Childbirth ain't for kids

Nine months later and we had everything ready. We had held two baby showers (one with family in Springfield and another with friends in Boulder); Kelly had a blessing way; we were given and thrifted enough clothes; we had gathered all our birth supplies; a friend organized a food tree for us as to have post birth meals sorted; we purchased cloth diapers; attended birth classes; and we read all that we were going to read about birth (Kelly did most of the reading but I did enough to hold my own in a conversation)... ...I had even caught up on most of my work! All that was missing was da labor and thus da baby.

We tried all the natural induction techniques but alas still no labor. Finally on Thursday the 22nd of January Kelly started to get pretty consistent cramps -- the baby was coming and we went to bed so excited that we hardly slept a wink. In the middle of the night we called Kelly's mom (Deb) who was flying out from Illinois for the birth and she made it door to door in 5 hours (a feet I challenge anyone to beat).

Kelly was getting a lot of strong contractions but the timing was a little random. The contractions lasted through the day and we (Deb, Doris and myself) all tried to support Kelly through what seemed like crazy pain spasms by holding her and encouraging her. By nightfall Elizabeth (our Midwife) arrived and sent everyone but Kelly to bed (she sent Kelly to get some rest after making her relax in the birth tub we had set up).

On the second day Elizabeth and Flame (another midwife) checked Kelly's cervix and there was still no dilation -- in fact it was firmly shut. So with a little jiggling (a nice way of putting it) they were able to force open whatever was blocking it. We hoped that the contractions would now move things along but progress was slow and having only dilated 2cm over the next 6 hours we made a collective decision to go to the hospital.

Our insurance hospital was in Lafayette, a town outside of Boulder, and Kelly, Elizabeth and Deb rode together while I drove the second car -- in tears all the way. We checked into to the hospital and got Kelly an epidural and pitosin which numbed the pain and speeded up the contractions. This was not what we had intended but sadly was what was needed to allow Kelly some time to rest before the pushing begun. The doctor came into the room and told us all that Kelly was now in active labor... ...from her slumber Kelly looked at us and laughed -- having had natural contractions for the last 30 hours she said "this is active labor?!"

By the time Kelly was fully dilated it was midnight and the pushing phase began. She pushed as if it was a competitive event. The doctor (on his rare visits o the room) kept threatening a C-section which only made Kelly more determined. Where exactly she got her energy from for the next 6 hours I'll never know but I have never been so in awe of anybody in my life. We all supported her in what ways we could -- taking turns to encouraging and holding her. Kelly gave everything and more and drew from ancient and modern feminine powers in order to bring our little boy into this world vaginally.

My son was born at 5.40 a.m. on Sunday the 25th of January 2009 at Exempla Good Samaritan in Lafayette, Colorado and I caught him!! I would not change any of the decisions we made and I will never forget the strength and power that Kelly showed.

Birth is a natural process and I will still advocate for home births whenever given the opportunity. I am happy that modern medicine helped us but I am more grateful to our midwife who advocated on our behalf and gave us strength to carry on when all was darkest, I am grateful for Deb and Doris who showed amazing compassion and support but I am most grateful to my beautiful wife Kelly who blew my mind and birthed our son.