I was planning on keeping working until last minute. I had a lot of braxton hicks that night. I double checked my hospital bag and went to bed.

5am on 4/29/09, I started getting contractions. Not too frequent and not too painful. I was considering taking the day off. I lay in bed for another two hours. Based my last experience, I felt I still had about 12-24 hours to go. DH didn’t want me to take a chance and thought I should just stay home. Cyrus was going to school anyway and DH had an scheduled appointment. I told him it’s not going to happen in a few hours so go ahead.

To help the labour progress, I decided to run some errands after I dropped Cyrus off at the daycare. When I was cashing out at the COOP, the cashier asked when the baby was due. I told her probably tonight!

I then watched a movie while I kept track on my contractions. It lasted about 40 seconds and 10-15 minutes apart. After DH came back, we went to a coffee house for a lunch. I also took a walk with my old neighbor who I happened to bumped into after lunch. The contractions were more frequent when I was walking but the walking motion actually helped reduce the pain. The breathing and relaxation techniques I learned from the Bradley Method also helped a lot.

In the evening, the contractions lasted about 45-60 seconds and about 10 minutes apart. I felt a little annoyed that my contractions came closer together if I was standing up but fell farther apart if sitting and laying down. I wasn’t going to head to the hospital until my contractions were 5 minutes apart. That’s what my doctor told me to do anyways.

I had a bowl of soup for dinner only, not having much appetite. We decided that it would be a good idea for my father-in-law to stay with us for the night just in case. I was watching Obama’s speech on TV at around nine o’clock with Cyrus and I need to really concentrate to get over the contractions. They are about 6-7 minutes apart.

Time to get Cyrus to bed. DH was rehearsing everything with my FIL and I got into PJ myself and lay down. I didn’t think I could sleep but at least get some rest, I told myself. Thinking about my parents were boarding the plane soon and all the news on H1N1 flu, I decided to give them a call. My mom’s first thought when she heard my voice was that the baby was born. I told her not yet. I didn’t tell her that I was in labour because I didn’t want her to worry too much. I guess I was doing a pretty good job offering calming voice.

At this point I really needed to moan a little bit ever time contractions came. I asked DH to keep track the frequency and also gave me back rub. After an hour like this, my contractions were still not quite consistent: sometimes lasted more than 1 minute, other times less.  5-10 minutes apart. I wasn’t sure I was confident enough to go to the hospital but DH thought we shouldn’t wait any longer. So I got dressed and we left for the hospital around midnight.

It took us a while to find the street parking. When we got to the Labour and Delivery, they told us we had to wait outside in the guest waiting area for a while because they were really busy tonight. I sat there with all other people around, feeling the urge to moan when the contractions hit me but was embarrassed to. DH got quite mad at the staff for letting us wait for 10-15 minutes out there.  I thought he was making a big deal. But it turned out he was right. THE BABY WAS COMING.

After they finally admitted me, I was taken to the exam room to get changed and put on monitor. I went to bathroom first and the contractions were getting less and less bearable. After getting on to the exam bed, it took them like FOREVER to find the tools. There were two of them and neither of them seem to know what they were doing. Contraction hit again and I turned to the side to ease the pain. All a sudden I heard a pop and a lot of warm fluid running out of me from below. I knew the amino sac had broken. Wow, didn’t that hurt? The pain seemed to double after that and I was begging DH and the staff to give me epidural but the resident told me it’s too late for that. They examined me and I was 9cm dilated!

Now they finally realized how urgent the situation was and quickly moved me to the birthing room. I had to scream at this point whenever the contraction hit. They told me to move from one bed to another and no one helped me. I said “I can’t. I am too tired.” but it did it eventually.

Now they wanted to get my blood and asked me the routine medical questions. I refused. I couldn’t even sit still. They wanted me to turn to adjust the monitor. I refused too. They finally gave up.

I knew I must be like a mad woman, screaming and screaming. “I can’t. I can’t do it.” “It hurts. It hurts so badly.” “Too much pressure.” I realized I was surrounded by a lot of people but no one seemed to have a clue what to do, or what to tell me to do. Only DH encouraged me: “You are doing great. You are going to have a natural birth. That’s exactly what you want.”

I knew you are supposed to wait until 10cm dilated to push or you may tore the cervix. However, I simply had the urge to push. I said: “I need to push. I need to push.” No one dared to answer me until finally my doctor came and she said go ahead if I felt like it.

I pushed and pushed and heard DH said he could see the hair. I felt the doctor massaged and felt the muscle being stretched. Someone said: lots of burning and doctor said: half push. I finally felt the relief and heard my baby’s first sound: crying.

