Kamil's birth story

Last Wednesday I started to feel pre labor signs. On Thursday I turned in my one week notice at work. Friday and Saturday were uneventful. Sunday the blood came. Monday I was still bleeding. I called my doctor and went in for a check up. I was dilated 1/2 cm. Kamil was fine. The ultrasound showed that his head had not grown with the rest of his body. So his femur/body measured 37 weeks and his head measured at 30 weeks. The umbilical cord was still low in the cervix. At 4 pm I had mild back contractions and was sent home to rest.

At 9pm I had mild stomach contractions. At 1opm the contractions were every 15 minutes lasting for 30 seconds each. By 11pm the contractions were every 5 minutes for 1 minute. At 12 I went to the hospital. I was dilated to 1/2 cm still. then I went to 3, 6, received the epidural, when it started to kick in I was dilated to 9.

At about 2:00 the umbilical cord came out before Kamil. He passed away at 2:30 in the birth canal due to cord compression cutting his oxygen supply during each contraction. He was born at 3:01 am on 4-27-2010. He was 5 lbs. 20 inches.

I was so scared to see him but after the first few minutes the shock wore off a little bit. I was able to spend time with him and actually enjoy holding him. My nurse and friend Pepper bathed him and dressed him for me. I slept a few hours with him.

My mother brought Ali to the hospital at 9am the next morning. We talked about Kamil being sick and how he had died. Ali wanted to see him. A few hours later Ali met Kamil. It was very sweet and Ali handled everything very maturely. I hope this was the right thing. I feel it was for our family. There were plenty of pictures. Barb the bereavement specialist at baptist-integris is a wonderful lady and made the whole experience very peaceful and minimized the stress. She provided great advice and information.

The Imam came and gave some uplifting words and put things into perspective. We arranged the burial for that afternoon. I made moldings of Kamil's hand and foot, took a locket of hair, and spent the last few hours hugging and kissing him. he was so sweet and soft. Poor little baby. Miskeen.

My in laws, family, friends, and coworkers visited. I really thought I wouldn't want anyone around but the opposite was true. I love and appreciate all the visits and support, text messages and voicemails, cards and flowers. At 3pm my husband picked Kamil up and met his brother at the mosque to go to Mercy Cemetery to bury Kamil. They dug the grave and buried the baby. I was discharged from the hospital at 4pm and was home by 5.

It all happened so fast but this is life. Death is a reminder of how short life is. A reminder to get yourself straight. A reminder to be ready for judgement day. Kamil is going to be a bird of paradise waiting for his parents to take them throught the gates inshAllah.

I am home now. We are doing fine. So many people are reaching out. It is really wonderful to have so much love in this time.