HELLO PREGNANT FRIENDS!!! FIRST LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THAT I AM SO GLAD I FOUND THIS SITE. MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I FOUND IT SO LATE IN MY PREGNANCY (I AM 34 WEEKS). IT'S A GREAT WAY OF SHARING THOUGHTS , HOPES, ANXIETIES AND FEARS THAT ARE ALL TOO COMMON DURING PREGNANCY. UP UNTIL NOW I ONLY HAD MY PREGNANCY JOURNAL TO SHARE WITH, AND IT WAS NOWWHERE CLOSE TO BEING AS MUCH FUN AS THIS SITE!!! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR SHARING SUCH AN AMAZING TIME IN YOUR LIVES.

I'M KINGA AND I'M PREGNANT WITH MY SECOND CHILD - A GIRL!!!!! MY DUE DATE IS 20 MARCH 2008 AND BELIEVE ME I COULD'NT BE HAPPIER ABOUT MY JOURNEY SO FAR!!! I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN THE STATES BUT I AM ORIGINALLY FROM SYDNEY AUSTRALIA AND MY FAMILY STILL LIVES THERE SO I MISS THEM TERRIBLY.

MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND (PETER) AND I MET 6 YEARS AGO AND GOT MARRIED IN JULY 2005. I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER MAYA WHO IS 9 FROM A PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP. TOGETHER THEY ARE MY ENTIRE WORLD AND I ADORE THEM.

WE DECIDED TO START TRYING FOR OUR BABY IN JUNE 2007. IT TOOK ME 8 MONTHS TO GET PREGNANT THE FIRST TIME AROUND AND I WAS SURE THAT THIS TIME HISTORY WOULD REPEAT ITSELF. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY REACTION WHEN IN JULY (AFTER TAKING 5 TESTS-YES 5 TESTS) I DISCOVERED I WAS PREGNANT!!!! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. WE GOT PREGNANT ON OUR FIRST TRY!!!! I HAD EMOTIONS RUNNING THROUGH ME THAT DAY I DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS WAS MY SECOND PREGNANCY IT FELT JUST AS EXCITING, SCARY AND AMAZING AS THE FIRST.

UP UNTIL MY ULTRASOUND AT 18 WEEKS WE WERE ALL CONVINCED THAT I WAS PREGNANT WITH A BOY, WE EVEN NAMED HIM MAX. SO WHEN MY DOCTOR TOLD ME IT WAS A GIRL I WAS REALLY SURPRISED. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE OVER THE MOON AND CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DAY WE GET TO MEET OUR PRECIOUS ANGEL. WE DECIDED TO NAME HER ZOYA MATILDA!!! SHE IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HER GRAND ENTRANCE INTO THE WORLD ON MARCH 20, 2008!!!!

MY DAUGHTER MAYA IS SO EXCITED ABOUT BEING A BIG SISTER AND WE DO OUR BEST TO INCLUDE HER IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE PREGNANCY. SO FAR I THINK WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB!!!

I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW HAPPY AND BLESSED I FEEL AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR ME TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AND IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING TO HAVE.

MY HUSBAND IS MY ROCK AND HE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PREGNANCY. HE ALWAYS MANAGES TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE ME LAUGH EVEN ON MY WORST DAYS. I THINK IT'S HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE THAT KEEPS ME STRONG, HAPPY AND FULL OF POSITIVE ENERGY. I REALLY COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER MAN OR FATHER FOR OUR LITTLE GIRL!!!

OUR JOURNEY HAS BEEN SMOOTH SAILING SO FAR AND WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWATING THE DAY WE GET TO HOLD OUR LITTLE MIRACLE IN OUR ARMS!!!

BELOW ARE PHOTOS TAKEN THROUGHOUT MY PREGNANCY.

