Making a Baby: Take 2 (Part 2)

The main reason I think this series is much shorter than Zac’s posts is because the labor was much, much shorter.  

As with Zac, the 40+ weeks leading up to birth were pretty non-eventful (for me, Tiffany may disagree).  Once again, I was lucky enough to never have to make a midnight run to McDonald’s or Harris Teeter due to any weird cravings.  I really didn’t have to change my routine at all if I am remembering correctly.  

There were only two blips that worried me a little and they didn’t last long.  One was one day when Tiff told me about some contractions she was having and it was way early for Eli to come.  Something in the way she worded it made me worry and think they could be more than just typical braxton hicks contractions.  But, they weren’t and that passed quickly.  

The second was when Tiffany texted me and said Eli was measuring smaller than he had the week before (Around 37 weeks).  This could mean that his fluid in the womb was dropping or something, and they don’t like that.  Within minutes the second text let me know that Eli had probably just dropped and everything was fine.  

We also decided to hire a doula (thanks to a recommendation from a friend) to assist us this time around, which turned out to be a great idea b/c she was awesome!  We were still a little nervous, even after reviewing our birthing class materials, that we would not be as comfortable and confident as were the first time around since we hadn’t had the full 12 weeks of coaching and reassurance we had the first time.

What we hoped for - Tiffany to go into labor similar to last time.  Nice, easy, time-able contractions that steadily grew closer and stronger until it was time to head to the hotel in Greenville, where the doula would meet us.  We would labor in the hotel until contractions were close and strong enough to move to the hospital where we would then labor an hour or two and Eli would make a very easy entrance into the world.  

What we got was slightly different.