Wow what a whirlwind the last few weeks have been. I can't believe McKenna Reign is already 3 weeks old. I will say going from one kid to two is a lot easier than I thought it would be but I would be lying if I said there were not some minor adjustments we have had to make; but that story is for another day. Today, I want to tell you my birth story because like so many say "no matter how much you plan for the birth you want rarely does it actually happen that way". When I found out I was pregnant for the second time my immediate thought was oh gosh "how do I want to birth?'. Because I had a traumatic first birth with Kennedy I first and foremost wanted it to be different from that but furthermore I had to decide if I wanted to have a c-section or try for VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). Since I had a c-section with Kennedy those were my two options I was now considered high-risk birth. Now of course both have their risks so making that decision took me literally until I was 38 weeks pregnant. I did a ton of research, prayed a lot and asked other mama's who had gone through the same thing as me to help make the best choice; one that I felt most comfortable with. I ended up deciding on a repeat c-section feeling that it was best for McKenna and I didn't feel like going through actual labor. Little did I know what God had in store for me. Being that I decided so late I was scheduled only a few days prior to my actual due date which was 2.22. I was hoping for the date of 2.20.20 because of how cool I thought it would be but all they had available was 2.19.20. After coming to terms that I could not have the date I had hoped for I started focusing on getting everything ready for her arrival and the count down began.
My mother flew into town about a week before I was due and we ran around just tying loose ends. On the 15th of February I woke up feeling crampy, I was having what I thought was braxton hicks. They were light tightenings of my stomach that didn't really hurt. We headed to the hair salon, did a mini photoshoot and then headed to the mall to do a little shopping (I still hadn't picked out her coming home outfit so we were on the mission for that!). Our first stop on our shopping trip was Nordstrom! We decided we needed some fuel so stopped to have some dinner in the cafe where I continued to have again what I thought was braxton hicks. However, I noticed they were more frequent so I started timing them. They would go from 10 to 17 minutes sometimes 30 so I thought "ok they are sporadic no need to panic". I did call my doctors office and of course he was not on-call that night so I was hoping I wouldn't go into active labor. After dinner we shopped and then headed to West Elm picked up some blackout curtains for our room and then continued on our journey to Target. It was now about 9pm and again those pesky "tightenings"; which at this point I started calling them contractions had not only sped up they were becoming painful. By the time I got to the self-check out area they started coming pretty fast and intense. I timed them and low and behold they were 5 minutes apart!!! A few employees asked oh wow when are you due? I laughed and said right now I think I am going into labor. I basically started doubling over the counters and using them for support while I got through each contraction. Who would have thought I would go into labor in Target! Every woman's favorite place to go and here I was laboring in one. lol Well of course I finished checking out and then headed to the car. I called Chris and told him she is coming and of course out of all days he had a gig that night in Los Angeles. Luckily, he had just finished playing and was already packing up! Mom drove me to the hospital with Kennedy in the back seat (totally freaked out by my labor noises) and Chris raced back from LA. We got to the hospital in time and once I got hooked up to monitors etc they discovered I for sure was in labor and 2 cm's dilated and fully effaced. The nurse then asked me are you sure you want a c-section and I looked at her and said "heck yes I have been laboring all day and now I am in pain and only dilated 2cm I am good lets do that c-section". 
Because the on-call doctor was delivering another baby at a different hospital they had to slow down my labor. Chris arrived in time and about 2 hours later; 12am on the 16th the doctor finally arrived and we were ready to deliver McKenna. They wheeled me into the surgical room and started prepping me; this for me was definitely the worst part I went from being hot to having the chills to feeling like I was going to throw up etc. I was on some pretty intense pain meds and distinctly recall telling the nurse she had fluffy boobs. LMAO And I will never forget the doctor asking me as she was sewing me up do I want more children and I said "maybe". She then said "well if you can say that while I am literally stitching you up you are for sure going to have another'. So who knows... but for now I am happy with my two sweet girls. I may have not gotten the exact birth I wanted as she decided to come early but I am happy just to have a happy, healthy baby girl. :)
Also, for those of you that have been following for a while you know that I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes this pregnancy. However, it really only effected my diet and not my labor. Because I was diet controlled I had the ability to go full term and not be induced. Which he would not have done anyway since I had a prior c-section. Now, after I had her, her sugars did drop and they did take her to the NICU for about 12 hours and gave her formula to bring them back up and get them steady. After, that she was good to go. :)
So if you are pregnant yourself I hope this story gives you piece of mind that one no birth ever goes exactly as planned and if you get diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes its not the end all and you can go on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. :)
Until next time,
XOXO KTS