THESE WERE TAKEN THE DAY BEFORE I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT BY MY HUSBAND

WAITING FOR BABY

JULY 15th 2007 (WEEK 4) Well I woke up this morning at 8am and while in the bathroom decided to take a pregnancy test. I don't know why but I just felt like I might be pregnant. I had no symptoms, I hadn't even missed a period, but I just peed on the stick and waited. When I saw the 'PREGNANT' sign I was in shock, I really thought the test was lying to me. I ran into our bedroom, Peter was still sleeping. I was crying and shaking and in shock. I said 'Peter, Peter guess what?' He saw me standing there crying so he sat up and said 'what's wrong?' I replied 'I took this test and look it says PREGNANT, that's not possible, how can this be possible?' He said 'Wow, I guess we're having a baby.' I said 'I'm going to Walgreens, maybe the test is wrong, I'm going to buy more tests.' So I drove to Walgreens and bought 3 more tests, after taking all 3 of them guess what? They all turned positive. I was happy, excited and in a state of disbelief. Peter and I had just started trying and it took me 8 months to get pregnant with Maya. For the rest of the day I went around crying, laughing, ringing friends and family and sharing the news. By the end of the day it had settled in and Peters reaction helped me get through the day with a somewhat positive atitude. By the evening I was excited and touching my belly and talking to our baby. Peter said he never believed he would be so happy about finding out he was going to be a Daddy. We hugged and kissed and he told me how much he loves me. Now I am over the moon. I cannot wait to meet you little guy, Mummy loves you so much.

JULY 17th I went in for a blood test today to the doctor's office. I have been spotting a bit since Sunday and my doctor wants to see if everything is OK- I'm really scared but all I can do now is wait and see. I'll have the results on thursday.

JULY 19th Today my doctor rang me with the results of my blood test and the news isn't good. My progesterone is only at 5.3 and it should be above 10. He put me on progesterone suppositories to raise my levels . I am devestated. I can't stop crying. I want this baby so badly. I just want everythng to be OK. Peter keeps telling me not to worry, but I can't help it. My doctor told me he's seen a lot of women with low progesterone go on to have perfect healthy babies. I only hope that will be the case with me.I go in for another blood test on the 23rd July to see if my levels have gone up.

JULY 24th Well today is our 2nd wedding anniversary and yesterday I had my blood work done and today I got the great news. My progesterone went up to 12.5 and my HCG is 1945, so it's all good. My doctor wants me to stay on the progesterone.

AUGUST 7th It was my first ultrasound today. Peter met me at the doctor's office and I was soooo nervous. I just wanted to see you on the screen and hear your heartbeat, and we did and I cried with joy. It was the best feeling in the world to know that you are growing strong and healthy. Your heartbeat was 115 BPM and you are 0.74cm-so cute and tiny.

AUGUST 21st I had another ultrasound today because my doctor wanted to make sure all is well, and it is. You are 2.0cm little one and my doctor called you HAPPY FEET because your little legs kept moving. I was so amazed that you are moving around inside of me already. It seems so unreal that I have a little person growing and moving inside of me. Your heartbeat was 167 BPM . Peter and I are so happy.So far I've gained 2 pounds, not really that much I weigh 122 pounds. I really want to keep the weight gain to a minimum. I still have no morning sickness and I really don't get tired. It has been a great pregnancy so far. I am eating healthy and no more spotting.

SEPTEMBER 11th I feel lousy today because I got the flu. I stayed home from work and just stayed in bed. I think I just need to rest and sleep,sleep,sleep!!!

SEPTEMBER 14th I have been home all week with the flu. Today I went in for a blood test and ultrasound. The U/S measures babys neck fold thickness and screens for downs syndrome.I'm glad I did the screening . The ultrasound itself was dissapointing because the technician was very quick and uninformative. I had to ask her all the questions and she did'nt give me good photos fromt he U/S. My weight is 126 pounds so I've gained 6 pounds so far and I'm OK with that. My belly is growing and besides the flu I feel great.I can't believe the first trimester is almost over. I have a feeling I'm having a boy. I can't believe time is flying so quickly.

OCTOBER 10th Well its week 17 and I've only gained 2 pounds since last month, so I'm really pleased. I cannot believe how big my belly has gotten. During week 16 it grew heaps. My boobs are much bigger but besides that I feel amazing.I'm craving bread and ice cream, chocolate and today the strangest craving - CAULIFLOWER. I can't believe I'm almost half way through. I am so anxious to start doing the baby room. We've ordered the crib and dresser and I already bought the bedding. I've decided on a TEDDY BEAR theme with very warm, neutral colors that you find in nature.

