Daddy's Version

Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011

11:00am

Ashley heads off to the Friends School Auction, leaving me to watch the UK game and monitor SG. She is not happy about it. When she returns, she complains about her discomfort and contractions. She sleeps on the couch.

5:00pm

Ashley informs me that she’s really in labor. I didn’t realize that this was the real thing until now. She also informs me that I must retrieve the bed frame from her grandmother’s basement, put the bed on the frame, put together the co-sleeper, and install the car seat. We decide to take SG to Ashley’s dad’s house instead of trying to keep her around.

9:00pm

Done. Ashley’s getting some last-minute nesting urges while I encourage her to focus on being in labor. She tells me to go take a nap.

Sunday, February 13^th, 2011

1:30am

Up from my nap. She’s in a lot of pain and needs support. She gets in the bath and tries to relax. She’s ready to have this baby.

3:00am

We call the doulas over and they arrive in fairly short order. Robin positions herself in the brown chair and gets on the electronics (laptop and TWO cell phones). Music and David Sedaris flow freely. Ashley moves from the floor to the ball, ball to the couch, couch to the floor, etc. She’s doing great.

8:00am

The decision is made to head for the hospital.

8:30am

The hospital bag is packed.

8:45am

We head for the hospital. Ashley is very uncomfortable sitting in the car, but we are encouraged by the continuation of the contractions.

9:00am

We arrive at the hospital, park, and are not sure where to go. Robin is making a Starbucks run and Stacie is stopping by home to nurse Meryn, so they can’t tell us, either. We decide on the ER and head that way. After standing at the desk for several minutes and through a couple of contractions, someone finally decides to help us. She gets us checked in and we head up to L&D about 15 minutes later. Contractions continue.

9:30am

We’re in our room, #4504, with a tub. Stacie and Robin arrive bearing Starbucks (nice!) as I retrieve things from the van. I wish I hadn’t forgotten the camera in the van the first time. Whoops. Ashley’s settled into the bed and seems relaxed and positive. Beth is there to check on her and a nurse does an exam. 7 cm! Ashley’s relieved and even more positive. Could be anytime!

10:54am

Ashley’s in the tub, Robin and Stacie are at her sides, and I get a call from Noel. I leave Ashley to go answer it and give him very vague answers about where we are. I later learn that he was sitting in front of the church choir as he made the call. Cat’s out of the bag, I guess.

11:00am

While in the tub, Ashley’s having trouble staying positive. She doesn’t feel like she’s progressing anymore; the contractions seem to be the same sharp pain every time and the baby is not moving down. She begins talking about interventions and I don’t know how to respond. Robin and Stacie expertly acknowledge her concerns and divert her attention by suggesting we move from the bathroom.

12:00pm

Beth is just hanging out around the hospital. She has posted on Facebook that her client is at 7 cm. Could be 30 minutes or 3 hours. Of course, that was at 9:30. It’s been almost 3 hours. Ashley’s getting a little more forceful with her requests for interventions.

2:00pm

Ashley’s been in and out of the tub, in and out of the bathroom, in and out of the bed, and is just about done. She’s crying, tired, and is beginning to lose sight of the prize. I can’t imagine the pain she’s feeling and want to do anything to help her. I walk with her, without her, sit down, stand up, and pray. A lot.

3:00pm

Ashley’s done. She’s got it all figured out. She wants a vaginal exam to reveal she’s still at 7 cm, then she’ll get an epidural so she won’t have to feel the way she does anymore. I can’t say it’s a bad plan. Robin and Stacie continue to try to distract her, which only makes her angry with them. She yells at Robin, then goes in the bathroom and apologizes from there. We decide to get the exam and go from there.

3:30pm

Beth comes in and performs the exam. 9 cm! Better than we thought, but still not there. Beth sees how distraught Ashley is and suggests an alternative: push anyway while she holds back that last centimeter of cervix. Ashley is willing to try anything, and she’s done listening to Robin and Stacie. I pray. As Ashley gets mentally ready to push, Beth and the nurses get all their equipment ready (where’s the machine that goes beep?). The foot of the bed won’t move down like it’s supposed to, but Beth and Ashley are unconcerned. The nurses work on it anyway. Robin gets the mirror in position where Ashley can see what’s going on down there, and as soon as she pushes and sees that little raisin, she’s off and running. That baby’s coming soon! I kneel beside the bed and pray. The nurses finally get the foot of the bed to move, and they get the squat bar in place, too. Ashley gets into a more comfortable position and works harder. She screams when Beth holds back her cervix. I can’t imagine that pain. But she’s got her eye on the prize now (literally) and nothing will stop her.

3:54pm

We have a baby! Ashley moved that baby from -1 station to out in about 20 minutes. She’s hardcore. I can’t begin to explain how happy I am to have another child, to have such an amazing wife, and I thank God for all he’s given me. Ashley does the same. The gender announcement is requested (again, I forgot to look) and I learn that I have a son! Again, I thank God. What an amazing day. I can’t stop crying and Ashley can’t stop loving on Solomon. We are so blessed!