::Macie:: Birth Story

On Saturday, February 28th I was 39 weeks pregnant, due in exactly one week. I have to admit that I was highly disappointed to still be pregnant. After all, Henley was over two weeks early---I thought for sure Macie would come at the same time as Henley if not sooner.

I had an appointment Monday and during my cervical check my Dr. told me I was still only 50% effaced and only 3cm dilated. He asked what I wanted to do as far as going another week or planning for an induction. I left the doctor totally upset and disappointed. I didn't even return to work from just being overall a mess.

Once I realized I need to get this baby moving, I started walking and bouncing on a birthing ball. I walked and bounced every single night last week and still nada, until Friday. Friday night around 9pm I was having regular contractions that were getting a little worse and were coming every 10 minutes or so. I called my mom to come over to be on call just in case. She ended up spending the night. I got everything ready to go to the hospital should we need to go. Hubs told me to go rest just in case this is the real deal. I woke up at 11:30 with nothing---no contractions and no signs of labor. To say I was disappointed is the understatement of the year.

Saturday my one mission was to get baby Macie out. I was so totally uncomfortable. Everything was swollen and everything hurt. I went to Target to get a few things and walk some more. I tried on some nursing bras and this image in the mirror cracked me up---my belly was hanging out and my feet look like sausages.

I also cleaned the windows, did laundry, and ate Chinese food (which per Google has been known to induce labor). I went to bed with no signs of labor, still huge and uncomfortable.

Around 1am I woke up and had to pee. I had been dreaming about labor and was a little disoriented when I woke as to what was real and what was fake. I laid back down for a minute but instantly felt like I had to pee again. When I stood up a second time, my water broke all over the floor, just like in the movies. I was so shocked. Ted woke up and so did Henley (who was in our bed, surprise surprise). I called my mom to come over while Ted put Henley back in her bed. 

I instantly started having contractions and they were about 10-11 minutes apart. I brushed my teeth and gathered some things we would need like phone chargers and camera. By the time my mom got to our house, the contractions were 8-9 minutes apart. I texted Teddy while he was with Henley and told him I think we need to go asap.

We got in the car around 1:30am and headed to the hospital which is about 20-25 minutes away. It had been raining so the roads were wet, adding another obstacle on our way. We called labor and delivery to let them know we were on the way. My contractions were getting closer and closer. After getting stuck behind a cop and dodging traffic lights the whole way there, we ended up making it to the hospital in 15 minutes. At this point my contractions were 1:30 apart. On the ride to the hospital I was honestly scared and didn't think I was going to make it. I remember looking at Ted in the car and trying to read his expression---he was officially freaked out as well.

We got to the hospital around 2:20am and apparently another woman had arrived in similar fashion to me right before I did so there was no one at the front to buzz us in. At this point the contractions felt almost constant and were very painful. A few minutes later we were buzzed in, checked in triage, and admitted to a room. My doctor who happened to be on call was paged and was on his way.

Since I tested positive for GBS (Group B Strep) I had to be placed on antibiotics. The nurses took a while to get the IV in and left me with quite the bruising. Contractions were coming on so hard and I was trying my best to breathe and count through them. I was 7-8cm when I was admitted and therefore it was too late for any pain medication. I remember telling Ted that I didn't want to do it. I was scared. I think last time going in blind was better as I didn't really know what to expect.

After not too long I felt the need to push. My doctor had arrived and I was about 9cm. He told me to go ahead and push if I feel the need. I don't think he was taking me seriously though as he still wasn't dressed in all of the gear. I felt the contraction coming on but it turned out to be a "dud" as the doctor put it. He then said that if this one was a dud, the next was going to be serious. He was so right. I had another shortly after and it was serious. I pushed and could feel baby Macie entering this world. I felt every piece of her pushing out. It was the most excruciating pain that I have ever felt. After one super painful push, Macie was here and was placed on my belly. I saw her laying there and my husband was saying---she's here she's here but I think I was in so much pain I couldn't even comprehend that. After a few second I held her in my arms. She was here and it was all over!

She was a little bigger than Henley weighing in at 8lbs 4oz and 20.5 inches long, born on 3/1/2015 at 3:13am. Welcome to this world baby! We have been waiting a long time for you!

We got quite a bit of time with her before my mom brought Henley, around 8am. Henley was so excited, this picture pretty much sums it all up.

It's been only a week and I can't remember a time without her. She feels like the perfect addition to our family. And as Ted puts it like a quote from Harry Goldenblatt: It's my lot in life to be surrounded by beautiful women.

Can't wait to share this journey with you all.

Mere :-)