OCTOBER 16th Well today I went in for an appointment and when my doctor came in and said he has time to do an U/S I was like yeh let's do one. I mean who is'nt excited about ultrasounds. Anyway he asked me whether or not I wanted to find out the sex of the baby and I said sure. I'm sitting there waiting for him to tell me I'm gonna have a boy and instead he says :

needless to say I was in deep shock and when I rang Peter to tell him that it's not Max but a girl, he really thought I was joking, I know that all that's supposed to matter is that the baby is healthy and that is all I really care about , it's just that this pregnancy has been so different than my first and people kept telling me I'm having a boy and we kept calling the baby Max and now to find out it's not Max is just going to take some getting used to. No matter what we are both excited and Maya is thrilled she's getting a little sister.

OCTOBER 26th Today I pampered myself and went to the spa to get a manicue/pedicure and I also got my hair done. In the evening we had a party to go to for Halloween and as we were leaving the house I fell down the stairs. I was so worried that it hurt the baby and I did'nt feel the baby move until later on in the evening and only a little bit. It was such a relief to feel you move my little angel- gosh I love feeling those little flutterings of yours.

NOVEMBER 1st Today we went for the official level 2 U/S and Peter came with me. The doctor was'nt my usual OBGYN and he was really stiff. We had to continuously ask all the questions. The most important thing is that he said you look perfect and everything is looking great with the pregnancy. He also confirmed 100% that you are a girl. Also we have decided on a name. It's going to be Zoya Matilda!!!! I hope you will love your name like the rest of us do. I am soooo excited to be having another girl. Peter is over the moon and he does'nt stop kissing my belly and telling you how much he loves you. I can't wait until you are born.

NOVEMBER 25th Today we started working on the nursery. Yesterday Peter picked up the furniture which we have been waiting for for over 12 weeks and this morning the 3 of us woke up and got right to work on Zoyas nursery. It was a great day and we all had a lot of fun.It looks amazing and I love it. We still have to put up the wall border and I have to buy some picture frames and some little toys and baskets and stuff. I cannot stop going into the nursery and looking at all the cute little things and imagining you lying in your crib. It actually made me teary eyed watching Peter put the whole thing together, he was so proud to be doing his daughters room.

DECEMBER 4th Today I had my 25 week doctor visit and I had to drink that awful orange liquid for my glucose test. Maya came with me cause she stayed home from school. We got to listen to the heartbeat and Maya loved it. I was so happy because my weight was 136 lbs, 5 pounds gained since last month and I was so sure I had gained way more.My belly has grown heaps and I'm finally looking pregnant not fat. The one major problem I'm experiencing is swollen ankles and they don't go down even after I elevate my feet, it's getting hard to wear any regular shoes.

JANUARY 8th Sweet baby girl, you must be having a major growth spurt, cause I went to the doctor and in 5 weeks I have gained 7 pounds, I am shocked. I weighed in at 143 lbs and I am in week 29. That's a total gain of 22 pounds, oh well I'll lose it after you are born. My glucose test was normal, no gestational diabetes for me-hooray!!!! My ankles are still swollen and I have resorted to living in my UGG boots. The other day I drove to McDonalds at 7pm and ate 2 BIG MACS-yes 2 of them as well as a strawberry sundae. I vow to stay away from junk food starting tommorrow.

JANUARY 30th It's hard to believe that it's the end of January. The weather has been awful and I have one month of work left. My last day will be February 29th. I've only gained 1 pound since last month so I'm 144lbs-hooray!!!! I've started leaking colostrum from my breasts and my husband thinks it's hilarious. Zoya has made her home under my ribs and it is so uncomfortable. It's hard to eat cause I always feel full and if I eat more then the pain under my ribs is really bad and I have to get down on all fours to be comfortable.Zoya is extremely active and she makes it hard for me to sleep.

Yesterday Peter,Maya and I all went for an ultrasound appointment.It was amazing to see her. We got to see her in 3D so all her features were clearly visible. She is beautiful and I am in love with her already!! I guess it might have something to do with the fact that it's my child but nonetheless I think she's gorgeous. She has beautiful big lips,chubby cheeks and a little button nose. The doctor said she is 3.75lbs and I was surprised to hear that - I thought she was smaller. He said she will probably weigh around 6lbs 7oz. Maya was 6lbs so it looks like Zoya will be a little bit bigger. We are all anxious about meeting her and I just hope time flies as quickly as possible.

