I hesitate to write this birth story...

But here it is. Part one.

It started on a Tuesday.

I'd had contractions throughout the night, but at about 4 am I couldn't ignore them anymore. I got up, dealt with it for an hour, woke Mike at 5.

They were 3-4 minutes apart. Painful but not unbearable, and not increasing in intensity.

At 10 I sent Mike to work, telling him to keep his phone on, give his presentation, and call me. I assured him I was fine, but his coworkers eventually made him leave.

"Just in case," I sent J to the babysitter with an overnight bag that morning. She picked him up for me because I knew I couldn't do the 30 minute round trip drive in my condition.

I emailed my boss, told her the maternity leave was effective immediately. I ate ferociously all day long.

Sometime during that morning I called the midwife. She warned that contractions might slow down throughout the afternoon, and she was right. For most of the day, they were 12 minutes apart, but never stopped completely. A heating pad got me through most of it. So did leaning over a chair, sitting on a yoga ball, and deep breathing.

I almost had Mike pick J up on his way home, but the sitter urged me not to. (Thank heavens for her wisdom.)

By 8 pm, things had picked up. Hardcore. I called the midwife again, and she said Anytime you want me there, I'll come. That time was midnight.

That "time warp" thing happened that everyone talks about. Hours would pass, and I would have no concept of it. Occasionally I would look at the clock in shock. Wonder what was taking so damn long.

Mike did more for me during labor than anyone or anything else. With every contraction, he would push on my lower back as I pushed air out of my lungs. I have no idea how long he did this, but it must have been hours upon hours. I saw him stretch his arms between contractions and had a vague understanding of how physically taxing this was for him, too.

He did not complain or falter once.

The midwife urged him to sleep. I urged him to stay awake. No one else could help me as effectively as he could. I needed him there with me. We were mutually invested. He stayed.

I think I ate once. Foggy memory of blueberries in a bowl. No appetite.

As night became morning, morning became afternoon, and afternoon waned, I thought Surely this next part will pass more quickly than the last.

I was wrong, every time. My body was taking its slow, slow time to progress. The first time I asked to be checked I was at 5cm. That was at 5 am Wednesday. I had been in labor for over 24 hours.

The baby wouldn't be born for 14 more...