She's here!!

Born December 22, 2012 at 7:35 AM, 6 lb 14.5 oz, 18.5 inches long.

Had my first contraction last night at 7:00, they were 7-11 mins apart and then went to 5. We went shopping to finish getting our Christmas stuff and they kept coming, but I didn't want to say anything to DH until I was certain they were painful and 5-6 mins apart. I eventually told him and that if they kept up then we'd probably want to call his parents to come get Samson, this was around 7:50. We went home and started getting the last minute stuff around and called his parents to give them the heads up to come get him when they could. I took a shower and they slowed from 4 mins to 6-7 and I started getting nervous that it was a false alarm. I bounced on my ball for about 20 minutes until my ILs got there and took Samson. We decided to head to the hospital and I called my mom on the way to let them know what was going on. The drive there the contractions were painful, but not really bad, and they were 3-4 mins apart. 

Got to triage at 9:45 and contractions were nothing more than BH, but 3 mins apart and I had only dilated to 4 (was 3 1/2 at my appt on Monday). They started my IV and antibiotics since I was GBS+ just in case they kept me. The contractions started to become farther apart and irregular and I was getting really bummed, but after a 20 min walk, they were more painful and 2-3 mins apart. I only dilated to 5 after 2 hours and was slightly more effaced, I was still admitted around 12-12:30, can't remember. 

My doctor came in (he was technically on vacation, but had postponed his travel plans so he could be there!) I was at 5 1/2 and +1 station. DH slept for about an hour and when he woke up and we went walking for a while, and was checked again at 3 or so, only to a 6. That was when I asked for the epi, which I finally got at 4, and DH started to feel faint. He laid on the couch while they finished up the epi and he passed out for almost 3 hours straight, *sigh* 

My epi, while it made the pain go away, made my face incredibly itchy, and all the hormones, exhaustion and not realizing I was cold, caused me to shiver uncontrollably for the next 4-5 hours. I really did not feel well and hardly slept, but I couldn't keep my eyes open or focus on anything, it was like I wasn't in control of my body, just completely out of it. 

My dr came in at 5:00 and said my contractions had all but stopped from the epi and suggested breaking my water and ordering pitocin if they didn't pick back up by 6:00. I agreed, actually, I think my exact words were "whateva you gotta do", I felt drunk, haha. Contractions still didn't pick up much and pit was started shortly after 6:00 very low dosage of 2. By 6:30 or so, I was 9 cm and my doctor thought I'd be ready to push by 7:00, this was when DH finally woke up and I had to update him with everything he missed. They checked me at 7:00 and I was still at 9, checked again because I started feeling pain and the need to push at 7:25. Declared complete and immediately started pushing, after pushing through 3 contractions, 3 pushes each contraction, my doctor thought it was going to happen soon and started getting dressed and bringing in the nursery nurses. By 7:30 they could see her head, and about 8-10 pushes later, she was born at 7:35. 

I had no tears and because of that and only pushing 10 mins, my recovery has been amazing compared to Samson (pushed for 1 1/2 hours, had two 2nd degree tears and one 3rd degree). She's absolutely beautiful and we are so in love. 

39 Weeks

38 weeks 5 days

How far along? 38 weeks 6 days

Weight gain/loss: Down a couple pounds, so my total gain is 10.8 lbs!

Feeling: Good, not really in much pain, just anxious to meet her. I waddle some when I first stand up and she settles back into my pelvis, but overall not to shabby for 9 months pregnant!

Maternity clothes?: Same, same, same.

Sleep: Better this week than last, except I've been waking up a lot more recently because I have a lot of nervousness and anxiety over when labor will start.

Food cravings: I would love to have a Crispy Chicken Deluxe sandwich from Wendy's everyday.

Movement?: Slower during the day, but she really takes off at night. Her movements are becoming painful, like she's ripping my cervix apart. 

What I miss?: nothing really!

Best moment this week: My appt today! I made my appt for 1 day sooner than I normally go, just because I was anxious to get back and get checked, haha. So in 6 days I went from 2cm dilated & 25% effaced to 3 1/2cm dilated and 25-50% effaced! She's still high, but my doctor said it's common for second babies to not drop until just before labor or during labor. So, based on that (dilation, effacement, station and having an anterior cervix) I officially have a favorable cervix and I have a 90% chance of going into spontaneous labor in the next week! He expects me to go this week sometime, but if not, I have an induction scheduled for the 26th at 7 AM which he is very confident will be successful.

