Charlotte's Story

I know some of you have been wanting more details on how Charlotte entered this world. So for those of you who want the labor story, here it is.

I woke up Halloween morning feeling more uncomfortable than usual, but being three days away from my scheduled induction I just brushed it off. Hudson had been so excited for Halloween that I didn't want to disrupt the fun by running off to the hospital until I was completely sure. This is how we spent the day:

After the Halloween party was over, I decided it wouldn't hurt to swing by the hospital and get checked...just in case. At the hospital, they told me my contractions were really irregular, but at 1-3 minute intervals. And I'd dilated a whole whopping centimeter from my exam three days earlier. After learning how fast my labor was with Hudson, they decided to keep me to see what would happen.

While I moved into the labor & delivery room, B took Hudson downstairs to get him all ready to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. While I waited for B to return, my labor really took off. I went from a 3 to a 5 in the time he was gone. Then it was time to discuss my options: 1) get an epidural, then break my water or 2) break my water and see what happens. This is where I found myself in a predicament. My labor with Hudson was so fast that I didn't have time for an epidural. I knew that if I told them to break my water there'd be no going back. This time, it was more scary for me because I knew exactly what was coming...especially if I went without the epidural. I seriously considered getting the epidural this time, but at the last minute I said, "Fine. Just break my water."

The midwife broke my water at exactly 10 pm. The minute my water's broken, the contractions get stronger and more intense. I was still fine for another 15-20 minutes...but definitely more uncomfortable. Then comes the transition phase. The fear is almost paralyzing for me. I get so scared that I'm not going to be able to do it. I know exactly what's coming and I know there's nothing I can do to stop it. Before I knew it, it was time to start pushing. There was one point when I made eye contact with B. He looked at me and said, "You're doing great." And I believed him. I pushed through five contractions and Charlotte was here. Everything went so perfectly.

The one recurring theme throughout my wait for Charlotte is patience. I waited for Charlotte for nearly two years. I had to learn patience when things didn't go exactly my way again and again. At the time it was hard, but now I realize I'd do it all over again just to have her here. And now as I'm adjusting to new motherhood all over again, I need to remember to have patience with myself. It's OK if my house isn't immaculate all the time. It's OK if Hudson has to watch a little extra TV now and then. It's OK to make dinner out of a box every once in a while. It's all part of the blessing; and I'm here enjoying each little moment.