Madelene Deschner

Mr. Chiang-Schultheiss

English 1, MW 8:00am

February 5, 1997

How would you feel being stuck in a large glass tube full of strawberry jelly and suddenly squeezed out? The comparison of the tube and jelly is quite accurate if you want to visualize the birth of a child. I am, although, excluding a few details about the delivery of a baby I should mention. For example, the pain, joy, and reward that accompanies the birth of a child. I know, because I was a coach for my best friend Tracy as she gave birth to her son. As a coach in the delivery room I saw the pain, excitement, and reward of being a mother and a woman.

Pain! The definition of pain is physical suffering; severe mental or emotional distress. Pain is exactly what my friend Tracy felt during her delivery. It all began when I was awaken at 2:00 am to drive her to the hospital. As I was checking her in, the nurses were rolling her away in a wheel chair and taking her to the delivery room. At this point I was extremely nervous and I could not remember the information to be filled out at the front desk. However, I continued to struggle to remember the information, but suddenly I finally remembered as I heard Tracy screaming at the end of the hallway. She was put in a bed and the nurses began to hook the machine that would monitor her contractions. Tracy was screaming at every contraction as I looked at the monitor. She would scream as the reading would go to the highest level. She began to cry and yell for her boyfriend, who could not be present for personal reasons. She looked at me and said, "I cannot take this pain no more please get the nurse." At this point she wanted a pain killer shot because she felt as though she was dying. I am scared and I feel useless at the sight of my friend. Tracy screams, "the baby is coming!", I rushed to call the nurse and the nurse immediately prepares to delivery the baby as she looks at the top of the baby's head which is ready to come out. At this moment I am just a little grossed out at the sight of the baby's head. Suddenly, Tracy begins to push and push and at every push she yells, "it hurts", she pushes for the last time and the arrival of her son is slimy, bloody, and red. The baby begins to cry as well as the new mother.

The excruciating pain has past and the baby is in the mother's hand, the excitement level rises rapidly, almost as though the pain and suffering of the delivery never happened. Tears of joy come from Tracy's eyes as she is to counting her sons fingers and toes. I watch her as she counted and I was amazed at what she was holding in her arms. I was amazed because just a couple of minutes ago there was no baby in sight. The moment was miraculous. I felt excited as she held her baby. Family members rushed to enter the room to see Tracy and the baby. Each person began crying tears of joy. Everybody was smiling. The family gave congratulations to Tracy for doing an excellent job in the delivery room. I and the family members begin hugging each other and the family thanked me for helping Tracy in the delivery room. During all this commotion I could easily say everybody was happy and excited.

Only a woman can give birth to a child; the birth of a child makes one realize how rewarding it is to be a woman and a mother. Tracy was very fortunate to give birth to a healthy baby boy and have a loving family to support her. Her reward was the birth of her child and the child's reward is his mother , Tracy. I stood by her bed and held her hand and said, "I'm very proud of you, Mom." She smiled because she acknowledged the word mom. Her entire family hugged and kissed her. Her family showed love for Tracy more than usual at this wonderful time. I looked at Tracy lying in the bed with the ivy still in her veins, her bloody gown, and her sweaty face, and said, "Being a woman is wonderful." I overlooked the excruciating pain Tracy was feeling during the delivering of her baby and thought about the next few hours when she will be able to take her baby home. Tracy will be able to take her son home and love him for the rest of their lives. Doesn't that sound great? Now if that is not rewarding I do not know what is.

As Tracy's coach in the delivery room I realized I want to be a mother someday, a good mother. I saw the hard work and pain that accompanies a woman as she gives birth, however, I am willing to experience the miracle of life. I never wanted to have a baby, but now I would like to feel the pain, excitement, and reward of being a mother and a woman.