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Labor Day is almost upon us and among the upcoming picnics, parades, barbecues and parties, we must not forget what’s behind the celebrations.
Women who are getting ready to have babies are filled with many different and often nerve-racking emotions. Preparing for labor is never easy.
Between hoping one has enough diapers, installing baby-proof locks and saving for their college – providing the kid even gets the grades to go, a pending mother can easily become overwhelmed.
Just when she thinks she’s prepared, but realizes she’s probably not, her water breaks. Now this is not a problem if she was out mowing her lawn or weed-whacking, but if her water breaks inside, she’ll have a mess to clean up even if she’s not feeling up to it.
Upon arriving at the hospital while screaming, “Get this thing out of me” the doctor informs her it’s just Braxton Hicks contractions. This is nature’s way of saying “just kidding,” also known as a really bad dress rehearsal.
Then the doctor will send her back home without so much as a congratulations.
Finally, a prospective mother will reach the point when labor is real, and anyone near her is subject to death at her hands.
After anywhere from 5-120 hours in labor, accompanied by barfing and swearing that the father will never get “anymore,” her labor day is over.
Just as she convinced herself that all the Jello the hospital gave her wasn’t worth it, the nurse brings in the little creature that justifies the stretch marks and complete mess she’s just made of her hospital room. As she looks at the sweet baby’s face, she softens and almost forgets the event that nearly led her to a psychotic break.
Once back home, the crowd she managed to gather at the hospital that was ready to assist her, has retreated like pepper in a bowl of water when a drop of dish soap is added to the center (try it if you need the visual aspect).
Scared and wondering if she’ll be able to keep such a tiny human alive, she may feel once again, overwhelmed. Everything eventually works out and the new mom is happy with the fruit of her labor day.
Labor is never easy, but the rewards are great. Recognizing one’s labor and all those who’ve worked so hard to accomplish so much, is a good thing and worthy of the street parties, picnics and parades that celebrate it.
Happy Labor Day to everyone who works or has ever worked hard at anything – like giving birth.
Anngee Quinones-Belian lives in Ranger. Her humor column is published every other week. Email her at anngeeq@gmail.com or leave a message at 837-5122.