I was put on bedrest by my physician when I was about 28 weeks with the twins. He told me if I made it to 36 weeks I could come off of bedrest, since twins were usually considred term at 38 weeks instead of the usual 40. God's way of protecting them, I think, multiples mature faster in the womb than singletons.
Well, you can imagine, I was very, very anxious to get off bedrest. I had two other children at home to care for, and Emily was only two.
When he let me off bedrest at 36 weeks, I immediately began doing all the walking I could to try and get labor started. To no avail.
Imagine my frustration. I'd spent weeks in bed to keep labor from starting, and now that I could get up, labor wouldn't start!
During this time I was being monitored closely, as all expectant Moms of twins are. I was having weekly non-stress tests and ultrasounds.
WE made the decision, my doctor and I (wonderful doctor was back now, his kids were all away at college so he picked the OB practice back up) to try and deliver them because both twins were head down.
Then, an ultrasound revealed Baby B had flipped over and was now a footling breech. Not good.
In most cases, this meant automatic C-section. Dr. Wonderful, however, did not want me recovering from a c-section with two newborns, a toddler, and an 8 year old at home. So, he called me into his office, and I sat there while he began calling the maternal/fetal medicine specialist at UAB that did high-risk deliveries. The decided that since it was my third pregnancy, I was in good health, and the first baby was vertex presentation that it would be okay to try a breech delivery on Baby B. His exact words were "Ok, I'm gonna deliver Baby A, then I'm gonna reach up and grab Baby B's ankle, and pull her out."
So that was our plan. I went into labor on Memorial Day when I was 37 and a half weeks pregnant. Very good for twins, they were considered term.
I labored in the hospital for about four hours, had my epidural in, and things were progressing very well. Then, all of a sudden, I called the nurse and said "I'm ready to deliver."
She said, "We'll get the doc to come check you again."
I said "No, I'm ready to deliver NOW." It was my third child, I knew I was in the bearing down stage, and I knew that this baby would be born soon, whether the staff was ready or not. She called the doc, and sure enough, I was 10 cms, and Baby A was ready.
They rushed me to the OR, all multiples are delivered there, because of the high risk of c-section. I was given the same epidural that I would have had if I were scheduled for a section, because everyone knew if there was any problem with Baby B I would have to have the C-sec.
Dr. Wonderful got ready and said "I'll count, if I tell you to breathe I want you to breathe and not push." I said "Let's go!"
He says "Okay, PUSH! One, two, STOP! breathe, breathe, okay."
Daniel, Baby A, was born on the first push. I think I pushed all of 3-4 seconds. I told them I was ready!
Well, the moment he was delivered, Dr. W went to work on Baby B. But the plan of grabbing her ankle didn't work. As soon as brother vacated the premises, she decided she liked having the joint to herself and stretched out.
She went from a footling breech presentation to trasverse - sideways.
Dr. W decided to try and turn her, even though the anesthesiologist and every person in the OR was prepping me for a c-section. He turned her externally, he told me later that they didn't do internal versions anymore, the risks of injury was too high. So, using pressure on the outside of my uterus, he maneuvered her into position - head down. Then he used forceps to further situate her, and help deliver her. I had to push about 4-5 times and then she was there. Perfectly healthy, and not a mark on her. I had to be told about the forceps later, because she had no marks no bruising or anything.
Dr. W is awesome.
Daniel was 6 lbs 5 oz and Abigail was 5 lbs 14 oz. They went home with me two days later.
And I'm done. Very done. Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Since it was asked why anyone wouldn't want an epidural, I'll repeat that sometimes they only take on one side. And they cost like $600. And if you are on an epidural, at least in my case, they wait for the doctor to arrive to deliver the baby. And they weren't able to get the catheter it and there weren't any nerves... you get the picture.
I thought I was a fast pusher, but my sister just had a baby in one push, which is really dangerous because the shoulders need to be let through one at a time. The shoulders typically do more damage than the head. The doctor wasn't applying counterpressure because he was doing his episiotomy. (edit: bad word- she tore horribly in addition to the episiotomy. He was like "it would have been even worse without the episiotomy" but I'm thinking it would have been better if he'd been paying attention.) But this baby wasn't 9 lbs either. He was about average.
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Jexx, no truce is necessary, dear. I am not accusing you or anyone of having the attitude that makes me angry, I think hatrackers are better than that.
No one wants to get me started on the breast feeding issue.
With all apologies to Ela, whom I really wish had been my nurse, I have a really bad taste in my mouth when it comes to breast feeding consultants in hospitals. Twice I dealt with them, after baby one and two, and the second time my husband had to ask them to leave. I couldn't do it because I was crying.
When a woman has just given birth, I don't think it's anyone's place to come into her room and try to put guilt trips on her. Education about breast feeding is abundantly available to women before they give birth, I had videos and books and all kinds of info, and I wanted to breast feed, but it didn't work out for me. What I did not need was someone making me feel like I didn't love my child enough to try harder. I think after someone gets to the hospital and tells the staff "I intend to bottle feed" that should be the end of it. No one should question her decision at that point.
And yet, I had "breast nazis" (my husband's term) coming in to make sure that was really what I wanted after Emily's birth. After all, if I just knew all the benefits and all the recommendations from pediatricians about breast feeding, they just KNOW that I love my child enough to try it. This was my 2nd child. Breast feeding didn't work with child one, and I didn't want to go through it again. Since she was perfectly healthy and perfectly brilliant (and still is ) I didn't have the slightest hesitation about bottle feeding again.
But of course, their statements, gave the implication that I didn't love my child enough. It sent me into hysterics. It probably wouldn't now, I'd laugh and tell them where to go, but they approached me when I was still reeling from the hormonal effects and the emotions of childbirth, I was quite vulnerable. What's worse - they didn't leave - they kept at me until my husband had to actually raise his voice and get mean in order for them to get out of our room! We sent a written complaint to the hospital.
With the twins, I told my labor and delivery nurse that I was bottle feeding and I didn't want any visits from anyone that was going to try and convince me otherwise and she laughed and said "Oh, so you must have had previous experiences with the breast nazis."
