Expectations

With childbirth, as with many things in life, our expectations shape the way that we perceive reality.  For example, if you expect a twelve-hour labor on or shortly after your due date, then a three-hour labor a few days before your due date will seem like a walk in the park.  If, however, you are expecting a three-hour labor shortly before your due date, but end up with a twelve-hour labor eight days after your due date, you might find yourself grumbling by hour nine.  Or at least I did.

The upside is that I was blessed with a whole hospital-full of extremely kind and accommodating doctors and nurses.  Plus, I had plenty of time to dream about all of the things that I would eat as soon as it was all over.

Also, I would just like to say that continuous fetal monitoring (for bundles of joy arriving more than a week late) is yucky, but that hot water is just about the best thing in the universe.  Right after healthy, happy babies.

Ivy Elizabeth
7lbs. 2 oz., 18 inches