 I've written and rewritten this post in my head many times. I guess my hesitancy stems from the drama-less birth story I'm about to share with you. In general, when you read a birth story, you wait for that moment when everything goes wrong. Those are the stories you take the time to read. An easy labor with a pretty uneventful pregnancy does not seem to be the recipe for a bestseller! But, I'm actually sitting and writing this for one reason - there are good birth stories too!!! I had a hell of a time getting my son out but my experience with my daughter made me really realize that EVERY birth is different! No matter what kind of horrors anyone might tell you!
My pregnancy came as a bit of a surprise. We had been trying for almost a year already and were about to move three hours south so we decided that once we got settled in to the new place, I'd make some calls and see if there was someone good to see. I made a call to a relative's relative who gave me some great advice. A few night's later, I was watching a Nicholas Sparks movie and found myself crying hysterically. I knew I didn't need to follow up with any of that advice, I was clearly pregnant already! The following morning, a pregnancy test confirmed that for me! From day one until the day I delivered, I had extreme nausea and daily vomiting. I had a few bouts of dizzy spells because of this and towards the end of my pregnancy, I holed up with my almost three year old and only left home when absolutely necessary. Just to give you an idea of the nausea, I gained a total of eleven pounds with this pregnancy. Anyway, at my 39 week checkup, my midwife did an ultrasound and, based on my previous labor experience (my son had shoulder distocia, was born at 41 weeks and two days, weighed 8 lbs 15 ozs, labor was almost 30 hours long, pushing was a few hours, the list goes on and on) we unanimously decided to go ahead and induce in the morning. The following morning, my husband made me a nice breakfast while I went and cuddled with my son for a little. Told him we were going to the doctor to get the baby. Grabbed my bag and headed out the door. We got to the hospital in a great mood, joking around with each other. Definitely ready for this to happen! Made our way up to the Birthways, as the maternity ward in our hospital is called. Got settled into my room, unpacked a few of my belongings, and waited for the midwife to come and get the show rolling. Apparently, it was a good day to have babies. People came in left and right, already in labor. Considering that I was not actually in labor yet, they profusely apologized and said they would get me started at the first chance they had. So Shuky and I got to hang out, watch some TV. Almost like a coffee date, without the coffee shop, or the coffee. Around 11:30, the midwife, Alice, finally came in and did my exam. Said I needed pitocin, the baby wasn't low enough to just break my water. So in went the IV and on came the contractions. On a side note, I was STARVING when they started everything so I convinced the nurse to let me have a few jellos, she felt bad that they had made me wait so long so (after checking with the midwife) I got a little sneak of food right at the start of everything. I couldn't even tell you what they tasted like, I sucked those things down so fast! The contractions sped up quite nicely and painfully. In an effort to avoid slowing down the dilation, we started with a pain killer through my IV. It would last two hours and I could do two doses successfully. And I did. It was great. I knew exactly when those two hours ended, without having to look at the clock! After those two, I was ready for my epidural. The relief was INSTANT. I did not have an epidural with my first so I had no idea what to expect! Anyway, like I said, instant relief. It was almost hard to believe I was in labor. I was sitting up in bed, joking around with Shuky, watching some TV show or another. Just hanging out with my hubby. No big deal! Around 8:30ish, the next midwife, Carol, came in to check on me (shifts changed around 7). I was 6 cm dilated. As she was telling me this, my water broke. On it's own. Yay me! My body may need to be induced to get the show started but at least my water knows what to do!! (Broke naturally with Benny as well!) At that point, I started asking the nurse, Tera, how I would know it was time, being that I wasn't really feeling a whole lot. She described the feeling to me, we chatted for a few minutes and she walked out. 37 minutes after Carol said my water broke, probably about 10 minutes after Tera finished describing the feeling to me, I got the feeling. Shuky went out into the hallway, 'Umm I think she's ready!' Four minutes and maybe two or three contractions later, I had a little baby girl laying on my chest, screaming her arrival. It was 9:08 pm. She was 7 lbs, 4 ozs; 19 inches long; her head circumference was 14 inches. (For comparison, Benny was 8 lbs, 15 ozs; 20.5" long; 14.5" head circumference). I decided to have her room with us the first night, she was so cute I just didn't want to let her go. My body wasn't so sore and I felt like I could handle it! Big mistake. She was so cute that I couldn't stop cuddling with her and looking at her! Around 5 in the morning, I called the nurse and made her take the baby to the nursery. I needed sleep!! - - - - - Thankfully, my son fell in love with her the second he laid eyes on her and even now, almost two and a half years later, while they may torment each other until I pull my own hair out, they still have the cutest little love for each other. Maybe there is hope for a third. I said maybe!
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