Lucia's birth

This one was very different. You can read all about Diego's birth here. This one is going to be a lot shorter... less pictures and less details. There is just a lot less to tell. We had our bio-anatomy scan on Tuesday, May 17th. I had had a midwives appointment the day before and had a stretch and sweep. I ended up walking to Kingston General Tuesday - about 40 minutes of brisk walking. I had missed the bus and then figured that I would start walking and if I got tired call a cab. By the time I started getting tired I was almost there and didn't bother. I did take a cab home. I started having very mild contractions on Tuesday afternoon. Intermittent and easy to ignore. I had gotten the call that day with the appointment time to speak to an OB on Thursday. Nothing scares out a baby like an appointment to talk about induction - and brisk walking and the stretch and sweep. Who knows what it was in the end. ...

Tuesday evening we went to visit some friends. Still in the plan of - it's probably beginning but we'll likely be at least three days so lets be distracting and pretend it isn't happening at all. Tuesday night I took the two Gravol that the midwife suggested the last time and went to sleep. My primary midwife had called Tuesday afternoon to check in before leaving for Hamilton. I assured here that while there was a little bit of movement it was nothing worth reporting or worrying about.

I slept pretty well Tuesday night - woke up every hour or so but was able to go right back to sleep. I had already called my mother to let her know that she should probably come Wednesday - but no rush. Wednesday morning the contractions are a bit more regular but still mild. I sent Rafa off to work - nothing he could do at home - and got ready to do laundry and continue to distract myself. I did call the midwife who was on call at one point - asking how to tell if my water had broken. She said that 90% of women will experience a big gush so the bit of fluid I was feeling probably was nothing. ... turns out I'm one of the 10% (my water was broken with Diego so I didn't really know.)

Around 9:30 it became impossible to do laundry and I called mom to tell her not to stop off at the bank and that she should probably bring Sue with her rather than waiting till the afternoon. I got into the bath to relax. Relaxing got harder. I checked my cheat sheet and it said not to call the midwives until you've had a regular pattern of contractions for more than an hour - besides - they were all sleeping off a birth from the night before and I was probably still going to be at this for at least two days so no rush...

I called the midwives around 11:00 and Anita - who was on call for Jane - agreed that it was probably time to come and check. If it was OK with me she was going to have a shower first. No problem - I'm fine. Mom and Sue arrived just after and Sue started timing contractions. They were not 20 seconds like I thought but more like a minute long and coming every two to three minutes. Rafa called to check in and told him he should probably come home for the afternoon but not to worry too much and go ahead and finish up the morning. He got home just before 12:00. The midwives came at 12:00. Anita prepared me "you know your first birth was really long and.."

"I know - I'm totally prepared for you to tell me that I am only two centimeters dilated."

"What would your ideal be..."

"At least three?" (hopefull smile)

"How about five?"

"Five is awesome!"

"I think we should head to the hospital...."

This is where it starts to get more exciting. We got in the car - remembered that we didn't have the infant car seat but I told Rafa not to worry about it - let's just go. I had three contractions in the car which were awful. Rafa asked if he should drop us off at the entrance or park and we could go in together like last time... no, I said, I think you should drop Sue and I off at the entrance. More contractions as we walk towards the birthing floor..walking in between. After 5 or 6 I did tell Sue that we needed to walk faster. The last contraction I grabbed for the railing on the wall and not Sue - I knew I needed something really solid. At this point things get a little fuzzy. I was definitely screaming because the nurses came running with a wheel chair. Someone asked me if I had urges to push.. "I think so.... ahhhh!" but I had had an epidural with Diego so I didn't really know. A few seconds later I did know as I screamed "She's coming!!!". That was a moment of primal panic that I think I will never forget.

We got through the door of the birthing room - number 2 because our room wasn't clean yet - and the midwife came in and got me calmed down enough to be semi coherent and calm. They also got my pants off. "We have time to move to the bed if you want." she tells me...

"No!"

"OK - we'll do it right here."

Someone asked Sue if she was going to cut the cord - she said "I don't think so - I hope the Dad is going to get here." Rafa came in - after having parked the car and sauntering in in a relaxed fashion. When we got to the door of the hospital everyone still assumed, me included, that we had several hours in front of us at least. It was definitely a surprise to him when he was greeted at the door of room number 2 with "Come in Sir, your daughter is coming." Three pushes and she was out. We never did make it out of the wheel chair.