Yes, the nurse used the same term we did. *shakes head* So, I doubt mine was an isolated case. In fact, I know it wasn't, too many friends of mine have been through similar experiences, and at different hospitals.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Ah yes, I think I remember this anecdote from another thread. Either that, or there are more Breast Nazi memes floating around. Hehe.
I have to say that at the hospital I was at when CR was born, the lactation consultant was very respectful and came in to ask if I needed help or information. I did, she helped, and when I told her I intended to supplement with formula, she was supportive of that, as well. Now I have heard the opposite story from my aforementioned friend (who was in tears at the time, right after having had a baby, and having a consultant harangue her in much the same manner as you describe). Disgusting.
Made it to due date with minor dilation and effacing, frequent Braxton-Hicks. No baby.
Two days past due date, two hours of contractions, fairly strong, very unpleasant, five minutes apart. Called my brother to come baby-sit, headed for the hospital. Maybe 10 PM.
At triage, discovered I was still less than 2cm. Walked. And walked. And walked. Two hours of walking, contractions steady mostly; but not entirely regular.
Still 2cm! Sent me home. Eventually fell asleep about 2 AM -- awoken by chirpy toddler at 6. Bleh. Contractions gone.
Wait. Visit doctor -- 3 cm. Wait. Schedule induction for the 2-week-post date. Ta da! 24 hours later, contractions again. They speed up, they slow down, they are NEVER regular. It was Friday, and now getting close to Shabbos. (Being in labor is a medical emergency -- may drive to the hospital on Shabbos. Getting back home if it were false labor would NOT be an emergency, so more problematic.) Go now to avoid having to drive on Shabbos? Or stay home, to avoid the likelihood of getting stuck at the hospital with false labor again?
Contractions slowed again. Ok, stay home. Called my parents to let them know the situation. 30 minutes later (now less than 45 minutes before sunset), they jumped from 8-10 minutes apart to 4. Change in plans! Kid went to next-door neighbor. My father zoomed over, picked us up, dropped us and my mom off at the hospital, and made it home with about five minutes to spare.
Got to skip triage, because I had been in a week before AND my doctor had said I was at 3cm two days before. In fact, when checked in my room, was at 4cm. AROM? Sure, if it'll help. Boy, howdy, did it ever! Contractions became far more intense and closer together.
Walking (and being able to walk was such a relief!) helped for a while. (Somewhere about here, my doctor showed up.) When the contractions got worse, the nurse suggested a hot shower. Pounding hot water, right on my aching back and abdomen was SO helpful -- I think I leaned/squatted on a chair. Then I started wanting to sit.
So the nurse and my mom got me out of the shower, and started drying me off, and I got the shivers big time, and wanted to push. Back to the bed! Yep, 10 cm!
Very shortly thereafter, one little boy arrived on the scene, yelling his little head off.
Time since arrival at hospital: just over three hours. My doctor sewed up the episiotomy (or was it a tear? anyway, fairly minor) and checked me over, then left.
That was when the problems started . . . Apparently, my uterus wasn't firming up properly and the bleeding wasn't slowing. Which meant more pitocin, a check for placental fragments (YEOWCH!), and then the nurses took turns pushing HARD on my abdomen. Now was when I really wanted drugs!
About when they were thinking that maybe they needed to get my doctor back here , all the torture finally started to work.
That was a VERY different recovery! Because of all the blood I had lost, I was told not to get out of bed without a nurse -- not that I wanted to try for about 12 hours! I then managed to faint, even with her help. So then it was, "Don't get out of bed without TWO nurses!"
I was in bed for weeks (which was difficult with a toddler, but people helped), and on high doses of iron pills for MONTHS.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Oh, you know, one of those things they don't tell you is how much more it hurts when the uterus contracts after delivering subsequent babies. One nurse mentioned it in passing while I was on the hospital tour, so I was a *little* prepared, but not much. Major ouch for weeks afterward everytime I breastfed.
Belle, I'm with you about the breastfeeding nazis. I was very fortunate for the most part...with Christian I had a friend who was also a lactation specialist, so she helped me when I was really struggling and wanted to give up. The best thing I learned with my daughter was 'get that baby on the breast pronto'. She suckled right away, just moments after delivery, and only had a problem when we came home (of course). With Christian, he developed problems breathing very soon after delivery, and so we didn't get a chance to try breastfeeding until he was a day old.
These stories are SO much fun to read. I'm really enjoying them.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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*dryly* Actually, I had the worst afterpains (at first) with my second, not my third. Could have something to do with the fact that nobody sat on my abdomen after my third . . .
But yeah, they do tend to get worse with each pregnancy.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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This one I really wanted to have via mid-wife at home because baby #1 had released me from any fear of what childbirth was all about, and I really felt we could handle it. No sweat.
However, about 20 weeks in, I began spotting. I drove to the doctor, where she said, "yep, you're miscarrying -- definately fetal tissue here. I'm so sorry." I was in tears when she sent me off to the hospital for a D&C because since I was bleeding but not contracting, they are always worried about infection setting in, etc.
Hospital policy was to have a sonogram before a D&C though (for you guys -- a D&C is when they kind of "clean" out the whole uterus). My husband got to the hospital about the time they were wheeling me in for sonogram. (he later got fired for rushing out of work when I calld, without telling his boss where he was going!). Anyway -- sonogram showed healthy, heart-beating baby! Doctor comes in somewhat amazed. She says, "I know you miscarried because I actually saw and had the tissue of the dead fetus. So you must have been carrying fraternal twins."
She also informed me that since I had been bleeding and my cervix was opened (like 6 cm) that my chances of keeping this baby was less than 10% "once the body starts a miscarriage, it continues through it." I was so overjoyed at the sight of the baby still there, that I never really felt the grief for the one I lost.
So she put me flat on my back in a hospital bed and "waited" for the contractions to start and the miscarriage to complete itself. I called my pastor and a group of people came up and prayed over me (okay - you atheists - go ahead and roll your eyes here). I told the doctor, "it will be okay now - I'm going to keep this baby."
Two days later, my cervix closed up, there was no more bleeding, and the doctor sent me home, amazed. She herself said, "well, I am scheduled to give a speech to a group of Methodist women next week, and I wondered what in the world to talk about -- but you have just shown me what to say."
