This may turn out to be a little long... sorry!
Let me just say that the last 4 weeks of this pregnancy were so much harder than my first. I don't know if it was because I was also busy trying to chase down a super busy two year old all day, or if it was simply because I'm older now (closer to 30 than 20 :/), but it hurt to walk; it hurt to do much of anything.
So anyway, on Wednesday, one day past my due date, I went to my OB and did an ultrasound, got my cervix checked (I was at nearly a 3), and had an NST for about 45 minutes. During that time I had about 3 contractions, so part of me wondered if the baby would come that day.
Cord ended up staying home the rest of the day, just in case. I had inconsistent Braxton-Hicks contractions all day, but nothing was really coming from it. Cord was putting Aria to bed at about 8:30 that night, and I was just laying down. When I stood up, I got a pretty strong contraction. After that, I started timing them, and they were coming about 10 minutes apart and were pretty painful. I changed into comfy clothes, turned on Netflix, and bounced on my exercise ball. After like 20 more minutes I decided this could be the real thing and called my parents to come get Aria. We packed up everything for her and my dad picked her up at about 9:30. I really hoped this was not a false alarm and that we weren't sending her away for nothing. I figured I'd better finish packing my bag too. I got everything ready and set it all by the door.
At this point, every contraction I would have to yell into a pillow ha. Labor is no joke. In pretty much no time my contractions changed- I was having a really hard time timing them because it felt like they were almost constant. I figured it was time to head to the hospital because I didn't really know what was going on. Cord ran around like a mad man packing his bag (way to leave it til the last minute Cord ;)), and I was mostly just dying. Haha.
The car ride was super fun. For some reason I was afraid that because of how quickly we were going in, they would turn us away. Luckily traffic wasn't bad and we got there pretty quick. They took me up to Labor and Delivery and triaged me, and I was already dilated to a 5.5! I was shocked. They got me into my room and started on an I.V. to start getting fluids in so I could get an epidural. The fluid was taking forever to get into me, and contractions were getting worse fast. I was having to start moaning through them, and I definitely got into that zone where you don't care who hears you and you are no longer self-conscious about anything.
My nurse started worrying that we wouldn't be able to get fluids in in time to get an epidural at all. UM WHAT. She told me about another pain medication they could give me that would take the edge off, but it would make the baby sleepy so if I was dilated past a 7 I couldn't get it. So they checked me and surprise, I was already a little past a 7. I was freaking out, Cord was freaking out, there was just a lot of freaking out. The nurse basically told me that I would be giving birth naturally. I had not prepared for this in the slightest. Contractions were pretty much horrid by now and I started crying because I was not at all ready for natural childbirth. They had a couple more nurses come in to start coaching me through contractions. They called my dr. to come in asap. I had checked into the hospital a little after 11, and now it was only a little past midnight.
My doctor got there and we talked about what to do next. They told me we could continue to wait for fluids to be done, then wait for the anesthesiologist, then I'd have to sit still for 10 minutes while the epidural was placed, then wait for it to actually kick in... or my doctor could break my water, things would pick up really quickly, and we could just get it done. I told them I didn't want to decide and someone else should just decide for me and everyone just sat there staring at me, so unfortunately I had to be the one to decide. I had gotten this far, and let's be honest, I didn't think I could sit still long enough for an epidural to be placed, so I decided to do it natural.
My doctor broke my water, and it was strangely relieving. Probably because that was a lot of pressure taken off me? I don't know. Anyway, I basically just waited for contractions to start getting a lot worse. And they were bad by now. In any other situation I would have felt awkward; 3 nurses, my doctor, and Cord basically just sat there while I wriggled like a worm during each contraction. I started screaming during one and the nurse told me I shouldn't do that. I thought she meant I was being too loud and disturbing others, but it was really because it actually helps your body to do low-pitched moans and grunts. Who knew? Not me because I hadn't done any childbirth prep! They kept checking me, and my labor just kind of stalled at a 9. A 9! I can honestly say that the pain I was feeling at that point is the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life.
Finally, they asked if I wanted to do the epidural after all. I yelled, "I CAN HAVE AN EPIDURAL NOW!? THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL!!!" They called the anesthesiologist and I couldn't wait for that giant needle to be inserted into my spine. Sitting up and sitting still to get it put in was pretty much the hardest thing I've ever done.
The good news is, as soon as the epidural kicked in, the baby moved down the rest of the way, I hit a 10, and it was time to push. It took 2 contractions to push her out, and I was done! She was naughty, just like Aria, and had pooped in the amniotic fluid, so they had to suction her before I could hold her. I couldn't believe how much she weighed! 9 pounds 10 ounces is huge. I got to hold her as soon as they suctioned her, and I fell in love instantly!
I learned a lot from my experiences with Aria, so there was some stuff I was determined to do differently in regards to breastfeeding and schedules and routines and other stuff.
Watching Aria meet her little baby sister was so amazing. She kept saying, "Oh baby!" and if the baby whimpered at all, Aria would tell her "It's ok, baby." She tries to hug her and kiss her all the time. She's also gotten really good at saying "Skylar".
Experiences in the past few days, weeks, and months have made me feel so eternally grateful for the opportunity to be a mother to these two sweet little girls. I had a hard time adjusting to being a mom with Aria's birth, but this time around, I am cherishing every moment I get to snuggle my baby. I never want to put her down. Aria has been spending time at both Grandparents' houses as I heal adjust to a new baby, and I have missed her like crazy. All I want is to have my little family around me!