Summary:

0-5  cm in 3 hours from 9:30-12:15
5-10 cm in 20 min from 12:15-12:40
Lucia was born at 12:43

There were no beds on the floor so they sent us home. Rafa had time to pick up Diego from day care. We had to order take out because there was no food in the house. We all assumed that we would still be at the hospital. It wasn't even a full work day. Lucia was chill and relaxed from the start. Latched on immediately and hardly cries. There are now two stoic New Englanders in this family and two Latin Americans. We have a balance in the force!

First Day

24 hours and two nights down. So far so good. We didn't get much sleep the first night but did much better last night. Everyone is feeling more relaxed and rested. Rafa went to work this morning and Lucia and I are hanging out with my sister-in-law Sue waiting for Diego to wake up so we can get him off to day care. I've got out the sling and so have two hands free! I think we're doing rather well, if I do say so myself.

 Lucia this morning having her morning sling nap. She woke up every two hours to eat but was back down right away and even managed to sleep a bunch of the night in her little co-sleeper and not on top of me. Thanks little girl! I don't want to count my chickens too soon but you might just be a sleeper like me....

First day at home. Awake and alert.

First family picture. May 18th, 6:00. (Pictures are in reverse order. ... More and birth story to come. It was an exciting one and VERY different from the last one...)

The last week.

This is the last week of what should be my last pregnancy. I can't say that I am nostalgic or sentimental - neither am I desperate to see it over. So it's a good balance. That's my New England genes. It has been a very simple and straightforward pregnancy, thanks be to the great being that arranges such things. I'm now 'officially' eight days overdue which is right about on time based on my other experience. The big problem this week has been feeling too comfortable - not the sort of problem one really feels the right to complain about. I'm ready to start feeling less comfortable, and also preparing myself for the possibility of an induced labour next week. Reguardless, here is a last installment of pregnancy pictures.

 Hanging out with Juliana and Elise.

 pechiche para la niña

Family...

Not so comfortable, but oh so wonderful, belly snuggles.

Updates

Last day of work - check! Although it didn't feel like a last day since Diego is in day care at the school and I am in and out all the time. I felt a little stupid saying 'goodbye' to everyone. I was in this morning to drop D off and ran into the person covering for me while they hire a new person. That meant 15 minutes of work. The union representative shakes his head but I don't mind.

EI application - check! Filled out this morning - online, really fast and easy.

Census - check! I love the new online form!

Important papers organized - in progress.... I did the 'really important paper binder' and now I'm off to the filing cabinet. I realized this morning as I walked into the house at 9:00 how little time I get, to myself, without anything particularly pressing to do. I know that's just a natural progression of life and it's not one I would want to change but I am going to enjoy the next couple of days - if I get a couple of days. I have an appointment with the midwives on Thursday and then I am starting long walks and lunges. See if we can't have this baby on the weekend. I have an appointment to get my highlights redone tomorrow so I'm hoping it doesn't all start tonight.

Will continue to keep you informed. J

The Quiet before the storm?

I've been up for a half an hour and I think I can safely say now that this is not the quiet before the storm but simply another attack of insomnia. So, I'm having a cup of tea and then back to bed. I completed 40 weeks yesterday, the midwives and I agreed that the 10th (day after tomorrow) was probably a more realistic due date and I always said that I wasn't getting excited till the 15th. In the bigger picture it's for the best. Rafa starts a new job tomorrow so if we can give him a week before the madness starts it would be good. I'll be doing daycare pick up and drop off with the stroller now that he's working but other than that - no long walks or other 'active' measures till Thursday or Friday. I wonder if I really can encourage my body to deliver on a date that suits me..I'll keep you updated.

My last day of work is tomorrow, although, since the day care is in the school it's not really like leaving. We're going to leave Diego in full time daycare till they shut up for the summer and then two days a week next year. He loves it and it will give me a break to be with her. No, no name yet, we have a short list but this time around nothing that really stuck out. I feel sure I'll know when I see her - and if not - you have two weeks or something till you have to decide.

And so I'm off shortly to try to get back to sleep. On the upshot - if I'm really tired it will be the perfect excuse to take the afternoon of my last day as a 'sick' day and come home and have a nap.