This has been looooong overdue. Let’s see how much I can remember!

My pregnancy with Sarah wasn’t as smooth as when I had Soph. Apart from the morning sickness and the gassiness, somewhere along the fourth month of pregnancy, I developed a rash, seemingly overnight. A rash that made me feel like a monster instead of a blooming pregnant woman.

Thankfully, it was mainly on my arms and legs and eventually went away after a month, if I remember correctly. If it got too hot or too cold, the itch would be unbearable. I ended up using Dermaveen Oat bath packs to cope.

Fast forward to 40 weeks – upon the final checkup, doctor gave me the OK to wait another week as I wanted to deliver vaginally. Despite what people told me; baby will come sooner when it’s your second pregnancy. I call BS. My womb was too comfy for exit. So much so that I was overdue. Again. Oh well.

At 40 + 6, I lost my mucous plug, which was a first for me. Didn’t experience this with Soph, so I was genuinely surprised. I was due to go in the very next day, and I felt no different after losing the plug. So we made the executive decision to remain home until the next day.

We went for a meal together in Old Jusco with my mom, dropped her and Soph off, then headed back home to shower and get the essentials in the car.

It was induction day. It was go time.

The pressure, fear and anxiety mounted very quickly upon checking in. They say when it’s your first time delivering a baby, you feel scared, lost, sometimes confused with all the information out there. Or you could go in feeling totally prepared but it might not turn out according to your birth plan.

But with the second delivery, yes, there is somewhat of a ‘certainty’ of what’s coming, what’s to be expected, if you know what I mean. But with the second delivery also comes double the fear and anxiety of experiencing the whole birthing process once again. At least it was the case for me.

It’s like the more you know, the more your mind goes to what could possibly go wrong and everything could spiral from there.

I was very much in this headspace when they hooked me up to the IV and CTG. I literally started crying and my emotions were all over the place. Mind you, labor symptoms hadn’t even begun! I was freaking out.

Nurses came in and out to check on me and baby. When we got some time alone together, we prayed for a smooth delivery, healthy mom and baby.

Once the meds kicked in, everything progressed fast from there. I remember contractions coming pretty quickly and it was like go go go. It felt like it would never end, but at the same time everything was moving so quickly.

I did use gas to cope with the pain, just as I did with Soph’s birth story. I took a little too much and it affected baby’s heart rate at one point. The nurse told me to get off of it for awhile, and lay on my side. Thankfully her heart rate went back to normal and I tried to cope sans gas as much as I could – my poor husband’s hand..

Within a few hours, baby Sarah was born.

I had a little bit of tearing which required stitches, but other than that, everything was good. No vacuum-assisted this time, which I was very thankful for. I suppose the second time round, my body sort of knew what it was going through and what it was supposed to do. I just had to listen to it and try not freak out so much.

Sarah got to room in with me for awhile before I was pushed back to the ward to rest. Adrenaline must’ve been pumping because I barely slept that night.

I simply kept looking over at her tiny cot and stroking her head, still in awe. I thank God for helping us get through the birth, safe and sound. Now, it was time to embark on another journey.

Sarah was born on 12 November 2015 at 3.25kg.