This [surprise] pregnancy has been worlds different than my
first. Last time around we tried to have a baby for over a year before getting
pregnant, this time around we found ourselves expecting months before we
thought we would be- funny how things work out!
This time around while I felt more prepared for pregnancy
itself, I didn’t realize how quickly it would fly by while chasing a toddler
around! Before we knew it, we were
decorating a nursery and laundering baby boy clothes. The stress of working long hours in the
crisis department took its toll and I thankfully stopped working at 36 weeks [also
avoiding the flu shot mandate along the way!]. For weeks my midwives had
commented on how low baby boy’s head was already. I felt as though I had a
bowling ball weighing on my hips, and boy oh boy was I nesting! Every night we
had to try a new Pinterest recipe, usually Mexican (which Daddy didn’t complain
about at all!) and I baked up a storm in between cleaning, alphabetizing, and
organizing anything and everything. At 37 ½ weeks I thought, “This is it!” I
had several hours of contractions 7 minutes apart, I even called John home
early from work… I called the midwives to let them know I might be in early
labor, 5 hours later- NOTHING! Every night the next week and a half, I had
contractions so strong throughout the night that they woke me from a sound
sleep. I kept timing them in the middle of the night with no baby—this kid was
driving me nutty!
39 weeks
I went to the midwife Thursday evening (don't
forget they're an hour drive way!) for my 39 week visit—we were literally there
until 7pm, after a lovely dinner at Whole Foods in Danbury and a late drive
home (for a toddler and a very pregnant mama, 8pm was late!). We've had some
tough bedtimes in our home as of late and things went relatively smoothly, then
just about 1am I had a contraction that woke me up, but at this point was
nothing new. I went to the bathroom and 7 minutes later had another and was thought,
"No... this can't be..." I've had WEEKS of hours of regular contractions
that just fizzle away at this point.
By 2:00am I was doubled over the bench in my kitchen waiting
for my sister to arrive to watch Addison. I was delighted that my favorite
midwife, Katie was on call but felt panicked—something told me that we needed
to hurry. We left home just before 3am; John literally drove over 100mph
because by 3 o’clock I was two minutes apart. We arrived at 3:35 and I was 9cm!
I felt a desperate urge to get into the tub and climbed into
a mere four inches of water as the tub filled around me. John climbed in [with
his swim trunks on] and held me, hugged me, and put pressure on my belly and back as I
groaned through each powerful contraction. I felt a new confidence that I didn’t
have last time around- I was able to laugh and talk in between contractions,
making jokes and even cracking a few smiles. I c an do
this! Been there, done that!
I tried to remember techniques from last time
that were helpful—lower my voice through contractions, don’t hold my breath,
flex and move to help the baby down. All of these were helpful, but having John
there was really what got me through the intensity of the pain. My love for him
grew immensely after he supported me through our first birth, and I couldn’t
have gotten through this labor without him, either. 
These contractions were ridiculous! It felt like I wasn’t in
the water but four or five minutes before I felt an urgent need to push… Katie
asked me if I wanted to move or shift at all to get ready to push and I
thought, “I must be close, I must be… it can’t get much worse than this,
right?!” 
I was at the birth center a total of 50 minutes before
Declan Edward McDonald arrived at 4:21am, in the water. He didn’t make a peep
when he came out and was placed on my chest; he just stared at John and me quietly.
 |
| THIS is what natural birth is all about! |
It wasn’t until Katie lifted him so I could get out of the
tub that he let out a cry. He measured in at 20 inches long, 7lbs and 15oz and practically perfect in every way J. As soon as he was
back in my arms in bed, he was peaceful and alert, taking it all in.
Images beautifully captured by Victoria Gloria Photography
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