I had to be on bed rest for six weeks until I was stir crazy, then finally doctor said, "okay -- do whatever you want - I guess you're fine."
The evening of August 10th, 1987, I felt some mild contractions when getting ready for bed, but figured they were braxton-hick (I hadn't yet figured out that all my kids were always going to be three weeks early). I awoke about 6 AM and still was having contractions. Woke my husband, told him they were getting stronger. Called my mom to come stay with child #1 (took her about 20 minutes to get there.
Got in the car and I immediately started going into final phase labor. I was panting and trying to remember everything Lamaze had taught me. We were 25 miles from the hospital -- rush hour traffic. My husband drove 80+ and was passing people on the shoulder, running with flashers on, and I didn't care! I had my seat in full recline mode and didn't think I would make it. (yes, I know now that we should have called an ambulance.)
Got to the hospital 7:55 AM, they walk out when he goes to get them, and they say, "Oh my God!" when they see I'm in full transition, rush me into the elevator and were DISROBING me in the elevator! Did one of those things where they didn't let the elevator stop on any other floors.
Rush me into delivery -- My doc had been having coffee in the coffeeshop and got there right about the time the nurse caught my son being born at 8:05 AM!
Best labor I ever had -- short, sweet, and didn't let me get too tired. It was all so easy. Got to hold him right away an keep him with me all day. They let me go home with him later that day.
Okay -- now something that some of you might think is strange -- but this is my personal opinion. This particular child of mind has ALWAYS had an imaginary "friend." Most children do at some point or other in their lives, but he has always had one -- and it is a girl, who he calls Amy. He is 16 now, and Amy is still very real to him (even though he will no longer discuss it much because it isn't cool to be 16 and have an imaginary friend).
quote: they don't tell you is how much more it hurts when the uterus contracts after delivering
Man! I agree with that. I would rather go through delivery three more times than deal with the pain of those after-birth uterine contractions (and when the nurses come in and PUSH on your uterus to make it contract more!) I definately took pain killers for that part after delivery!
With both of my pregnancies, as soon as my uterus was big enough to feel, I began to have Braxton Hicks. You know, that uncomfortable tightening of the tummy. They’re just like regular contractions, except there is no pain.
So I was pretty used to feeling my tummy squeezing, and as I got into the seventh month, there was also a feeling of pressure near the, for lack of a better term, exit area.
With two months to go, I was already dilated a centimeter or so. The doctor told me, “I don’t like to get ahead of myself with these things, but I don’t think you’ll go much longer. Don’t be too active and keep that baby in there as long as you can.”
“How will I know when I’m having real contractions?” I asked”
“Don’t worry, you will have no doubt.”
I obeyed, and used doctor’s orders as an excuse to sit on my bum as Jes made the moving plans and did all the heavy lifting.
One month before “Little Jesse” was due, (that what we were calling him by then), we moved into our new apartment. The baby hadn’t budged and I was beginning to wish that he would. The doctor checked me at my next exam.
“Two centimeters. Won’t be long now.”
She reassured me that I would have no problem distinguishing real contractions from the “fake” ones.
By now the Braxton Hicks were less comfortable, and I would have to stop walking when I would have one. I couldn’t lie down without someone in the room, because my hips would pop out of place and I wouldn’t be able to get up by myself without excruciating pain.
Four weeks later, as I scrubbed the floor every three hours trying to make my body go into labor and pondered quick and easy ways to kill myself, I was finally dilated to four centimeters.
“So what do I do?” I asked the doctor.
“We can induce you, but since you want to be as natural as possible, I suggest you wait until you go into labor on your own.”
So I went BACK home and sat on the couch watching soaps for another week. It was the most miserable time of my life. My husband had begun taking me to his mom’s in the morning in case I went into labor while he was at work.
Jeannine did her best to keep me distracted. She never let me eat solid food while I was there, confident that I would go into labor any minute and start vomiting.
It was finally she that made me lay down and time my “Braxton Hicks” even though they were causing no pain and didn’t seem like “real” contractions.
“Three minutes apart,” she said. “Call the doctor, we’re taking you in.”
I was skeptical and assumed I’d be coming back home, because I was sure that I couldn’t be in real labor…there was not supposed to be any doubt.
We called Jes and he met us there.
“Yep, you’re six centimeters,” said the nurse.
“Am I going home again?” I asked.
She just laughed and laughed.
They hooked me up the monitor and I watched in fascination as my contractions peaked higher than any other woman’s in the hospital…even those in pushing stage.
I still felt no pain.
Dr. Chin showed up finally, to break my water.
I smiled in amazement through the first contraction, unable to believe the luck I had at labor. No pain yet.
They suggested I stand up and walk around, to help the labor.
They IV’ed me, helped me get up, and I took a step.
Contraction number two hit.
I sat back down.
“Ummmm…” I gasped for air. “Can you tell the visitors that I can’t see them now?”
The next four hours have been well described in previous posts. As contractions would hit, I would pray in my head, or sing hymns. As they got more intense, the hymns would speed up in my mind, getting faster and faster until they really held no meaning anymore.
Thank the Lord that no one tried to talk to me while I was in labor, except for a reassuring “You’re doing good” from Jes at random intervals. All I could do was shake my head.
The only other sound was a squeak, squeak, squeak from my mother-n-law’s new shoes.
The worst part was that I had been told that the contractions would have moments in between with little pain, so that you could catch your breath and prepare yourself for the next one. I wasn’t lucky enough to have anything like that. I was in back labor, which anyone can tell you makes the pain of labor even MORE unbearable, and there is no pause between contractions, just a momentary slackening. Still extremely painful. During the contractions I would have an urge to vomit, which I encouraged. Anything would be better than the contractions. My mother-in-law held up one of those tiny little kidney shaped bowls for me to puke into. I doubted that my aim was that good. Luckily for Jeannine, I never threw up.
Four hours of back labor. Right before I started pushing, I could feel the baby’s head crowning, and my doctor was no where in sight.
I summoned my strength to tell her that the baby was coming. She didn’t look concerned…until she took a peek.
