Lauren's Birth...

If I don't do this now... I'm worried it'll all become a distant memory!

Here's the lowdown...
At 3:00 pm, my water broke.
Not wanting to be one of those chicks who had just accidentally gone to the bathroom, I called Chris and gave him a heads up... told him I'd call him in a while when I was sure... He was in a meeting and when he got off the phone, his co-workers told him to GO... and they said, "They always say they'll call you back..."
I was kind of in shock and started running around packing things.
I had nothing ready.
Luckily, my cousin was able to get here quickly to watch Chloe which was a huge relief.
After taking the obligatory last pregnancy pictures, we were off.
We got to the hospital and I felt so silly being there and not even having contractions or anything. I felt great. There was no way I was in labor!
Everything was just so surreal. I couldn't believe we were back in the hospital after just 13 short months... I couldn't believe my time being pregnant was coming to an end.
Most of all, I couldn't believe we were FINALLY about to meet Lauren.
That is, if she ever decided to come out.
She seemed way too comfy. As the day went on, I had contractions every 3-6 minutes but they just felt like bad cramps... I thought for sure it would be a good 24 hours at this rate.
I was so proud of myself. I was able to stay in control and breathe through the contractions.
Something I was never able to do during my labor with Chloe.

Things started progressing.
Around 10, the contractions were starting to be almost on top of each other. The cramping from before was a permanent fixture between contractions and what was felt during the contractions is indescribable. Around 11 I was checked and was only a 4. I thought I'd never make it to 10 centimeters.

Then, it happened.

In a fashion much like her older sister, Lauren had decided it was time to get O-U-T!
I started shaking and around 11:15, I knew we were in trouble.

I could feel my body trying to evict Lauren but my cervix had not caught up.
The midwife checked me and I was still only a 7. Most people would be thrilled to go from a 4-7 in just a few minutes but I knew we needed to be a 10 and NOW.
I looked at the midwife during a contraction (in between screaming like a crazy lady. Again.) and asked her very seriously... If she comes right now, what am I going to break!?
There was no way I'd be able to hang around until 10 cm. I was so scared something would happen...I thought for sure I'd just rip my cervix or hurt Lauren in some way by delivering before completely dialating... I just remember felt so relieved when she said nothing would break. Phew.
I held on for maybe 2 contractions at which point I decided the only possibility we'd have of holding her in was if I was in the shower and trying to relax.

The midwife offered to help get me there and as I stood up, I felt the most incredible energy of my body just pushing Lauren down and out. It felt like I was literally dropping a bowling ball from my stomach. I remember the feeling as my legs buckled beneath me and I knew there was a head right there.
Thank GOD the midwife was there at that exact moment, otherwise Chris literally would have been delivering Lauren. There was nobody else in the room.

There was no delivery table setup. Nothing was sterile. There were no drapes, no gowns... I remember the midwife yelling for the nurses and the nurse pushing some emergency call button to get more backup. Afterwards the midwife gave us a good laugh when she said, "At least I managed to get one sterile glove on!"

I laid back down on the bed and before I could blink, Lauren's shoulders were out. I kept waiting for them to put her on my chest and when the midwife asked me to push again, I realized her little butt was still in! I thought once the shoulders were out everything just came right out. One little push and our little girl was born.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:23 pm. 7 lbs 11 oz. 20.5 inches long.
10 fingers, 10 toes.
Perfect in every way.

I wouldn't change a single thing about my birth experience with either girl. There was no time to question my ability to do things, not a lot of time to sit around and dwell on the pain...

As for recovery the second time around, people aren't kidding when they say it's so much easier. I didn't have an IV or any meds and was able to leave 12 hours after Lauren was born.
I had no stitches, no episiotomy, no tearing at all, not even 'skidmarks' from her coming out so fast. Yes, evidently there is such a thing.
I feel zero pain. If you told me I gave birth a few days ago, I almost wouldn't believe you.
I feel so lucky.
The only thing that I felt the first few days was cramping when I was breastfeeding which is said to increase with second and subsequent pregnancies.

So there you have it.
All the chaos that delivery brought this time around.
Just be glad you weren't there to witness it.
I pretty much lost my cool at the end.
I had been so proud of myself up until that point!
Then again... when you go from 4 cm to baby in just a few minutes, I think you're allowed to lose your cool.
Then again, maybe not :)