We got to hospital at 1:00 AM on January 28, after my water broke and contractions started immediately 1-2 minutes apart.
Brittany had walked in the door 5 minutes before my water broke, and Charlotte was finally ready to make her appearance in the world. Brittany went to wake Branden up, and I could tell that he was so excited and ready. I was doubled over within a few minutes, but I loved the excitement on his face as he realized that after 9+ months of waiting, he was going to meet his baby girl.
Three hours later, my contractions escalated and I could not walk by myself. I sat on the toilet, nauseous and dizzy, and held onto Branden for stability as another contraction came. I have never been so grateful to have a husband who I knew loved me, because I'm pretty sure he would've left me at about this moment if he still had any doubts.
About eight hours later, it was finally time to push. I heard that by this point, I wasn't supposed to feel much of anything because my body would have kicked in to help numb the pain. The rest of labor had been bearable, but this part was difficult and painful. I screamed for the next ten minutes. Apparently I pushed harder than anyone expected, because by 10 minutes, Charlotte had crowned and I was ready to deliver. The doctor wasn't there, and the nurses told me to wait and to wait and to wait until he got there. The blood vessels in my face had popped from all of the pressure, and I screamed for the next 5 minutes, holding her crowned, as I waited as best as I could for the doctor. At this point, I looked at Branden and cried "I can't do it." As strange as it may sound, this was one of the best moments of the labor and delivery, because he responded with "YES KAYLEE, YES YOU CAN" and I had never loved him more and I could see that he had never been more amazed or in love with me. He started crying when he saw Charlee, and I cried because I loved him and her more than anything.
The first time I held her, she stared at me for 15 minutes and I cried and cried as she looked right at me and made the cutest faces. I felt like she knew me, and I couldn't believe that she was mine.
One hour later, I overheard my mom talking to a friend about my labor, and I have never heard so much pride in her voice. Here I sat in the hospital, bloody and bruised, and I felt this new closeness with her. After bringing Charlee into the world and working to keep her happy and alive, I respect my mom in an entirely different way. I always pictured myself being more like her when I became a mother--you know, selfless, on top of it, mature--but I'm just me. Her confidence in me being "just me" as a mother means more than anyone else's vote of confidence.
Two hours later, my dad showed up after the long drive from Washington. He nearly ran in the hospital room, and I felt pure pride for the little life I held in my arms. He kissed my forehead gently and kissed Charlotte's tiny forehead, and I cried again because I was his little girl and she was mine, and nothing had ever been more surreal.
One hour later, Brittany climbed into bed to cuddle with me, and we held Charlee and admired everything about her for a long while.
I have no idea what I'm doing, and I have never been more overwhelmed by anything in my life. But I love my little girl, and I love my husband, and I am absolutely amazed with how life comes into this world. She is her own little beautiful human, Charlotte Lorae Heath.
About eight hours later, it was finally time to push. I heard that by this point, I wasn't supposed to feel much of anything because my body would have kicked in to help numb the pain. The rest of labor had been bearable, but this part was difficult and painful. I screamed for the next ten minutes. Apparently I pushed harder than anyone expected, because by 10 minutes, Charlotte had crowned and I was ready to deliver. The doctor wasn't there, and the nurses told me to wait and to wait and to wait until he got there. The blood vessels in my face had popped from all of the pressure, and I screamed for the next 5 minutes, holding her crowned, as I waited as best as I could for the doctor. At this point, I looked at Branden and cried "I can't do it." As strange as it may sound, this was one of the best moments of the labor and delivery, because he responded with "YES KAYLEE, YES YOU CAN" and I had never loved him more and I could see that he had never been more amazed or in love with me. He started crying when he saw Charlee, and I cried because I loved him and her more than anything.
