i ended up having johnny on august 7th at 11:27 p.m. just 33 minutes before my due date. that morning my amniotic fluid was leaking and i spent the day with very mild contractions. my doula checked in on me periodically and at 6:30 p.m. my doctor called. he was in ojai, so he said to give him some time to get to cedar's. at that point, my contractions were about 6-8 minutes apart and not that intense, so i told him things were pretty mellow. my doula told me to drink a glass of wine and get in the tub, so i did.

by 7:30 i was having very intense contractions about every two minutes. they were so strong, i could hardly get dressed. david and i rushed to cedar's and fischbein said he'd meet us there, along with our doula. when i got to cedar's at 8:30, i was only 4 cm. dilated. i was discouraged, because i thought if things are this intense now...anyway, they admitted me, and i began some intense labor!

i got in the shower, tried everything to get comfortable. after a while, i had seemingly contraction after contraction without a break. i remember thinking, if this goes on for too long, i'm not going to be able to do it without drugs. a moment later, i told my doula i felt the urge to push. fischbein walked in a minute later, told me i was 9 cm., and about a forty-five minutes later, johnny was born, without drugs! had a tiny tear, but that was it. fischbein stitched me up, they gave me a midol, and i was done! i was lucky! it was short and sweet.

stats on john isaac attal
born 6 pounds, 8 oz. 20 1/2 inches long, august 7, 2004, 11:27 p.m.
at our two week check up with the pediatrician, he weighed 7 pounds, 12 oz. he's breastfeeding like a champ!

here's pics...hope you are doing well. i can't tell you how much i enjoyed your classes, the community of support and your amazing mama energy. you really have a great gift for connecting to people!

hope to get out and see you soon.
take care,
love,
shaughn