Chelle Buenamiga de California,

 Your story was lovely and peaceful. My experience with our second was
similar yet different. Arrived at hosp...5cm dilated, baby born 30 min.
later in traditional type delivery room. She popped out into this world and
peeped a wee bit, they wrapped her in a sterile cloth and I held her at my
side...she closed her eyes and appeared to snuggle and be at peace once
more. We were still connected by an invisible placenta.  I walked out after
birth to my room, just across the hall. Why not? Who can be tired after
pushing just 4-5 times?

Shirin was *kidnapped* from the nursery (don't panic everyone!) by my
birth-coach and delivered to my room since I didn't want to wait until my
ped. pal arrived to give her the ol' 1-2 checkup and body-parts count. The
Dr. arrived about 20 min. later and examined her on my bed, before my very
eyes. She spent the entire day (was born at 8:30am) at my side on my bed
(not in that bassinette thing) and had not been separated from me at all,
except for while they finished my episio. and she had her bath.

At midnight my husband left for home to sleep with her big brother, then 5
yrs.old, and I strolled down the hall part way to accompany him out. I had
left our newborn absolutely sound asleep, and during the entire day she
hadn't really cried at all, just sucked and nursed on demand. In fact, I
had never actually heard what her cry sounded like.  Husband gone, I turned
and began walking back to my room when a blood-curdling scream pierced the
midnight silence of the hosp...."Could that be my baby?!", I asked the
nursed walking by my side.
We entered the room, I picked her up...and she instantly fell back into a
deep sleep.

All she was needing was to know I was close. After all, we were an
inseparable team, little Shirin and I.

Thanks for listening....memories are nice.

Roberta