I was so surprised at the change in just 6 days, once I hit 3 full cm with Samson, I went into labor within days and I'm so so hoping to follow suit this time so I have her in the next couple days. As we were leaving the office, we didn't make an appt like we normally do and the receptionist caught us and asked "No appt??" I said "Nope! Last one!!" it was so surreal walking out the door knowing it was my last appt before I have my baby. It's finally hitting DH too, he said in the elevator "I can't believe we're to this point" I think he's very excited, but also getting nervous to have another baby. I go back and forth  between excited and scared shitless, but mostly excited. I can't wait to see her face and kiss her cheeks.

What I'm looking forward to: Labor!

38 Weeks

37 weeks 1 day

How far along? 38 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 12 lbs, silly me wore a sweatshirt when I was weighed today so I was up almost 4 lbs. My doctor was like "uhhh" and I explained I was wearing a sweatshirt that I forgot to take off, lol. He was okay with the weight change when he heard that, haha

Feeling: Okay, anxious. Hips have been hurting more and more, BHs are all the time and I'm just so ready to have her.

Maternity clothes?: Same, same, same.

Sleep: Okay, not as terrible as it has been, but definitely far from great.

Food cravings: Nothing really

Movement?: About the same, she's definitely about out of room. 

What I miss?: Sleep!

Best moment this week: My little boy started sleeping in a big boy bed!! I'm so proud of him, he's so so big :-)

What I'm looking forward to: My appt on Monday, even though I just had one today. Last week I was 1 1/2 - 2 cm dilated and about 25% effaced. Today I was 2 cm and everything else was the same. BOOOOOOOOOO

I'm really bummed with the lack of progress and the fact that this pregnancy is following almost the exact same pattern as with Samson and I went overdue with him. My doctor seems to think she'll be here before Christmas, but told me to be prepared for after Christmas too. If I go over, I have to wait until the 26th for my 40 week appt and then I can potentially schedule an induction for the 27th or 28th. So, 2 weeks and 3 days from now, that is a long freaking wait :-(

36 weeks

Me at the wedding, 36 weeks 4 days

And because I'm so proud of myself, the wedding cake!

How far along? 36 weeks 6 days

Weight gain/loss: Still 10-12 lbs! I only gained .2 lbs from my 34 week appt to my 36 week appt! I literally said "yeeeessss" accompanied by a fist pump when I saw my weight on the scale. haha

Feeling: Horrible, I really don't know if I can do 3 more weeks. My hips have been KILLING me and I pulled a muscle really low in my pelvis earlier when I was picking up Samson and it hurts to walk now. My cold is on it's way out so that helps.

I've also been getting contractions today, more intense than BH and they're somewhat painful, I'm really really hoping they're doing something. I bounced on my exercise ball and I think we might go mall walking tonight to try to get them to pick back up, but I'm not holding my breath that it'll be anytime soon that labor starts.

Maternity clothes?: Same, same, same.

Sleep: Worse, but it's probably been because I was stressed out last week about my brother's wedding since I was making the cake. Now the wedding is over and I've slept a little better the past few nights.

Food cravings: Andes candies, I bought two boxes today, soooooo good!

Movement?: Slowed some, but she's still quite active. 

What I miss?: Sleep!

Best moment this week: My brother's wedding! It was beautiful and they're happy and my cake was awesome!

What I'm looking forward to: My appt tomorrow!! I'm hoping for huge progress since I was so busy and stressed last week and from the contractions today. Last week I was "fairly hard", long and dilated to 1 1/2 cm. More than I was with Samson at 36 weeks.

With him I was:
1 at 36 weeks
Almost 2 at 37 weeks
2 at 38 weeks
Almost 3 at 39 weeks
3 at 40 weeks

I went into early labor the next day, but had a induction scheduled and by the time I got in, I was already to 4. So I'm hoping that once I hit 3, labor will start on it's own soon after. I will be disappointed if I didn't make any progress, but I know it WILL be soon, I keep telling myself "It's just 3 more weeks"

Milestones: Full term tomorrow! Woohoo!!