Introducing Pink Leader

Time goes fast, especially when you have an infant. I can’t believe it’s been over 8 months since Pink Leader, aka Marceline Cinderella was born.

Ms. Marceline came early at 36 weeks and 5 days, just 2 days shy of being “full term” at 37 weeks. Those 2 days make her what is called a late preterm baby.

We knew she’d end up coming earlier than expected, at least in comparison to her sister Ms. Marvel, whom came to this world at 41 weeks. I’d had a feeling she would come early (though I tried to deny it), but a couple weeks before she was born, I woke up to use the restroom and I felt an odd feeling “down there” that I could tell wasn’t good. For my lady readers, it felt like I had started my period. When I checked, there was indeed quite a bit of blood.

I called my mom to drop Ms. Marvel off at her house and after consulting the on call doctor, I went into Labor and Delivery at our hospital we were registered at, which was about 25 minutes away.

Thankfully baby was just fine and they gave me a couple of shots to stop labor and to help develop our baby’s lungs more quickly. I then went home and slept.

To be honest, that experience still haunts me. It was absolutely a nightmare to wake up to and I still can’t let myself linger too long on what happened that night. I’m just thankful she didn’t come then.

But as I mentioned, she did end up coming early. The next week I saw my doctor for a follow up and despite not having progressed much in preparing for labor to come, he flat out told me that she was going to come early and I hoped he was wrong.

Sure enough, a couple of weeks later, I woke up to use the restroom as my husband was readying himself for work, and yet again, I felt something “down there.” I thought to myself “either my water broke, I’m bleeding again, or I just peed myself”.

It kept coming as I waddled to the bathroom and I could tell it was definitely my water that broke. I told my husband that he wasn’t going into work that day and that we were going to the hospital to have our baby.

My mom came to get Ms. Marvel and I called the doctor’s office to inform them that I was on my way. Unfortunately the office wasn’t open yet, but the on call switchboard said they’d call back (they didn’t, our nurses told us later that my doctor wouldn’t be happy about that).

On our way we stopped for food for Sean, but I made sure not to eat anything. I knew I was having a c section because of the complications I had when I gave birth to Ms. Marvel, so if I ate food we would have to delay the surgery.

The parking at the hospital we went to was a mess as they’ve been remodeling it, so my husband Sean had to drop me off and I waited until he came and met me in the door way. Right as he got to me, the pad I was wearing had already filled up with amniotic fluid and so as I walked to the Maternity ward and spoke to the receptionist, I could fill it trickling down my leg.

Once checked in, they had me change into hospital clothes and they had to check to really make sure my water had broke by running a test. Even though they were 100% sure, they still had to check as per policy.

They monitored me and went over a bunch of different things while we waited for the time to go back for surgery. I drank the bitter drink which I apparently loved which made my nurse laugh as I was the first person in her whole career to like it.

My husband gave me a priesthood blessing that helped calm my nerves as I was absolutely nervous just before going in. I had been through a c section before, which as much as I play it off was actually kind of traumatizing from the complications I had. I was worried about having the same things go on. But I trusted that my doctor would be prepared as he knew what had happened before.

I got wheeled back and since I wasn’t numb yet, I got to sit myself on the table (the table scared me last time, as it seemed so tiny, but really, it was big enough for me). They gave me my epidural and I laid down to wait for my lower half to go numb and the anesthesiologist talked to me about making sure to let him know when I didn’t feel so good.

Once I was numb, they got started getting my girl out. I had a moment of panic. Could I really do this? Was it too late to turn back? Did I want to have this second baby? I loved my Ms. Marvel so much and baby’s are hard, do I want to go through all this again?

But once I heard her cry, all my worries went away. I was so relieved to hear her and then to see her I knew she was mine and that it was all worth it.

Soon after she was born, I felt like all the blood rushed to my head, and I wasn’t sure if that was normal, as I didn’t feel that last time. I piped up to my anesthesiologist and he told me was it was just the blood that had all been down supporting the baby rushing up to my head.

I got stitched back up and I was making jokes about feeling like I was being stuffed like a turkey and really the whole experience this time was absolutely wonderful! Any fears and nerves were quickly dissipated and I was just so elated.

And the best part was that I got to do skin to skin immediately after she was born. Sean and I were both so surprised as I had to wait a couple hours to even hold Ms. Marvel.

I had to stay in post op for a couple hours, but it went by quickly as we held our new little Ms. Marceline and talked to the nurse whom felt like family by that time. We took some pictures and then we headed on our way to our room where Sean’s parents came to meet their newest grand baby.

Not long after, my parents brought Ms. Marvel to meet her new little sister. It was a moment I was looking forward to seeing for so long and it didn’t disappoint. Ms. Marvel was over the moon to meet her sister.

I was healing pretty well through our stay, but we did have to stay a few days for Ms. Marceline. Thankfully she didn’t have to stay in the NICU, despite being born early. But she did have trouble regulating her temperature and blood sugars so we weren’t allowed to leave until those remained consistent. Once they were good to go, we headed home. I enjoyed our nurses at the hospital and I love the food there (I’m so strange with that) but the bed was so uncomfortable compared to my one at home and I missed my Ms. Marvel so much.

Adjusting to life with two kids at home took some time. We had to figure out our New Normal. And Ms. Marvel loved her sister, but still she had troubles adjusting herself. This time I had Sean home for 2 weeks to help me as I recovered and I also had a lot longer of a Maternity Leave from work (16 weeks compared to 4 when I had Ms. Marvel). That ended up being a blessing itself as not long after being home, I ended up in the ER from an infection in my c section (I didn’t feel sick, it was strangely just how bad it smelled despite cleaning it up that tipped us off).

I don’t know what it is, but my body likes to do funky things to me after having babies.

Marceline had a bit of jaundice too when we left, but we left her in sunlight for a bit and that seemed to do the trick! Thank goodness for our south facing windows and the summer sun.

Marceline has continued to grow strong and we’ve to learn not to compare her milestones to when Ms. Marvel hit them. There was a 4 week difference between when each of them decided to make their entrance to the world. And Ms. Marceline is her own person. She brings us all so much joy and laughter.

I’m pretty sure too that her favorite person in the world is her sister, since Marvel is the only one who can consistently get her to laugh.

 

We can’t wait to share more of our adventures with you regarding the new addition to our family. Stay tuned to learn more about our experience with Plagiocephaly and Marceline going viral on Reddit and Facebook and why she is called Pink Leader!