When I found out my due date (September 16th) I looked at the calendar and told her that I'd love for her birthday to be September 2nd. haha. Basically wishful thinking that she'd make her appearance a few weeks early. By the time I hit 37 weeks I was pretty miserable. I was in pain most of the time, not sleeping well and just ready to be done. I was contracting off and on but nothing consistent. We began taking Noah for lots of walks which made me contract and I spent most of my time bouncing on my exercise ball hoping she'd move towards the exit. I had my doctors appointment at 37 weeks 6 days and I probably sounded like the whiniest person alive. I swear I am not normally like that, but I made it pretty clear we needed to try to get things moving soon! Especially since the night before I was awake with contractions about 10 minutes apart. Something had to be happening! She checked my dilation and offered to sweep my membranes. Possibly TMI, but I was fairly certain I lost my mucus plug the week before so she felt like things were moving along nicely. I was dilated to a 2 which was 1 cm more than the previous week. After the membrane sweep I was crampy pretty much all day and hopeful that it would work. The next day (September 2nd) I woke up feeling the best I had felt in days, maybe even weeks. Really?! This was a little discouraging since I was hopeful the sweep would be working or I'd be contracting. Little girl was going come when she felt like it was right so I decided to stop jumping thru crazy hoops and relax. At least I felt better...
We took Noah to the park and enjoyed the day before Robbie had to go to work. Around 2:30 pm I began having contractions but they weren't super painful. Noah was napping so I showered and then sat on my ball and used an ap to track the contractions. They were coming consistently enough for the ap to alert me to grab my hospital bag, but they still were not hurting enough for me to feel like I should call the hospital. Noah woke up from his nap and he's a huge ball of energy so there was no resting at this point. We went to the front yard to play with the water hose and he kept asking me to chase him. This definitely kept the contractions coming. I FaceTime called my mom around 530 and told her what was going on. I would have to stop to breath thru some of them at this point and we decided maybe I should call the hospital to ask to get checked just in case. I didn't really know what to expect when it came to going into labor naturally since I was induced with Noah but this was starting to make me feel like something was happening!
I texted Robbie what was going on and he told his boss who came in to cover him so he could come home. By the time he got home and we got Noah dressed in PJs to come along with us to the hospital it was around 7 pm. Noah's babysitter was on stand by just in case it was the real deal.
They hooked me up to monitor my contractions for about 20 mins. I was contracting around every 3 minutes. The doctor came in to check my dilation and I was thrilled to see it was the same doctor that delivered Noah! We don't get assigned any one doctor so I was very excited to see she was on call that night! My experience with him was wonderful so I felt at ease delivering at the same hospital and possibly with my same doctor. I was dilated to a 3 but she said she wasn't sure I was in active labor yet. I needed to move "forward" more, whatever that means. Haha.
So she suggested I go downstairs and walk and come back up again to be checked at 830 pm.
Robbie took Noah home to tuck him in for bed and get the babysitter situated at our house. I began walking the bottom floor of the hospital over and over, and I don't think I had a break from a contraction but they still weren't overly painful. With Noah my contractions didn't become insanely intense until after my water was broken so I was assuming the same to happen this time.
I talked to my mom as I paced the hospital and we were both hopeful it was going to happen that night! Robbie got back 10 mins before I was supposed to go back upstairs so we decided to go up and down the stairs a few times. Oh man if you could have seen me power walking the stairs! By the time we got back up to the room they used to monitor me I was huffing and puffing. Talk about commitment, right?? Haha I was serious about getting my baby out!
My contractions were closer together this time and when the doc came to check me I was almost a 5 and had shifted! Whoo hoo!! At 9pm I was officially admitted. Baby time??!! So excited.
The same room I delivered Noah in!
They got my IV all inserted (ouch!) and the doctor asked if I wanted my epidural before or after she broke my water. With Noah I had it after and my contractions were so intense and fast that I wasn't even concerned with the giant needle going into my back. I hate needles and only fear the epidural because the needle freaks me out. I had met the anesthesiologist earlier that night and was assured that he would come quickly when I needed him, so I decided to go ahead and have my water broken and then have him come do the epidural. Oh man, that was a dumb decision! My contractions intensified almost immediately. The nurse was asking me a lot of questions she needed to input into the computer and I couldn't even answer them. I decided this time I was going to try my hardest NOT to cry during contractions. I have a pretty low pain tolerance and for some reason my thing is crying when I am in pain. So this time I just all out yelled. I am pretty sure I sounded like a dying animal, but I didn't end up crying...at least not for a while.
The nurse went to get the anesthesiologist and Robbie and I waited for what seemed like FOREVER. I continued to moan and yell thru contraction after contraction and we just kept wondering what could be taking so long! The door would open and it would be every staff member of labor and delivery except who we wanted it to be. I was not getting a break between these contractions. At least if I had time to catch my breath before a new one would start, but that's not how my body works. When he finally arrived I had to sit up on the side of the bed. This made my contractions much worse. I guess normally he asks you 100 questions before starting but he saw how in pain I was and said he would save it for the end. He had me sign the consent form and then got started...very slowly. For real, I felt like I was in a movie. Was this real life?! With Noah my epidural was so quick and easy it wasn't a big deal. This guy was taking his sweet time, which I know it's my spine and all so I appreciate him being careful but come on! haha. I sound crazy, right?
