On Saturday June 25 2011 we welcomed our second beautiful girl into the world! She was born at 11:41am and weighed 8lbs 1oz. She was 20.5 inches long. Here is her birth story.....
At 4:30am Mika woke up and was up for the morning so we headed downstairs, shared cuddles on the couch, played a bit all while I had minor contractions. I had braxton hicks for weeks so this was nothing new. I figured by nap time they would be gone and Mika and I would continue our day.
At 5:53am I texted Joel our good morning message and told him I was having a lot of contractions, but that nothing had changed yet, so to keep working. He messaged back that he would work on the surface for as long as he could so I could reach him.
At 6:51am I put Mika down for a nap. I texted him that I was still having contractions and that I was going for a bath. I was pretty sure at this point "today would be the day", but to keep working until he heard from me. I told him if I still had contractions in an hour I might call the midwife to let her know I was in early labour.
After my bath, I went into our room and took a nap. I was woken up by contractions, but enjoyed at least some time with my eyes shut.
8:20am I messaged him contractions were still happening, and that I wasn't sure what to tell him to do. They weren't getting worse in my opinion. Mika woke up and I gave her a bath. I decided I needed help watching her so I would go to my moms.
At 8:30am, Joel messaged that he had to go underground, but that he would come up as often as he could to check his phone.
At 9:44am I messaged him that today would be the day and he should pack up at lunch.
At 9:47am I changed my mind, called Joel and told him to come home now.
At 9:56am I messaged my father in law to tell him Joel was on his way home and Mika was at my mom's house with me. (I was supposed to bring Mika to their place for a play date with Grams and Grumpa) I took a shower and continued to labour at my parents.
At 10:52am I called my midwife to tell her to meet me at the hospital.
At 11:05am we finally left my mom's after having many contractions in the hallway to the van. My aunt helped me walk to the car while my mom pulled up to the front doors.
11:25am I called Joel from the labour lounge. I had been registered, but not checked yet at triage. I was waiting for a bed to be clean. I started to have a contraction that I couldn't talk through, so I handed the phone to my mom. They cleaned a bed and I headed into triage while I asked my mom to find out where Joel was.
In triage, she asked me to step on the scale. I refused and told her I had the urge to push. She put me on a bed immediately, checked and realized I was fully dilated and effaced. It was time to push! She called emergency, while I was breathing through contractions. My mom came with us into a room and they transferred me onto a bed. The midwife Fleur who was on call that day came into the room with literally no time to spare. She directed me on pushing and at 11:41am I welcomed Maddison into the world.
At 12:30pm Joel came into the room expecting to see his wife pushing, however the room had been cleaned and I introduced him to our baby girl.
Now I realize what you must be thinking - my biggest fear happened, but in all reality it couldn't have worked out any better. You see, it was really up to me to tell Joel when to leave and when I did, he left. He came as quick as he could (he made it to the hospital in 2.5 hours when Bissett to the city is a 3 hour drive!) and kept checking on me. Labour wasn't drawn out in a hospital which is where I didn't want to be alone, and I had my mom with me during delivery. Mika stayed with my uncle Ed and dad, and my dad even managed to put her down for a nap!
That evening we had a few visitors including a very proud big sister. Mika has been amazing, very gentle, and loves giving her sister hugs and kisses. She is adjusting nicely and we are all settling into our new routines as a family of 4.
Because I am overdue I have heard a lot of advice on how to get the baby to arrive. Here are some of the things I should try according to friends, family, strangers, really anyone who hears I am overdue. Now I'm not saying these will/will not work. These are merely posted for amusement and I thought I should include all of them to be fair and not pick out ones in particular that I find funny...........I will let you be your own judge......
- Walking
- Eating pineapple
- Drinking red raspberry leaf tea
- Acupuncture
- Membrane sweep
- Eating Chinese food - but REALLY pigging out on it
- Sex
- Castrol oil
- Relaxing
- Singing to the baby
- Telling the baby I am ready
- Eating ice cream standing on my head ;)
- Not thinking about it
- Taking a bath
- Eating watermelon
- Squats
- Washing the floors
- Cleaning
- Eat spicy foods
- Eat East Indian food
- Eating pea soup
- Make a birth plan
- Climb stairs
- Go for a run/jog
- Cut the grass
- Stop eating/fast
- Go for a swim
- Go shopping
- Drive over train tracks/4x4/bumpy golf cart ride
- Speed slides at Lilac
- Eat greasy food like a big burger and fries
- A glass of wine
- Reflexology
So these are the ones I have been given. If you have given me advice that appears on this list, please note I have tried several things on here and I appreciate you trying to help me. Please don't take offense.
It's days like yesterday that make it painful obvious to me very few people "get" me. I made a comment about being frustrated on my facebook status and received a lot of advice of being patient, things to try to induce labor, etc. Now I'm sorry if this comes across rude, but seriously I get the baby is on its way out. I realize I won't be pregnant for much longer, and that they won't let Bug stay in there past 42 weeks. That being said, that was only part of the frustration. It is frustrating to hear everything is the same as it was weeks ago. BUT that is not what my status was ultimately about.
