And now there are 4

September 11, 2012

This pregnancy with Aria wasn't hard per say, but it for sure was different. I think having a toddler didn't help the excessive tiredness. I took naps whenever I possibly could. Eliah and I also watched a lot of movies because I was so tired and didn't have the energy to do much. Poor kid. But other than that the pregnancy went smoothly. Starting two weeks before my due date I measured 2 cm and held that 2 cm until I went into labor. That is how things went with my pregnancy with Eliah so I wasn't surprised. I did have a lot of false labor this time around. There were several times that I though oh, is today going to be the day. I would wake up in the middle of the night with contractions and would text my mom to stay tuned, that she might have to make a drive down soon. But nothing ever came of them. I had my last appointment with my midwife three days before my due date. She said I was 2.5 cm and 80% effaced. So I hoped she would come any time. She wanted to see me again on my due date if I didn't have the baby before then. So, on Monday Sept 10th I went in for another appointment. My midwife moved my cervix more forward, sorry, TMI, in hopes to start labor that day or at least by the next day.  She was concerned because Aria's hand was on top of her head. She wanted me to do a lot of walking to see if we could get her to move it before labor started. My mom was in town, I had her come down so that someone would be here to take Eliah when I did go into Labor. So Eliah, my mom and I spent the rest of that day walking. We seriously walked ALL day long. We went to malls and Ikea and walked outside. I was having contractions but nothing consistent. So we headed home. That evening I spent it bouncing on our yoga ball. Still nothing. I went to bed realizing that this baby was just going to come when she was ready. I slept so well that night. The first time in a long time! Tuesday morning we got up and started about our day. My mom and I ran some errands and played with Eliah. I put Eliah down for his nap and my mom went to do more shopping so I could nap while Eliah was napping.
I slept for about an 1.5 hours and then started to wake up. I was getting uncomfortable and rolled over to adjust and all of a sudden I felt a pop. I knew exactly what was happening. I felt the same exact pop when I went into labor with Eliah (although I was having contractions for an hour before that happened with him). So, I stood up to go get Reid and call my mom to come back home, and my water gushed. I was running to the bathroom in hopes to not have to clean the carpet.
It was 2pm, I came down stairs and told Reid it was time to go. We called the midwife and informed her what was going on. I still hadn't started having contractions yet. So she said to just hang out at home until I started having consistent contractions. Well, my labor was only 4.5 from beginning to end with Eliah and I was told labor goes faster with each baby. After 15 minutes of getting off the phone, they started. They were exactly 5 min apart and strong. So I called her back and said we were on our way, she told us she would meet us there.
On the way to the hospital contractions were getting progressively intense. I was extremely calm and relaxed. I was just focusing on my breathing and knew everything would be ok because I knew what to expect. I had done it before, so I could do it again. Reid was freaking out because of my calm. He didn't know what to do and was so amazed that I could be so calm.
We got to the hospital and checked in, meanwhile I was leaking all over the place. Well, with Eliah I was admitted right away into the delivery room, so I had no idea that I should wear something to contain all the water. haha. Those poor janitors. They took me upstairs after registering and put me in the triage to be monitored. They wanted to make sure I wouldn't be sent home before fully admitting me. I laughed and told them how fast my first baby was and that my water broke and that I was having this baby that day. My midwife came in to check my progress and I was at a 4 and 100%. I asked if Aria had moved her hand and she told me that she had and that things would be ok.
They moved me to my delivery room and started filling up the water birthing tub. I sat on the birthing ball and leaned on the bed while waiting for the tub to be ready to get in. Boy that thing took forever to fill up. My contractions were very intense and I was ready to be in the water. So, it was close enough to being full that they let me get in. I was in there relaxing and breathing. My contractions were getting closer and closer together. Reid was sitting in a chair nearby keeping people updated. It was almost as if we were just hanging out relaxing. (the water tub really did make my pain SO much less, truly!) I would stop every time I had a contraction coming on and close my eyes and just breath and focus on my breathing and then it was over before I knew it. Suddenly I had the urge to vomit. I know, gross. But I expected it since I did the same thing with Elaih. So I got out of the tub and made it to the toilet just in time. I ended up sitting there for a time because I was having contractions 1 min apart and couldn't bring myself to move, they were so much harder out of the water. Finally my midwife got in front of me and rubbed my back and said that I can do it and to just breath and once that contraction was over we were going straight to the tub and to move quickly. So I finished that contraction and we headed back to the tub. I got in and got situated and had one more contraction and all of a sudden I felt like pushing. I needed to push! So they quickly got me out of the tub and on the bed. (Now mind you, I am completely naked at this point and there is Reid, the midwife, the nurse and a couple of other nurses coming in and out) I just did not care. I was in my own place and that's all that mattered to me. So, I got on the bed and laid on my left side. My midwife let me lay however it was most comfortable for me, and apparently it was on my side. I started pushing. I looked at my midwife, Belinda, to see if that was ok, (The DR that delivered Eliah would only let me push when he told me to) and she said to just do whatever my body wants to do. That she was there to help and support but not to tell me what or how or when to push. So, I just let my body take over, and boy was that freeing. That was the most wonderful experience. My body totally took charge and knew exactly what to do. Three big pushes and Aria was out. I was able to see her on the last push, and Reid was able to pick her up from the table . It was beautiful! I couldn't believe it. We had another gorgeous baby. She was healthy and strong and I got to hold her right away! I loved that moment. Words just don't describe the feeling. She was born September 11, 2012 at 7pm. 7lbs 11oz and 20 in long. My labor with her was the exact length as Eliahs, 4.5 hours beginning to end. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I snuggled and nursed while we waited for the cord to stop pumping so Reid could cut it. Once the cord was cut my midwife was waiting for the placenta. Nothing was happening. So she would tug the cord to try to coax the placenta to release and come out. She also had me chewing ice to help my uterus contract to move the placenta out. Nothing was happening. It had been a while and she was getting nervous and gave me a "look" and just said I am sorry Britta... The next thing I knew, she was reaching up into my uterus and manually scraping the placenta off and pulling it out. I swear to you, I felt like I was dying. It was like I was delivering another baby that was clawing its way out. It was so much worse than the labor and delivery that I had just finished. I then watched her piece together the pieces of the placenta to make sure she got it all. Thank heavens she did cause if she had to do that again, I would scream!
Once that was all taken care of she explained to me that if she didn't get it out right then, I would have had to go to the O.R. and opened up to have it removed. Well, after knowing that, I thanked her for just doing it. I much rather would have had her take it out of me then to have to have surgery. So, as we were all doting over Aria and admiring how perfect she was, Belinda told me that I delivered Aria with her hand on top of her head. Thank goodness that went smoothly. She told me that she watched so closely to make sure everything was fine so I wouldn't end up in the O.R. with her. She told me that when she first checked me that Aria's hand was still on her head but that she didn't want to alarm me. Haha, my midwife knew me so well! The nurses were so amazed at my labor and delivery, they kept saying that they had never seen anything like it and how beautiful it was. I have to agree :) We were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby girl that we love so very much.
Welcome to our family and this big wide world Aria! We love you and are so happy you are a part of our family!