FEBRUARY 6th Well today was a major snow storm and Maya had no school so we got to stay home. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it felt to get up and not have to go to work. I did some laundry and some housework and just sat around and relaxed. I cannot wait until I'm done with work and I can stay at home with Zoya and just enjoy her. Seriously though it's getting really hard doing even the most basic of things cause I feel so huge and the pain under my ribs is getting worse. I wish Zoya would find a different position in there so that mummy could be more comfortable!!!

FEBRUARY 7th Today I went and interviewed a pediatrician for Zoya and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised, I really took a liking to her. She was very upfront with me and we have the same outlook when it comes to children and their care. She has 2 girls - 2 years old and 11 months old, and she's around my age so we get along really well and I think it will be a good fit. I've had a really hard time in the past when it comes to pediatricians, a lot of them just treat your child as a number with no compassion. I really hope this will be different.

FEBRUARY 11th Today I took the day off. Maya went to school, Peter went to work and I had the whole house to myself and it was pure heaven. I need days like that, when I can just be alone and have peace and quiet. Anyway, yesterday my girlfriend Grace had a baby shower for me at her house and a great time was had by all!! There wasn't that many girls but just enough. We sat around the firepalce and chatted and laughed and enjoyed a glass of wine (which I have really missed but my doctor has no problems with an occasional glass of wine so who am I to argue, ha,ha). I received some adorable baby clothes and blankets and bath accesories and photo albums. Maya came with me and she enjoyed sitting with all of us.

FEBRUARY 14th HAPPY VALENTINES DAY LADIES!!! It was a great day on the whole (except for being in pain from Zoya sitting under my ribs). I totally didn't expect to get anything but Peter surprised me and bought me the JOURNEY pendant which signifies how love grows. He also bought Maya some diamond earings which she loves. We had nothing for him and Maya felt really bad so she decided to make a home made card for him and it was so cute. She wanted to put it in a place that would surprise him when he found it, and she finally came up with putting it in the fridge so that when he went to make dinner he would find the card. It was a really happy day and I really am lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life and such a wonderful daughter.

FEBRUARY 16th Well today was the day from hell. I woke up in a bad mood and basically spent the rest of the day pissed off. I couldn't sleep most of the night so when I woke up I was cranky and I took it out on Peter. We are in the process of remodelling our bathroom (it's basically done) but today I had to go and pick out a shower curtain and then I got home and washed the curtains for the window and they fell apart in the wash. So it was back to the store to look for new curtains. I had a manicure/pedicure appointment at 3pm and not even that made me feel better. In the evening we were invited to our friends house for what turned out to be my second baby shower. But Zoya was sitting right under my ribs (which is where she spends basically all her time these days) so I didn't really enjoy myself because I was tired, sleepy, cranky and in pain. Peter was having a good time and I kept telling him I wanted to go home but he kept finding more people to talk to. We finally ended up leaving at 1a.m, YES 1a.m and I was exhausted. Sometimes I think men just don't fully understand that we have created an entire human being in our bodies within a 9 month period !!!! When I tell him I'm really uncomfortable or in pain I really think he thinks I'm over exagerating or just looking for sympathy. The truth is I feel like shit. My feet are swollen, my ribs feel like the skin is being pulled away from them, it's hard to sleep and breathe and now I'm starting to feel a lot of pelvic pressure which makes me want to pee even more often than I have needed to up to this point in time. I'm done with this pregnancy and I want this baby OUT !!!!

FEBRUARY 18th Well today I saw my doctor and guess what? I am 1cm dialated and the babys head is at a -2 station. The doctor said that Zoya will more than likely come early and not to wait too long to get to the hospital. I'm so excited and I really hope she does come early. Also my weight was still at 144 pounds which means I haven't gained any weight since my last visit and a total of 22 pounds the entire pregnancy.

