Childbirth, being a dad, and the wonder of life

Todays article/post will be on a more personal note; namely the birth of my daughter Elisabeth.

My experiences and emotions of watching my wife go through labour and giving birth seem, in hindsight, a wider range than I have ever experienced. From the aprehanesion on the drive to the hospital, to the calm of just waiting for the on set of labour, to the worrying and feeling helpless as Emma went through the pain of labour and childbirth, to the harrowing fear of the slightest complication and the unbridled joy at holding my baby daughter in my arms and looking into her beautiful blue eyes.

Throuhout the birth we had the best team of midwives and doctors helping us through everystage (including an unexpected moment of full on Exorcist style projectile vomitting - I'm glad I moved out of the way in time!), And provided excellent care for my wife and baby for the first 4 days after the birth.

The one thing I did notice about the whole childbirth thang is the myth that women go through all of the pain and hardship of giving birth... Bollocks. I admit there is a huge amount of pain involved, particularly in the early stages, but after that, my wife was doped up on so much pethadine and gas and air, as well as a local (down there), she barely remembers anything. Now I know I didn't go through the physical pain that Emma did, but the emotions experienced, constant reassurance and helping out with things I have no experience with as a watching husband, meant that I was completely drained at the end of it. Believe me lads, if you're ever watching your child be born, you'll know what I mean, 18 hours of feeling completely out of your depth, and assuring your wife it will be okay, when you have no idea, of what's going on, as well as helping to push, and trying not to shit yourself ( I had a touching cloth moment). The other things you aren't ready for is the blood, particularly when the midwives look worried too, and the damage a babies head can do (to paraphrase one of my favourite Jeff Green sketches "it's like watching your favourite pub burn down... That's no good for anyone now... It's ruined).

Tired beyond endurance, I held my baby in my arms and was never more proud or happy than at any moment in my life. My wife did amazingly well, and has given me the most beautiful baby I have ever seen (but I would say that wouldn't I?)

Laters, Steve.