I’m very unfamiliar with a pregnancy that makes it to the actual due date. For so long my doctor told me that because the girls were early that surely this pregnancy would follow that same track. Especially because our boy was measuring much bigger than the girls were.
So for weeks I kept waiting and waiting for those tell tale signs of labor. And nothing. We even tried to recreate the night before I went into labor with Avery, walking around the city and eating barbecue. And again, nothing.
Then Friday, February 7 (my due date) shows up and I was determined I would go into labor. But, nothing.
And throughout that weekend, nothing.
On Monday I had an appointment with my doctor. MacKay stayed home from work that day just in case something were to happen (call it a hunch.) That afternoon I walked Harlan to school and then hopped in a cab to my doctors office. I walked into the office and my doctor was just as surprised to see me as I was her. I would have never thought I would have made it to my due date, let alone go past it!
I’d been having contractions on and off for a couple of days, but it never turned into anything consistent. My doctor checked to see if I was making any progress and I was the same as I was the week prior. I was devastated. I for sure thought that with all of these contractions, I’d be making some progress. Even just a little.
At this point, three days past my due date, I asked my doctor for her advice. I really wanted to know what she would do if she was in my position. She told me she would have come in last week to get her membranes stripped (something we had discussed before.) I had my mind set on not doing anything to get labor started because I really wanted it to start naturally. But the doctor mentioned her concern that he was bigger than the girls and she didn’t want to wait much longer to risk a cesarean section.
After much internal debate, I decided to let her strip my membranes just to see if anything were to happen. Within two minutes of her doing so I went from 2cm to 4cm. We waited a little bit and suddenly my contractions got stronger and were starting to get about five minutes apart. That did it. I was in labor!
My doctor told me to go straight to the hospital and that they would be waiting for me. I immediately called MacKay and told him to grab my bags and meet me up there when he could. I knew he had to pick up Harlan from school and get things around the apartment together so I didn’t expect him for a couple of hours. It’s funny how the more children you have, the more relaxed you are going to the hospital.
I arrived to the labor and delivery floor, filled out my paperwork, and my nurse took me to my room. I mentioned to her that my husband would be here a little bit later because of the girls at home and she immediately told me that she understood and would take good care of me.
While it was strange to go into the room and get changed into my gown and hooked up to IVs by myself, it was incredibly liberating at the same time. I kept thinking of how far I’d come since having Harlan. I’d been in tears from contractions and didn’t want MacKay to leave my side when I was in labor with her and here I was nearly two kids later walking to the hospital on my own and handling the contractions much better than I had ever imagined (says the girls who cannot handle pain.)
Despite my contractions being mild, I knew I still wanted my epidural. I give credit to all of the mothers that give birth without it, but that’s not for me. The epidural takes me to my happy place and I love it.
As the anesthesiologist walked into my room he immediately asked “Who are you here with?”
“Me?,” I responded. “I’m here by myself.”
He looked at me, scrunching his forehead as if he was confused.
“My husband will be here later,” I explained “This is our third. I’m okay doing this without him. I just want the epidural.”
He looked a little shocked, but I assured him that I’d done this before and I was okay with it. I had my wonderful nurse helping me as he gave my my epidural and within fifteen minutes I had officially entered my happy place.
Shortly after my doctor came into the room to check on me and break my water (which is the most weird feeling in the world.) I had progressed more to 6 cm and everything was going smoothly.
Fifteen minutes later, MacKay walked in casually looking excited and wanting to know how quickly things were progressing. I told him the latest news and we just sat there chatting waiting for “that time” to come.
My nurse came in to check on me and mentioned that she was off at 7:00pm so she really hoped that I’d have the baby beforehand. I had become very attached to her, so I was really hoping the same thing. Within 20 minutes of her telling me this my contractions started to get much stronger and the sudden urge to push had overcome my body. I called her back in and told her to get my doctor because I thought that it was time for me to push. Sure enough, I was 10cm and it was time to meet our baby boy.
Five minutes and three pushes later at 6:33 pm (27 minutes before my nurse was off duty,) Robert MacKay Jimeson V was born.
Meeting Macks for the first time was the most incredible feeling in the world. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.
I’ve always said that pregnancy isn’t for me but labor and delivery is. I am so blessed to have had three very short, easy and painless labors and deliveries. I realize that I am in the minority, but after being sick for most of my pregnancy, I am very grateful for this.
Because Macks was born in the evening it took us a while to get everyone cleaned up and me up to a room. So unfortunately it was too late for the girls to come and meet him. The next morning MacKay said they woke up extra early so that they could come and meet their new baby brother for the first time.
They were both so excited to meet the newest addition to our family and couldn’t stop kissing and hugging him. It was so special to experience watching them meet him.
And then to see these four together is probably the best sight in the world.
Although you only have to stay in the hospital for 24 hours, I chose to stay the fill 48 hours to spend some one-on-one time with Macks and also take advantage of the nurses that would take care of him so that I could get a little bit of rest. Isn’t it sad that my hospital stay felt a little bit like a vacation for me?
My view outside of the hospital room wasn’t too shabby either. Central Park looks absolutely incredible blanketed in snow.
And this guy made for the best roommate.
It’s so hard to imagine that this sweet little boy made us wait days past his due date to come into this world.
But for him, I’d wait a million more.
