Welcome Home Olivia!

Here is the baby #2 montage! This birthing experience was so much different than last years! On monday I was 4 cm, and hadn't had any real contractions. On tuesday night, I woke up at 1:03am with a real strong one, and one came 5 minutes later. I didn't want to waste any more time since I got to the hospital at 7 cm last time and progressed too quickly for an epidural. I woke up John who would have had to wake up in a few hours for work. I called the doctor who said "yeah, lets check you out," and off we went to the hospital.


On the way there, I had a few contractions and prayed I wasn't too late again. We ran in the emergency room entrance, and tried to express the urgency of my getting registered quick. I still had to wait for a nurse to escort me to the maternity ward, and she was asking me, "why are you walking so fast? Usually they walk slow." I again explained my history etc. She laughed and said "You're lucky; with mine I couldn't progress passed 4 cm." Yeah, I wasn't feeling lucky then. They put me in triage room #3, meaning there were 2 other women claiming to be in labor and had to be checked etc. Well, I laid there saying "please check me now" over and over terrified I was too late. About 15 minutes later they finally got someone in to check me, and they all doubted that I was that "actively" in labor...she checked me and gave me a look and said, "We're gonna TRY to get you an epidural, but you're already a good 7 cm..."..I started crying then! I was so anxious for them to get all this preliminary stuff done and get that anesthesiologist now! They weren't even sure there was still one at the hospital that late...


I was put into an actual birthing room, while they put an I.V. in my arm, giving me antibiotics (group beta strep) and fluids to keep me hydrated. They took blood for standard tests which they needed the results for before giving epidurals. Three nurses ran around the room prepping things while my mom and John sat and watched me shaking staring at the ceiling saying, "Please please please get me an epidural..."


I think it was 4 am when I saw the red cart labeled "anesthetics". I started getting stronger contractions and told them to hurry this is happening fast, and the anesthesiologist looked at me like I was crazy and continued to non-chalantly ask me medical history questions. He finally stuck the needle in my back (wierd feeling!) and within a few minutes the contractions felt more like small cramps and my legs feel asleep. The nurse checked my cervix (I swear I didn't feel her hand inside me at all!) and said I was 9cm and to let her know when I felt like I had to do a "bowel movement" as that would be the baby's head.


A short while later, she checked and my water had broke and the baby's head was ready! I was scared I wouldn't know how to push since I couldn't feel, but John grabbed my left leg, and my mom grabbed the other, I held my breath as long as possible and flexed whatever lower muscles I could. She came out so easily and I didn't even require one stitch! Drastic difference this time around! She is a lot more tempermental and hungry than Lucas. My cramps are so much stronger now that I have had 2--they need to be stronger to shrink my uterus.

We just came home today, but she is jaundiced like Lucas was so we have to take her to get tested again tomorrow. We are glad to be home again and introduce her to Lucas! Thank you so much to my mom and Susan for taking care of Lucas so John could stay with me.* The hospital was very nice and accomodating, even though all of their rooms had laboring women in them. It's scary to hear all the women screaming in pain! I am more the quiet type in pain. John has the next 10 days off to help me with both babies, and hopefully find some kind of routine for us when he goes back. She is latching on well, but my boobs are so engorged I may pump some too. She's a biter too! The pain keeps on coming for moms! We'll see how the first night goes! thanks for reading!