Our wonderful nurse, Christine, ran a bath for me (and my daughter!). Surges were steadily increasing in intensity and frequency and I was definitely feeling pressure. I spent time in the shower, I sat on the birthing ball (though that seemed to slow contractions down so that was quickly abandoned), I swayed back and fourth and I read my trusty affirmation cards. They were easy to manage and I was able to try out a few different coping methods. Theresa stepped out and allowed me much appreciated space to be with my family to relax and peacefully prepare for baby to arrive.Ībout 20 minutes later I began having contractions. I felt in my heart things would go quickly from here on so we called our birth photographer, Jess, and asked her to join us. Around 9:30-10:00pm our super awesome midwife, Theresa, ruptured my bag of waters. and we all ate, laughed and relaxed before it was time for the next step. Don ran out and grabbed us Pramanti Bros. After four or five rounds of pumping and walking and having nothing more than a few mild Braxton Hicks type contractions we all decided to eat. We were together on a journey toward motherhood. It’s amazing how, for that brief period, I was so connected to another woman I had never even laid eyes on. So-keep walking, relax, ‘You will do this’. Those tricky thoughts of ‘I’m not going to be able to do this" tried to sneak back in, but in my travels up and down those stairs and that hallway I could hear a Momma in the next room actively laboring, working through each surge that was bringing her baby closer to her arms. My sister arrived and more pumping and walking and no contractions. Up and down the stairs, up and down the hallway. I began pumping (pump on left breast 15 minutes, right breast 15 minutes, walk for 30 minutes, repeat) to try kickstarting labor. We were going to (try to) have a baby today! Upon arriving back at the birth center we settled in the Ocean Room, an IV was placed and antibiotics were administered. We went down the road to grab an ice cream cone and let it all sink in. My three year-old daughter, Ella, and mother-in-law were already at the appointment with us so I called my sister, Erin, who would be coming from Lancaster, PA, and told her to start making her way to us. Considering that we live an hour away from the center and that I was GBS+ and would be opting for IV antibiotics before birth, my husband, Don and I decided to go for it. After checking my cervix and announcing that I was at five centimeters-NOT IN LABOR-Emily did another sweep and suggested that we stay at the center for a birth center induction. Baby was so high and pushing so hard into my chest-dear baby, you are going the wrong way sweet thing! So anyway, here I am with Emily, again. In fact I joked with family in that last week that this baby was actively trying to avoid being born. Seeing my guess date come and go was a form of agony I was not equipped for (see above). Fast forward a week and there I was, at my 40 week (and three days) prenatal appointment. I left feeling super confident that I’d be back within a day or two in labor. I was trying so hard to enjoy the last days of pregnancy and especially the last days with just my toddler, but I was so anxious for baby day! I’m that person that begs my family to let me give them their birthday and Christmas gifts early.the suspense was killing me! I wanted to meet my baby! And, lets be real.I didn't want to be pregnant anymore! After checking my cervix and finding that I was at 3-4 centimeters, Emily did the sweep. I saw Emily (insert all the heart eyes) and I asked her if she would check my cervix and possibly do a membrane sweep. After an easy and healthy pregnancy I quickly found myself at the 39 week prenatal check-up. These affirmations helped me so much to regain my positive mind frame and focus on to the joy and pure magic that I knew was coming. I was set to deliver at the birth center this time around - something I so badly wanted with my eldest but was not possible at the time due to our insurance coverage and, we decided to wait until birth to learn the gender of this baby so there was a lot of added excitement.ĭuring the last few weeks some negative thoughts did creep in a bit, like, "Can I really do this again? Ignorance was bliss last time, this time I know what I’m signing up for." I wrote down some affirmation on colorful cards and hung them around a mirror in our bedroom. I couldn't wait to see what kind of adventure the birth of our second baby would be.
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