Birthstory and PIPs (loooong so beware)

enjoylife · September 2012

So after a month of braxton hicks (some painful and some not) I had spent most evenings/days wondering....is this it? or just a tease? I felt kinda silly being a STM, but they weren't kidding about pregnancies being different from one to another.

I went to my doctor's appt last Thursday and doctor said some progress but that he didn't think I'd go into labor anytime soon (2-3cm), he did strip my membranes, but other than being uncomfortable that day nothing really happened. My doctor was planning on being out of town the following weekend (I would be turning 41 weeks) and asked if I wanted to have the baby Thursday and I said heck yeah! A came naturally at 40w2d, so I figure we still had a few days, and we threatened to evict him as well. DH and I tried the more "natural" approach to inducing a couple times, but to no avail. I was scared of being induced, but liked the control of the timing, I was worried about the different scenarios of going into labor by myself with A at home. (most family/friends are a little far and DH works an hour away). now on to the story....

Monday I had my sister come over, I hadn't felt well all weekend (I think I ate something kinda iffy in the work cafeteria), and figured we could go over A's routine and make sure he was comfy with her since she'd be with him when we had LO#2. We went out for sushi that evening and had a great time. I drank a few diet soda's (a splurge since I don't typically drink soda, but was hoping maybe the caffeine would dehydrate me a tad and get things going....) Well that night I was doing on of my nightly bathroom trips and when I came back to bed my pregnant insomnia hit so I was playing on the phone. I started having contractions around 4, they started at about 5 min apart. I've had timeable and painful BH in the past so I waited almost an hour before waking DH and calling my sister to come over. I was still able to talk and go about regular business so I didn't know if I was in labor or not. A's delivery started fast and hard and this was so different. I figured maybe we could go get checked out and cross fingers and hope today was the day. By the time my sister got to the house, I definitely needed to breathe and bounce on the ball and not talk any more so we loaded up the car and drove in to the hospital. I checked into ob triage around 630am and they said I was 5-6cm and I was like yay! baby today! My doc was there for a c-section and confirmed after I went to the back he'd break my water (after the epidural I had requested) and we'd go from there. I got my epidural around 8:30 and the meds worked like magic. Props to those who go med free, or IV pain meds only. Strong women. Doc came and broke my water and we just labored they did give me a touch of pitocin around 11 to kinda help increase contractions. LO#2 (team green) turned team blue at 1209. Jace Andrew was born after 2-3 pushes. He was a solid 8 pounds 10 ounces (40 weeks 3 days) My boys apparently like to cook the FULL amount of time. He's a full pound and half bigger than A was at birth. We came home yesterday afternoon and A has been great. He came to the hospital for a few hours and did well, mostly just cuddled with me and explored the room with DH since we weren't home when he woke that morning. A is curious and cautious right now, but he knows who "baby" is (no longer pulls up my shirt to look at my belly) and now we are practicing saying J's name. It's so adorable. BFing is going okay (guess I'm out of practice) and as usual J prefers to be awake at night rather than during the day. DH has the next 2 weeks off to adjust becoming a family of 4.

Thanks for reading! Now for the pictures, sorry for the overload :-)

A enjoying some sushi the night before

Getting ready to check in....only smiling since we are between contractions.

Hanging out about 2 hours old here.

Already found his thumb, hooray for a self soother!

Not too sure about the outside world

Our family!