The Story of My Second Labor

After water aerobics two Thursdays ago, I went home and ate dinner and went to bed around 10:30pm. I woke up at 12:30am feeling a POP in my uterus. I got up to examine things and, sure enough, my water had broken! Contractions started immediately and were only 2-3 minutes a part. My doula (birth assistant) arrived about 30 minutes later and proceeded to help me (and my Michael) through the labor. Let me just say THANK GOD we had Jennifer with us! The contractions were every 1-2 minutes and VERY intense. She suggested I get into the bathtub because it often helps women relax. I didn't stay in there very long because I wasn't relaxed and felt like I had nothing to support me through the contractions (nothing to hold on to for support). While I was in the tub, I started to feel anxious and decided I was ready to go to the hospital. It was quite a scene, I am sure, as Jennifer and Michael tried to get me dried off and dressed as I was contracting every other minute. I can only imagine!

Granny Linda (Michael's mother) was already at the house to stay with PJ (who slept through the whole thing, which was a total answer to prayer!). Around 3:30am, we drove to the hospital. It usually takes about 15-20 minutes to get there but we made it in about 8 minutes flat! :-) When we arrived, I literally walked in and fell into the wheel chair they provided and continued to have intense contractions as they wheeled me into Labor & Delivery. It was just like a scene out of a movie! When they checked me, I was dilated to 8cm. They thought I was going to have the baby at the check in desk. HA! It was such a whirlwind, let me tell you. I had NO drugs and things progressed rapidly. My doctor did arrive onto the scene (along with several other staff hanging around to see this crazy, natural birth in progress). Around 4:30am, I started to push and after about two hours of pushing, the baby's head was still at a station +1. I knew the potential for my pelvis not to spread because it happened with my first birth (pushed 4 hrs that time with little progress). So after enduring the grueling contractions and pushing and knowing that I had given it quite the "good college try," I opted to do another c-section. I did NOT want to push any longer and I was tired (and honestly felt like I was dying from the pain of it all).

By the time they FINALLY wheeled me into the OR to give me the spinal block, I was home free. I was feeling so much better since the pain was gone, and I started chatting up my anesthesiologist and even my doctor as she was doing the surgery. I asked her, "What does my uterus look like?" I think everyone got a few good laughs from all my chattering.

Grant Michael Ghaffari was born Friday, November 12th at 7:18am weighing 8lbs, 1 1/2 ounces, and 20 inches long. He is beautiful and perfect in every way! I am such a happy mother of two precious children. I feel blessed beyond belief! Michael is SO proud of his son. He's already making comments about playing baseball together. He seems to be adapting quite well into his "additional" duties of caring for Payton Joy (while I recover), although none of it has been easy for either of us. We have decided we have three children because our dog is almost as needy as the children! But all in all, we are very content and grateful for the wonderful blessings that we have in our beautiful children, Payton Joy and Grant Michael Ghaffari.

Jennifer, our Doula

Payton Joy holds her "Deedee Ga" (Baby Grant) for the first time!