“Call Dr. Chin! We’re delivering here! Call the on-call!” She turned to me and started putting on latex gloves. “I’m so sorry…Dr. Chin went home. We didn’t expect you to deliver for several more hours.”
“Then who has to deliver the baby, if she doesn’t get here in time?” I gasped.
“The On-Call doctor.”
“The baby is coming NOW,” I said. “Get down there and catch. I trust you.”
Dr. Chin walked in while putting on her scrubs. She hadn’t left the hospital yet, thank goodness. I pushed for close to an hour, due to the fact that I had no bearing down stage. No episiotomy. Jesse was born at 22:55.
I lay in bed shaking, afraid to hold my son for fear that I would drop him. I felt tons better though, right up until they told me that it was time to deliver the afterbirth.
The doctor gestured to a nurse who had just walked in, and asked her to help with the massage. I looked at the nurse she was speaking to.
One word came to mind as I looked at the six feet and two hundred pounds of pure militant femininity.
“Helga.”
“Helga” leaned on my stomach while the doctor pulled. I actually put both hands on “Helga’s” wrist and tried to pull her hand away from my spine, screaming at the top of my lungs. I pleaded with Jes to stop her. He was too busy holding our son to hear me. That pain was AT LEAST as bad as the pain of labor, although it only lasted a few moments.
Afterwards I was wheeled into my room and given a stale turkey sandwich. It was the most delicious thing I had ever eaten.
After I'd delivered my son, my doctor (who was 7 months pregnant herself) delivered the placenta and put it in a stainless steel pan. After delivering my son and his big round head, delivering the placenta was no big deal for me. It was 7:45a or thereabouts. The student nurse who was observing turned to the head nurse and asked, "What do they do with it after they make sure it's all intact?"
The head nurse replied with a straight face, "We take it to the cafeteria and they make placenta pie out of it." Then she smiled wickedly and said "Yum!"
I was being stitched up at the time, and burst out laughing, which earned a scold from my doctor.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Yes, the contractions getting worse after each subsequent baby - I can relate. Especially after the twins, it was almost as bad as labor pains. The doc said because my uterus was so large, from carrying both of them, it had so much more contracting to do. Very painful. But, temporary, the next morning all that pain had stopped.
I did recover my feet quicker after each birth, I was up and moving around pretty good after the twins.
A friend of mine who has six children said after number six, she was ready to go jogging a few hours after the birth! Not that I'd ever want to test that theory by having more....
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I actually did nurse both my girls until about 10 months. Just as DangerBaby was born, we had an in-home visit from a nurse (well, we had several on account of the baby-in-a-box jaundice), who asked the usual questions and if I was nursing DangerBaby. Yes, I was. And how about DangerGirl? I told her that I had nursed her for 10 months, and then (in a fit of defensiveness that I now regret) that I had gotten gallstones, had to go on a fatfree diet, and DGirl had quit growing. So, duh, we went to formula. "Well, we do recommend a whole year, you know..." she replies. And goes on to essentially tell me I'm not good enough as a mom.
Holy cow. Did you not hear me, lady, about the whole quitting-growing thing, not to mention the drugs from the surgery? And I think 10 months is pretty dang good. Formula does not give babies brain-damage, nor does it doom them to a life of crime. It's just ridiculous how some people act as though you're an awful mother if you don't nurse them, full-time, for a whole year. Nursing is great and all, but it's not All-Important. Geez Louise.
Posts: 335 | Registered: Feb 2001
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Will post my story when I have more time...
Epidurals = MAJOR WILLIES for me, though!! I will do just about anything to avoid hospitals and needles. Especially when they are Unnecessary!
Posts: 3141 | Registered: Apr 2000
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This thread was a really good idea! It is marvelous fun to read everyone's stories. I had three children, and here is the birth story of the first.
Child#1
I asked my mother who had three children the first three with pain med and the last three without, if I should get an epidural. She said she definitely recommended it with the first child because that birth is likely to be the hardest and you have never experienced childbirth before. So I decided I would probably get one, but wait until the contractions weren't managable.
I went to a local doctor that had been recommended to me. He was widely regarded as one of the most skilled, particularly with foreceps delivery. I didn't like him. He was very willing to "chat" during appointments, but he would always get on his soapbox and preach his own agenda rather than really answering my question. I remember the time I asked him, "What can I do about the severe swelling in my feet?" He curtly replies with a smile, "Nothing." End of conversation.
A couple weeks before due date I had no signs of readiness and he told me I would probably be late because so many first-time-mothers are. Irrationally, this ticked me off. So when on the night before my next appointment I began to go into labor, I was determined to show up for my appt (week before EDC) and "stick it to him." "See? You were wrong!"
As dawn approached, it became clear that I wouldn't make it to that appt. I was in a lot of discomfort when we arrived at the hospital. I remember my doctor coming in to break my water. He said, meaning to be funny, "You think it hurts now? Just wait till I break your water!" I don't know what he did in there, but breaking my water caused by far the most severe, intense pain I felt that day. Every "check" was painful for me. But he was right, the contractions were so much harder! I couldn't smile, I couldn't respond well to questions, I couldn't even look at a human face. All those things broke my concentration and made labor harder to cope with. It wasn't long till that I got an epidural.
And oh the relief! I could smile again, laugh, feel relaxed and happy. I could enjoy the birth of my child! One thing, though, I was so very dead down there that when someone said, "Your leg fell off the table," I said, "Which one?"
After the epidural, my progress slowed. When I reached full dialation, the nurses said it was time to "rest and descend," a fancy term for, "the doctor doesn't have time for you yet."
After an hour of "rest and descend," someone determined it was time for me to push. I did, but it was hard to do right and progress was slow. A nurse came to me and said, "The doctor can use forceps and have that baby out in just a few minutes." I don't know if this meant they thought I needed forceps, but considering my doctor's expertise in forceps and the option of having my baby out very quickly, I said yes.
