The Birth Story: Part One

I wanted to write this down since it’s a great story and I already love to reminisce about the birth of our second miracle daughter.

A little synopsis of this second pregnancy:

I had preterm labor issues. My second pregnancy was no different than the first. The second time I was put on drugs (to relax my uterus) and bed rest much sooner, around week 12.  I tried very hard to follow doctors’ orders; I stayed off my feet and did not exercise at all. I did nurse my eldest though (with permission from my OB/GYN). Thr doctors were skeptical that I would make it to the date my first daughter was born 36 weeks 3 days.

Week 36: I was supposed to stop taking all medications; however a snow storm was in the forecast so with the okay from my doctor I continued until week 37. Contractions were hard and close together anytime I stood up. I had weaned my daughter to only nursing right before nap and bed times.

Week 37: Doctor Appointment shows the baby flipped (head up), I freaked out. I did not want a C-section (though obviously I would do whatever was in the best interest of my baby). The next evening while in the refridgerator I felt TONS of pain and ripping. It brought me to my knees (even birth didn’t do that). Sure enough baby decided head down was a much better position. I thanked God a million times. I prayed hard that this baby would decide to go head down and the my prayers were answered.

Week 38: Another snow storm is in the works (worst winter ever for worrying about going into labor) for the night before St. Patrick’s Day. Doctors are all amazed I am still pregnant. I am 90% effaced and 4.5-5cm dilated (I had been dilated since about week 12-13, well not that much though).

And so the story begins:

My last day of work was Friday March 14. After talking with my doctor about my concern (and hers) about having the baby at home or on the way to the hospital we decided to head in Monday to have my water broken and get this baby out (38 weeks). Of course Sunday night it started storming and we got several inches (perhaps even a foot) of snow, the hospital called me Sunday night/Monday morning really early and told me to head in Tuesday morning bright and early due to the storm and staffing issues. No biggie. I stayed off my feet (except when I took the dogs out to feed the animals since my husband was plowing snow). I had hard contractions, nothing new.  

My husband got home around lunch time. We cleaned the house. Prepared for the new baby. I was also preparing to leave my daughter for the first time ever. Hello pregnancy hormones. I was a mess. I tried to spend as much time with her doing the things she loved all day. Coloring, reading, painting and dancing. My mother-in-law came up later that night to stay so we didn’t have to wait for her to get there since we had to leave at 5:30AM. I still felt totally fine.

Around 8PM or so I started getting nervous, I thought it was due to me having to leave my first baby. I didn’t really want to sit down. After eating Chinese food for dinner around 9PM (a few bites really). I decided to take a shower with my daughter. We took a 20 minute shower. It felt wonderful.  I had several contractions in a row, hard but again nothing new. I finished getting her ready for bed and spent extra time brushing her long blonde hair and singing silly songs as we brushed her teeth.  As I laid down with her, she nurses for less than 3 minutes and passes out snuggled against my neck. At this point I am starting to realize I have been having hard consist contractions. My stomach was really hurting during them and the pain lingers when they are over.  I still think nothing of it. I headed downstairs to visit with my husband and mother-in-law. Really to go over the routine’s, point out where everything is and try to assure myself that my baby would be okay (the first one that is).  I urged my husband to shower and get to bed. He hadn’t slept since Saturday night. It is now 10:30PM on Monday night. Before he goes up I start having to walk through the contractions. I finally realize they are about 1 minute long in duration and 2 minutes apart. Hmm. I debated on calling the doctor so I call my mom instead. She yells at me. Tells me I am going to have this baby at home if I don’t head to the doctor right this minute. I brush her off but decided to just call the doctor and see what she says. The new to the practice doctor is on call and I have yet to meet her in person. She tells me to head in and she would come in and check me. Regardless if I am in active labor they will keep me and break my water.  This was a huge worry for me. I am not sure why but I did not want to go and be sent home because I wasn’t in active labor. The contractions feel the same to me as they always have. I head to the bathroom after a contraction since all of the sudden I had to pee right then (not normal for me pregnant or not).  As I headed to the bathroom I felt a gush. I thought it was my water breaking, it was not but I had started bleeding.  My husband just got in the shower.  

 

To be continued ... (I hate doing this but it is just TOO long).