FEBRUARY 26th I had my doctor's appointment today and I went in thinking that FOR SURE I have progressed and that he would tell me that he can see the babys head (ha,ha) but no such luck !!! I dialated another 0.5cm so I am at 1.5cm and the babys head is still at a -2 station. He said he thinks I have another 2 weeks left, which I can't imagine cause my belly has grown HEAPS in the last week and I'm starting to think that if it grows any more it will explode. I am soooo uncomfortable and over the weekend Zoya was kicking me really low and I really was in pain. My husband had to drive me around because I was scared to drive on my own. Also despite the fact I feel her really low, my belly hasn't dropped and I find it strange. At least if I had dropped it would ease the pain under my ribs, but now I have to deal with 2 discomforts, don't you just love the last weeks of pregnancy? Peter has been amazing, he's been doing all the grocery shopping, the cooking and the cleaning. I feel so useless and guilty but he assures me that it's not a big deal and that I should rest as much as possible before the baby comes. He's just an amazing guy and I'm so lucky to have him as my husband.

My doctor also said that if I don't go into labor before March 20th then he will induce me on March 20th, so either way I get to hold my baby girl in 21 days or less, I cannot wait !!!!

MARCH 2nd Well it's Sunday morning and I woke up before anyone else and decided to write a bit. I love it when I'm the only one awake and the house is all nice and quiet, boy will that change once Zoya arrives !!!! It sometimes scares me thinking about the drastic changes that are about to occur in our life. But at the same time I can't wait !!!

My last day of work was on Friday and I am so glad that I can spend the next 2 weeks getting last minute things done. Yesterday Peter was nesting !!! Seriously he said 'i think I should clean out my cupboard and get rid of some old clothes', I was like 'go for it honey', what woman in her right mind would argue with her husband wanting to clean? So we did a really good job and took 2 whole bags to Goodwill.

This morning I cleaned all the cobwebs from the ceilings (even though I do it regularly) but I really am nesting and I just want everything to be clean and perfect for when I get home from the hospital.

Speaking of the hospital, I really thought last night we were going to have to go. I started getting contractions, although I wasn't sure if they were BH or the real thing. But they were coming 10 minutes apart for an hour and then Peter and I went to bed and before we laid down to sleep I got this really bad contraction which started around my lower back area and radiated towards the front. It lasted about a minute and it was intense. I got so scared that I started shivering and my teeth would'nt stop chattering. Peter kept telling me to breathe and to relax and I finally did and I still continued to feel my belly contract but I didn't feel any pain with it. So I guess it wasn't the real thing, but it still scared me.

To be honest I really hope I hold out until the 20th March which is when my induction is scheduled for. I'm one of those people that loves to be organized and the idea of going in on a scheduled day at a scheduled time to give birth really suits me just fine. I realize many women don't share my thoughts and feelings on this matter but I truly believe that it is such an individual decision and that it's O.K for all of us to feel differently about this matter.

MARCH 3rd Last night was really interesting. I started getting contractions and at first they were'nt regular but then they started coming every 9 minutes. I could still talk through them so I didn't ring the doctor but I felt so silly because I did'nt know if they were the real thing or not. I waited for them to get stronger but they didn't. However I felt them starting in my lower back and then they moved towards the front of my belly. The trip to the hospital is a 40 minute drive and I kept thinking I don't want to have this baby in the car but at the same time I don't want to show up at the hospital and get sent home. So I rang my doctor this morning and he asked me a few questions and said that if I get more cramping today accompanied by contractions then I should come in and see him, otherwise I have an appointment scheduled for tommorrow so I'll just see him then and hopefully he will tell me I have dialated and effaced some more.

MARCH 4th Wow I had the night from hell. I didn't get any sleep, maybe 2 hours total. First of all last night I was lying on the couch after dinner and all of a sudden when I looked down at my belly it was like a big dent appeared. But it wasn't the baby. So I got up from the couch and when I stood up I realized that the baby had dropped into my pelvis because I could feel her really low. All of a sudden it was easier to breathe and the pain from under my ribs went away. So then I started feeling like I needed to go to the bathroom and between 9pm and 12pm I must have had like 4 bowel movements. I started thinking that maybe this was labor starting, but I was exhausted so I went to sleep at midnight and then at 2.30am Maya came into our bedroom and she said she was feeling sick. She said her stomach was hurting her really badly and that she felt like throwing up. She went back to her room and all of a sudden I heard her throwing up. I got up and she ran into the bathroom and threw up again. I cleaned up her room (thats where she threw up first) and then I went downstairs and made her some peppermint tea. She drank it and then I stayed with her until 3am. She fell asleep and I tried to do the same but before I knew it Peters alarm clock was going off ( at 3.30am) and that woke me up again. After he left for work Maya came into my room and said she still feels sick and she threw up again. Needless to say I didn't get back to sleep because i was vigilant as to her condition. So today I am exhausted and sleepy, sooo sleepy. Maya stayed home from school and I have a doctors appointment at 1.30pm. Peter will be home around 2pm so my neighbour will watch her for 30mins while I go to the doctor. Wow and now I think what would happen if I had a baby to add to the equation - what a nightmare !!!! I'll have one soon enough but I just want Zoya to stay in my belly until Maya gets better. I'm really excited to see the doctor today because I really think since Zoya dropped last night he will tell me that I have made some kind of progress in terms of dialation and effacement. I'll keep you all posted.

