Part 2: Go Time

The clock read 3:31am. I paused and waited. And waited. And waited some more. Went to the bathroom. Went back to bed. Then another very slight dull ache came from my abdomen. Hmmm, I anxiously thought to myself.  Am I in  labor? I was 38 weeks and 6 days.

With Mazzy my water broke first, followed by contractions that were noticeably more painful then my typical menstrual cramps. ( Sooooo sorry for using the use of the word, menstrual. It's right up there with the word, swollen, for me. Gah.)

About two weeks prior I downloaded a contraction counter/timer  thing-a-ma-jig for the computer. So in between checking Facebook at 4:30am(!) (lots of activity I tell ya!) I would clock my contractions. My main concern at the time was leaving for  the hospital just to be sent home upon our arrival. Because my water broke with Mazzy I didn't have to worry about that scenario with her. This was a new playing field.

Around 5am the contractions were tolerable but becoming more and more painful. I found using the coffee table to brace myself helpful when the contractions came. Josh still sleeping...I argued with myself about waking him, calling my sister, calling mom, and calling Ali (who was pregnant again with her Nori). I made the decision to get Josh up at 5:30am. I remember feeling surprisingly calm. Anyone who knows me personally, knows I can be a  little panicky at times. This time around I felt excited and almost more curious than anxious as to how this whole second-time-around, goal-having, labor thing would play out.

Mazzy was on my mind, too. I did not want her waking up only to be frightened by the image of  her mother doubled over in pain. Turns out she did wake up around 6:15am and handled that imagery quite well. She asked if I was okay and moved on to the couch where her father set up a show for her. At 2 years, 2 months Elmo was her world.

I finally made the call to my sister at  - help me with this Erin! -...6:25 am? I went back and forth with her thoughtful and kind offer to come straight over. (I knew the idea of having a reason to ditch out on work was inviting to her, I mean, c'mon! Her sister is in labor and needs a babysitter. What better excuse is that!? And maybe, maybe did she want to see me in all my contraction-having glory? Yeah, that probably wasn't it since she was right behind me pregnant with her first little bundle of joy, Harlie, and due only a few months after Max. Seeing me hunched over  a coffee table in pain was probably not her idea of a good time.)

Erin arrived around 6:45am and encouraged us to "leave for the hospital already!"  I gave Mazzy a huge hug and a million kisses before we set off for the hospital.  The newer hospital with labor and delivery rooms that seemed like penthouses compared to the what the older hospital, Mazzy was delivered in, offered.

The car's clock read 7:15am as we made our way through, surprisingly light, rush-hour traffic. I read once that contractions can seemingly stop on the ride over to the hospital when endorphins kick in. This happened to be true in my case, which made me question EVEN MORE SO if I would be sent home upon our arrival to Triage.

Was I admitted? You'll see in  Part 3: Show Time.

("Show Time" probably just gave away that answer.)