On Thursday, December 23rd, I had a typical prenatal check-up. Our baby girl's due date was Christmas Day (Saturday) and every day that week, I thought "this could be the day!" With her brother born six days before his due date, I was actually expecting (hoping!) to go early with her, too. I had been VERY uncomfortable all week. It was a much more uncomfortable pregnancy than my first had been. I was Ready. The check-up went well. Baby was well into position (didn't I know it... ) and I was dilated to one or two, I forget. With Christmas day just two days away, my midwife and I discussed the possibility of delivering on the holiday, which to them was no big deal, business as usual. However, she asked if I wanted a bit of natural encouragement and when I thought of our excited little three year old at home and I how I really didn't want to go into labor on Christmas morning, I thought a gentle membrane stripping would be a good idea. Mind you, "gentle" is NOT how I would describe the process At All. It hurt like hell and the midwife stopped when I started wincing and couldn't breathe. Typically, they would have been more aggressive, but there was no medical rush for this baby to come, so we took it "easy." With a hug goodbye from my one my favorite midwives, I was sent on my merry way.
I drove home, wrapped Christmas gifts, cleaned the house, and hung out with the guys - my husband, our boy, and my brother, who was just back from serving a year in South Korea in the Air Force and was on a month-long "sister tour" to visit three of his five sisters who live outside of our home state of Michigan. I started feeling crampy from the moment I left the birth center and the cramps came and went over the next few hours. Our friends, K and J, were on stand-by to take Bug for the night and when I left the birth center, I'd called to give them a head's up, just in case the stripping did trigger something to happen. I really didn't think they needed to come, but K insisted, saying better safe than to have to pick him up in a rush at 3a.m. I'm so glad I caved and let him go with them that night because the cramps actually became contractions not long after.
Whereas I seem to remember every minute of my home labor with Bug, I have lost track of the hours I labored with Button... I really can't recall much of what I did at home other than lay over the birth ball and take a shower. My surges (I don't think I could really call them contractions) were erratic and variable in intensity. I wasn't sure how to take that since my labor with Bug flowed like clockwork and followed a very "normal" progression. I knew, of course, that things would be different the second time around, but it was confusing for me to know whether I was in labor or if my cramping was just an after-effect of the membrane stripping, which I understood could happen. Also, the contractions would come hot and heavy for a time and then back off. At one point, there was an hour between them. I wasn't totally sure whether I was truly in labor or not for much of the evening.
I think it was around midnight or 1:00 am when then intensity of the contractions ramped up and we called the birth center. The midwife on call was the very familiar and reassuring, Ms. D., the same wonderful woman who helped deliver our firstborn. When we arrived at the center, we settled into our familiar Yellow Room and I went through several contractions under Mrs. D's watch and soothing guidance. They varied from 3-4 minutes apart to as long as 9 minutes apart.
After some time, I didn't seem to be progressing much and there was a lot of pressure on my back, indicating that the baby's position may not have been just right in alignment, so Ms. D. suggested I do some stair climbing to help gently guide her into a better position. I think I did about 6 or 7 trips up and down the stairs, having several contractions with increasing intensity and frequency before I was so exhausted, I had to get back to the bed. I remember the walk from the stairwell back to the Yellow Room feeling like an eternity. Once I laid down, I almost immediately fell asleep and as I rested, the contractions slowed down quite a bit - again to about 9 minutes apart. I was so grateful for the rest. My husband was by my side while Ms. D. was in the downstairs office talking to the nurse on call. Little did we know, she was actually preparing to send us home to continue laboring until things progressed further. Being an outpatient facility, I was only able to be at the center for under 24 hours, so it's best to do the majority of laboring at home. Then, very unexpectedly, my water broke!
From the time of my water breaking at 5:35am to the arrival of our girl, it was just over an hour. My contractions went from 9 minutes apart to full speed ahead - fast and furious! Oh my, where they intense. Out of my mind intense. Other-worldly intense. Screaming at my husband "NEVER AGAIN" intense. He did his best to comfort me, feeling helpless as he watched me struggle through each contraction, but he did a wonderful job holding my hand and coaching me through it all. In the meantime, the nurse had been called, but things were happening so fast, we were worried she wasn't going to make it in time. Ms. D quickly schooled my husband on how to assist her with the delivery and after-care of the baby, if necessary. Thankfully, just as the baby was crowning, the nurse arrived. (Cue Hallelujah chorus from my deer-in-the-headlights husband, bless his heart.)
At 6:44 am on December 24th, our daughter was born in the same peaceful room as her brother. The same midwife was at my side. The same rush of emotion filled my heart. She was placed on my chest and I cried.
She nursed like a champ. Perfect latch from the get-go, which was a relief. I had trouble for the first few weeks with her brother and I dreaded another rough start to nursing. She's always been a very efficient nurser, too. Quick. I can appreciate that with a little boy who also needs my attention. At a year old now, I wonder how long our nursing relationship will last and I already get sad about losing that bond, knowing she will be my last.
At around 10:30, K and J brought Bug to meet his sister. He crawled up on the bed with me and held her hand. He told her he loved her. We celebrated with "Big Brother Cupcakes."
I rested while K and J, Bug and his daddy, and my brother relaxed in the living room of the birth center. We'd considered a water birth, but the birth tub with in the Blue Room on the first floor of the center, whereas the Yellow Room, being upstairs, had the kitchen and living room nearby. After Bug's birth, my husband said one of his most cherished moments was holding his son while I rested. When he told me that, there was no question that we would birth our second in the same room, so he could enjoy those precious bonding moments with her, but also be near me as I recovered.
We were home that same afternoon. My brother left directly from the center to visit another sister in another state. He was so excited to meet #10 (his tenth niece/nephew) on the day of her arrival. K and J helped get us settled in at home and also with putting presents under the tree once Bug was in bed that night.
It was so awesome to all be home together on Christmas morning.
Today is her first birthday.
Happy birthday, Button!
We love you to the moon and back.
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