Adriana's Birth Story

So it has almost been a year since I posted to this blog. Is that a record? Do I get some kind of reward? Anyways, I still keep up on reading my girlfriends blogs and just want to have this time in my life well documented, the good and bad and wonderful! :) So I thought what better way to start than to write a post on Mother's Day and write about the birth of sweet baby Adriana. I refer to Adriana as my sweet little drama queen.

At about 28 weeks pregnant, I was showing signs of pre labor, I was having contractions, my cervix was changing, all very very scary bad things happening way too early. My doctor told me to take it easy, HA! Working full time, finishing my Masters degree and running after a 2.5 year old, sure, I can take it easy. But I had to, I did not want a preemie. So basically as soon as I got home, my feet were up and Ronnie was in charge of cleaning, laundry, everything, and watching Connor. He was amazing and never complained once and often reminded me to lay down and put my feet up. My mom and sister were amazing as well, bringing dinner and playing with Connor to help out.

When I hit 36 weeks, I had my first cervical check and I was 1 cm dilated and 60% effaced. I was ready for her to get here and my doctor didn't think I would make it to my due date. The next week I was 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced, I felt like a ticking time bomb, any moment, labor would begin. The next week I was 3 cm and 80% effaced.... Seriously child, get here already! I despised waking up every morning and still being pregnant, I wanted her here already. And then my due date rolled around, and I was.so.done. I was 4 cm dilated and 100% effaced, it was Wednesday. Ugh! We scheduled an induction for Friday because I was so worried about going in to labor at home when I was by myself with Connor and being as dilated as I was, I didn't think I would make it to the hospital. So at that point, I had resigned myself to being induced again and at that point it was fine by me, I wanted her here! I asked my doctor to strip my membranes in the hope that maybe it would work, but I wasn't counting on it because nothing else worked with her.

 I went home and really didn't feel any contractions, a few random ones here and there, but nothing unlike I had been having for the last four months! Went to bed prepared to wake up pregnant again! At 1:27am in the morning, I had my strongest and longest contraction ever, and I knew this was it. I got up and got a drink of water and then another one came on. Two minutes later, another. I didn't wake up Ronnie because I wanted to be sure this was it. Twenty minutes or so later, I was sure this was it and told Ronnie to wake up. Because I was so dilated, I didn't want to wait a whole hour of contractions, so I called the hospital, called my dad to come over and called my sister to meet us at the hospital. The way to the hospital was so horrible and uncomfortable. Contractions were stronger and longer. Poor Ronnie was trying to rub my hands, and leg, but when I was having a contraction I did not want him touching me! We finally got to the hospital and they went to check me. I was annoyed and just wanted to get in my room and get my epidural. They kept asking me dumb questions and were trying to get me hooked up to the monitors, all in a triage room. I just wanted to be in my room and get my drugs! The midwife came in and asked if I wanted an epidural and I said yes! She then checked me, and said "Well sweetie, you are nine centimeters! You don't need an epidural, you can totally do this!" She was so sweet and nice, but I was not very happy! I really wanted the epidural, I was scared as to how much more painful it would be. They wheeled me into my room and it was the exact same room I had delivered Connor in! I started to cry, it just brought back so many emotions and I now felt ready to do this. I was not in my room for more than an hour before I felt the need to push. Pushing was a such a relief, but it was taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I only pushed with Connor for 15 minutes. This felt like forever and I was getting tired. At one point I said "I don't want to do this anymore" and then when my midwife told me I was close I asked her "Are you lying? Are you just saying that to make me feel better?". What I remember most is how calm it was in the room, when I was pushing nobody was allowed to talk, or touch me. Between contractions, I would talk, catch my breath and drink some water. When Adriana finally came out, it was such a sense of relief and pure joy and happiness that she was here and it was over! I was just so happy, I didn't cry like I did with Connor, which surprised me,. She was born sunny side up which is why it took her a little longer to get out, though I only pushed for about 25 minutes. She was born at 4:26 am on 4/26 and weighed 7lb 8oz, a whole two pounds more than her brother! We love her so much and she is a such a good baby, but she has the most ear piercing cry! :)