He even commented at one point that one side of my back looks visibly stronger than the other side and asked if I do crossfit. Small talk?!...let's chat workouts after I am nice and numb, ok?! Oh, yeah he was also a spin instructor back in the day so we had so much in common. *eye roll*. I swear I am not this bitchy unless I am in labor. haha
It was time for him to insert the big boy needle and I about jumped across the room. That's when I lost it and I began to just sob. I was in so much pain from the contractions and then he stabs me and I wasn't expecting it at all. I swear it was just a little bee sting from what I remembered. He decided he didn't numb the area enough...thanks, dude. Finally he was getting it done and of course talking as he did it. Describing how many centimeters deep it was. He apparently didn't get the memo that I hate needles. Ok, the catheter is in and ready to go. WHY AM I STILL DYING IN PAIN? I think I even yelled at him, "What is taking so long?!!"
He told me he was giving me the highest, fastest dose possible to hopefully provide some immediate relief. Nothing was immediate this time around. By the time it began to kick in only the left side of my body was numb. Great...all that and I am still going to feel everything on my right side? They tilted me to the right and allowed gravity to do it's job and eventually I was numb all over. Thank goodness.
I could finally get through his 100 questions as my normal self and apologized for being a crazy person. He left laughing and announcing when we saw it was midnight that it was his birthday. I have to laugh that now every time it's Siena's birthday I am going to remember the slow epidural guy having the same birthday. haha.
At this point things calmed down. I washed the mascara off that had run all over my face, asked Robbie to help me brush my teeth and we just relaxed. He tried to get some sleep and I just laid there. The nurse had told me that based off the monitors they would know when to check me, but if I felt the need to push to let them know ASAP.
I was feeling like she was moving downward but when the sound of her heart beat monitor began to change I knew it had to be time. The nurse came in right around then to adjust my monitors so I told her what I was feeling and she decided to check me.
"Let's have a baby!" whoo! It was game time. She was only gone a few minutes when I pushed the call button because I swear I could feel her wiggling out with each contraction. The doctor came right in this time and checked me to find a baby right at the exit doing exactly what I had described.
They got me all in position and ready to push. Robbie was at my side holding my hand and one of my dead legs up. He is not one to want to watch the birth, which I am pretty thankful for.
He had the camera all ready for when she entered the world. Best hubby ever, right?
I have never felt so in tune with my body. Even tho I was numb, I could feel the pressure from the contractions and knew when to push. I was able to really give it my all and as she moved down I could feel my stomach begin to get smaller. It was the weirdest, coolest feeling ever. After about 10 minutes of pushing she was here! 2:36 AM. Merely, hours after the birth date I had requested! I still can't believe I went into labor on the 2nd.
They put her right on my chest and I immediately confirmed it was girl. You know, just in case haha. The minute that girl hit air she began crying like no body's business...and she didn't stop anytime soon. I was a little nervous that that was a glimpse into my life, but thankfully that was not the case. Robbie cut her chord and we had our "golden hour" of skin to skin and she latched on really easily. We were in heaven. She is SO beautiful. We have two kids?! And a little girl...real life felt like a really good dream.
I love that we have the same look on our face. I was SO happy...her not so much haha
My perfect girl
After our golden hour they weighed and measured her- 7 lbs 13 oz and 20.5 inches. Once she was swaddled up and things had calmed down Robbie headed home so he could get a few hours of rest before getting up with Noah. Our babysitter would need to get to work in the morning so it was easier for Robbie to go home then. It had truly worked out perfectly with me having her at night when Noah was at home sleeping. Daddy put him to bed and he woke up to a new sister. How cool is that?! Living overseas without many child care options it was truly a blessing.
Looking just like her big brother
I moved rooms and tried to sleep, but I just don't sleep while I am in the hospital. The nurses come in to check on you and baby what seems like every 5 minutes so theres no rest happening. By the time I dozed off it was after 7 am. Noah and our photographer were due to arrive by 9 so I got up to clean myself up a little. You know the best you can after giving birth hours before.
I was so excited and anxious to see Noah's reaction to his new sister. We had been talking about this "baby" for months and he seemed good with the idea, but didn't fully understand. Would he be excited? Would he be unimpressed and ready to leave because let's face it when you're two you just want to go play! ha.
He came bounding into my room so excited to see me and even more thrilled to find his "BABY!"
My heart was swelling with happiness. He didn't hesitate to hold her and give her lots of kisses. They had brought me breakfast and he wanted to share his chocolate milk with her and give her bites of his food. I was so excited that he was so happy and couldn't wait to get out of the hospital to start life as a family of 4.
The moment he first saw her up close. The photographer said, "What is your sister's name?" Noah- "BABY!!"
Such a big helper ;)
First photo as a family of 4!
Going home after what seemed like weeks in the hospital. I had been up a good 36 hours and was so ready to go!
Siena was clearly super excited for the adventure ahead ;)
Looking so sweet and tiny in her car seat!
Siena's birth was so perfect (besides the epidural-haha). We are loving our new life with 2 kids. Although the days can be long and tiring they are SO worth it! Excited to share updates and all of our adventures together!
She is so perfect! I laughed so hard at "I'm not this bitchy when I'm not in labor" haha I felt the same way with small talk at the hospital, too!
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