Nurse told me the time of birth: 4/30/09, 1:29am. An hour and half after we left the house. I asked DH if it for sure was a girl He said: There is no doubt about it.

Nurses was cleaning up and weighed the baby and the doctor was stitching me up. I didn’t have episiotomy this time but had 2nd degree torn. However, the pain afterward was nothing compare to last time. I went to bathroom by myself a couple hours later and it was no big deal. I didn’t even need the Motrin.

When I finally get to hold my little one and nursed her, my first thought was: she looked just like her brother! She weighed 7#12oz, 20 3/4inches long, head measured 13 3/4inches. A bit bigger than Cyrus when he was born.

Because I had gestational diabetes, they had to monitor her blood sugar. Her heels got poked so many times due to this. Poor little one. Her blood sugar was a bit low when she was first born so we gave her a little formula to help out. It was normal after that. After nursing, the nurse took her to have a bath and DH went home to get some sleep. I also finally got to get some rest, get the blood drawn, and finished up some hospital paperwork.

Even though I was hoping for another boy, I instantly fell in love with my little girl as soon as I saw her face. I am so blessed!!

Induction:

• I would prefer to use natural methods to start labor and trust my body to progress labor spontaneously
• I do not wish to have the amniotic membrane ruptured artificially

First Stage (Labor):

• Dim lights.
• Peace and Quiet.
• Music of our choice.
• Would prefer not to have students, residents etc.
• Would prefer to keep vaginal exams to a minimum.
• Maintain mobility (Walking, rocking, up to bathroom, etc.)
• Eat and drink to comfort.
• Intermittent Monitoring (ACOG Standards) with an external monitor.
• Please do not offer me pain medications, I will ask for them if I want them.
• Relaxation techniques (breathing, focusing, etc.).
• Positioning as desired.
• Massage (back, foot, counter pressure, etc.).
• Ultra low dose epidural (walking epidural) if I ask for it
• Would like my son to present if he is able
• No routine IV

Second Stage (Birth):

• I would like to be allowed to choose the position in which I give birth, including squatting.
• Prolonged length, if progress is being made
• No forceps or vacuums unless absolutely necessary
• Spontaneous Bearing Down. Even if I am fully dilated, and assuming the baby is not in distress, I would like to try to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing phase.
• Birth/Squat Bar
• I would like a mirror available so I can see the baby’s head when it crowns.
• I would prefer no episiotomy, but please use compresses, massage and positioning. If an episiotomy is necessary to prevent tear, I would prefer pressure episiotomy (Done without anesthesia)
• Local Anesthesia for repair a tear
• Would like my son to present if he is able
• Video/Pictures taken

Immediately after delivery:

• I would like to have the baby placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.
• Delay the cord cutting until after it has stopped pulsating
• Prefer husband to cut the cord
• I would like to have the baby evaluated and bathed in my presence.
• If the baby must be taken from me to receive medical treatment, my husband will accompany the baby at all times.
• I do not want a routine injection of Pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta.
• I would like to see the placenta after it is delivered.

Baby Care:

• I would like to nurse my baby immediately after birth
• Breastfeeding exclusively, no formula
• No pacifiers or glucose water
• I would like to have the baby “room in” and be with me at all times unless required for health reasons or upon my request

Cesarean Birth:

• Unless absolutely necessary, I would like to avoid a Cesarean
• If a Cesarean delivery is indicated, my husband and I would like to be fully informed and to participate in the decision-making process.
• Spinal/epidural anesthesia
• Husband present
• Video/Pictures taken
• Screen lowered to view the birth or mirror
• Explain the surgery as it’s happening
• Free one hand to touch the baby
• If the baby is not in distress, the baby should be given to my husband immediately after birth.
• Husband to cut the cord
• Breastfeeding in recovery room

According to my ovulation chart, however, I can actually be due as late as April 29th which is still 2 days away. DH is getting restless but I am not in a hurry to have the baby yet. I am enjoying my last few days of sleeping through the night and don’t mind making a few more bucks at work.

I am going back to the dcotor’s tomorrow morning. I’ve already made it clear that I don’t want to be induced. We shall see what happens.

I was initially thinking about getting the Husband Coached Childbirth by Dr. Bradley. After reading reviews and talking to the lecture, I’ve decided to get the Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg. Dr. Bradley’s book focus more than just the birth itself and it doesn’t have many illustrations or pictures. The later one focuses mainly on all the relaxation techniques I need for birth and has many helpful pictures and illustrations.

After reading the book, even though this is my second child, I’ve realized how few I knew about childbirth. The birth lesson we took with Cyrus seems totally useless compared to this book. I really learned more about my body’s changes during birth and realized how I should simply relax my body and feelings and let my body do the job. I’ve learned lots of useful relaxtion and pain-relief techniques. A lot of them actually are simple meditation techniques. I also learned the right positions for birth and how I can breath and push efficiently during the second stage.

