I Had A Baby, Again.
By: Deana Elwood, Head Bee
Tags: Parenting, Newborn, Baby, Pregnancy, Parents

It was 2019 and I had discovered that I had a variant for the BRCA gene. This meant a higher percentage of breast and ovarian cancer. This meant eventually a hysterectomy. This meant no more children which my husband and I were okay with because we already decided that one baby was all we needed. For some reason that outcome changed the game. My husband said he wouldn’t mind another, and I kept thinking what if when I’m older I wish I would have.

My husband and I decided to try the summer of 2020. Yes, the year the world was turned upside down and the light at the end of the tunnel seemed not so bright. Was I scared to become pregnant in a world unknown, yes. However, something about the possibility of being pregnant again was calming even though I’m pretty sure I am the biggest whiner of a pregnant woman. So it happened, we had a positive response after taking the test, and doctors appointment here we come. We later found out it was a girl and she would be the first girl out of all the boys my sisters and I had. We had already picked out a girls name 3 years ago when we were pregnant with my son, so that part was easy. No shower/sprinkle because Covid, but I was okay with that as I don’t love the spotlight on me.

The pregnancy was 100% different and harder. I had all day morning sickness for the full first trimester. Little one stayed low the entire pregnancy which was great for my breathing, however my bladder and lower back, not so much. Third trimester came and days became uncomfortable and sleep no longer existed. Yes, I was creating life, but this second time around was not only so different, but I felt as if my belly wasn’t big enough to give her the room she needed.

March 9th was a beautiful, warm day and contractions came on strong, 7 minutes apart, so we left for the doctors and eventually spent 7 hours in triage with no admission into labor and delivery and no baby. I felt defeated at that point and extremely tired. Seven hours of contractions that were 2–3 minutes apart, but no dilation past 2cm, no water breaking, no baby delivery today. I know she still had 20 more days until her due date, but I was uber impatient now and more uncomfortable. Little one was head down the entire last 20 days, but just hanging out a little longer.

March 21 was another beautiful day. It was a Sunday, my husband was home, and we decided to clean the backyard and unwrap all the outside furniture we had put away for the winter. Raked some leaves, moved some chairs, and I felt contractions again. So because I didn’t want to have another false labor, I started counting and with 15 minutes apart and consistent I figured maybe Braxton Hicks or just contractions that will pass since nothing was getting shorter than 15 minutes. They started to become more painful and I told my husband I wanted to rest on the couch and I no longer was hungry. I texted my mom and sisters just as a heads up, and at 7:04pm the kick from little one followed with my water breaking and me ninja jumping off the couch in fear of water getting everywhere occurred. With my first pregnancy this never happened so the first thing that comes to mind is…WILL I MAKE IT IN TIME FOR THE EPIDURAL!

After my first run with labor, I’m familiar with what lies ahead. Back pain that felt like an angry elf was clogging on my lower back nonstop, trying to breathe through a contractions and not start crying from the pain, and then for me I would get so nauseous and lightheaded making breathing harder. We got in the car after my sister arrived to watch my son, raced to the hospital and I waved down a state police officer to help us get there faster and not pull us over for speeding. Up the elevator wearing my toddlers diaper, I am checked in but now the pain is so unbearable that walking isn’t an option. In a room getting prepped because it’s go time, and the dreaded Covid test is given to me in not just one stabbing to the brain nostril, but two. Yes, you still need to get tested even if you are vaccinated and/or have had Covid. Strong contractions coupled with that test was not the cocktail I ordered, I wanted the one that comes in the form of a big needle and rushes cold down my back.

The epidural was my saving grace as the pain was getting more and more intense and little one was ready to debut. After my water breaking at 7:04pm, it was time to push at 11:10pm and at 11:22pm, Mia was born. Yes, I pushed for only that short period of time AND no tears this time! If you know, you know and I was happy to not endure the ring of fire for a second time. Mia was perfect and a quiet cry came out like her brother. She snuggled instantly and I was in shock that we did it again. We had a little girl, a tiny little baby, who would change our lives for the best.

We spent two days in the hospital and I couldn’t wait to get home. I missed my son terribly and I just wanted to hug and kiss him and tell him we added a baby to our family. The day came to leave the hospital and even though things were a little different with wearing masks a good chunk of the time and during labor, we had wonderful nurses and doctors taking care of us all and I’m so blessed for that during these very strange times.