Arden's grand entrance

So I was set to be induced at midnight on April 1. However, I was noticing that something was leaking a few days before that... I finally put aside my denial and called the doctor on call and told him that I thought I was leaking amniotic fluid. I knew he would say to go to the hospital right away. I don't know why I was so reluctant since I knew deep down I was leaking fluid and not peeing on myself (sorry, got to be blunt). I just wanted everything to go according to the original plan (does this really happen with childbirth?). So on March 30, at 11pm, I woke David up and told him it was time to head to the hospital. I felt like I was having some contractions too. Julie, his sister, immediately jumped in a taxi and was at our place in no time to spend the night with Ava.

David and I hopped in a taxi and got to the Mt. Sinai's Women Center. It didn't really register in my mind that this was it. The nurse confirmed that I was indeed leaking fluid and strapped me to the baby heartbeat and contraction monitor. I had already been 2cm dilated for the past three weeks, so when the nurse told me I was still only 2cm dilated, I knew an induction was inevitable. The nurse put in an IV, which I think is one of the most horrible things during childbirth, and tried to relax for a few hours. David tried to snooze on the uncomfortable cot and I just laid in the hospital bed listening to 5th Avenue traffic all night long. Five hours later, at 6am, I wasn't any more dilated so it was time for the Pitocin. I was already dead tired by this point and wondered how long this labor process would be. At 8am, Dr. Kassenoff broke my waters since the leaking thing wasn't doing its job to move the labor process along. The combination of my bag of waters being broken and the Pitocin started to really kick in and my contractions were actually painful. I think I am a wimp because even though I was only 4cm dilated by this point, I was really uncomfortable. At 8:30, I was asking for an epidural. My anesthesiologist, who looked like she was 12, prepped me and administered an epidural and a spinal under the supervision of the Chief Anesthesiologist. The spinal was given just in case my labor progressed rapidly before the epidural could kick in. I jokingly asked if they could give David an epidural while they were at it, since we found out recently David has a herniated disc in his back and epidurals are supposed to help. But who am I kidding? I only cared about my pain at that point. The spinal made me very itchy, but I'll take that over pain any day.

For a few hours, labor progressed slowly but then I started to feel a ton of pressure "down there". Nobody checked my cervix again until 12:15pm, when Dr. Kassenoff came in and said, "Sorry, I've been on the phone with Bloomingdale's about furniture delivery." I wonder if she would be so nonchalant about it if I had been in horrible pain the whole time! She checked me and said, "Ok, you're ready to push. Give me 10 minutes to set up." So after less than one minute of pushing, Arden was out! The pushing part didn't really hurt this time, compared to the "ring of fire" I felt with Ava. However, both birth experiences have been quite similar: leaking fluid, induced with Pitocin, and not pushing for a very long time. It was such a bonding, emotional time for David and I while I was pushing. I was so scared because the pushing was the worst part with Ava, and I had hurt my tailbone. I dreaded hurting my tailbone again, but nothing happened this time, thank goodness. David was so supportive and everything went perfectly. No stitches were needed at all!

Arden burst into the world with a robust cry and a little bit of a cone head. She looked clean and just perfect, really. The nurses kept Arden on my chest for a while and I was able to nurse her right away. Then it was time to go to the recovery room. The recovery rooms are very nice, but unless you pay for a private room, you most likely will have a roommate. My roommate was a Korean lady, and we didn't really speak to each other except in the middle of the night when I kept accidentally turning her light on. I still wasn't able to sleep that afternoon because there were so many people coming in and out of the room. The whole roommate thing really is quite interesting but annoying as heck. There are curtains drawn to separate us, but I got to hear some of the conversations my roommate was having with her husband. Apparently she was displeased with everything he was doing and he was wondering why she was giving him dirty looks all day. Arden was doing well and nursing well this first day so she was totally quiet while my roommate's baby was having a hard time...therefore constant crying in the room and no peace for anyone. I knew they were rookies at the whole parenting thing and kept patting myself on the back because I thought I knew what I was doing. Little did I know I would have my own desperate times at the hospital!

David's brother Chris and his family came to visit that night and brought some delicious barbecue. Then visiting hours were over at 10pm and David had to leave me! People with shared rooms couldn't have anyone sleep over. So David and I looked longingly at each other while he stood at the door and left to go home. It was all very melodramatic but it was hard to say goodbye that first night. I'm glad he got to sleep in his own bed, though. I sent Arden off to the nursery so I could get the sleep that I desperately needed. Of course I didn't get good sleep because nurses kept coming in and out of the room. Nurses brought Arden in to be nursed a few times in the night. The next day, David was at the hospital at 8:30am and we just hung out all day. Ava was having the time of her life with Auntie Julie, Uncle Andrew and cousin Grant. She didn't miss us at all! Finally my roommate checked out and I took her spot next to the window with the gorgeous view of Central Park. I kept asking different nurses if it was possible to not have a roommate for my last night at the hospital.

Ava, Julie, Andrew and Grant came to visit in the afternoon and it was so nice to see her be so loving with Arden. It was a sweet reunion but Ava was ready for more partying with her Auntie and Uncle! That night, David had to go home again but this time I didn't have a roommate. It was bliss. However, Arden would not sleep and constantly wanted to nurse. By 1am, I was desperate and didn't know what to do since she had been nursing for over an hour. I wheeled her bassinet over to the nursery and told the nurse I didn't know what to do for Arden and maybe I wasn't producing enough colostrum. So with a heavy heart, I left Arden with the nurse who said she would try to feed her some formula. That did the trick and Arden slept for 3-4 hours. I couldn't sleep that night again, but this time it was because I was so stressed about Arden and I kept imagining a future with Arden where no one would ever get any sleep. Everything seems worse at night, so I was overreacting of course. Also, ever since Arden was born, my uterine contractions were so painful. How come no one had ever told me about that? Supposedly with your subsequent deliveries, your uterus has to work that much harder to get back down to size, and apparently mine was working overtime.

The next morning, we got ready to check out. I was ready to head home and be in my own space. I had one last visit from the lactation consultant, who tried to show me the proper latch. For someone who breastfed Ava for 20 months, I sure felt clueless. I still don't know how to get a proper latch, but somehow it works. I got a lot of surprised looks from nurses when I told them I had a 2 and a half year old. I guess I just seemed like a first time mom again. Finally it was time to strap Arden in the car seat, hail a cab and head home. Arden and I rested at home while David went to pick up Ava from Julie's place. It was so sweet to have everyone home together and enjoy each other's presence. I can't say enough how blessed I am to have such a supportive and wonderful husband and two beautiful girls. Also, the support from David's family here has really validated why having family around can't be beat!

Trying to be upbeat and not scared to death when the doctor said it was pushing time.

In the recovery room with Arden...still smiling at this point. The rough nights come later.

First day home from the hospital. Ava got her own special doll (gift from baby sister)

I love the wonder and awe in Ava's face.