These were taken the day before I went into labor. I felt like my pregnancy was coming to an end and I needed to document it. The entire 9 months, I had it in my mind that I would be in labor 4 hours- with Zealand it was 12 and there was a lot of time spent stalled, no progress, even though I was still having contractions. So I had it in my mind that I could get it done in 4 hours. I really believe there's a connection between mind and body and thought if I could let go of my fear my body would be much more efficient. Then I actually read that a 4-hour labor goes so fast that there is no chance to rest, zero comfort.I was probably in some stage of labor the whole day. I would sit on the floor and play with Z and there I would stay until he absolutely needed me somewhere else. I desperately wanted someone to be there with Z and I but I didn't want Jeff to start his time off work until Charlotte was born. With tears in my eyes I would dial someone who could come over and then hang up because I didn't want them to see me all weepy and pathetic. What was I going to say, "I'm not a good enough mom today, can you come over and fill in?" Like I said, I think I was in labor. This is how things make sense when you're in labor.
I had a contraction at 4pm. By 9pm when my water broke I had had 6 or 7. After the water broke I got in the shower and stayed there for a good 45 minutes. I was so cold. I just stayed there consuming HOT water and trying to think through the next hours, the next months. Was I ready? Finally, after several attempts, Jeff convinced me that I needed to go to the hospital.
It was really fast. It hurt just as much as my first labor. All the same things happened to me. But faster. Also, I had a fever. NO WONDER I was so cold. The fever got hotter at the hospital. They gave me extra fluids to bring the fever down. The fever was caused by an infection in the amniotic fluid. It is called chorioamnionitis. They said I had to have the baby soon.
Jeff coached me and I couldn't have done it drug-free without him. Thanks, Honey. Really.
My feet felt like ice the entire labor. I didn't ask for socks because they were trying to cool me and keep Charlotte from distress. At this point it had occurred to me that I should be worried. I wasn't very worried though. Maybe because I was just too busy. I just asked Jeff: He was pretty worried.
She was born at 12:51am- nine minutes before my wacky deadline and with plenty of time to avoid serious complications from the chorioamnionitis. We didn't get many pictures because she was only with us for about 20 minutes before they took her to the nursery to have antibiotics.
Charlotte stayed in the nursery the first 48 hours and then she got to be in my room the last night and day we were in the hospital. When they first brought her to me, I held her and she hooked her jaw sideways like Bill Murray and rolled her eyes back in her head. I laughed so hard that I was bouncing her all over. Eventually I had to turn away so I could stop laughing. These pictures don't do the face justice.
When I was pregnant, I pictured her with dark hair. I know, I know, my water-color abilities are "amazing"- still, I think my picture is pretty close to reality.
Purple is her color. She got my thumbs which are a lot cuter on her. When she was 4 days old, she clicked her tongue so I clicked mine. Now she clicks her tongue when she wants to be fed.
