Ok, I'm home now, and we are semi-settled. As you know, on Wednesday May 22nd, my OB stripped my membranes at my afternoon appointment. I was pretty uncomfortable for the rest of the afternoon and was having contraction-like pains that old come and go with no consistency. Given that they were more concentrated down below than they were with my first labor, I blew them off as extreme discomfort from my pelvic check. I took a shower around 8:15 that night and felt much better afterwards, which to me was a sign that labor was likely not imminent.

I went to bed as usual on my silly towels (in case my water broke in bed), and around 11:30 I felt a more intense pain that woke me up. I tried to ignore it but figured I'd wait until another one came and loosely time them based on the clock. The next one came about eight minutes later, then four until the next, so I decided to get up, go downstairs to try to walk them off, and time them. Walking made them more intense and closer together, whereas sitting still did the opposite - a sign that these are true contractions. So I call the OB on call, and based on my timing them for about an hour, she says that it's up to me if I want to go in or if I want to time them for another hour. I told her that knowing how quickly I progressed to unbearable contractions last time, I'd like to go in, which she said was fine. I called my sister, who came over and slept on my couch and handled my son in the morning. Basically they were a minute long and only 1.5-2 minutes apart.

I arrived at the hospital at about 1:30AM, and they said I was 4cm dilated. Since they changed the hospital policy to have at least one OB in the hospital at all times, and since my practice's OB had authorized my epidural, they got the IV going right away for that and for my first dose of antibiotics. It seemed to take forever to get it in (probably because I kept having contractions in the process), but it kicked in immediately on my right side and kinda sorta on my left. After about 1/2 hour I was all set on my left, too, and all of a sudden I felt this crazy warm rush of liquid that definitely came from my lady parts. It was also way too much to be just pee, so I buzzed the nurse who said it was all over the place! It had really burst, as opposed to just leaked or broke. She checked me, and I was 9cm. She said I was lucky I came in when I did because otherwise I'd have been too late for the epidural once my water broke!

They called my OB and set up the bed, since they expected me to deliver quickly (I'd told the nurse it took three pushes last time, and she joked that I needed to break my record). The OB came in and checked me, said I was at 10 and ready to push. Two pushes, and that was it! She held him up so we could see we had another boy He arrived at 4:09AM. They didn't have time for the 2nd round of antibiotics, so we were forced to stay 48 hours for Joseph to be observed.

I had a 2nd-degree tear over my last 1st-degree tear, and I had another small tear upwards. The thing was that during the second push she told me to push a bit more, and I guess I'm a good pusher because I pushed a bit too hard. I'm a little sore, but it's ok. Otherwise as far as recovery, I am bleeding way less than last time and don't have any clots.

Some weird coincidences: the lady in the next room had my same birthday (same year) and was having her second baby (a girl). They literally had bets as to who would deliver first. (I won by 17 minutes.) Also, randomly, that same day, they were opening a new maternity ward with bigger rooms, and I was the first patient to go up there

Also, hospital policy has been massively revamped since I was last there. They only room in, and formula is rarely given. Skin to skin contact is encouraged right off the bat, so basically my son has been exclusively breastfed since he was born. I think my milk came in today (I have yet to test the theory, but my boobs are HUGE). When we were discharged today, I asked for one of those formula gift bags, and they said they don't have them anymore. The nurse smuggled me a bunch of formula (I'll donate it if I don't use it), but it's just sitting there. I have no idea if this will continue, but nursing has gone perfectly so far! I forgot how sleep-deprived I would be, but it's so worth it. I am soooo crazy about this little guy, and I feel like there is just so much love in the house. My older son is intrigued by him, and the dogs are also very curious and protective of him. So it seems that everything is working out very well so far!

I can't wait to read some more of your stories as they happen!!!

ETA that he was 20.5" long (same as my other son) and 8lbs 4oz (about a pound more than my older son but he also had an extra week in there).