Love Expecting

Chapter 11: Uh Oh

We've hit November, which means that the baby should be coming very soon. We have the hospital bag has been prepped since the first of November, and is adjusted every few days. It is a few days before the due date of the 15th, and so far everything is fine. Whenever I have to go to work, I make sure Caitlin tells me how things are, and I worked that out with my manager so he doesn't reprimand me for being on my phone every so often. We have also held back on sexual acts to prevent an early labor. I've become extremely nervous any time I leave her at home, since I never know when she might start. As soon as I return, she calms me down and tells me everything is alright and nothing happened. As for our parents, they have been calling every other day asking "Anything yet? Any changes? What's happening?" Eventually it gets annoying and we just pick up and before they ask, we just tell them straight out "The baby isn't coming yet. What is it?" if they do call.

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Okay, it is a few days past due date and still nothing, only mild discomfort to her and impatience from our mothers. Caitlin says that she can feel the baby's weight lower in her belly, but nothing has happened just yet. Just to be safe, I asked my manager if I could use a few vacation days to watch over her to be prepared for when it does happen. I have organized my contacts so I have a list of who to call when Phoenix is coming. It starts with Ari, who will be our doula (something Caitlin and Ari requested), then there is her mom and my mom, her sister, and Luanne.

It is the 18th and the day is progressing like any other morning. We are simply relaxing on the couch to some news at 7 am. We had some breakfast of oatmeal and apple juice, and are cuddling under a blanket. The weather is good outside and the traffic report said it was not too bad. I was still on guard, though, considering that Caitlin said she felt a sharp pain in her back and abdomen at 6 this morning. She then said she felt the same pain a little while ago, with a bit more intensity. "Hon, you okay now?" I ask while we sit there on the couch. "I think I'm okAAH!" she cries as she grips her body in pain. "God, you okay!?" I start to panic a little. "I'm.....I'm not sure now. Let's just wait a bit." I think for a minute: the first two were an hour apart, but the other one just now was about 40 minutes from the last one. "Sure, if that pain happens again in less than 40 minutes, we're going to the hospital." I say, trying to calm her.

Like I thought, 35 minutes later she cried in more pain. That was it, we're going to the hospital before her water breaks. "Caitlin, get your coat. We are heading to the hospital. I'm pretty sure little Phoenix wants to come out now." I call to her as I become a bit frantic. I'm running to the phone to call the contact list and tell them to meet us at Glens Falls Hospital. Afterwards I run to get my coat, keys, and the hospital bag. A half hour later, due to the franticness, we are finally in the car and on our way. Caitlin screams again, feeling another contraction. While I know it is how childbirth goes, a part of me aches from hearing her in such pain. This morning at 7 traffic was okay, but that was almost 2 hours ago. Now the streets are a little more busy now at 9. I've already checked the route before: on a light day, a ride to the hospital was only supposed to be a little over 10 minutes. Today, it feels like it will take 15 minutes.

"Don't stress yourself, hon. We will get there. Traffic is just a bit slow." I say, trying to relax my wife in any way. She still is groaning in pain, and then screams from yet another contraction. This one is 20 minutes from the last one when we left. I fear that if we don't get to the hospital by the time they are 10 minutes apart, her water will break and then we will really be pressed for time. Finally, traffic gets moving and we get moving at a quicker pace to the hospital.

We start to pull into the parking lot of the emergency side of the hospital. After almost a half hour, we finally made it. Though, this is just where the biggest problem starts. I move around to help my wife out of the car and just as she steps out, I hear a splash of liquid hit the ground. My face goes a little white as she says, "Honey, my water just broke."