4 weeks since Mitchell's birthday

It's been 4 weeks since my baby boy's birth and I still find myself not believing that he's actually here!  I think part of that has to do with how fast he came.  Sounds silly to say that since I was pregnant for 38 weeks, but I truly was not prepared for him to come on the day he was born.  I was scheduled to be induced on June 19th and I had it in my head that was the day he would be born.  I was induced with Evie and I'd be induced with this baby too.  I realized that he could come early, but I was really hoping that he wouldn't.  I'm a planner.  I like having some control over situations.  I wanted to be able to plan this - to know the day, to have my own doctor, to give my parents some warning so that they had time to get here, to have time to clean the house, stock the cabinets and put clean sheets on the bed.  And I really wanted to have time to dote on Evie as my only child for just a little bit longer. If I've learned anything from Mitchell's birth, it's that no matter how much I might like being in control, some things are just not up to me.

2 days before Mitchell's birth - 38 weeks

Tuesday, June 10th started out as just a normal day for me.  I got up for work and got ready.  In retrospect, I probably should have known something was up that morning.  I wasn't feeling great and ended up having to sit down while I put on my makeup and fixed my hair.  I chalked it up just being so pregnant and thought the baby was dropping or had shifted position.  I got to work and went about my day.  I was uncomfortable and having what I thought at the time were Braxton Hicks contractions.  Having been induced the first time around, I didn't know what going into labor would feel like.  If you've read Pat's post, you know that I was texting him throughout the day, but that my mind wasn't really on my contractions, but on all of the stuff I wanted to get done.  I had no idea that I was in labor and I honestly had plans to get a pedicure that night and clean the carpets.  I was really uncomfortable sitting at my desk and got up frequently to walk around.  I did try timing the contractions just in case they were the real thing.  For awhile, they were coming every ten minutes or so, but then they would taper off, further fueling my belief that it wasn't real labor.  From everything I'd read, true labor contractions would come at regular intervals and would increase in intensity, but from my perspective, this wasn't happening.  The contractions were getting kind of painful though.  I remember having to lean over and hold onto something during one of them.  I emailed Pat a grocery list right before I left work for the day and headed out to pick up Evie.  When I got into my car, I decided that maybe I should call my doctor.  I didn't think I was in labor, but I was worried that something was wrong.  I was really irritated when the doctor's office called back and the nurse told me to go to Labor and Delivery at OSU.  I had been hoping that I could just go to my doctor's office five minutes from our house.  I didn't feel like going all the way to hospital, only to be monitored for awhile and sent home.  I called Pat and asked him to see if his mom could come over and watch Evie., then picked up Evie from the sitter's house and headed home to pack a bag.  I called my mom and told her what was going on.  I was pretty upset and remember crying and telling her that I didn't have time for this.  I wanted to see Evie after being away from her all day, I had too much to do around the house, I didn't think I needed to go to the hospital, and I really wasn't ready for this baby.  She, of course, told me that I was being ridiculous, I was ready, none of the 'chores' mattered and everything would be fine.  Pat got home and helped me pick up the house a little.  Yes I was that worried about having a clean house.  It seems so silly now!  After Rita arrived, we headed to the hospital.  I had a few contractions on our way there and one particularly painful one in the parking garage.  But I still didn't believe it was labor.  We rode the elevator up to the 6th floor and a Labor & Delivery nurse happened to ride up with us.  She said I looked pretty uncomfortable and asked me where my bag was.  I told her that I'd left it in the car as I doubted I'd be staying.  We got checked in and I changed into a gown.  I got hooked up to some monitors that measured contractions and made sure the baby was okay.  After about ten minutes, the nurse came back in and said that I was contracting about every 2-3 minutes.  She did a quick exam and said that I was 6 cm and she could feel the amniotic sac.  It was then that I realized that this was it... I really was in labor.  I called my family to let them know and tried not to panic.  I was moved to a room, got an IV and was hooked up to more monitors.  Now that I knew I was in labor, the contractions seemed more painful.  I really had to breathe and concentrate to get through them and they seemed to be coming one on top of another.  My nurse was so awesome and gave me some tips to get through the pain.  She told me to think of a song lyric and recite it in my head.  The first thing that came to mind was 'Let it go' from Frozen, which made me laugh.  Evie has us all singing that song!!  If you've read my previous posts, you know that getting an epidural was never a sure thing.  Keeping that in mind, I read a lot of things about natural childbirth, watched some videos and did my best to prepare for the very real possibility of not getting one.  One of the books that I read was really helpful - Ina May Gastin's A Guide to Childbirth.  It reminded me to not be afraid and try not to be tense because it would make the contractions worse.  Such simple advice really helped me to stay calm.  The nurse asked me if I wanted a epidural and I assured her that I did if  I was able to get one.  I knew the the chances were slim. Most anesthesiologists want your platelet counts at around 100, but some will do the epidurals if your numbers are at least 80.  My platelets were at 78 the week before.  They took a quick blood sample and the results came back at 82 - the anesthesiologist said she's do the epidural!  When I had Evie, I had my epidural placed before I'd felt any contractions.  This time around, the contractions were close together and painful so it was a bit more difficult for me to remain still.   It took two tries, but the epidural was placed and about 20 minutes later I was enjoying the sweet relief from the pain.  At this point I met the doctor that would deliver the baby, Dr. Bartholomew.  I was nervous to have a doctor that I'd never met, but she instantly put me at ease.  She was such a calm and gentle influence and I knew I would be fine.  She checked me and I was already at 8 cm.  She broke my water and said it would be long now.  20 minutes later, I was ready to push.  I was kind of upset that it was all happening so fast.  I really wanted my mom to be there, but I knew that she wasn't going to make it.  This baby was ready to be born.  About 5 pushes later, Mitchell Joesph Marker was born.  8lbs.  12oz.  20 in. long.  Perfect!

 I had waited 9 months to know what were were having and the words "it's a boy!" were music to my ears!  I can't even describe the happiness I felt when I held him in my arms for the first time.  It was just amazing.  He started crying almost immediately and then, when I stroked his tiny face with my finger and talked to him, he stopped crying and just stared at me.  Even now, thinking about those first moments with my son makes me tear up. 

Shortly after Mitchell was born, my mom made it to the hospital.  She walked into my room expecting me to be in labor and was in a little bit of shock when she saw me holding a baby!  Tim and Katharine arrive a little bit later, and then my dad.  Everyone was so happy to meet and hold Mitchell.  As for me, I was in a state a disbelief awhile.  I just couldn't believe that what started out as a normal Tuesday ended with a beautiful, healthy baby boy in my arms!

 Rita came to the hospital the next day to meet Mitchell and my mom brought Evie to the hospital so that she could see her new little brother for the first time.  Evie was much more at ease with everything that I expected and she loved getting to see and hold her brother for the first time.
I'll never forget the day our son was born. He's such a sweet, snugglely little baby and we love him more and more every day!