Charlie's Birth Story: Preamble

I wanted to quickly write down some things about this pregnancy since I haven't and this is mainly for my own records anyway. It was so different from my pregnancy with Henry. I was convinced that I was having a girl this time around because it was completely opposite. I had no morning sickness, plenty of energy (but still took a daily nap;), no awful hip pain, I slept great the whole time, and most importantly... no PUPPS! It went by so fast and I felt great even at the end.

There was some debate about my due date (mainly by me), as my early ultrasound put it at September 4th, but because I track my cycle by temping, I knew it was at least September 9th. I figured I would be overdue again because I was with Henry, but I figured it would only be a few days rather than 8 like last time. However, at my 36 week appointment they realized that my belly was measuring small and ordered an ultrasound to check the baby's growth. After this they decided that the baby was healthy and growing, but they wondered if my due date could possibly be off because he was on the smaller side. Nevertheless, they kept my due date as the 4th.

My sister Bonnie was coming out to be my doula, but she could only stay for a week, so I decided to have her come September 5th-13th so that if I was a few days over either due date, she would be there. Once she got here, we started doing a few things here and there to try to encourage labor, but I didn't want to go too crazy because it can get stressful and frustrating if you try a bunch of stuff and it doesn't work. So I bounced on the birth ball, ate some pineapple, drank red raspberry leaf tea, but mainly we just enjoyed keeping each other's company and I soaked in my last little bit of time with Henry as my only child.

The week wore on and nothing was happening, so at my appointment on September 11th I had the doctor strip my membranes. That was also the night my mom was flying in, so I figured it would be perfect if I went into labor that day so my mom could be with Henry. That night as I was going to bed I started having contractions. I was so excited that it was happening while Bonnie was still here! I paid attention to them for about an hour and decided they were happening about every 5 minutes. I decided I was probably in early labor and I should try to get some sleep. Imagine my surprise when I woke up the next morning and the contractions were gone.

I was starting to get desperate at this point. I was 8 days overdue according to my doctor's due date, they were pushing me for an induction by the 17th at the latest, and Bonnie was leaving the next day. I really didn't want to be induced and I really wanted Bonnie's help, so I decided we would be a little more aggressive in trying to help things along. We went to the mall and I started running up and down the stairs, power walking, and doing squats. It did nothing other than make me sore and tired. Finally, I decided I would use the breast pump to try to stimulate contractions. It worked! I started having contractions and they lasted for 4 hours, at which point I decided to try to get some sleep. Yet again I woke up the next morning and my contractions were gone.

Bonnie left, I was depressed, and I decided I would just have to wait until it happened on its own. I went to another prenatal appointment on the 15th, and the doctor stripped my membranes again because, according to them, I was coming up on 42 weeks and it was my best shot to avoid induction.

That day, my friend Alicia was in town for business and she wanted to bring us some food and visit. I was craving Indian food, so she brought me some chicken tikka masala and saag paneer. As I was eating it I was thinking that I would probably go into labor that night just because I was eating something that would be awful to throw up (I always throw up when I'm in labor). Then later that night we realized it was the Masterchef finale and I stayed up late watching it. As I was watching it I was thinking how I would probably go into labor that night just because I had stayed up late and wouldn't be well rested.

Well, sure enough, when I was putting Henry to bed I had a few contractions, then a few more during Masterchef, and then by the time I went to bed I was having contractions regularly. I could tell that this time it was real. It was go time!