Day 1 (Dad's version)

Some notes from our first day as a family of 3

Tuesday, June 17

7:45pm

It’s time. After months of wondering what this moment would feel like, we get in the car and head to the hospital. After one missed direction and a three-point turn, we find the parking garage next to the hospital. It turns out Dad might be more nervous than Mom. The attendant asks how long we plan to stay, and I tell him that we’re here to have a baby so I’m not really sure. His face relaxes and he tells us he’ll see us in 3 days around 11am. “It’s kind of like a hotel over there,” he says with a grin.

8:18pm

I call my parents. I tell them it’s early in the process, but that the countdown is really underway for their first grandchild. Their washing machine sounds like it’s working overtime so I whisper-shout so as not to be too loud in the hospital corridor but loud enough that they can hear me.

Portrait of a guy signing in as a party of 2 for the last time.

8:37pm

Lesline, our nurse for the night, introduces herself and makes us both feel at ease. She is the first of many hospital staff to make us feel secure, cared for, and ready for the biggest day of our lives.

9:02pm

In a quiet moment, Julia puts a little makeup on. She’s almost ready for battle.

10:05pm

We put a TV show on the iPad, unsure of how long this process will take or what it will really be like. As the porter will tell you, we’ve packed for all eventualities.

Wednesday June 18

12:40am

Contractions have started in earnest and Julia calls for an epidural. I step out of the room for the procedure. Her discomfort has been difficult to watch so I’m glad she’ll get some relief. Outside in the hallway I run into someone I recognize from a baby class we took a few weeks ago. We wish each other luck as he heads back to be with his wife.

12:45am

I’m not sure how long this is going to take so I pull out my phone and start scrolling Instagram. I try to watch a video my brother sent me, but the sound won’t play even when I turn it up. I realize with horror that I’m probably still connected to a speaker in the room and really hope I haven’t played something distracting while the team is working on finding an injection site near my wife’s spine.

12:56am

A dad pushing a bassinet with a brand new baby walks by me. Nurses roll mom behind him and she has a mixture of satisfaction and relief on her face. I look forward to when it’s our time to share these feelings.

3:50am

With Julia’s pain being managed, we’re able to get a little sleep. We’re sharing a room with another couple in early labor so I’m asked to step out for our new roommate’s epidural early in the morning, but otherwise try to rest on a recliner next to Julia’s bed.

8am

The night nurses clock out and our new nurse take Julia’s vitals. There’s not a whole lot to report so I decide to stretch my legs and grab some breakfast. I end up taking a different elevator down and have trouble finding the exit I came in last night. After a few wrong turns, I follow exit signs into a stairwell and see a door ominously marked “Final Exit.” As I push the bar to open it, an alarm rings. I quickly pull it shut behind me, hope it’s one of those alarms that only rings when the door is ajar, and walk with purpose to the street.

9:15am

I slip out for one measly bagel and come back to find out Julia’s water has broken, she’s much more dilated, and we’re moving to the room where it happens.

11am

We settle in to the delivery room. It’s much more spacious and there is even a pullout couch where I can grab a few more Z’s while we wait for labor to progress a little further.

2:50pm

Our delivery team, Sandy and Kathy, let us know that it will be time to push in about 20 minutes. Julia asks if I have any last words of encouragement for him. I say, “Just be yourself. We’re ready for you.”

3:54pm

After about 40 minutes, Henry comes out in one powerful push and is placed onto Julia’s chest. I’m overcome. My two favorite people, together for the first time, and somehow, like they’ve always been here.

Our first family portrait