Like some readers pointed out, some medical information in the book is outdated. However, I still strongly recommend this book simply because the basic principle of natural childbirth doesn’t change, no matter how much the technology has changed. I absolutely love the concept of “husband coached childbirth”. It’s so helpful the book teaches husbands how to handle the whole childbirth process. It’s wonderful to think that my husband and I are a team. I am not giving birth all by myself. We are doing it together!

One reader said she had a smooth, natural childbirth by reading through this book for only once. I am nervous as the first time but am also much more educated and confident that I am in charge with the birth of my child. I am looking forward to doing it “my way”.

I’ve been dealing with my GD okay I guess. It’s really frustrating and depressing sometimes when people around you are enjoying delicious deserts or when I get those craving for a big bowl of noodle soup! I like the instructions from my dietitian this time better though. First of all, I don’t have to wait for two hours to test my blood sugar. I test my sugar one hour after meal. That’s much easier to keep track and remember. Besides, she basically tells me to look at the “Total Carbohydrate” on the nutritional facts of food package. For three main meals, I should take about 60 grams of carbohydrates and 15 grams for morning and afternoon snacks; 30 grams for bedtime snacks. That’s so much easier than counting “servings” or to weigh the food.

The bottom line for me is to stay away from white rice, noodles, sweets, and juice and the best food for me is meat and fish. Thank God I can still eat as much fish as I want. It’s hard not being allowed to drink juice though. I am not a big pop drinker but I am not too crazy about drinking all plain water either. I am having diet Pepsi for treat for now. The doctor seems to think diet pop in moderation is okay.

Anyways, I already told DH to bring me a BIg bowl of noodle soup to the hospital once the baby is born. There are so many other things on my to-eat-list. I can’t wait!

I am so tired of sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office for an half hour and only get to spend 5 minutes with the doctor. They always seem in such a great hurry. A couple times I even need to deal with the residents.

I need personal attention and I am not getting it from the doctors. During Cyrus’ birth, my OB only showed up the last half hour and then disappeared again. All I saw are residents and nurses. When next round of shift came, other unfamiliar faces.

I contacted one nurse midwife that does strictly home birth. We met her at her home office. There was a couch for us and some toys for little ones. She even made a cup of hot tea for us. The whole meeting lasted about 1 hour and it was better than any of my doctor’s visit experience. She was so patient with any our concerns.

However, even after meeting with her, DH still wasn’t comfortable with home birth but she couldn’t really guarantee a hospital delivery. Upon her suggestion, I also contacted the nurse midwife association who delivers at the same hospital I am going to. Unfortunately they wouldn’t accept me as a patient due to my GD. I felt so disappointed.

My plan now is to study on Bradley natural birth method on my own. (Too late to take a class.) If I can’t have a dream home birth, hopefully I can get to have a natural hospital birth.

The baby was healthy and we’re so grateful. I’ve been feeling her movement for the past few months. I think I had the first fetal movement at around the same time with Cyrus. It feels a little bit different this time though. With Cyrus, it felt like worms moving in my belly and this time it feels like bubbles! Either way, I LOVE it.

I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed to know it’s not a boy. I am somehow obsessed with the idea of “my boys”. But I don’t feel that way any longer. It would be very nice to have a little girl in our family. There will be some changes and I’ll need to learn how to be a girl’s mother but I think everything is going to come into place on its own. DH and I are simply so excited about this new member of our family!

8/22/08 BBT was still high. Tried the first urine in the morning. Saw two pink lines in a minute. I was in tears, happy tears.

9/12/08 first prenatal appointment. I wigged 112 lbs. Blood pressure were good. The nurse asked me some routine questions and doctor did the pap smear. Found bacteria in my urine. Took antibiotics for three days.

9/15/08 Dating ultrasound. Saw the little bean with heart rate of 170BPM. Baby measured 8w and my due date is 4/27/09.

Went to have the lead blood test done at another lab. The results was normal.

10/9/08 2nd prenatal appointment. Met a pregnant female doctor who was going on maternity leave the next day. Couldn’t find the heartbeat with a doppler so we went to u/s room again. Found the baby and beautiful heartbeat of 170 BPM. I gained 5 lbs. BP normal, so was the urine. Gave them the urine culture just to be sure. Got blood drawn for Toxoplasmosis. All came back normal.

10/13/08 Officially entered the 2nd trimester.

10/14/08 Had the NT screening. The number came back normal. The baby wasn’t in the good position at first but he flipped around after I emptied my bladder. He/she was getting big! Heart rate 156 BPM.