Hellobee

This story was originally written in March 2016.

March 1 

Both Mr. Cookie and I were relieved to have made it to March. We didn’t want a leap year baby and had our hearts set on March and a slightly more spring time birth. I started losing my mucous plug and got tentatively excited since that is how everything started with Crumb’s labor.

The next day Crumb and I went to the local mall to walk baby brother out, and we had a great time just the two of us before Chip’s arrival. For some silly reason, Mr. Cookie and I ended up having a disagreement that evening. Instead of going to bed at 9/9:30 like we had been, we were up talking until 10:30 PM. I closed my eyes thinking this WOULD be the night baby boy would decide to enter the world.

March 2nd, 11:00 PM

Contractions began at 11 PM and I chuckled to myself for calling it. The contractions were bad right from the beginning. With Crumb the pain was more gradual, but this time the contractions started off super intense and pretty close together. We called my mom who would be staying with Crumb while we were in the hospital and she came right over. I couldn’t even attempt to sleep, so I kneeled over my yoga ball to help ease the pain. After an hour or so we called the hospital and they said to come in soon because it was my second birth. I probably should have stayed home longer, but I was in pain and wanted to be in the hospital. I know some people hate hospitals but I feel safer there when I’m in labor.

1:15 AM

We arrived and they strongly encouraged me to ride in a wheelchair (it was a long route because we had to enter through the ER) but I kept making them stop so I could stand during contractions. That was the only way they were moderately tolerable. Triage was empty that night, so I had lots of nurse attention and I guess they decided to admit me to a delivery room right away based on how I was looking.

Unfortunately I was only 3-4 cm when they checked me, and I had been at 2 cm at my last appointment. I had three thoughts in rapid succession, 1) I’m so far from 10 cm! 2) Why am I in so much pain this time? 3) I don’t care about going med-free this time, epidural NOW please!  So I proceeded to tell my nurse, I’d like an epidural NOW please! First they needed to start an IV and they couldn’t find a vein. They tried both hands with no success and an IV specialist was called in to poke me in the less ideal location of my arm.

Meanwhile I was sitting on the edge of the bed rocking back and forth. We could see my contractions on the monitor and one of the nurses said, “You’re not getting much of a break are you?” No I was not. Sometimes the contraction would never fully go away before the next one would come and peak. They offered me nitrous oxide and I decided to try it, but I immediately felt nauseous so I stopped. I know many women find it helpful during labor but it was not for me.

Failed IV attempt after failed IV attempt, I remember muttering the same words over and over again, “IV, epidural, drugs, please” to my nurses. They tried to keep the mood light by making jokes, but all I could do was nod with my head down and eyes closed.

2:45 AM

Finally my IV was put it in, followed by 2 bags of fluid, and then my epi at 2:45 AM! Shortly after I felt sweet, sweet relief and I was able to fully open my eyes again. My mom arrived at our delivery room (my dad took over night duty of Crumb) and was happy to see me in less pain than when I had left the house.

I quickly realized my epidural was intense and very strong. I didn’t like it but it was better than the awful contraction pain. Unlike my epi with Crumb where I could still wiggle my toes, move my legs slightly, and feel pressure during pushing, this epi was suffocating and I was no help each time they rolled me from side to side.

3:50 AM

At 3:50 AM I was 5 cm. By 4 AM I was given medication for low blood pressure, or at least that’s what Mr. Cookie wrote in his notes. His next note was “sleepy time” at 4:10 AM. Apparently I took a nap!

6:00 AM

By 6 AM I was at 8 cm, but not for long because my OB decided it was time to rupture my waters. Unfortunately after it happened she checked me and I had gone backwards to 6 cm dilated. Talk about depressing — this was not the direction I wanted to be going!

7:00 AM

Thankfully, only an hour later I was 9 cm, -1 station, and 100% effaced with just of a lip of cervix left. My OB and I were happy about the progress. In the back of my mind I kept thinking it would be so nice to have this baby in 12 hours or less. Since contractions started at 11 PM, I needed to have a baby by 11 AM. I watched some TV and munched on ice chips while I waited for my next check.

9:35 AM

By 9:35 AM I was 10 cm and 0 station so my OB decided to have me labor down for an hour to see if baby would descend a bit further and it worked!

10:35 AM

At 10:35 AM when she checked me again, baby was at +1 station. She asked me to do some practice pushes to see if I needed more time or if I was good to go. Remembering how difficult pushing was for me the first time around, I focused all my energy (both physical and mental) on pushing as hard as I could. I could feel NOTHING. No pressure, no faint contractions, I literally felt nothing from my stomach on down.

But my pushing was successful!  Mr. Cookie said by the end of the three practice pushes he could see Chip’s head. Holy cow! My OB said it was GO TIME and I pushed even harder on the next contraction. This was when the baby’s heart rate started to decelerate and everyone got nervous. The nurses and the OB kept looking at the monitor that showed baby’s heart rate and that made me nervous. My OB looked at me directly and said baby needs to come out NOW. I felt scared but more determined than anything. She decided to add a little vacuum to his head to help, but apparently she didn’t end up using it much because at 10:48 AM, after only ten minutes of pushing, my second beautiful baby boy entered the world!!

The excitement of Chip’s birth was almost overshadowed by his shoulders getting stuck on the way out just like his brother’s had almost two years prior. Mr. Cookie and I were shocked and sad that it had happened again. I didn’t believe it at first, but I distinctly remember my awesome delivery nurse pushing down hard on my stomach while my OB pulled on Chip’s arm to get him out. We are so grateful for their efforts and that he was delivered safely. I have more to say on the topic of shoulder dystocia, but that is a post for another day.

Chip entered the world looking very dark and handsome at 9 lbs even and 21 inches long. Apparently he pooped all over me when they laid him on my chest but I didn’t even notice. The simultaneous relief and euphoria of having your child in your arms after being pregnant and waiting to meet them for so long is nothing short of amazing.

Poor Crumb was not super excited to meet his baby brother. The hospital room made him nervous and at only 19.5 months he didn’t really understand what was going on. But the minute we brought Chip into the house, Crumb welcomed him with open arms and has not stopped kissing and loving on him since!

Our first photo as a family of four.