It was like a tug of war, and that was very strange. But before I knew it, Sanford was out in his 9'3" glory! I remember asking the doctor, "So, did I not need an episiotomy?" He said, "No, I gave you one." Now that really ticked me off. I didn't even know it had been done! He not only didn't ask my permission, he didn't even tell me what he had done to my body! Right then I silently resolved not to deal with this particular man again.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Here is my birth story for Superstation. I don't have one written for Mooselet. I posted this on AmericanBaby.com. You can check there for many birth stories on their bulletin boards. I haven't had a chance to read the others here yet.
Hopefully this is not more information than you actually wanted to know...
As most of you know, we were set to be induced at 7:30AM on Wednesday, November 19th. When I saw the doctor on Monday (17th) I was 3 ½ cm dilated and 80-90% effaced. At about 7:30 Tuesday night my contractions jumped from every 10 minutes (painless b&h contractions) to painful labor contractions averaging every 5 minutes. We called the hospital at about 8:15. They said I could come in "if I wanted to." Of course I wanted to come in. We left home at 8:45. We arrived in labor and delivery at about 9:10. They did not have any clean rooms so they sent us to the waiting room. After 20-25 minutes I asked Pop to go check to see how much longer it would be. I seemed to be in much greater pain than the other two women waiting. Finally, they took me to a triage room with one of the other women. I think they thought I had a long way to go because my contractions were 5 minutes apart when I called. I had told them that with my first I went from 5 to 10 cm in less than two hours. Anyway, once they hooked me up to the monitors they checked my cervix. I was 8 cm dilated! The nurse said that they needed to get me to a room. No kidding!!! I could have told you that! Within minutes I was in a room. I continually asked about the timing for an epidural, because I knew it would be close to the time that it would be too late for me to get one. After a few minutes the doctor came in and broke my water (lots and lots of water, especially compared to my first pregnancy). After that all hell broke loose contraction wise. I couldn't even concentrate on breathing right. After a while I was really begging for some drugs. It was definitely too late for an epidural, but I was hoping for some help. The nurse told me to try to hang on for 10 more minutes. Finally I just couldn't handle it so she left to get the o.k. from the doctor (they hadn't even started an iv yet). While she was gone I felt like I was going to have a BM and I pushed a little. Suddenly I got scared and felt more pressure in a different area. I told Pop to go get the nurse. She came in and felt down there. She said, "stay on your side and DON'T PUSH. His head is right there." She ran out to get the doctor. He came in. They kept telling me not to push until the doctor could get his gloves on (and while they broke down the table). I pushed for a minute and Superstation was here. I had some pretty good tearing (which was fun being stitched up without meds). His face was a little bruised just because he came so quickly. He was born at 10:22PM, just over an hour after we arrived at the hospital. Natural was certainly not my planned route, and I would prefer not to do it that way again. At least it went quickly since I didn't get drugs. They did finally start an iv while the doctor was stitching me up.
This certainly was not the "average" labor. Good luck!
posted
I love reading all these birth stories, though that is a dangerous thing for me to do......
I will admit, the major reason I avoided drugs is not philosphy or health, but the fear of needles. Hubby always had to schedule to come to the MW with me when I had a blood draw...I usually come close to fainting.
Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Well, after my bad experience with the previous doctor, I tried a new female addition to the same obstetrician group. If it is possible, she was a worse choice for me. She was hardly ever available, and when she was, she was curt and untalkative--all business. She wouldn't even sit and let me "chat" like my previous dr. Coincidentally, she wasn't available for the birth either.
Our little Athena breathed into our lives as gracefully as an angel. We were in the midst of moving just a couple weeks before due date. Sanford had come a week early, so there was some additional concern there. We prayed for her to not come during this time of great upheaval, but to come at the best time for us/her/everyone. We had just put up all the pictures on the walls (finishing touch in moving-in) and my mother had just arrived, and we got her settled in and all went to bed. In the wee hours, I was awoken to sudden pain. I thought I would have time to shower, like I did with my first, but while in the shower, the contractions were just bowling me over. I was white with fear. Labor had hit like a ton of bricks.
After bidding my mother farewell (our oldest hadn't even seen her yet, and would be waking up to us gone) we rushed off to the hospital. My progress was exceedingly fast, the nurse found me deep in active labor.
I was not dealing with the contractions well, but this wonderful nurse helped me so much. She coached me well, so well, that after awhile I appeared to be dealing with the contractions easily. Inside it was hell, though. She suggested that I go natural because I was entering transitional labor and the contractions wouldn't get any worse than they already were. I thought about it for a moment, but I realized I was totally unprepared to deal with the pushing. I had no idea what to expect, and that frightened me. They had to wake an anesthesiologist, and I got my epidural.
After that, it was "rest and descend" again. No doctor available. A bulging sac of waters kept Athena deep up in the birth canal despite my full dialation. The nurse was not really allowed to break the waters, but with each "check" she sure tried for my sake. She knew that if the waters broke, the doctors would have to attend to me. No luck, that sack was tough! There was nothing to do but wait. My tired and bored husband fell asleep. I tried to sleep, but couldn't, so I began calling loved ones. Still, this was a profoundly boring time.
Finally the on-call doctor came in, broke my waters, and in a few pushes, Athena was born with her perfectly round, unsquished head.
Things went so quickly and easily, that the words of the nurse haunted my memories, "Why don't you go natural?" The idea still terrified me, and I didn't know it yet, but my next birth would be natural by choice.
It was just a few days before I got a positive pregnancy test, and I was talking to a friend. She was near her due date, and was preparing for her second natural child birth. She told me of the wonderful midwives she was seeing and of how she didn't go to any class for the first one, just read a lot and prepared herself. She really gave me a new perspective on a lot of things, so much so, that I left her house determined to check out the midwives and was even toying with the idea of natural child birth.
My husband thought it was just a phase that I was going through. Why would I ever be crazy enough to not want pain medication? I knew I needed a trusted woman to be with me in order to make it. My husband is great, but he has a hard enough time dealing with my labor as it is.
I read everything I could get my hands on. I read about Lamaze, Bradly, Hypnobirthing, more. I read hundreds of birth stories. I became quite interested in hypnobirthing, though I didn't expect it to yield the "painless" birth it promised. My dear sister-in-law, a massage therapist, agreed to assist my birth. I was overjoyed!
