. 

After packing the car and getting everything in order, we arrived at Mission Hospital in Asheville by about 11:30am on 4/6/2011. The contractions at this point were weak and sporadic at best and so with the help of Dr. Hawes we made the decision to fully rupture Amanda’s sac. This sped things up a bit, but due to a nurse shift change there was a bit of a miscommunication and Amanda was put on a slow drip of pitocin. Ultimately I think this was the right decision as after that, at about 3pm things kicked into gear.

With the Savage Grandparents waiting in the family room outside, Jessica Lee arrived from Chapel Hill to help assist in the room.  Cut to 8pm and Amanda is in excruciating pain from contractions. The birth plan was to 1st, have a safe vaginal birth, and 2nd to try and go as natural as possible. Poor Amanda was in so much pain and discomfort and having been up since 3am was deliriously tired as well. She finally chose the epidural and it was the best decision we could have made. Things calmed down drastically and Amanda was able to gain composure and even rest a bit.

After Dr. Hawes checked her to see she had quickly gone from 8-10cm dilation, he suggested she rest and he would be back for the final leg. Amanda slept and Jessica and I got some food. Then at 11pm, our nurse Pam (whose birthday it was) come and and got Amanda going. Jessica and I each held a leg and encouraged Amanda thru what became over the next hour, increasingly more intense pushing phases. By midnight the pushing was showing us the head (we didn’t know the sex at this point) and we were moments away. 15 minutes later Pam called Dr. Hawes in who got ready although Amanda was really pushing and the baby was coming. All of the sudden there were 3 nurses, 1 doctor, 1 husband, 1 best friend, 1 soon to be mom, and one big hairy head all in the room and it felt like controlled chaos. Then at 12:20 a body emerged and in the excitement I couldn’t even tell what we had. Questioningly I said “it’s a girl?” 

Our healthy beautiful girl had come into the world to Burning Spear’s “People Get Ready” and immediately everything changed. Hours later and after DeDe and Gramps Savage came in to meet her and I had called Amanda’s folks and sister, we were moved upstairs to the mother/baby rooms and finally got to bed by 4am.

Today has been a long, blurred, quiet, restful day. Lots of holding, breastfeeding and I final changed my first diaper. I am now truly a father. 

Oh what joys to come.