November 2008 – David & LaReita Berky

(As told by David Berky, Jacob’s father.)

Because of Samuel’s emergency c-section birth (ruptured placenta previa) LaReita and I decided to err on the side of safety and have scheduled c-section for this baby also.

This was a new experience for us. Our previous 4 boys were all panicked, middle-of-the-night, race-to-the-hospital adventures. This time we had a scheduled appointment (like a teeth cleaning) at 7am Monday morning (November 3rd, 2008).

LaReita had been preparing for this during the previous week and we had everything arranged with baby-sitters, schedules, bills-paid, etc.

Then Monday morning we woke up around 4:30 (at least we got some of the early-morning adventure), got ready at a leisurely pace and then calmly drove to the hospital (keeping to at or below the speed limit this time). LaReita even drove and had me fill out deposit slips, and was giving me instructions of what needed to be done that day.

We joked casually as we sat down at the admittance desk and filled out the rest of the required paperwork. We were led into the preparation room where we changed into the necessary clothing – LaReita in the standard hospital gown, me into a set of disposable surgical articles that went over my regular clothes.

My sister Julles Berky arrived around 7am to be with us and observe the c-section procedure. She also donned the surgical clothing and soon the anesthesiologist arrived to start the epidural. That was probably the most painful part of the entire process (so far – LaReita is still on pain medication as I write this). Not having the pains of labor to “distract” her, LaReita got to experience the full range of sensations as the anesthesiologist inserted the medicine-delivering needle and tubes into her spine – a bit of a scary process to watch.

Once that had been endured and the numbing agents started flowing, LaReita soon lost feeling in her legs and lower body. At about 7:30am she was dressed, poked, prodded, measured, hooked up, and ready for the show – well at least Julles and I were ready for the show. But LaReita had a calm assurance that kept the rest of us feeling confident as well.

She was wheeled into the operating room and prepared for surgery. I sat next to her holding her hand while Julles got to stand near a wall with a “nice” view of the surgical field. I peaked over the dividing curtain set up at LaReita’s chest so she couldn’t see what they were doing to her stomach – and believe me – she didn’t want to.

Luckily all she could feel were a few tugs and pulls every once in a while. She was a trooper as usual and was more concerned that Julles or I would feel sick and pass out than what was happening to her and her body.

At about 7:55 the doctors had the baby’s head out and were suctioning the lungs and mouth. At 7:57 he was fully delivered and rushed off to be cleaned, weighted, measured, poked and prodded as his welcome ceremony to this world.

He weighed in at 8 pounds 4 ounces and was 20 inches long. Scored an 8 and 9 on the APGAR tests (out of 10) and had a healthy set of lungs.

Julles went back in to the operating room to reassure LaReita. I stayed with the baby and took some pictures of his first weighing, shots, etc. Then later brought him in to see his mommy. She was very glad to see him and how healthy and strong he looked. He displayed his lungs for her also.

Julles and I left LaReita to finish the procedure and have the doctors put her back together. Julles and I went with the nurse into the hospital nursery where the new baby was washed (first bath), checked some more, given some shots, foot-printed, and diapered for the first time.

After about an hour, LaReita was back in her hospital room while the baby stayed in the nursery for a few more procedures. Julles and I went to LaReita’s room to give her an update on her new son. After another 1/2 hour LaReita was taken into a new recovery room where she would stay for the next 3 days.

Once settled into the new room, the newest member of the Berky clan was brought to his mother. After shedding some tears and welcoming this new little soul to our family he promptly started rooting for something to eat. After several tries he got the “hang” of nursing and the most amazing of in-born natural reactions took place as he started the innate sucking reflex.

While his parents were still trying to determine whether he was Jacob Kerry or Kerry Jacob, he spent his time creating poopy diapers on a regular schedule of 1 1/2 hours apart and nursing well every 1 1/2 hours. [During pregnancy LaReita had received a prompting while at her Uncle Kerry’s funeral “You should name him Kerry.” And a month before delivery, Dave received a clear prompting, “Jacob is a good name.” So we had to determine which name went where.]

Finally on November 4th, his parents decided that he was to be called Jacob Kerry Berky and began informing the family of his “official” name here on Earth.

Welcome to this world Jacob Kerry Berky!