I am a mommy to three awesome kiddos. \u00a0None of their deliveries or first days went as I hoped, and each got crazier than the last. \u00a0Here is our (condensed!) story.<\/span><\/p>\n My first pregnancy was pretty uneventful. I was caught off guard when my water broke Christmas morning (a day shy of 38 weeks). \u00a0My Little Man was born later that evening via c section. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We were quite excited when we learned #2 was on the way. \u00a0The boys would be about 21 months apart (so we initially thought), which many people thought was crazy, but we wanted our kids close together in age. \u00a0I expected a somewhat similar experience this time around. \u00a0This pregnancy was pretty uneventful as well, other than feeling pretty miserable the first trimester. \u00a0I had 2 friends that were due within weeks of me, so we had fun comparing notes. \u00a0Hubby and I \u00a0struggled agreeing on a name for this baby. \u00a0I so clearly remember a conversation on August 11 about what we would name Peanut. \u00a0We both had a top name, and thankfully it was the same first name, but neither of us were convinced it was the right name. \u00a0\u201cAt least we still have awhile to decide!\u201d we said. \u00a0\u00a0Later that afternoon, \u00a0while at a play date, \u00a0another expectant friend and I discussed \u00a0what still needed doing before our boys arrived. \u00a0\u201cAt least we still have some time!\u201d \u00a0we agreed. \u00a0\u00a0I got home and quickly put Little Man to bed, since it was past his bedtime. \u00a0I thought I was\u00a0having some Braxton hicks, so I laid on the couch and drank large amounts of water. \u00a0I decided to go to bed kind of early, but woke up every hour, still noticing something seemed off. \u00a0I started googling contractions at 33 weeks, but not having any of the conditions that increase chances for preterm delivery, I went back to bed. \u00a0Eventually, \u00a0I realized that these were contractions and they were coming consistently and closer. I called the doctor, \u00a0who went through her list of questions. \u00a0She felt it was probably nothing, but wanted me to come in to get checked. \u00a0Things got pretty painful enroute to the hospital. \u00a0(No bags packed, all I had was chap stick and the camera we grabbed as we ran out the door.) \u00a0I was already 7cm when I got there. \u00a0No chances to try for a vbac, they just had to get him out quickly. \u00a0Once he was delivered, they smooshed his face next to mine for a second before whisking him off to the NICU. \u00a0I had prepared myself that this delivery would probably be a c-section. \u00a0I had prepared myself to have to wait a couple hours before holding this baby. \u00a0I was not prepared for a baby in the NICU while recovering from a c-section. \u00a0I was not prepared to wait a whole day to really see him. \u00a0And I really was not prepared to have to wait 4 \u00bd days to hold him (I know many moms have to wait much longer, and my hugs go to you!) \u00a0I never dreamed that I\u2019d scrub like a surgeon for 3 minutes every time I visited Peanut. \u00a0Or that I would become fluent in NICU terminology. \u00a0\u00a0Instead of happily showing him off to friends and family, we were celebrating extubations, no more UV lights, no more oxygen, bottle feeding for the first time (which was a major challenge \u2026\u2026.he\u2019d burn more calories eating than calories he was in taking from the bottle), moving from an incubator to an open crib, maintaining body temperature, \u00a0nursing for the first time, \u00a0and finally going home 2 weeks later\u2026\u2026.at which point \u00a0he finally got to meet his big brother for the first time. \u00a0A week after being home, Peanut\u2019s body temperature dropped scary low. \u00a0We had to bring him back to the hospital, \u00a0where he was readmitted. \u00a0Tests were ran, antibiotics were administered, and we waited. \u00a0It turned out his body temperature had just gotten too low and regardless of what we did, he didn\u2019t have enough fat to keep his temperature \u00a0up. \u00a0\u00a0So, even though it was about 195 degrees in south Florida, \u00a0he was kept bundled in sleepers, hats, and blankets at all times.<\/span><\/p>\n Fast forward to pregnancy #3. \u00a0We were so excited that we\u2019d be a family of 5. \u00a0But I was definitely more cautious this time around, more aware of every oddity. \u00a0At my first doctor appointment, I asked if it was likely this baby would arrive early too. \u00a0I was assured that another preterm delivery wasn\u2019t guaranteed, \u00a0that this baby could come full term. But at my 20 week ultrasound, \u00a0the perinatologist explained that with every preterm delivery, chances for another preterm delivery went up. It was suggested I receive weekly progesterone injections to hopefully prevent another preemie. \u00a0While those injections were miserable and made me feel even more cruddy, I hoped that they would keep Little Miss put until at least 36 weeks. \u00a0(I realized that was still preterm, but that didn\u2019t seem so scary.) \u00a0I prepared myself for a c-section. \u00a0I prepared myself for a preemie who would be whisked to the NICU. \u00a0I knew it would be a day before I could really see her, or so I had prepared myself for. \u00a0Well, at 35 \u00bd weeks, contractions started. \u00a0And they got closer and stronger \u00a0very, very quickly. \u00a0\u00a0I was completely dilated when I got to the hospital and I was raced to the OR. \u00a0They sat me up to administer the spinal and quickly realized that wasn\u2019t going to be possible. \u00a0So, I waited, strapped down and alone (hubby couldn\u2019t come in until Little Miss was born) in crazy pain , waiting for the doctor so they could put me under general anesthesia. \u00a0I hadn\u2019t prepared myself to miss that first cry, the moment they announce the weight, etc. \u00a0I missed it all\u2026\u2026then I had a horrible time coming out of the anesthesia, \u00a0completely different pain management than I had experienced previously, and then several steps backward the following day due to the anesthesia. \u00a0It was 2 days before I even got to see my little girl. \u00a0And another day until I got to hold her. \u00a0Her NICU stay was shorter, only 8 days. \u00a0And while she thankfully never needed to be intubated, we still celebrated many NICU milestones. \u00a0But bringing her home and introducing her to her brothers was pretty special. \u00a0I had a very difficult recovery from her birth and she has had many extra appointments due to some mild health \u00a0issues \u00a0that we are still wading through. (I believe these challenges are due to the delivery and not the fact that she was preterm.)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"IMG_6568\"](\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/IMG_6568.jpg\")
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