One month later- Welcome baby!

**40 weeks plus 9 days. Waiting at the bus stop on our way to the hospital**

 So for reasons that I really don't understand myself I kept this pregnancy pretty under wraps. I didn't say anything on facebook or Instagram. I barely even told my family and a few close friends. I'm not sure why. I think it mainly had to do with the fact I was very sick, very grumpy, and had a huge case of baby rage. Hormonally induced anger isn't fun for anyone really. I didn't want to talk about it. Pregnancy is very hard for me, extremely hard. But babies? Babies I love. But I was pregnant. I promise. Very pregnant. See very unattractive photo (where I'm rocking my too small shirt over my gigantic belly) above as proof.

So my due date was March 11th. March 11th also happens to be Mosey's birthday. I stressed for months about the boys having the same birthday. Silly me. Mosey came 13 days late. Why did I even entertain the thought that his baby brother would be any different? March 11th came and went with nary a pain. My doctor suggested induction but I wasn't really keen on the idea so we waited. And waited. And waited some more. 8 days past my due date I was done. I was giant and so very tired. My amniotic fluid was dwindling and so I agreed to an induction the next day (much to the surprise of my husband).

I really liked my doctor. He understood my fears. Mosey's birth 3 years ago was quite traumatic for everyone involved really. I was so afraid that it was going to happen again. That I wouldn't be able to hold my baby right away, that he would end up in the NICU for days. That instead of the normal chill post-birth bonding experience that I had missed out on before, I'd be spending my time sitting in the NICU waiting for (hoping for) my baby to be okay.

I was against induction for many reasons. I truly believe that babies comes when they are ready. I didn't want to force my little boy out before he could deal with the world. Also, the drugs/interventions necessary for induction pave the way for further drugs/interventions. I didn't want anything to get in the way of this boy having the best chance of a normal healthy birth.

My doctor understood. He gave me options and let me set the pace. We started out with the least invasive option on Thursday afternoon. we got some results but nothing substantial or labor inducing. Around 1 pm on Friday I agreed to bring in the "big guns" and let them hook me up to the drugs. Still nothing. I didn't want my water broken. I was afraid I wouldn't even go into labor for almost 24 hours after and then I'd labor for 14 hours (like I did with Moses) and therefore end up in a situation I was not happy with.

Around 4pm I relented and let the midwife break my water. Our baby was born an hour later. To say it was intense is an understatement. But baby Freddy was born without a single complication. They didn't take him away from me. He was breathing and his heart was beating. It was perfect. I was so happy and so relieved. 9 plus months of worrying wears on you.

** Moments after his birth. You can see the relief on my face I feel. I even apologized for trying to bite Andreas. Twice. I told you, its was really intense. Don't judge me.**

Frederik Thor
Friday March 21 @ 5:06 pm
4.01 kg (8 lbs 13 oz) and 53 cm (20.8 in)

"He's kissing me Mama!" To say Moses was excited is an understatement. One month later he's still as excited. Although teaching him to not express said excitement so forcefully is another thing all together.

 Andreas parents came down the next day to say hi.

Can I tell you how much I love this photo? Look at Freddy's face?! My mom came into town a few days before he was born. It was prefect. And then she stayed for 4 weeks. It was so nice. I loved having her here. Moses got to know his grandma better. She was so helpful! I had someone adult to talk to during the day. Come back Mom. I miss you!

 So, sadly, unless you are rich and have fancy private insurance your husband isn't allowed to stay in the hospital with you. So, Andreas would go home, put Mosey to bed, and then come back and hang out with me for a few hours. I think it tired him out. Andreas is the best husband ever for many reasons. He doesn't even hold the biting against me. I mean, come on, that's gotta be hard.

 After a few days in the hospital I was ready to go home. Honestly, mostly it was because I missed Moses. I'd never even been away from him overnight before and although he was doing great he was starting to crumble.

We don't have a car. So we went home from the hospital by bus with baby Freddy secure strapped into the Ergo.