I downloaded beautiful, calming pictures off the internet and put them into a folder. I collected 13 hours of my most favorite peaceful music and put it on one MP3 disc. I practiced relaxing to hypnosis tapes. I tried an experiment with my husband where he would apply an "indian burn" to my arm while I was in deep relaxation. The effects were quite encouraging. I drank red raspberry leaf tea.
Two months before the birth, my midwife happened to check me because I was considering going on a vacation. She found me partially dialated and we cancelled our plans. She put me on near bedrest to keep me from premature labor. My sister-in-law came over most every morning and helped me with chores so that I wouldn't over-work myself.
After all that resting and the threat of early labor and the first two coming before their due dates, I was almost offended when this baby hadn't come yet! Both my parents came out for this one, and they were here half a week with no baby. I tell you, I tried everything I could think of to get the baby to come! I had been dialated to a 6 for the last month too.
There were many false alarms. You should have seen me jogging up and down my street in an effort to encourage labor. One day we thought for sure it was the real thing, and I should have gone to the hospital because they would have ensured that labor continue. But I wanted to stay home as long as possible, and the contractions died away.
Finally I broke down and went to the midwife to have my membranes stripped. She assured me that I could go to the hospital now and they wouldn't turn me away. I thanked her, but I was terrified they would give me pitocin and ruin my chances of natural childbirth.
There were some regular contractions, but they didn't seem to be going anywhere. Just like before. So I turned to my hubby for help, and after some intimate time together, things started up real good again. (We had tried this before, didn't work.) I was tired of waiting, and we headed out for the hospital a bit before midnight. I was so overjoyed when I had some amniotic leakage on the way! I thought, now there's no turning back!
It was so wonderful to have my music playing and my personal masseuse rubbing my hands and feet with scented lotion. I welcomed each contraction, they felt good to me because finally we were getting somewhere!! I was able to smile, laugh, joke, unlike my two previous experiences.
Then back labor hit. I had never experienced it before. My sister-in-law had brought her massage chair (you sit in it leaning forward) and I spent transitional labor sitting in it. The contractions were almost unbearable. I began to feel nauseous (something I was worried would happen) since I was kinda in shock, but my massage therapist sis would use the pressure point we had discussed and the feeling subsided. Because of the back labor, she would push deeply on my back, and I would moan in a very primal, animal way.
My midwife heard me, and knew it was almost time. She was wonderful! The perfect coach. She said all the right things, said just what I needed to hear. She urged me to the bed for a check, and I was nearly ready with an "anterior lip".
Suddenly, though, something was terribly wrong. They kept telling me to change position, propping up one side with pillows then the other. I heard them say "90s" and I realized they were talking about my baby's heartbeat! I panicked.
Then I told her I was going onto my hands and knees. I had done so much reading, and from what I read, this position would help with an anterior lip and could help rotate the baby who might be slightly posterior with all the pain in my back. It could also help with the distress. I gave birth in this position because once in it, I refused to get out of it.
The pushing was an ordeal!! Like nothing I have ever experienced. I was being told to push when my body wasn't ready to yet. Then when the urge hit, it was terrible! I was being told to do something that caused myself more and more pain. It felt like a huge, solid boulder passing through my body. Throughout the pushing, I was making a high-pitched, supressed scream and burying my face in the sheets. They gave me an oxygen mask to help my troubled baby and told me strictly that I must breathe for her sake.
I stretched and stretched more than I thought possible. Just when I thought it was at its worst, no, there was more. The head was out--relief. But the shoulders!!!!!! That was the worst. Then suddenly, all pain was gone, pure, peaceful, blessed relief. I had done it. It was incredible. It was easier and harder than I could have imagined both at the same time.
I couldn't hold my whooping 9'6" baby Ivy for my trembling and discomfort at being stitched up and having my tummy punched to death (arguably the most painful part of all.) It had all happened in under 2 hours.
I bled terribly after the birth and lost a lot of blood. The medicine they gave me made me terribly sick with the worst diarrhea I had had since spending 18 months in the third-world. NOT a good thing after giving birth!!
Going natural was so amazing and I intend to do it again. Am I crazy? Maybe.
posted
Most of our birth story is contained in this thread so I won't repeat. I would like to chime in on the lactation consultants though. We met a few good ones (I know of at least one other here on Hatrack!) but the one at our hospital while we were there was ba-a-ad. She was rather rough trying to get Thomas to latch on (not hurting him, but startling him so he cried instead of drinking).
Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Is there something about third kids and anterior lips? Hmm.
Child the third:
Having had one child induced a week before my EDC who most likely would have stayed put at least another week without help, and a second who was born at EDC+9, I knew there was a good chance that child number three would be late. Until the end of my eight month, when the Braxton-Hicks got far more intense and frequent than they with either of the other two. And my doctor checked me and said I was at least 2 cm already.
Hmm, maybe it will be early after all! Good thing I had arranged for a substitute to cover my class starting the first week of school (my due date was Sept. 15, and it was now early-to-mid August). My doctor was a bit concerned that I make to it 37 weeks, but figured it shouldn't be a problem -- no bed rest, but no major exertion.
37 weeks came -- no baby, still at 2cm, the B-H were frequent and painful, and I was frustrated. People kept seeing me and asking, "Are you still pregnant."
I let them live . . .
38 weeks. 39. Every day, thinking it could be any time; each day, the B-H contractions failed to morph into the real ones, although there were several times (3, I think) where we almost headed to hospital -- but after the false labor with #2, I wasn't going till I was SURE. Each time, after a few hours of fairly regular contractions, they would taper off.
Rosh Hashona and my due-date came, and went. Now I was overdue, and that meant twice-weekly trips to the doc for no-stress-tests. Yom Kippur came, and I figured that would do it -- fasting frequently triggers labor (in Israel, the highest number of deliveries per day is the day after Yom Kippur). My doctor laughed, told me I was barely-kinda-sorta at 3cm, and said to go ahead and try it. (She also did an ultrasound, said everything looked great, and estimated that this baby would be 7 pounds (like my second).)
Fasted. No dice. *sigh* My doctor scheduled an induction for EDC+14. I wasn't sure whether I was willing to be induced again, if the baby was staying healthy, and was trying to decide whether to push her to let me go longer.
