"No, I don't think so. I've had some tightening in my stomach, but I've had that for a long time and it's not painful."
"Let me check to see if you're dilated. I don't think you are. Your cervix is really far back, so it's hard to tell. Wait a second, there it is. You're 5.5 centimeters dilated! Are you sure you haven't been having contractions?"
"I don't know; I don't think so."
"Let's hook you up to a machine and see if you're having regular contractions. You could have this baby today."
I was surprised to find out I was that far dilated without being in any pain. They hooked me up to a machine for 30 minutes, and it did not show regular contractions, so I went home. The doctor told me to make any last minute preparations that afternoon since I could have the baby any time! My husband thought we should go ahead and call my parents so they could watch our toddler in case I went into labor soon. We called them and told them there wasn't a huge hurry but that it would be good if they could come sometime that day.
We picked up our toddler from his half-day preschool and put him down for his daily nap. While he slept, I packed our bags for the hospital. Then while I waited for my parents to come, all I could think about was that I needed to go to school and get a few last minute things ready for my long-term sub. My husband didn't think I should worry about that, but I did. So I called my friend, Kristen, to come take me to work because my parents didn't want me to drive in case I went into labor. Then I called my husband, and he came home to stay with our slumbering toddler.
I got everything situated at school and came home. By then, my parents were here. Now what? We just sat around and waited...waited for contractions or my water to break or something. Later that night, nothing had really seemed to change, but I was still having the tightening and it seemed a little more intense. I didn't really think it was that different, but at that point, I didn't trust my ability to know since I hadn't known that I was 5.5 centimeters dilated earlier that day.
We decided to go to the hospital that night to get checked to see if anything had happened. I knew that second babies often come quicker than first babies, so I wanted to be ready if I was in active labor. We went and were there for four painfully long hours only to find out that nothing had changed. They said I could walk for an hour and get re-checked or I could go home. I had already been walking, so I didn't think that would do anything. I was tired, and I wanted to go home and sleep. That was Friday night. Saturday and Sunday came and went...still nothing. No contractions, no pain, no baby.
Sunday evening, I decided I would go to the doctor on Monday morning instead of going to work so I could get re-checked without having to go to the hospital again. I emailed my principal and long-term sub and told them my plan.
I woke up on Monday morning at 5:30 with what I thought may be a contraction. I looked at my phone to see what time it was so I could know how far apart they were if I had another one. Ten minutes later, I had the same feeling. I told my husband I thought I might be going into labor. He wanted to take a shower, so while he did that, I kept my eye on the clock to see how far apart my contractions were. The next contraction was 9 minutes later, so I called my mom and told her to come over.
I got dressed and put on make-up because I wanted to look good in the pictures when this baby was born! I ate breakfast (because they don't let you eat at the hospital, which has never made any sense to me) and emailed my principal and secretary to tell them I thought I was finally going into labor! My contractions kept speeding up, and soon after my husband was dressed, I called Mom back and said, "Come, now!" My husband had made himself some oatmeal, but I told him he'd have to make it to-go because we had to leave now! My contractions were only 5 minutes apart even though they'd only started 45 minutes earlier, and I was afraid to wait any longer. As soon as my mom arrived, we were off to the hospital!
* Part 2 of the Birth Story coming soon! *
