A friend of ours just suggested via text message that I write down everything I remember about the birthing experience before I forget. I thought, "why not do that right here?"
First of all, last night was already supposed to be busy -- even without Charlotte going into labor. We had a Christmas party to go to and I had a hockey game at 11:45 PM. The weather in Golden got a bit dicey and we decided to bail on all plans at about 6:00. About an hour later, Charlotte was complaining about cramps and the journey had begun.
For some reason, I thought we would be able to rest through the night and get to the hospital in the morning. Our birthing class talked about relaxing at home, and we did that while watching a movie and some Entourage episodes, but by about midnight the contractions weren't anything Charlotte could ignore. We got up at that point and Charlotte took a bath. Before we knew it, her contractions were within the parameters for driving to the hospital as specified by our doctor.
It's kind of a stand-up comedy cliché that husbands get excited to drive their wives to the hospital because they can break any and all traffic laws. Sadly, I didn't get to do this with the roads being icy and snowy at 3:00 AM.
Once we were at the hospital with Charlotte checked in, we found out she was at four centimeters (this would have meant nothing to me before the whole pregnancy thing started, but my newly educated self realized that we were 40% of the way to being able to push the baby out). Charlotte alternated between the Jacuzzi tub and the other positions/techniques taught in our birthing class for pain management. I think the most helpful thing for her was a guided meditation recorded by our friend Megan's doula. She listened to that meditation 3 or 4 times and it was like she was on another planet and the pain couldn't touch her.
I think a combination of lack of sleep, extreme focus on trying to support Charlotte, and adrenaline made time really fly for me. By around 9:30 our doctor came back in the room and Charlotte was ready to push. Twenty-seven minutes later little Sophie came into the world. It was the most magnificent moment of my life.
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