EDC+12, the B-H were nasty little annoyances all day -- as they had been each of three other times. Then, in the early evening, they stopped -- AGAIN. I cried.
When I calmed down, I went out back to the succah (it was the middle of Succos), to join my spouse and the neighbors were sitting and chatting. After I'd been sitting for a while, the contractions started again. My neighbor saw my discomfort, and asked if I was having contractions (she knew about the on-again,off-again B-Hs), and I said, "Yeah, again," and shrugged. They were intermittent, and painful, but not at all regular.
Trying to help things along, I went for a walk (I had gone for a LOT of walks in the preceding month). This time, it worked! When I got back 30 minutes later, I was pretty sure we were going to the hospital soon. The contractions still weren't regular (mine NEVER are), but they were closer, on average, than before, and more intense.
My sister came to stay with the kids (who were asleep), and we headed off to the hospital, my mom in tow.
After all that, I was sure I'd be at least 4 or 5 cm. Hah! 3. More walking, and more walking. Noted the interesting differences in the hospital from 3 years prior. More walking.
Got tired, went back to my room, fell asleep. Contractions slowed down. When I woke up a few hours later, they had all but stopped. No way!
More walking. Ah! That woke the little critters up! At my next check, I was at 4cm. My doctor was called, suggested AROM and said if things sped up she'd come right away; otherwise she was going to try to avoid canceling the morning patients (it was now just before her office opened, about 8 am).
The AROM kicked my contractions back to very intense. Now I didn't want to walk, but I did NOT want to be chained to the bed either. There was a glide rocker in the room (in each LDR room at that hospital), so I rocked, and breathed. Back to bed to be checked -- still 4 cm.
When I wanted to try the hot shower, as I had the time before (in the same hospital!) the nurse objected, because my waters had been broken. My mom argued with her, and either finally got her to call my doc, who said it was fine. It didn't help as much this time, and after a while (an hour?) the nurse was worried that I would get too hot, and wanted to check me.
6cm, and there was an anterior lip.
I was exhausted, and nothing was helping the pain. I remembered not having liked the epidural, but I needed something. So they gave me a narcotic. I had forgotten about how quickly that would wear off for me. Additionally, I now discovered they wouldn't let me get out of bed (for an hour after the shot, so I wouldn't get dizzy and fall) -- no walking, rocking, shower.
And they were estimating it would be several more hours! My doc called in, said she'd come in about an hour.
Knowing that I couldn't get out of bed, and that this would take hours longer, I gave up and asked for an epidural.
My mom had to leave to go teach. We called my friend (my designated back-up ), and she got ready to come.
The anesthesiologist showed up, and had my turn onto my side. Wait, wait! BIG contraction, then another. Now I suddenly wanted to push. I was checked -- 10 cm! "Don't push! Your doctor's not here yet!" Someone had run off to call her, but she was 20 minutes away.
I asked if I could still have an epidural -- no. Any drugs? No. Then, sez I, I am NOT WAITING TO PUSH!
A nurse (and my spouse? I think?) ran to find the on-call, and another made me get back on my back and broke up the bed. I didn't WANT to, I wanted to stay on my side. But my mom was gone, and I was too tired to fight her.
Even in the new position, took just two or three pushes. The on-call guy was nice, young, and I have NO IDEA what he looked like.
Turns out the seven pound estimate was low -- she was 8 and a half.
My mom was still downstairs, waiting for my dad to pick her up . . . we called my friend, and told her to stay home.
Recovery was pretty short, about like with the first. And to this day, my third has a habit of suddenly doing the opposite of what everyone expects. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Thanks for the book suggestions, too -- I hadn't seen most of those.
I'm currently reading the Sears' Birth Book, Easing Labor Pain (Adrienne Lieberman) and Active Labor (Janet Balaskas). My sister also gave me Anne Lamott's book, which is really funny.
Posts: 1777 | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote: I began to feel nauseous (something I was worried would happen) since I was kinda in shock, but my massage therapist sis would use the pressure point we had discussed and the feeling subsided.
What??? Where was this stinkin' pressure point, and why didn't anyone tell me about it, for crying out loud!
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
My birth experience was incredible. It was pitch black. I couldn't see a thing. Then all of a sudden I get sucked into a tunnel, and it's all slip n' slide from there. Bright lights, sweaty old people, it was intense.
Congrats on the pregnancy Christy!!! I'm just now catching up with all the news at hatrack.
Posts: 1015 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
No What to Expect While You're Expecting? I found that the most useful one, and it has a LONG, detailed chapter on L&D.
Christy, have you written (or thought about writing) a birth plan? I never had one; and for two births (one because I was induced, and one cuz I was lucky) never missed having one. But with my third delivery, where the hospital was VERY crowded, and I was somewhat less lucky, I really wished I had had one. Same hospital all three times; only time I was VERY unhappy with the way various overall policies were handled (like they wanted to put me on an IV, even though my doc said I didn't need to have one; didn't want to let me use the shower, as I explained above; didn't encourage me to try various positions (which probably would have shortened my labor by a couple hours, by taking care of that anterior lip) -- in fact, discouraged me from getting out of the bed in the latter part of my labor; insisted on having me use the bed w/ stirrups (as I mentioned above)) was with the last one.
For several months after the birth, I swore I would never have a baby in that hospital again (even though I'd had two labors where I was quite happy with them (well, except for the one nurse), and have MANY friends who've had few or no problems there). Later I realized that most of my concerns would be taken care of by having a written birth plan, signed off by my doctor.
So, this hater of lists (and a birth plan is essentially a fancy list ) recommends a birth plan.
Also, have you taken/ are you planning on taking a tour of the hospital's maternity wing? It really helps to have seen everything beforehand, when you're calm and relaxed.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Oh, almost forgot to mention THE most important book! It's called the Curse of the Mommy (wow! that's a great price! I must order some for friends!) and it is priceless.
I lend it out with my other prenatal books, and have now heard from two women that that book made them laugh while in active labor.
posted
*laugh* Rivka, I got THREE copies of What to Expect When You're Expecting! While I read a lot of it during the first months, I've been focusing more on the birth books currently.
