So the title of this blog may be random until you realize that TADA, we had another baby! And her name is Mia so..mama Mia, here we go again ☺️ In true “this is my second child” fashion, I have been so inconsistent at photographing the weekly belly pics and been slow to sit down and write down the labor story or much of any blogs at all. So better late than never, but here is my labor story with baby girl.

First, I have to preface that the entire pregnancy was the complete opposite than with our son. I had nausea first trimester this time around. I had no back pain (which I had the entire time with our first), but the worst pelvic pain all of third trimester. When it was coming to the due date, I was almost ready for her to come out. But I also wanted to enjoy this time being pregnant since this will most likely be our last. And I wanted to enjoy the last few days of being a family of 3 so I looked forward to maternity leave! Just so many feelings all at once.

Fast forward to January and I go in for a routine check up where I’m told they are worried because my blood pressure seems high. The doc said I was 4 cm dilated, 70% effaced and with my age as an advanced pregnancy AND the high blood pressure I should be induced to give birth today. I’m like WAH?!? As a super planner I was in shock. I had planned a schedule out for who would help watch our oldest, but that started in 2 days. I needed at least 2 more days. I didn’t even have my hospital bag. This can’t be happening. Well throwing all plans out the window because it was happening! I was admitted and we were able to DoorDash some food and then it was go time. Also funny note, I didn’t write a new birth plan or any plan so when they asked if I had one, I just pulled up my birth plan with my first and laughed because everything on there that I said “not to do” we were doing. I didn’t want an induction or pitocin or an epidural…so this was all going great 😝

Back to the labor – it took 3 hours from the start of induction to start to feel the contractions. Then it was another hour to really feel pain when I requested an epidural. I had learned my lesson last time to ask for the epidural earlier than I think because a blood test needs to be administered. This time got that done ahead of time! However, I didn’t know that I also had to have a certain amount of the IV bag in me to be hydrated enough for the epidural so I still had to wait. Also as we waited my water broke on it own and it was like the movies as it was a gushing! Last time was a trickle and of course this time was the opposite – do you see a theme here? Everything is opposite thus far aka keeping me on my toes! Luckily the anesthesiologist was better this time around and was able to put the epidural in quickly HOWEVER that sweet relief I got within 15 minutes last time did not happen. I got relief on ONLY ONE SIDE! The epidural only worked on my left side and not my right so I could feel the contractions on one side which let me tell you is so uncomfortable and in a weird way more painful because your body is so confused! The nurse turned me on my side to try and drip the epidural onto my left side. They also gave me a button to press to administer more which I desperately clicked a few times. It took another hour for me to be able to feel relief as my left side finally aligned with my right side. I was able to nap for an hour and then the doc came in. He checked me and said I was 10 cm dilated so it was go time!

This time it was completely different than last time (if you want to read my labor story the first time click here) as it was bustling in the AM and our room was full with nurses to help everywhere. This time around it was quiet in the night with a small staff of just one nurse, the doctor and a student. I pushed 2 times and then the doc said to stop and wait. My husband wanted to catch the baby like last time and the doc had him help guide baby girl out so he basically pulled her out which was crazy for him! We had our golden hour and that first night we spent with baby girl was tiring, but overall such a joy that she was here with us.

The next day, our son came to meet his sister and it was pretty anticlimactic as he just looked at her and then played with his gifts. I had read that it’s good to have a gift for the first born from the baby so that’s what I did. Not sure he understood the gift was from the baby, but we’ll just pretend he did 😝 I will say since the first meeting, our son has grown to be so sweet with our daughter. He pats her when she cries and tries to pick her up. He kisses her head and will ask for pictures with her. I truly hope that both are kids will know the Lord and be the best of friends especially since they are close in age – hello 2 under 2!

Also I’m going to be honest with ya’ll this going from 1 to 2 kids is still hard. I kept hearing 0 to 1 was hardest so 1 to 2 wouldn’t be as bad. And I will say y’all liars 🤣 I will say the physical aspect is easier – I knew better what was coming for the labor and the healing process. I knew that breastfeeding was going to take time and is a journey. But I didn’t know how strong the mom guilt would be trying to be there for two kids. Especially when the two kids are so close in age. Our son isn’t that independent yet as he’s barely a toddler and definitely still needs his parents and of course the newborn needs everything from us. I do hear that the first year is freakin hard, but then it gets better. Or we just forget how hard it is 😝 At the end of the day, our family is complete and I would go through all that pregnancy and labor pain again for baby girl. Now onward to the next chapter as a family of four 💙💗