Please note that all mothers and babies are different, and that my story is just that. My own personal experience. It is my hope, that Emma's birth story or someone else’s doesn't let you feel like your story is something to be sad or ashamed about. As your story matters because it’s yours.
Emma’s Birth Story
8:45
We were getting ready for a family walk after I had just decided 30 minutes earlier to be a “cool mom & wife” by going on a Starbucks run for my family. It must have been 10 minutes at home with lattes and breakfast sandwiches in hand that we decided to test out our new double stroller for a walk. So naturally, being 39 weeks pregnant and waddling to the bathroom every 20-30 minutes, I reached the top of the stairs when my water broke in the hallway. It took me 20 seconds to realized what was happening (it sort of shocked me! Both times!) I then called to Steve….. STTTEEEEVVVEE!
8:47
Steve calls my dad to come over and watch Abby while I’m sitting on a towel. Meanwhile Abby’s playing with her favorite dog stuff animal running everywhere (mainly around me), completely unaware of what’s happening.
8:48
I call my doctor.
8:58
My doctor calls back and tells me to head to the hospital since second babies tend to come quick. (Basically, get your stuff together and go now Steph) which we did!
9:03
We try to explain to Abby what is happening as best as we can. She kind of gets that baby sis is coming…but just wants to watch a show. So yeah… we let her. (I honestly don’t even remember what show she was watching that morning!)
9:05-10:30
Steve and I both shower and get ready (switching off) on who watches Abby. Then we start cleaning and organizing the house as much as we can. I was so nervous that my contractions were about to kick in at any minute! All I can remember feeling was my body physically shaking as I walked around the house getting things in ordered and feeling Braxton hicks’ contractions starting to ramp up.
With my first pregnancy, 3 hours after my water broke, I was feeling very strong (REAL) contractions. So I was hustling! We had most of the house cleaned and ready to go, but unfortunately there was still a lot to do! (We weren’t truly ready for her arrival!) The last thing I can remember doing at home was setting out Abby’s clothes and things for bedtime routine while Steve forwarded Abby’s daily/bedtime routine via email to my dad.
10:30
We get a call from my dad that traffic is bad and that we should bring Abby to the hospital with us to get checked in. Then he’ll come and take her.
11:10
We get checked into the hospital and got settled into the waiting room. They check to see how many centimeters I was dilated. 3! So right away they started to prepare the birthing sweet for us. (My doctor was right, second babies come quicker)
12:00
My dad comes and meets us. Steve and I explain to Abby what is happening and I give her big hugs. Like long,….ok mom… get off me now kind of hug. I teared up a bit and at the same time I was relieved that my dad was here before the real contractions started to intensify.
12:30
We transferred to the birthing sweet.
1:00
Steve runs down stairs to Starbucks and grabs lunch for us (remember that "Hospital bag Checklist" blog post? Yes… I wasn’t kidding when I said, “god bless our men!”)
1:30
I’m 3.5 centimeters dilated, and my doctor warns me that it’s slow moving until all of a sudden, I’ll be 10 centimeters dilated. (I truly thought that she wouldn’t actually be right on this, but she was).
2:00
We call for the epidermal
2:35
I get the epidural and start to feel a bit better.
3:45
My doctor calls for more pitocin since I'm still 3.5. centimeters dilated. I can tell she wants to help move things along, as does my nurse.
3:55
Steve takes a nap, it’s quiet in the room and it’s right about at this time I really start to feel them…
5:15
Strong contractions (where I can’t breathe) every 3-5 minutes. After 35 minutes of this I call for the nurse. I know that it’s either A) she’s here or B) I need a higher dose. I can feel everything so much more this time than with my first pregnancy/epidural that I had with Abby. I knew something was up.
5:45
The nurse is shocked to see how much I’m contracting and checks me. I’m 10 centimeters dilated!! She smiles and says, “you’re contracting like crazy! I’m going to lower your Pitocin and call the doctor.”
6:00
I’m ready to go though they can’t find my doctor! The nurse pages her twice and tells me she wants to be here for the deliver since she has been with me all day. (Of course, I feel the same!)(She was amazing) So all three of us (including Steve )is feeling very anxious to meet our baby girl.
6:32
The doctor arrives and it’s time for me to push. Shockingly enough this lasted for 15-20 minutes (I blame it on my dancer trainer for all those years (20+) of constantly being in tune with my body). Plus, I was SO ready to meet our girl! Since I’ve done this entire process before I knew exactly what to do physically and I was on a mission. I wanted her out and in my arms. So, I really pushed!!
6:48
We meet Emma for the first time!! All I remember is being so, so grateful to see her sweet little face and beyond grateful to feel her on my chest. Steve and I both immediately started crying the moment we saw her. Next to marry him, seeing your children for the first time is only other time I’ve cried tears of joy in my life. Emma was so tiny! We both mentioned to each other it’s crazy to think that we forgot how tiny newborns are!
8:10
After skin-to-skin contact, breast feeding and all the little details they do such as weight, measure height and etc. Steve finally got to hold his baby girl. Emma was so easy going and didn’t fuss as all of this was happening. She’s truly been an easy-going baby since the moment we welcomed her to the world. Something that Steve and I know were exactly lucky about!! This was not the case with our first (high maintenance is a nice way of saying it). Emma is truly the most easy-going little baby I’ve ever met!
(And for those of you who have a great first kid and are afraid to have another since everyone tells you, “well you know... the second is always harder! And crazier than your first!” and or the typical, “You’ve been warned.” I'm here to tell you that isn’t always the case. Already 2.5 weeks in we can see her sweet temperament is coming through. Our second is actually easier, way easier! Which I’ll have more on that for a later blog post...
9:30
We get transferred to our room (me via wheel chair with Emma in my arms) and our parents stop in for about 10 minutes to see and hold Emma. My right leg was more way more num than the left from the epidural, so moving my legs was out of the question. I just remember feeling exhausted yet so relieved to have Emma here.
The Hospital Stay
I don’t remember very much about that first night except that every few hours Steve and I would team up. I would feed Emma and he would then burp her and change her diaper. He and I both agreed that we feel way more relaxed this second time, and do I dare say… we are having fun taking care of our newborn in the hospital?! Did I just say that?
We choose the same hospital we had Abby in since we had such a great experience with the nurses, doctors and staff there. The second time was no different. It was overall a very smooth experience (as best as labor and delivery can be.) We had lots on family coming stop in the next day including Abby! If you’re curious to hear how that first sister meet and great went, you can read about that here, including what "sister gifts" we choose to help them bond.
It's my hope, by sharing with you today that you please don’t let my story or another one else’s let you feel like your own is something to feel sad or ashamed about. As your story does matter because it’s yours. Since so many requested her story, I'm happy to share. And I hope that by doing so, I helped you learned something if you plan on adding another little one to your family, and or simply enjoyed the story.
Thank you for your readership!
And you bet the next post will truly be a “jot!” : )
Warmly, Steph
