Here is the story of how our second little miracle entered the world...
From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I debated about whether or not I wanted to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarian) or a repeat c-section. Of course, first and foremost, I wanted what was best and safest for our new baby. I wished the doctors would just tell me which option was best, but I discovered it was ultimately up to me and my personal feelings. There were pros and cons to both. The repeat c-section would be planned and scheduled in advance. This was appealing because we could better plan for Benjamin's care while we were gone, but also a little less fun because it took away the element of surprise ("the baby is coming" moment!). The c-section was also a nice option because there would be little to no pain once the spinal was completed. We would also know that baby would arrive safely without the drama of a dropping heart rate, or a baby that was stuck, or the other issues we encountered with Benjamin's delivery. However, selfishly a part of me kept wishing for a natural birth. I longed for that dream moment that I had always envisioned when I thought about having a baby - Chris by my side as I delivered the little miracle into the world. I wished for the moment when the doctor held the newborn up in the air and placed him on my chest. I hoped for all the emotion of watching Chris look at our new baby while they cleaned him up and checked out our newest addition. Also, one of the biggest reasons I hoped for a VBAC was because of Benjamin. I knew he would already have a big transition ahead of him with a new brother in the house. If I was recovering from a c-section, I wouldn't be able to pick him up for at least 2 weeks. I wouldn't be able to care for him like I had before. I would need full-time help at home during those crucial first weeks when Benjamin would bond with his new sibling. It worried me that if I couldn't be there for him like I wanted to, it could have a lasting impact on the brothers' relationship.
After lots of discussion with Dr. McCloskey, we decided to schedule a repeat c-section for Monday, March 9th. I would be exactly 38 weeks pregnant (doctors like to deliver babies for diabetic moms at 38 weeks due to possible complications with the placenta or a baby that is too large). We hoped that I would go into labor on my own before then so that I would have a chance to deliver naturally if things went smoothly. I was skeptical that this would happen though; after all, we had scheduled the c-section quite early at 38 weeks!
During my 37th week of pregnancy, things started happening that indicated baby could come soon. I lost the mucus plug and was having lots of painful contractions. Also, I was dilated 3cm at my doctor's appointment! Dr. McCloskey knew exactly what I was hoping for, so she suggested that we delay the c-section until Friday, March 13th. While I wasn't a huge fan of that date (Friday the 13th!!), I was definitely on board with waiting a few extra days to see if baby would come on his own. Even though there weren't any openings for a c-section that day, the doctor made it happen! She was so wonderful.
Some of my girlfriends had joked with me that if I ate certain things or did certain things, baby would come. One of these things was eggplant pasta! Apparently it's the new craze to induce labor. :) So on Friday, March 6th, I asked Chris to swing by Olive Garden and pick up some Eggplant Parm! We laughed as I ate it, joking about how silly it was to think that something like eggplant could induce labor. Little did we know...
Late that night, I started having more contractions. They woke me up around 1:30 because they were so painful. I would just settle back in to go to sleep, and another contraction would come. I decided to get up and start timing them since sleeping wasn't an option! The contractions were about 10 minutes apart - not close enough to go to the hospital quite yet. I did some laundry, paid a few bills, straightened my hair, changed my sensor...basically anything I could think of to pass the time! I continued timing the contractions and decided I better wake Chris up once they were 6-7 minutes apart and quite painful. We called the doctor and he said it was time to come in to see how things were progressing! Chris and I packed up our last minute things, and went into Benjamin's room to say goodbye for the last time before we were a family of 4. I cried as I gazed in at my "baby" sleeping soundly in his crib. His world was about to change profoundly. I hoped he was ready for his new role as big brother, and the new challenge of sharing Mommy and Daddy...
Chris and I arrived at the hospital around 7am, and my mom followed shortly behind us. It was a quiet day at Beaumont, and we were taken back into triage quickly. I was hooked up to monitors and the midwife on call checked me out. I was disappointed to hear that I was still dilated to 3, and my contractions seemed to be stuck at 6-7 minutes apart rather than getting closer together. They called my doctor, and he said I should walk around the hospital for 2 hours and then come back to be checked again in hopes that things had progressed. I was bound and determined to have this baby, so I was really booking it around the hospital!!! Chris and my mom could barely keep up (haha!), so they went and got a drink at Starbucks and sat down as I did laps around the hospital, went up and down the stairs, jumped up and down - anything I could thing of to get things moving! Much to my dismay, the contractions seemed to slow down even more with the walking. I knew this could be a sign that the contractions were false labor.
After the 2 hours were up, I sadly walked back upstairs to labor and delivery so I could get checked again, feeling sure I was going to be sent home. Only minutes after I was hooked up to the monitors, the contractions returned, and they were stronger than ever. I was in a great deal of pain, and they seemed to be coming quicker and quicker. The midwife hurried in to check me, saying the contractions were showing up 3-4 minutes apart now. I was THRILLED to hear that I was now dilated to 4! Progress!! I was told to put on my hospital gown because I was getting admitted. We were having a baby TODAY!
I was admitted to the hospital at about 11am. The doctors thought the baby might have been in a posterior position again (like Benjamin), which makes for a long and difficult delivery. They used a "peanut" (a large inflatable peanut shaped ball) and put me in different positions (hands and knees and on my side) to try to flip the baby. It was a success, because when Dr. Sanborn arrived and checked my cervix, he discovered baby had flipped!! Yay! I got an epidural at around 6cm dilated and couldn't have been happier to have some relief from the pain of the contractions. After that, a resident broke my water (that was quite an odd feeling!), and things continued to progress quickly from there. Before I knew it, the doctor was telling me that I was dilated to 10 and ready to push!
By now, my dad had arrived at the hospital from the airport where he had just flown in from Florida. Chris's parents' also arrived. It was so nice to have our family there for the big day!
The baby's heart rate began to drop with each contraction, so I was given an oxygen mask to wear and a shot of a medication that would slow down the contractions. Dr. Sanborn told me that if I didn't push the baby out quickly, there was a good possibility we'd have to do another c-section. That was all I needed to hear; I didn't come this far just to have another c-section! I was ready to push!
What happened next was just like I had dreamed...I pushed for about 30 minutes, Chris by my side, and my mom also in the room capturing photos of the momentous event. Our little one arrived at 3:36pm. The doctor held him up before a nurse whisked him over and placed him on my chest. It was such an emotional, beautiful thing! I cannot imagine a greater miracle than a child being born. Chris and I both sobbed as we held our little boy. My heart doubled in size in that moment; I suddenly loved this new child just as much as I loved my Benjamin, which I didn't know was possible!
After a few minutes of snuggles, the nurses took the baby to weigh him and make sure he looked healthy. Everything checked out perfectly, but he was taken to the NICU to test his blood sugar since I am a diabetic, and his lungs since he was born several weeks early at 37 1/2 weeks. Chris went with the baby, and about 2 hours later we were all reunited in our mother/baby suite. Again, this was just how I dreamt it would be - Chris, the new baby, and me all together in our room to snuggle and rest after the big day. I was so happy that this little guy didn't have to stay in the NICU like poor Benjamin did for a whole week! Things went so smoothly, and I couldn't have felt more blessed.
I feel so lucky to have experienced a natural delivery with Andrew James. It was the most magical thing, and I would do it over again 10 more times despite all the pain!
I cannot wait to write about my sweet Benjamin, the big brother (!), and how great he is doing with his new role in the next post! :)
