Parenthood

The statistics read that 3% of babies are delivered on their due date, so it was no surprise that we fell into the 'other' 97%, although only just. Harrison James Clist arrived at 00:10 on September 17th, missing the eta by 10 mins.

The fun and games started around 4am on the 16th. Fi was feeling a bit funny and I engaged 'labour mode' immediately. I'd done this before of course - trying to stay calm whilst remembering everything we were told in the ante-natal classes, but this time it wouldn't be a false alarm. The midwife (Kim) came to the house around 11am and left 30 minutes later with a knowing see-you-later smile. We were instructed to call her back when the contractions got closer together and more intense.

We spent the day knocking around the house, calling Kim once again around 7pm. By this time Fi was in some discomfort. I'd called my parents in the morning, instructing them to make their way up from Cornwall and they got the the RUH in Bath around the same time that we did. Jay, Marie and Fi's parents were also there, waiting in the Family Room.

The next 5 hours were a blur and I didn't really know what to expect. Fi, Kim and I were the only people in the delivery suite for the whole event (there are always 10+ people on TV aren't there?) and there appeared to be no complications at all, although I later learned that the cord was around the little guy's neck. Fi finally got to the ward at 4am, I got home at 4:30 and all three of us got home at 1:30pm the same day. Already I can't remember what life was like before having a child!

I came away with enormous admiration for midwives. Kim was verbally abused for the last two hours, had worked a full day prior to delivering Harrison and worked a full day after. Amazing women and our deepest gratitude is extended to her.

The last 2 weeks have been amazing. We've been quite keen to get on with life as much as possible, and I think we've been reasonably successful. Harrison's settled into a pretty reliable routine, allowing at least some sleep and apart from a couple of grouchy hours every afternoon its fine. Most importantly he appears to be 100% healthy, something for which we must count our blessings. I'll leave you with a picture.