By Emily Saunders

At Momsanity we like things that are quick and efficient- workouts, meals… and childbirth!  I had planned a second water birth as I loved my first experience, but things went differently this time… I had a baby Momsanity style in triage (but thankfully not on the interstate).

I woke up on February 18th with lots of energy.  I had planned to meet my fit friend Tara for a lower body early morning workout showed up feeling good.  I warmed up with a little jogging and a few “sprints” on the treadmill followed by a tough 20 minute circuit of squats, step ups, walking lunges and squat jumps.  During the weights portion I began to feel some tummy cramps, but thought they might be from the pressure of my support belt.

When I got home I told Wiggy that I felt like I was having some contractions but that they were really minor and to go ahead to work.  I went about my mommy duties and put dinner in the crockpot, made Adler breakfast, answered some emails and so on.  The contractions started feeling more consistent so I started timing and let immediate family and a few close friends know this might be it!  I pondered going to my MOMS group at church, but decided instead that I should get some things together around the house.  The contractions slowly got more intense so I asked my mother in law to come hang out with Adler because I wasn’t able to give him the attention required.

From there I went into full nesting mode and putting the final touches on my bag.  I still felt like there was plenty of time.  I talked to Wiggy around 11:45 and told him to stay at work for a while longer and to just cancel his last two patients.  The second that we hung up the phone my water broke in a hugely amazing way (this didn’t happen with my first son).  I called him back and said “never mind, it’s time to come home”.

In the 30 minutes before he got back my contractions intensified quickly and I was having to squat and could not talk through them.  Our plans changed from “let’s go on a walk and then eat lunch” to “let’s pick up lunch” to “let’s go to the hospital right now”.  As we drove the straight shot on 40 East to Greensboro my contractions were terrible.  By the time we got about 15 minutes away I knew that I could push if I wanted to.  I told Wiggy there was no way we would make it to the pool.

We pulled in and parked at the entrance and I met my doula in the waiting room.  Fortunately I didn’t have to wait at all and told the check in lady that I was about to have the baby and we didn’t have much time.  She quickly grabbed a nurse and they took me back to the maternal admissions unit.  I quickly undressed and told the nurse I was ready to push.  Wiggy moved the car in no time as we waited for the midwife and as soon as she was there I told the team I had to push.  She measured me at +2 and in 2 pushes his head was out.  We had a baby 12 minutes after arriving at the hospital.  It was surreal and crazy and wonderful all at the same time.  The craziest thing was I was one of four women to have a baby in admissions that day!  I’m just so glad that I made it there!

The next few minutes I was basically in shock.  I couldn’t believe what had just happened!  Our baby was here and he was perfect in every single way.  The Lord’s blessings are unbelievable!  He is so very very good to us.  After a few minutes of allowing the cord to finish pulsating Daddy cut it and we delivered the placenta.  I had a minor tear that was quickly stitched up and then we were transferred to Mother and Baby to get comfortable.

At that point I was STARVING and couldn’t wait to get my boys together!  My mother-in-law picked up Red Robin Lettuce Wrapped burgers with fries and Cook Out milkshakes (I hadn’t had one since I had my first son) that we all enjoyed while celebrating our family of four.  Why is it that food tastes so amazing after childbirth?