Push

By: Allison Norris

It seems like it will never end. Each contraction pulsing through your body, climaxing and then falling providing a stint of relief before the next one hits you.

My birthday was Sunday. I turned 25. I usually throw extravagant parties to celebrate myself; but this year was a little different. We had invited my close friends over for an evening barbecue with an “in case-she-goes-into-labor-cancellation policy” at the bottom of the invitation. I had been in early labor all day, but love a little celebration, so I hosted a party. During labor. My contractions getting closer and closer together, we played bocce ball, ate ribs and homemade strawberry shortcake, and kicked everyone out by 10pm.

Game on.

I was chatting and telling stories in between each contraction until I was forced to throw myself over the back of a chair in agony resting my face in my hands. They were getting worse…

“BREATHE! Relax your shoulders… low tones, Allison, relax, breathe into it…”

Yeah? Is that all?

Ten minutes apart, then eight, seven, five and finally four. Time to go to the hospital.

With my mother, sister and doula, I grabbed my baby blue Samsonite suit case at 6:00am and tried to make it to the car. Stopping along the sidewalk to double over through a contraction, I finally made it to the car and endured the four minute ride to the hospital… I knew our apartment location was a good idea!

I moaned, groaned, cussed, laughed, cried, wailed and clenched for the next 14 hours. My contractions were a minute and a half apart. I thought I was going to die.

Finally, without an epidural, I was ready to push. I pushed and pushed and breathed and pushed and grunted and pushed and screamed and pushed. I had an incredible team and the vibe in the room was electric. Finally, at 8:29pm on August 3rd, my sweet Baylor was born. He had a few short cries, and then calmly looked at everyone in the room. Bay was alert, healthy, and absolutely the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen in my entire life.

A new person. Forever in my life. Someone to love more than anyone or anything else, ever before. What a feeling… this was the best “oops” that could have happened.

We have plenty of adventures ahead, and I can’t wait.