A long story about a short birth. Sorry it's so long!

On March 26th 2008 at around 5pm, I went to the bathroom and noticed a little bit of spotting. I was 3 days away from my due date with my second child, and my first labor had started with painless contractions that I didn't even notice, and spotting. Thinking that this may be labor, I decided to call DH and my doula.

I actually called my doula first, just to give her a heads up that something *might* be happening, I wasn't sure, and that I may be in touch and need her later. I still just wasn't sure. I tried timing contractions, and they were 3-5 minutes apart...but not amazingly regular and not at all painful. I thought this could be another false alarm, like when I spotted after my internal exam at week 36.

I called DH, and he said he was headed home anyway. I also called my sister who was going to be watching Caitlin for us while we were at the hospital having her baby brother.

Then, I waited. My mother in law was here taking care of Caitlin while we waited for my sister to arrive, and DH got home and started installing the baby's carseat. We made sure all the hospital stuff was in his car and ready. I started feeling discomfort with the contractions, but nothing horribly painful.

After a while, things started to be more noticeable, and I had more bleeding. Then, I decided this *must* be labor and I called my doula to let her know that I thought I needed her. My sister arrived, and we were trying to get Caitlin in bed and wait for my doula and my friend who was shadowing her at the birth. As I talked to my sister and DH worked on bedtime routine, I started to be unable to think during contractions.

"Please go tell DH I need him now," I said to my sister.

She kindly took over bedtime routine, and I told DH I thought we should get our coats and be ready to leave when my doula arrived. Part of me was still doubting it was really labor. When my doula arrived, I told her things were getting pretty intense, and she listened to the baby's heartbeat through a contraction for me. He sounded fine, so the new plan was to have her follow us to the hospital, and she would also call my friend who was on her way and tell her to meet us there.

We called the OB answering service and I told them who I was, and that I was in labor and going to the hospital. They said my doctor on call would call me back...not that we were waiting for that.

The ride was interesting with the level of pain I was having. I was using Hypnobirthing methods to relax myself through the surges and stay calm. My doctor called DH's cell phone, and DH handed it to me.

"I'm in labor. We're on our way to the hospital," I said.

"I'm on my way," he answered. They knew my first labor was very short, so the practice had discussed me and decided that if I called, whoever was on call needed to get there fast. lol

When we pulled up to the ER entrance at about 9:15, I walked toward the building and then had to stop and breathe through another contraction. The wheelchair officer (I don't know what else to call him) saw me and came to the door.

"Labor," was all I could say. He nodded and came out to get me. I got a wheelchair ride up the special dedicated elevator and then had to stop and answer questions.

"What's your social," she asked.

"Can't talk now, contracting..." I said, and waited, then answered.

There were several more questions, that all went pretty much the same as that. Then another woman came to the desk and said, "How far apart are the contractions?"

"Don't know, was too distracted by contractions to time them," I answered, then had another one.

"We're just waiting for a wheelchair," she said.

"Can I just walk?" I asked, but then she discovered that there was a wheelchair waiting outside the door I needed to go in. How convenient.

At some point during the questions DH arrived and my doula and friend...but that part is all a little hazy. I apparently did not notice a group of other people collecting behind us asking to help or something...which is probably good. Who the hell were they? Anyway...

We got to the delivery room and there were more questions, and I needed to change into the lovely gown. I went into the bathroom to change, and my doula came to help. She helped me through another contraction or two while I did that, and her suggestions and reassurance helped so much. She said I was doing great, and I felt happy.

I had to get the monitors on, but luckily they hooked me up to the ones that allowed me to move around. Yay! I don't remember what I did at that point, but the contractions were very intense. Someone suggested I try the birth ball, so I did. There were more questions, and I was having a really hard time answering questions at that point. Then they needed to put in the IV, which sucked while I was contracting. I hate having IV's anyway...but luckily they got someone who is really good and it went relatively smoothly. I think they decided to have the resident check my progress while we waited for my OB to arrive, so they needed to lower the bed and I got off the birth ball.

The resident checked my cervix and said, "She's complete."

I think I might have said, "Wait...what?" because I didn't think I could have made it to ten centimeters without the horrific panic I had felt during my first delivery. Then I wondered what to do... lol

They started to put the stirrup things on the bed, and I said I did not want those. I think my OB got there then, though details are a little hazy because I was busy getting through more contractions. I remember someone saying to page him, and he answered from the doorway, "I'm here."

They didn't have time to hang fluids, so they did a hep lock. Ha! I didn't want fluids anyway.

They listened to me about the stirrups, and let me find a position myself. I turned and leaned on hands and knees, supporting myself on the pillows and swaying with the contractions. I had my doula and friend reminding me to do things like breathe, stay loose, etc. I had DH rubbing my back just like we had practiced. Knowing they were there, hearing the encouragement, and feeling the touch were all very helpful at that point. A couple of times I really felt panic well up, but was able to get back into the rhythm of things with a little bit of internal dialogue with myself, and a lot of encouragement from my support team!

I was wondering why I did not have an urge to push if I was complete, and wondering if I would feel the urge...I remember saying I didn't. Asking if it was normal, I think is what I was trying to do. Then, my doula suggested I might try some grunting if I felt the urge. When I did, I suddenly felt my body agree. So, I got through some contractions like that, and I think the head was starting to show though I am not sure I understood that at the time. I was caught up in the feelings and sensations.