MARCH 7th Can the days possibly go any slower??? I thought that once I finished working the days would fly by, but it just isn't so. Even though today is friday I feel like it's been a month since I stopped working - not a week !!!! I have absolutely nothing left to clean and no things that I need to buy or wash for Zoya so all I have is time, and it seems like plenty of it. On top of that our furnace broke last night so when I woke up this morning it was 57 degrees in the house and freezing. Peter will be home soon and hopefully he can fix it.

I had contractions yesterday for about 4 hours, but they did'nt get to that unbearably painful stage however they were regular - every 10 minutes. I just wanted them to get stronger so we could go to the hospital and have this baby. No such luck, lol !!!!

When I saw my doctor on tuesday he said I am now 2cm dialated, 50% effaced and babys head is at -1 station, so I've made progress however he does'nt think the baby will come this week, but he said he could be wrong. Peter thinks she will come wednesday or thursday of next week, I hope he's right. The waiting game is killing me and I feel like Zoya will never get here. I don't remember a time in my life when I was so anxious about anything.

MARCH 14th Only 6 days left- HOORAY !!! I'm now 3cm dialated, 60% effaced and babys head is at -1 station. My doctor said that I could go into labor anyday !!! If I don't then I am scheduled for an induction on March 20th at 5:30am - yes in the morning !!! I'm actually very happy about it because I won't be able to sleep the night before the induction anyway. I lost my mucous plug on Tuesday and was positive that I was going into labor any minute, but as you can see I'm still here and still uncomfortable as hell. I've cleaned my house from top to bottom. Today I cleaned both of my fridges and took everything out and washed all the shelves and now they are gleaming.

I have been having contractions on and off and every time I think 'this is it' they go away !!! It is the most frustrating feeling ever. But at least now I know that in 6 days or less I will meet my precious little angel, and get to look into her eyes and kiss her all over !!! I'm so readyto be her mummy and for her to be my daughter. I've never felt more ready or prepared for anything else in my life. Not even when Maya was born was I so ready, but I think age has something to do with it. Zoya is loved beyond words and there are so many- people anxiously awaiting her arrival into this world.

Well ladies and friends, I will keep you all posted on any and all developments.

MY BIRTH STORY - HOW ZOYA MATILDA MADE HER ENTRANCE

Well ladies I finally got around to writing my birth story which is something I thought would take me forever since as I'm sure you guys can imagine, a new baby takes up a lot of your time, lol !!!!

It was Monday March 17th, St Patricks day and I woke up with Peter at 4 a.m and after he left for work I could'nt get back to sleep. At 6 a.m I forced myself to get some rest and slept until 9 a.m. At around 10 a.m I was in the laundry room folding laundry when I felt a trickle run down my thigh. It wasn't a gush of fluid just a trickle, but enough to make me realize that it was different from vaginal discharge. I sat around and decided to wait. I felt a few more trickles and at 12 p.m decided to ring Peter. I told him I thought my water had broken but that I wasn't sure. He told me to ring my doctor, which I did and by 1 p.m Peter and I were on our way to the hospital. My doctor said I should go and get checked out to see if indeed it was my water bag that had ruptured. Believe me when I say that during the 40 minute drive to the hospital I was so calm and kind of numb. I wasn't thinking that I was in early labor, I just thought it was a false alarm and that it was discharge that was leaking and not amniotic fluid.

