Rhiannon's birth story-Part I, the dog days of summer

How different this pregnancy was than Joaquin's. People always tell you that each one is different, but not having anything else to benchmark with, I was continually surprised when things didn't go the same way. I was much more uncomfortable this time around and she rode so low that I thought for sure I would go early (like I did with Joaquin). I made sure everything was 'done' at 38 weeks and then 38 weeks passed...and then 39 weeks passed...and then I was at 39 weeks and 5 days and I was still going in for my doctor visit. When I made that appointment I thought there was no way I was ever making it in for that one and suddenly I am in my doctor's office 2.5 cm dilated and him on the phone with labor and delivery asking me if I was ready to go in to be induced. Truly you cannot plan for these things... After getting over the initial shock, I asked if I needed to be induced and found out that, no, he would let me wait until 41 weeks if I did bi-weekly non-stress tests; the first having to be that day. If it didn't go well, I was to be induced immediately; if it did, I could go home and wait it out.

Gid had Joaquin for the day and they were quite surprised when I came home. Gid had spent the morning psyching Joaquin up for a day of fun--first, a movie (Joaquin had just been to his first, Winnie the Pooh, a week ago and really liked it. He had been disappointed however, because we told him he was going to see Cars and when we got there Cars wasn't playing. Daddy was going to take him to see Cars), then a trip to Adventureplex, this indoor playground Mommy had bought a coupon for. After some discussion about what we wanted to do (did we want to get induced? should we get induced? no, why we were now panicking?) Gid takes him off with the cell phone close at hand. My mom comes with me for the non-stress test and we find out she's doing just fine in there. Kind of a cool experience too as my mom hadn't gotten to do any pregnancy stuff yet for Rhiannon or Joaquin...they did the heart monitor and an ultrasound although she was too big to really see anything more than the top of her head.

I wake up on July 27, my due date...and nothing. I'm scheduled for another non-stress test the next day and it will be the same deal, if it's fine, go home and if it's not, stay and get induced. If I go home again I have another doctor's appointment on Monday and I'll be induced within a few days. It's also my first official day off from work as I have put in my disability papers for my due date (not expecting to really go that late) and now I have to take off or go through paperwork again. That's ok...I'm tremendously uncomfortable at this point and have been for weeks. I only sleep every other night because every other night I am exhausted from not sleeping the night before. The baby feels so low that walking feels like she's just going to slip out on her own. I have the day to myself and I'm just waiting and laying around until I get bored and decide to go out and garden a little. People say that you get a burst of energy right before you go into labor and I don't think this was my experience. Yes, I gardened, but I had to take alot of breaks. It wasn't so much a burst of energy as it was me finally getting rid of some fatigue a week or so before. Instead of wanting to nap all day, it changed for me to being able to do some light chores again.

I had also been having contractions at this point for a few weeks, but light contractions and I knew they weren't the real deal. As I'm gardening though, the contractions gradually gain steam. After I break they keep gaining steam and I start thinking of my game plan if I do go into labor. I decide to continue my day for awhile with the calculation that I waited for Gid for about 4 hours at home before going in for Joaquin; surely I can do the same this time. I go to Sam's Club with contractions about 6 minutes apart and about 45 seconds long each. I had gotten there too early that morning and wanted to make sure Joaquin had his milk if I did go into the hospital. I picked up Joaquin and we played outside for a bit. The mail lady came by and inquired when I was due...it's quite fun to tell someone you are due today and when she inquired further, I told her I thought the baby was coming that night as I was having some contractions. During this time, I carried the cell phone with me to time contractions on an app Gid had gotten me. Not much change and, at that point, I didn't remember how long or close contractions were supposed to be before you went in to the hospital. I called my brother and Gid to be on standby but told both of them they could wait it out.

When Joaquin finally sits down to watch Mighty Machines, I look up information on contractions and going in. Wow! I am alot closer than I thought I was. Contractions at this point are about 4 minutes apart and over a minute long, definitely within the limits of going to the hospital. I call my brother back and tell him to come over and get in the shower (I stink because of the gardening). Gid comes home while I am in the shower and Nate calls at the same time. I hear, "What's up? I don't know...babe, are we going to the hospital?" and I tell them, yes, time to go. Joaquin during all of this is very nonchalant. I tell him Mommy is going to the hospital to have the baby that night and that Uncle Nate is coming to stay with him. After reassurances that I'll come back after the baby, he goes about his business. I tell Gid we still have time and that he should get a shower and eat. Gid has had a long day at work and is exhausted. Poor thing as we are in for a long night...