Labor.
November 07, 2012

At nine o’clock last night, the first contraction hit.  It took my breath away.  One part of my brain leapt with excitement, delighting at the opportunity to meet this child who squirms within.

The other part of my brain thought OH FUCK, I REMEMBER THESE.

The rest of the nation wept and cheered as the votes rolled in.  My husband and I lied beside one another in the dark.  Wishing.  Hoping.  Wondering.

At midnight, a contraction jolted me awake.  I stumbled out of the bed, onto all fours, rocked back and forth and back and forth.

You can do this, I told myself.  Your body is made for this.  You can bring this child into the world.

You can do this, my husband told me as his fingers relieved some of the pressure in my back.  Your body is made for this.  You can bring this child into the world.

But a small part of my brain still thinks WHAT THE FUCK WAS I THINKING?  WHAT IF I CAN’T DO THIS?

All through the wee hours of the morning the contractions marched on, slowly increasing in frequency and intensity.  The sun rose and the day began and the contractions marched on.  We double-checked our birth bag and ran Charlotte through her morning routine and called my parents and the contractions marched on.  Our fingers are crossed that by the end of the day we are cradling our child, counting their toes and kissing their forehead and introducing them to their sister.  Please, we find ourselves thinking, please do not let this be a false alarm.

And as the contractions ebb and flow, I find myself thinking only one other thing: I can do this.  I can do this.  I can do this.

** Charlotte is three years and three months old.  I am ready to pop!


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(32) Comments | Permalink
Filed as Sarah Pregnancy Third trimester Labor and birth 

  1. By on November 07, 2012

    Yay! Good luck..sending you thoughts of strength and patience. You can do this!

  2. By on November 07, 2012

    YAY!  You can do it!  Welcome little baby!

  3. By gretchen from lifenut on November 07, 2012

    So excited for you! You can do this. Can’t wait to meet your newest sweetie.

  4. By Heather on November 07, 2012

    You can do this! So excited for you to meet your bundle of love!

  5. By on November 07, 2012

    You can absolutely do this! Thinking of you today and very happy for you all!

  6. By Megan R. on November 07, 2012

    Yay!  Can’t wait to hear the happy news!

  7. By Kaly on November 07, 2012

    Yay! You CAN do this! You are probably doing this right now. So excited for you and your family!

  8. By on November 07, 2012

    YAY! I am so excited for you!

  9. By Amy on November 07, 2012

    Coming out of lurking to wish you luck! You can totally do this!

  10. By Gena on November 07, 2012

    So excited for you! What a day!!

  11. By Cinemarie on November 07, 2012

    You can do this, Sarah! You can be absolutely confident that your body is ready for this, and so is the baby inside. Everything will go very well and by the end of the day, you will be a family of four! (minus all the 4 legged and winged creatures :)

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! :)

    Aaaah I can’t wait to meet ‘them’ and hear all about their coming into the world - all in good times - please rest as much as you need and enjoy your family and don’t feel pressure to share with the world uber fast - the internet can wait ;)

  12. By Karen on November 07, 2012

    I am so excited for your family! You can do this!! And soon this child will be in your arms!

  13. By Amber on November 07, 2012

    You CAN do this! Yay!

  14. By on November 07, 2012

    Congrats!! Hope all is well!!

  15. By on November 07, 2012

    AWWWWWW YAHH!!! Good luck! I’m so excited to find out if it’s a girl or a boy!!!!!

  16. By sparkly jules on November 07, 2012

    I’m rooting for you, Sarah. I was hoping the baby would come about now—my birthday is tomorrow, the 8th, and I’ve always enjoyed being a November baby.

    Wishing you nothing but joy.

    Go, girl.

    SJ

  17. By Alicia S. on November 07, 2012

    You can do it buddy!!

  18. By on November 07, 2012

    heck yeah you can do this !
    we are thinking about you !
    can’t wait to hear the news..

  19. By on November 07, 2012

    YOU CAN DO THIS!

    Whether you read this during and are encouraged or after and it warms your heart, know that there’s a ton of people who’ve never meet you outside of the blog, but are wholeheartedly rooting you on and have faith that you can do this! So excited to see photos of your new little one! Have a wonderful laborious.

  20. By momiss on November 07, 2012

    YES YOU CAN!!!  Sending you prayerful peaceful thoughts!!

  21. By on November 07, 2012

    Go go go! Cannot wait to hear the news!

  22. By on November 07, 2012

    Yay!! You can do this! Can’t wait to see pictures of the new little bundle!!

  23. By on November 07, 2012

    Yes you can!

  24. By on November 07, 2012

    YAY SARAH!!!!  You can do it!!  WOOO WOO.  This is way more exciting than any election news.  I’m cheering you on!

  25. By on November 07, 2012

    YOU CAN DO THIS!!!  I’ve been checking every day for the past couple of weeks to see if the baby is here yet.  Today is a GREAT day to have a baby!  My son was born 22 years ago today.  God bless you and your family!

  26. By on November 07, 2012

    Good luck!!!!

  27. By on November 07, 2012

    WOOT!!! Good luck mama!

  28. By on November 07, 2012

    Hey awesome! You are doing it!!! Woo hoo! I am going to send you all the good vibe and energy I can muster!

  29. By on November 07, 2012

    You can do this! (and so excited for you)

  30. By on November 07, 2012

    Yay! Can’t wait to hear the good news!

  31. By Court on November 07, 2012

    Yay!!

  32. By on November 07, 2012

    Thinking of you, hoping you are already cuddling your little one - looking forward to seeing pictures!


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