William's Birth Story

Everyone says that baby number two comes faster than the first... in this case that didn't happen. My OB said that William was measuring bigger, so he kept changing my due date. Based on my last period, my due date was May 5th... William decided to make his appearance May 8th at 5:20 am.

Being pregnant during the pandemic was different than when I had Capri. With Capri, I was able to go to work, go out with people, go to malls, literally anything other than stay at home ALL THE TIME. At the beginning it was great, I got to enjoy time with Capri, and lots of nesting time (maybe too much) and around the middle of April I was in major nesting mode and cleaned every room of the house, every cupboard, and even changed the house around a bit. I was BORED and so ready to just give birth. My OB was saying April... William had other plans.

I decided I had to do more to get William out, so every day I would go for a walk, do some activities with Capri, clean up a bit, ate a million dates, pineapple, anything really to induce labour and. I was working out hard core (jumping jacks and all) William just wasn't ready!

The morning of when I went into labour I woke up miserable. My mom and I FaceTime every morning and when she tried that morning I was so miserable I just rejected the call and couldn't be bothered to speak to anyone because it was always "are you in labour yet" I was beyond frustrated, heavy, and miserable. I remember just laying on my couch, put the TV on for Capri and called my good friend. She was telling me she would come over after she was done work to cheer me up, and do a little self care for myself. I made Capri lunch, ate some of the leftovers of her lunch and put her for a nap. While she was napping I planned to go get a Starbucks and visit Walmart to grab a few things. Before I went I felt as if I needed a nap. I went to go lay down and something didn't feel right. I was getting pain where I needed to use the bathroom, and slight period cramps. I thought this couldn't be it because I really thought I would of had to be induced. I texted my cousin and she said this is for sure it and don't go anywhere. Every 15 minutes the period like cramps would come and then go. They went from every 15 to 10 and to 5 within two hours. I decided to call the hospital and they told me to come in. When we got to the hospital right away they checked me, and admitted me (already a great experience). The contractions were getting worse and worse but the pain was bearable. The nurse said I was about 4 cm dilated and since I wasn't feeling William move as much they strapped me to the monitor.

The nurse could see the contractions coming and going in waves and right away we got the epidural. At around 8 pm I was feeling great! I had no pain, and I was just so excited he would be here soon. At around 12 am the nurses kept coming in to check on me and see where I was at, and still nothing my water still didn't even break but the OB on call said to wait to break it and to just get some rest. I slept maybe an hour? I was super hungry as I didn't eat much lunch and when we got admitted we weren't allowed to get any food other than Tim Hortons and I couldn't eat if I was getting the epidural so the hunger was REAL. At around 4:20 am I was really feeling pressure and was wondering what was happening. I felt bad to wake my husband so I was holding onto the pressure pain and just trying to relax. 4:45 now and the pressure pain was super intense I felt I had to say something. My husband said let's call the nurse in and they checked me. Sure enough I was at 10 cm and my water still didn't break! The nurse said the OB had to go into an emergency C-section and my options were to wait 45 minutes (if I could) or a midewife to come and deliver. I didn't know if I could wait 45 minutes as the pressure was getting more and more intense. We decided to have a midwife deliver and it was the greatest experience. When the midwife came in I was of course nervous that I was going to push, but she made my experience unforgettable. She was so encouraging, calm, and just made me feel relaxed. I started pushing at 5:00 am (I broke my water from the first push, which was pretty cool) and William was born at 5:20 am.I guess when they say your second comes fast, it meant during labour and delivery. On my last push the midwife grabbed my hands and we grabbed William together and laid him on my belly for delayed cord clamping and then he came onto my chest. It's a feeling like no other. I was so relived and so relaxed the feeling is like no other. The team at Markham Stouffville did an amazing job to make me feel so comfortable and giving me the best experience. Since I had the midwife deliver they were offering me to go home early if all was well with William.

My husband and I were thrilled as we had our little one at home and didn't want to be away from her. We were able to leave at 11:30 am which was great! I remember leaving and nurses were stopping me to get in a wheelchair as I had just given birth 6 hours ago. It was nice to be home, however I had wished maybe I could of stayed to get that extra care for myself and to just lay down for an extra day but I am thankful we were able to leave and be home with both our babies.