My status was about all the feelings that have returned to my life. I am scared. Joel leaves tonight to head back to Bissett and I am left alone. I am alone with a 15 month old and a due date that has come and gone. I am alone in the middle of the night. Yes, I have family that I will call when I go into labour who will watch Mika, not what I'm getting at. Joel was such a huge support and comfort for me last time. I am confident he can make it home for the actual delivery. Again, not the point. It is all of the before things. It is packing up the car, it is taking care of Mika until my parents get here, or driving me to the hospital, or anything else I might need. It may sound silly to some, actually to most apparently, but most people have their partners at home so those people shouldn't judge as they have no idea what this is like.
I am worried about when to call Joel and how to get ahold of him. If he is in the mine, there is a whole set of things that need to happen to get ahold of him and inform him he needs to come home. This likely will add an hour to the travel time. That is an extra hour I am alone. I am by myself trying to deal with the pain, excitement, and worry that the birthing experience brings. The travel is bad right now as the road to and from Bissett is in rough shape. It will take him 3 hours this time of year to get to our house. Again, even if I go into labour when he is not in the mine, that is 3 hours of being scared with no reassurance by myself.
I'm frustrated that people don't understand this. I'm frustrated people judge me and assume it is just that I don't want to be pregnant anymore. Actually, in all honesty I don't mind being pregnant - I've been either pregnant or breastfeeding for the last 2 years. (true story ~ 9 months with Mika plus 6 months of breastfeeding plus 9 months with Bug) Although some days are hard being pregnant with a little one, I know the reward is just around the corner and things might be harder before they get easier, but I'm prepared for all of that. I am frustrated because I thought the timing of Joel being home would work out. All my fears and worries were put to bed the day Joel arrived home. And although every day that went by without a baby felt like I had been "cheated" out of a day of Joel's help, I always knew he would stay another week if we/I needed it. But now those 2 weeks have come and gone and all these feelings are back.
Now, I do have a backup plan in theory. My friend Dana who I have known since grade 1 when I first started at BH has agreed to be my "on call" partner. She would meet me at the hospital, or drive me and stay with me until Joel arrives. Understanding that may mean actually being there for the birth. That being said, this plan has faults. Dana can't exactly just leave work to be with me, so this plan only works if it is a weekend or before/after work hours.
Anyways, I just feel misunderstood which only adds to my frustration.
Have you ever had something you looked forward to for so long and then when it got close to the date became terrified?! This is my life these days. I am nervous. I am worried. I am overwhelmed. I am scared. I wonder how my days with 2 babies will be filled. I wonder if I will be a good enough mom. I wonder how I will share my time between them. I wonder how I will love them equally. I wonder if Mika will feel cheated. I wonder if Mika will still feel how much we love her. I wonder about how life will be in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years....... I wonder......
And yet in all of this wondering, I know things will work out. I remember feeling this way before Mika. I wondered how different life would be once we became a family of 3. I remember no matter how much control I wanted and was used to, I couldn't plan "the unknown". I think had I planned the wedding we originally set out for, I would have felt this way about that too. Everything has always worked out, it's just scary to think about how different life will be.
I am 39 weeks today - June 10th. Mika was born at 39 weeks + 1 day which makes me think any day now could be "the" day.
Joel is home and I am loving have him here. He has been a huge help in taking care of Mika, especially at night. He hasn't started any home renovations which I am thankful for as I think he knows I just want some "quiet" time. He is already bored however, and I think already wishing he could be working on something......
At my last midwife appointment everything was good. The hb was in the 140's and baby's head was low. She was unable to move it anymore which means they have engaged into birthing position. I was 2 cm dilated. I have another appointment Monday so we will see how things have progressed then, for now we are just spending time as a family of 3 before the new chapter in our life begins.
Today we completed the first of the "nomores". What's a nomore? It means we have no more Wednesdays left until Joel is home! Tomorrow will mean no more Thursdays, and well you get the point. I am very excited for him to come home and spend some time with me and peanut.
I have been posting pictures of her on facebook for him and he keeps saying the same thing, "She looks so old now". My little peanut does look (and act) like a toddler, which makes me sad in many ways, but also I am so proud of her and all the things she has learned, discovered, and mastered. It's amazing what changes in that first year.
As for life as a pregnant lady, I am 38 weeks and wishing I was in labour. Like yesterday.....BUT at my appointment on Monday it didn't sound like it would be any time soon. So for now I'm patiently waiting (or as patiently as it gets for a 9 month pregnant lady) for Bug to decide they are ready. I do remind Bug everyday that daddy wouldn't mind coming home a few days early and that we're all really excited to meet them. Let's just see if they will listen.......
Predictions:
my mom thinks Friday (June 3) - girl
Chelsea - Sunday (June 5) - boy
me - Thursday (June 9) - girl
Joel - girl
Sarah - girl
Dawn A.- girl
Martin - boy (although I'm not entirely sure if he isn't just saying that to "bug" me - haha
Robyn - boy
Sue - boy
Marge - boy
Vicki - boy
Due Date: June 15
Anyone else want to put down a guess.......?
