Looking at my now almost two year old daughter yelling at me for more cheese, I can’t help but think, how the hell did I get here? Or better yet, how did she get here?
I’ve been writing for this blog for a while now and realized I have skipped ahead. I have never shared Audrey’s birth story with any of you! I figured this would be the perfect time, as she is almost 2, and we can start at the very beginning.
First of all, I live in Switzerland. No, I am not from there, I moved with my husband for his job. This was supposed to be a quick stint in Europe with no plan of staying, and here we are, six years later.
Never in my life did I expect to live in Europe and I definitely did not plan on having kids here! This is one of those crazy things my husband Joel and I have gotten ourselves into. The kid and Europe.
Audrey’s Birth Story
Like most first time pregnant women, I had absolutely no idea what i was doing or what to expect. Every time I would go in to see my Gynecologist he would just say, “You’re fine.” Each time I would ask questions he would shake his head and say, “You crazy Americans with your questions.” I immediately got the sense that Europe was a lot more lax about pregnancy, and I needed to calm down.
Like most check ups, I expected to be sent on my merry way with a cute new photo to show Joel until my doctor informed me I was having my baby that day. Two weeks early. I cried and told him I wasn’t ready, and he looked me in the eye and said, “You think those two weeks will change anything?” Truer words have never been said.
Thankfully, my in-laws were flying in that day to calm my nerves and buy me a car seat. I guess I did not need those two weeks!
Going into the hospital that day was exciting and overwhelming. We checked that night and had to ring a doorbell for a sweet little nurse to come get us from outside.
The hospital was quaint. It was in a sleepy little village and so much different from what I am used to in America.
We started the induction process right away which resulted in contractions for what seemed like forever. Then nothing. No one came to see us for at least 12 hours.
The next morning we were told the hospital was too busy. So we started again. This time was a lot faster and I was in the hands of a single midwife, Bernadette. Bernadette was exactly how you would imagine a German midwife. She was straight forward and on her game. She was who I was left with when my doctor went home to rest and thank God for her.
The original birthing plan was for my husband to be there holding my hand for support while my doctor delivered our baby. All while heavily medicated!!
What I was experiencing was a sleeping doctor, and my husband and a Bernadette in full-on delivery mode in what seemed like a dark hospital.
All I kept thinking was this shit doesn’t happen in America. That, and my poor husband is delivering our baby. I’m pretty sure these are things he never thought he would do, or want to do, for that matter.
Here we are, full-on delivery mode when Bernadette goes outside to call the doctor again and leaves Joel at the wheel. As soon as she did this, Audrey’s head came out. If you’ve had a baby, you know you can’t just push when you want to. It’s a natural reaction and one that my husband WAS NOT PREPARED FOR.
My poor husband was the only person there when this baby is coming out, and he’s screaming “Why did you push?”
The midwife came running in just in the nick of time to intercept Audrey on the next push.
There we were with this new baby, and our hero Bernadette, when our doctor comes strolling in to say, “This is why I love my job.” I’m telling you, you can’t make this stuff up.
Audrey’s delivery was not at all like we expected, but so much better than we could have ever anticipated.
The chaos was a great distraction from being nervous and kept us on our toes the whole time.
It’s funny, because that’s the best way I can describe parenting. Chaotic, nervous and always on our toes!
Stacie — Mom of Audrey
Leave a Reply