It was really happening. Their baby girl was coming into the world whether or not they were ready. Amanda clung to Niels’ hand with all her might, tears streaming down her face. “I’m scared,” she said. “I want to keep her safe longer. I’m not ready.”
“You’re ready,” Niels assured. “We’re ready.” “No,” she cried. “Love, you need to push,” said Niels. She pressed a kiss against the back of Amanda’s hand. The doctor was waiting patiently, but he glanced at Niels as if to say ‘we’re running out of time’. Since last night, it had been top priority to keep Amanda as calm as possible so that her blood pressure returned to normal. Fortunately, she was stable, but another spike in her blood pressure and the baby could go into distress. Niels knew this, but he didn’t want to scare Amanda. “Baby… you can do this,” he whispered to her. “I know you can.” Amanda reached down deep inside of herself to muster up all the energy she could find. She had to have faith that her baby girl would be alright. She closed her eyes and squeezed Niels’ hand tightly, bearing down as the doctor instructed, until at last she felt the weight of her baby leave her body. “It’s a girl,” the doctor announced, but she’d quickly handed the baby off to a nurse. “Why isn’t she crying?” Amanda asked. “Is she okay? Can I see her? Is my baby okay?!” “She’s in good hands,” the doctor assured. “Our NICU here is very reliable. They will take good care--” “No,” Amanda interrupted. “Please, let me hold her first.” The nurse glanced uncertainly at the doctor, but then brought brought the tiny bundle, wrapped in the receiving blanket to Amanda. She placed the fragile little infant on Amanda’s chest for her to see. “Oh,” Amanda said. A half sigh, half sob. She rubbed the baby’s back, holding her against her chest, watching as her cheeks pinked up with life. And then there was that first cry. A soft whimper that gradually became an intermittent wail. “She’s so tiny,” Amanda whispered in awe. She kissed the crown of her baby’s head. “She’s perfect,” said Niels. Amanda smiled. “Hello, Eliana,” she said, smiling tearfully at the fragile newborn in her arms. “Ma’am,” said the nurse. “We should get her on oxygen. I’ll bring her right back to you, I promise.” Amanda nodded and allowed Niels to take the baby and hand her off to the nurse. She wanted to cry, having her baby taken away from her so soon, but she knew it was for the best. The nurse announced the baby’s weight: exactly 4 pounds/1.81 kilograms. She was tiny, but Amanda hoped she was strong. She sent up a silent prayer. After what seemed like an eternity later, the nurse brought the baby back into the room. She was wearing the cutest little hat and was fast asleep. “We have a good samaritan who loves making these little hats for the preemies. Warm and cute at the same time.” She winked at Amanda and lifted the baby from the incubator. “She’s breathing better, but we’ll have to keep our eyes on her to make sure that she continues improving.” Amanda nodded and held her arms out to take the little baby. Niels sat beside Amanda, looking down at the teeny little human being. She really was cute, especially for having arrived weeks before she had been due. Amanda chuckled. “You’ll have a remarkable story to tell when you’re older,” she said. “Your daddy and I gave you the middle name Summer before you were even born, but here you are.. in the spring.” “You share a birthday with your big sis,” Niels added. “You’ll love her. And your big brother too.”
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Amanda at a GlanceNames: Amanda Pontremoli, Amanda van Loon Archives
August 2017
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