We arrived at the hospital at 2 p.m and checked in. The nurse came in and hooked me up to the monitors and and took a sample of fluid to see if it would grow what she called 'ferns'. Anyway after about 30 minutes she came back and at this point the monitor showed I was contracting every 3-5 minutes, however the test showed no 'ferns'. I was so dissapointed, but she said she will do another test just to be sure. Since I was contracting she believed that it was indeed my water bag that had broken and so she did another test. She came back at around 4 p.m and informed us that she found 'ferns'. I asked her if that meant we were staying at the hospital and not getting sent back home, she in turn responded that the next time I went home it would be with a baby in my arms !!!! I was in a state of shock and after she left the room I looked at Peter and started crying. My emotions finally came pouring out of me and I could'nt believe that in a few hours I would be holding Zoya in my arms.

At 4.30 p.m we went up to labor and delivery and I got my IV at 5 p.m. I was contracting every 5 minutes at this point so they gave me some pitocin to speed things up. The contractions weren't painful at this point so I didn't ask for an epidural, but by 6 p.m I was feeling them and I got my epidural at 7 p.m.

When the nurse came in to check me at 8 p.m I was only 4cm dialated and 60% effaced. I had hoped to be further along at this point but no such luck.

The night seemed to drag on and on and at 12.30am (It was now Tuesday, March 18th) they checked me again and I was only 5cm dialated and 70 % effaced. I was dissapointed and I couldn't believe that this was my second baby and things were progressing so slowly.

At 1.30 a.m my doctor (whom I love by the way - he also delivered Maya) came to the hospital and he himself was shocked that I still hadn't had the baby, lol !!!! He checked me again and I was still 5cm dialated and 70% effaced. He increased my pitocin so that I would contract more and said he'll be back at 3 a.m to check my progress.

Well this is where my birth story gets interesting. Right after my doctor left I started to feel my contractions so I pressed the button to give myself a dose of the epidural, and 15 minutes later I didn't feel any relief and the pain was getting worse. So I pressed it again and 15 minutes later still no relief - pain is getting worse. The bag with the epidural that delivers the dose of pain medication ran out and started beeping, so the anesthesiologist came in and changed the bag. At this point my pain was at a 6 and I could really feel my contractions. By around 2.10am I was in really bad pain and the machine started beeping again. My nurse came in and checked to see why it was beeping and it turned out that the anesthesiologist forgot to press the start button when he changed the bag, so I had not gotten any pain relief since 1.30 a.m which is when I started to really feel my contractions. By this point it was probably 2.30am and my teeth were chattering and I was shaking and tje pain was really, really bad. Poor Peter kept asking me what he could do to help and I just looked at him with tears in my eyes and said nothing. I could'nt talk all I could do was try to breathe. My nurse kept telling me that the anesthesiologist would be in as soon as he could, but that he was currently administering an epidural for another patient, just my luck !!!

Well by around 3 a.m the pain was unbearable and I was shaking all over and feeling pain and pressure and just feeling awful. My doctor came in and checked me and I was 10cm and 100% and he said we don't have time to wait for the anesthesiologist because this baby is coming.

After he said those words things moved at lightning speed. All I wanted to do at that point was push and he had to tell me to wait and he quickly got dressed. Peter was holding my right leg, the nurse was holding my left and before I knew it I was in such agonizing pain but not caring, just pushing with all the strength I could muster up !!! And 4 pushes and 28 minutes later at 3.28 a.m Zoya Matilda made her entrance into the world. It was such an amazing experience to experience the pain of childbirth (although I wasn't thinking that at the time). Peter and I cried and kissed and looked at her and at each other and we couldn't believe she was finally with us.

She was so tiny and perfect and she cried as soon as she popped out, lol !!! That cry was the best thing I've heard since Maya was born, it's just such a relief after 9 months of praying for a healthy baby to finally discover that all your worries can be put to rest bacause you have been blessed with a healthy baby.Peter was overwhelmed but he cut the cord and pulled himself together and videotaped Zoya getting cleaned up.

I myself tore in 4 places, but they were miniscule tears and my doctor stitched me up and today as I write this I feel amazing and much better than I did after an episiotomy with Maya.

So more or less that's it ladies, that's my birth story and I'm proud of it and now enjoying motherhood like I never thought I would. Zoya is an amazing baby and she hardly ever cries, and if I didn't stop to look at her (which we both do every 5 minutes, lol!!!) we wouldn't even know we have a baby in the house. I consider myself amazingly blessed and fortunate and I thank God everyday for our little bundle of joy

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