Introducing Baby #2: 6lbs, 1 oz, 0% predictable, and 100% loved!

On Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 4:46am, we officially welcomed Miss Samara Anise into the world! Yes y’all, baby #2 finally has a name!

Now to the long, but short birth story…

There were so many twists and turns this time around and the only thing that was predictable was the unpredictable.

The number one lesson I learned this time around is that the doctors really can’t predict when your baby is coming, but in your heart and gut, you can! I’d had a feeling all throughout my pregnancy that she would come early. Saturday night before she was born, I was having a “very pregnant” moment and just started to believe that she was as ready as I was. I called my mom and mom-in-law and told them I had a feeling she would come within the week, but they didn’t believe me!  Thus, my Big Fat African Family, did not jump in the minivan and head down that night. I even predicted the date would be the 8th! A little background on this: My dad and all of my brothers are born on the 7th or 17th. I thought for sure Leila would be born on the 17th (especially considering the fact I went into labor on the 16th), but she came on the 18th. I decided then that my children would be the start of a new generation and a clean slate. More on that later…

Anyway, so I told them the 8th and they did not believe me. After the Super Bowl, that evening, I started to feel my Braxton Hicks contractions get a little more intense, which continued on Monday. Tuesday at 1pm was my doctor appt. She told me I was 0 inches dilates and 0% effaced! She assured me that this baby was not coming any time soon! I told her about the contractions and she said that was all part of it. Se wouldn’t even clear me from going to work!!! Her only concern at that time was the little amount of fetal movement. I was asked to take a stress test for the umpteenth time during this pregnancy and I said a prayer while I laid on the table. I asked God that if he believed I could take better care of this baby outside of my body than inside, please give me that opportunity.

About 8pm that evening, I started to feel some strong contractions again. I thought they were still Braxton Hicks though since they were like 20 minutes apart. No one took them seriously until about 11pm when I thought my water was leaking. I called the doc then and she told me to monitor everything and she’d check back in an hour. 45 min later, she called and my contractions were down to 12 min apart. She told me to go to the hospital just to be on the “safe side.”. Now, we took that to mean that we could possibly go through all the trouble of getting to the hospital (incl finding a sitter, waking up Leila, and driving 30 minutes at midnight), just to be told to go home. So we took our own sweet time to get out of the house. Imagine my disappointment with that decision when we were finally ready to get in the car and my contractions were down to 6 minutes apart! Talk about a loooong ride to the hospital! I kept picturing that video of the lady who gave birth in the passenger seat while talking on her cell and while her husband drove and videotaped at the same time.

That didn’t happen. I made it to the hospital at 2am and 4 cm dilated. By the time the paperwork (despite pre-registration) and consent forms were done, I was 7cm dilated! I finally got the epidural and thought I could just relax for a minute.

I was wrong! 5 minutes later, monitors started to beep—loudly, the entire team ran into the room. My BP had dropped significantly as well as the baby’s heart rate. I couldn’t breathe with or without the oxygen mask. Heard all these sounds, but couldn’t make out a word that was being said.

I thought I was going to die!

I had no concept of time at this point, but all I know is that just at the point where they were getting ready to call in for a c-section, I was 10cm dilated (by the grace of God!). The midwife looked me square in the eye and told me she needed to get this baby out ASAP and I would have to give my all to push her. Literally, 3 pushes later, out she came with the cord around her neck!!! How ironic is it that your life line can be what kills you?? Again, by the grace of God, they were able to release her and I continued to push out a perfect baby girl!

So, how have I spent the last week? Just reflecting, actually. I’ve thought about all of the fears I had in the beginning and realize how silly they all were. Baby and I are fine, my oldest is far more excited than I could have imagined, and life is good for this family of 4!