My OB suggested I might want to deliver on my side if I was interested in helping to bring the baby up to my belly after birth, and that sounded like a good idea. I turned, and contractions were hurting that way. Then my leg was lifted, which caused hip pain because I have shallow hip sockets. I couldn't articulate that, and all I could do was yell, "No, don't!" or "Stop!" or something...but somehow I ended up holding my own leg bent against my body, so I was ok. DH told me later that they were lifting my leg because I was trying to put my legs together and the baby's head was RIGHT there waiting...so I needed them apart.

At some point my OB asked if he could make a small hole in the membranes, which were still intact and baby was almost out. I tried to decide if I wanted that, and my doula seemed ok with it so I agreed. I was not quite prepared for the HUGE pop and GUSH of fluids! DH said a nurse had to jump out of the way to not get soaked, and the OB said, "That's why I stood over here," or something. I guess had he not done that it might have burst like that on its own and soaked everyone. Ha! My membranes were ruptured at my daughter's birth so early that I didn't even notice any fluid coming out.

I remember my doula reminding me to slow down and make an "aaahhh" sound when the head was crowning to try and minimize or avoid tearing, and I also remember doing some screaming, and declaring, "This really hurts!" I think I was talking more to the Hypnobirthing book that I had read, which said birth doesn't hurt. lol Not that the book lied, but at that moment, I could not deny that what I was feeling was pain. When I realized that he was actually coming out, I don't think I was so focused on the pain anymore. I also don't think I could slow down, and I did end up with some small tearing that required some stitching.

I did not feel myself tearing, but I remember the burning of his head emerging. Then I thought I was done. lol I remember asking if he was out, and was reminded that he had shoulders and a body. He had the cord around his neck once, apparently, so the doctor unwrapped that, and then I pushed his shoulders out, and he did not slip right out after that like my daughter had. I think I actually had to push to get his body out, too. He was born at 10:34pm.

My husband said, "He is a boy!" I know we already knew, but sometimes they are wrong, and I wanted him to make sure, and make sure I knew.

He was quite blue from the cord being around his neck, but I helped him up to my chest while they tried to stimulate him to breathe and cry, and they did blow-by oxygen. It took him a while to pink up, and I was really glad to hear him make some noise. He was not a loud crier, which is a big change from our daughter who came out screaming like an opera singer.

He was able to latch on and nurse right away. They didn't take him right away to weigh and measure, and we spent a lot of time admiring him, nursing him, and being together. Then they weighed him, and he was a whopping 9lb12oz...no wonder it was a little more pushing than last time. He's a chunk!

My stitching was done without me having to move or change positions, and I wasn't asked to put my legs in stirrups. I got to continue nursing and bonding and ignore the stitching part of the deal as much as possible, which was great. I did, however, step my foot into the blood and ruin my sock. Moment of silence for the socks, please. *moment*

We were taken over to the postpartum room, and they did not take him from my room at all. He never left my sight while I was there for anything. I was so glad they accommodated that wish, because I had been away from my daughter after her birth for a long time while they kept her under the warmer and I do think it affected our nursing and bonding. Ezri needed warming, too...and I warmed him by holding him skin to skin and nursing him under warm blankets. It worked!

The pediatrician saw him, and he said he was fine and healthy. They respected all of our wishes about his care while there.

When the OB came in to check on me the next morning it was one of the other doctors from the group. He said, "You deserve a high five!" and he gave me a high five. lol He checked me out, asked me some questions, and then asked when I wanted to go home.

"As soon as they'll let me walk out the door," I answered.

"Ok. You can leave today as far as we're concerned...it's pediatrics that might hold you up. Let me go talk to them," and he went.

I was so excited to think we could get out of there! lol He came back with one of the nursery nurses and she said they wanted to do his hearing and PKU test before we go. That meant we could leave after 4pm. Woo!

The OB later told me that sometimes pediatrics doesn't like to cooperate when someone wants to leave early, but he likes when people do it so they become more accustomed to it happening. lol

We ended up taking a while to get organized and we left around six or so. I couldn't believe I had a less than 24 hour hospital stay!

We went home with our new son, and my inlaws and my sister were there with Caitlin. I introduced Caitlin to baby brother. It took her a few moments of looking puzzled, and then she pointed to him and informed my sister, "That's my baby brother!"

I asked her what his name is, and she smiled and said, "Evzee!" So far she seems pretty ok with him being here...though I know it could be hard later when she realizes we're actually keeping him. We gave her a gift from baby brother, 2 puppets. She liked that.

So things are going well, he's eating a TON. My poor nipples! Though he has a good latch, he can sometimes latch shallow and he's a quick and forceful sucker...so I'm blistered. I saw the LC today and hopefully her ideas will help me teach the boy to open his mouth before he latches. We're getting through it, though.

I'm trying to take it easy, and take care of myself and him. I'm also trying to take it a day at a time and not panic about the 'OMG what am I going to do with 2 kids??'

I was extremely happy with his birth, the care, and the support that I had.

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Jen, mama to Caitlin and Ezri