Charis: feb 8th due date long gone. At the doctors appointment, 3cm dilated but no contractions. That evening cramps a and hope, "this is it." Wed at 130 am I am excited and full of apprehension because I realize labor is in progress. I let Dace sleep for 1 hour. I needed him to join my sleepiness and suffering. You really can't rest when you are in labor. The contractions from the beginning have been intensely sharp making it difficult to cope. The contractions were irregular and ranged from 7 min to 1 1/2 minutes. My orginal plan was for an epidural but I was ready to throw in the towel and head to the hospital for drugs. It's time to notify the family.
Char:So last night Charis sends me a text that she thinks she might be having contractions. I smile, because really its time for Nolan to be born. He is a few days late on arrival and messing up all our planning. We all go to sleep because these things take time. Dace sends a text at 5:56am that Charis has been in labor and awake since 130 a.m. OK...awake now and getting ready for the next text that would tell me to get going to the hospital. My daughter has invited me to be with her during the birth of her second son. Soon, another text from Dace, her contractions are not regular but are intense. "Hi char if you want to come over that would be good. We might be heading to the hospital soon." I arrive at the apartment to see my daughter telling me, "I can't do this". She was thinking about medications to help with the pain. I ws thinking what if she has the baby right now? Off they go to the hospital while I wait for Dace's folks to arrive to care for Aidan. In my mind seeing the look on Charis's face, hoping she makes it to the hospital. Its a 30 minute drive.
Charis: mom arrives and says you need to go. Now I'm worried that this baby might come in the car. The morning traffic didn't help my stress level. Im trying to practice my breathing unsuccessfully. We get to the hospital and a wheelchair ride takes me past the nurses station. I apologize because I know it's change of shift. The nurses are eager to see how far along I am after reporting contractions have been 1 1/2 minutes apart. When the nurses tell me I am over 9 cm I almost didn't believe them. The feeling of relief comes knowing that we get to meet our son soon and that the hard part is almost over. Dace feels bad because now I can't receive the drugs. He is busy updating the family and facebook this time so everyone is in loop.
char: Dace soon texts that they are in the labor room and Charis is dilated to 9 cm. Wow...soon I'm stuck in traffic with the sun in my eyes. Well, if I don't get there in time...that's just part of the story. Soon I arrive at my daughters bedside and begin to witness each contraction. Together Dace and I count, rub her back, feet and give encouraging words. We watch her focus and serious face.
Charis: I am at the end of transition labor. I have finally gotten my focus and can work thru the contractions. It takes 2 hours before I finally get to push, and when that doctor came into the room for the final 10 minutes of pushing, I felt relief knowing how close I was to holding my baby boy. In between contractions and pushing, the doctor noticed my valentines day nails and complimented me.
Char: Thankfully things like, water breaking, doctor saying almost time to push and nurse saying baby in position all help to cheerlead this daughter of mine. I ponder my role in this sacred place of a child of my daughter being born. I will be a witness to this event. Soon she is pushing and we are encouraging but she is doing all the work and finally the little guys head is crowning. Seriously, I know how all this works theoretically but my heart is amazed and I'm overwhelmed watching that little head make a grand entrance, blue, wet and shocked and finally a little wimper and then some great cries and skin turns pink and my stomach relaxes that all is well. Every mother's amazing accomplishment now belongs to my daughter and I'm so proud of her. Small tears because Charis choose me to be with her and witness this.
Charis:
