The most intense experience of my life: serving as Coach #1b for my best friend as she went through labor this week. The three of us (1st-time mom, husband and me) bonded like NO OTHER experience could ever bond us as we got through all sorts of crazy and war-like things that happened through 30 hours of labor ending in a C section.
That said: this hospital is incredible. Those labor and delivery nurses must be born with a special kind of saint/angel/superhero genetic makeup. Without their help, hubby and I would not have been able to get her through that process. The knowledge, care and humanity of each individual working there was unbelievable. They saw us at our worst: scared, overwhelmed, completely clueless, and in an out-of-control situation. Their ability to manage that kind of chaos and intensity simply blows my mind.
I tried to thank the staff with tears and hugs at the end of the process, but there's truly no way I can ever express my gratitude.