Wednesday, March 16, 2016.
My contractions started around 8am. I noticed the first one when I was feeding C her breakfast. I didn't think anything of it, surely a fluke, and went on with my morning. C and I drove into town, shopped trip at Target, grabbed lunch at Jimmy Johns and headed home. I had 5 time-able contractions during the 11 o'clock hour and I started to think maybe this was in fact early labor. When J came home for lunch I told him this might be it, but that if things were anything like they were the first time around it would be Saturday before we had a baby and not to worry.
I was able to nap that afternoon when C did, but at least 3 contractions woke me up. When I got up with her they started back again regularly.
By 4-5pm the contractions had increased in intensity and were getting closer together. I'd texted our friend, Molly, earlier that we might need her to spend the night if contractions turned out to be real and we were in touch over dinner. I felt better knowing she was on base already for a volleyball game and had an overnight bag with her. But still, I tried to ignore contractions, thinking we were maybe days away from real labor and ate dinner; J's favorite that night, Luke Casserole.
By 630 the contractions were pretty bad. I tried to do my normal part in C's bedtime routine, but I only made it for a few minutes before I had to let J take over. I kissed her and then around 730 they were 2-3 min apart and very painful. I headed for the bathtub. Once C was in bed J called our doula, Rhonda, and was timing contractions. Rhonda said she thought we should head to the hospital sooner rather than later.
Ellie Peterson, a fellow squadron wife, came over for a bit after C was asleep until Molly was done with volleyball; then Molly spent the night with her and Thursday morning. J's Mom, Cathy, flew in from FL a day early and then took over at the house.
Meanwhile J and I got to the hospital at 830pm. We drove into the emergency room after hours entrance and I was wheeled up to labor and delivery. I was in a lot of pain; 6-7 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and 0 station. By midnight not much had changed. I spent at least an hour sitting on the edge of my bed while they tried to start an IV. I've never had trouble with that before, but it took the guy from anesthesia to start a line finally. By then I was beyond wanting to move or use the shower. I tried the birth ball a little while, but my contractions were intense without breaks. I begged for an epidural. Which I got and miraculously worked this time. Praise the Lord!
The only "complication" during my labor was that baby's heart rate kept dropping. I was on oxygen a lot of the time and they kept a pretty close eye on things.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
*St. Patrick's Day*
We hung out until about 2am with HGTV on in the background. Still no progress. I was becoming terrified of being stuck at 6cm like I was with C for days. Discouraged I had Dr. Wildey break my water. I tried to rest, but I was getting a second dose of antibiotics for +GBS and it burned like crazy. I started feeling more pressure by 3-330. When I was checked around 345 I was complete and +2 station. By the time they'd started setting up to push, not actually ready for a delivery yet, baby was crowning! The Dr delivered him with his bare hands running into the room. One push.
Everyone was stunned. J and I were shell shocked. Dr. Wildey just confusedly held baby for a minute before putting him on my chest and finishing the delivery. It was so fast, and so different from the first time. I'd been feeling more pressure and despite the epidural stronger contractions; but I'd kept telling myself it was going to be a while and to just relax and wait. Then suddenly we were holding a baby boy (hereafter JM)! 7 pounds, 1 ounce, 18.5 inches long and born at 4:02am. I remember thinking it was funny both my babies were born in a 4 o'clock hour.
We got lots of skin to skin time, JM breastfed for the first time, I was drinking Coke and water and actually feeling really good. Totally different that I'd felt after delivering C. The only "problem" was that my right leg was super numb and I couldn't get up and walk as quickly as I'd have liked.
We went over to the recovery room and got settled. When we walked, or in my case, were wheeled, into the room we saw the very early morning and everything covered in snow. It had been snowing all night while I was in labor. J and I both shut down and just went to sleep. We woke up late morning, I ordered lunch (hospital food is disgusting), J left to go home and do C's nap time routine and take another nap. I ate, got a shower, and went back to bed on and of the rest of the day.
J passed out at home and his Mom finally woke him up around 7pm when I called. He put C to bed and then came back into town stopping to get me a steak dinner from Texas Roadhouse on the way. He stayed pretty late helping sooth a very alert and cranky new baby. But he went back home. I wanted him to, I wanted C to have one of us around. But I hated that he left too. I couldn't wait to get out of the hospital.
Thankfully JM passed all his newborn screenings, I checked out fine and both our doctors let us leave 24 hours later. We were gone by lunch Friday.