Edit: Duh, I was going to respond to the rest, too. Yes, I had planned on touring the hospital and have considered a birth plan, although I haven't written one up yet. I want to discuss some things more with my doctor, who, thankfully so far has been very open and honest with me. I'm also trying to keep Tom informed of my wishes so he can make them known to staff if I'm too tired.
posted
The main thing I would add is that getting pitocin doesn't mean having to get an epidural. If they taper it up carefully enough, the contractions may not be any harder than no pitocin, though there will probably be more of them. But I've always had a fast transition. I was afraid I had back labor with baby 3, but it turned out he just had a really huge head. "Like sputnik, sperical but quite pointy at parts."
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Well, I would just like to share with you all the definitive book on babies. All phases.
I Should Have Seen It Coming When the Rabbit Died by Teresa Bloomingdale. (mother of 10)
It's hilarious!
Find your copy (used book store since the last printing was 1980) and prepare to laugh until you cry!
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Christy, "Easing Labor Pain" is an excellent book! I really appreciated what I learned there.
There was this other book too written by a British gal that had an excellent collection of birth stories. She hand picked them to cover a whole range of possibilities. She also gives some valuable insight herself. I know that a book of birth stories doesn't sound very special. But I had already read hundreds of stories on the internet and when I read this book I thought, "This is such a great book to read! I am going to suggest that every person I know who is expecting a baby read this! This book is a must!" And now I can't even remember the title or author! *laughs at self*
Oh well, if I find it, I will let you know.
PSI: Sorry you didn't have that pressure point info. The spot is basically in the center (underside) of your forearm. I highly recommend a massage therapist at births!
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:No What to Expect While You're Expecting? I found that the most useful one, and it has a LONG, detailed chapter on L&D.
A woman I met recently said this book should be subtitled "what to worry about when you're expecting." She decided to stop reading it. And btw, don't use it for breastfeeding information - the breastfeeding information is inaccurate, last time I looked.
Posts: 5771 | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
I'm with Ela, I wasn't real impressed with "What to Expect..."
I learned a lot from online communities and bulletin boards, and I read some sciency books about fetal development (there's one out there that has awesome in-utero photos, but I can't remember the name of it). I also belonged to an email distro list (March Moms--all the moms were due in March, it was awesome) that was wonderful and heartbreaking (one miscarriage, one still birth, very sad) and informative.
I read Anne LaMott's book about her son's birth *after* I had had The Boy, and it made me feel tons better about the feelings I had as a new mom. *grin* She had a lot of the same doubts and fears that I did. I highly recommend the book.
Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
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posted
*shrug* It was never my sole source of info, but What to Expect was my primary one before my first kid. Since then I've read many books, and I still like it. But I have the first edition (hand-me-down), and I understand they changed things in later editions -- perhaps not for the better. Or maybe it's a what-works-for-me thing. But yeah, definitely not much on breastfeeding -- I have several other books on that.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I watched my mom give birth to three children at home (I was a little young to see the first 3 in the hospital ) and have to say that from my vantage point, homebirth was amazingly great. My littlest brother, though, was born 20 minutes after mom's contractions started, not long enough for the midwife to get there. My Dad had to deliver him! But it was totally problem-free. I hope when my time comes I've inherited my mother's birthing skills. And inheriting her post-6-child physique would be nice too. Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Okay, just had the one experience, but how wonderful!
I went to a birthing center after having had the membranes stripped at my 37 week visit. I spent 15 hours in labor, divided between time in the hot tub, on a laboring ball and just wishing I could please!!! have 15 minutes of sleep. As far as I'm concerned, the hot tub is the best place to labor, but I'm a bath type of person anyway.
I remember asking at one point, "Would you guys still love me if I asked for drugs now?" No one understood the question, so I didn't get any medication, but I'm pretty certain that drugs isn't the worst you can do at that point in labor. I ended up sitting on left leg of my man, and the right leg of my sister-wife, and laboring sitting up until my boy came into the world. I heartily recommend sitting up, because any part of lying down didn't work for me.
Someone mentioned in the posts that it is a very individual experience, and I must agree with that. My step-daughter labored for less than 5 hours, with only a bit of extreme time, while I spent the whole night and morning laboring. However it happens to work, it is a blessing.
Posts: 230 | Registered: Sep 2003
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First let me say that I wanted to have my baby at home, with my midwife and my doula, but my DH wouldn't let me.
I spent the entire time I was pregnant perfecting my birthing plan. I went over the possibilities with my midwife and doula. I wanted to wait to go to the hospital and I did not want an epidural and in no place in my mind was I going to have a c-section. I was all set for a bradley birth. Now that I have let you know about my first time birthing fantasies I'll let you know what really happened.
May 29th 2003... Went to work came home and took a nap and Mike and I decided to go out to dinner. 6:00 hang up cell with doula after saying all is ok, she could go to cousins wedding 10 hours away. Get out of the car and walk into restaurant, sit down and water broke (or so we thought). Ate part of burger and called midwife o/c. Was told no to wait, to go to hospital to have them check me out. Went to hospital and was admitted dilated 2 cm and the nurse told us my water had broken. I was given ambien to sleep and had a wired reaction to it. Only slept 1 hour, thought I was in a cartoon and the walls were talking to me. Friday may 30 7 am - started on pitocin, walked the halls I maxed out on pitocion 6 times with no progress.
Saturday May 31, 2003 - Still on pitocin...I was getting really cranky from being in the hospital for so long (I really hate hospitals) finally at 6 pm the nurse realized that my water was leaking and that it hadn't actually broken, so she broke my water. I had been really nice and smiling up to this point. The pain hadn't been so bad up to this point, It really hadn't, but within 30 min of them breaking my water and after having been on pitocin for almost 2 days it was nasty..Pitocin is an evil thing. I was hysterical. The nurse called my midwife in and I was told I was having an epidural. I really didn't want one but everyone told me I should, 10 minutes later smiles are back it's now @9pm and the OB on call has decided that I had been here long enough - at 11:41 PM Thomas was born by c-section I saw him for maybe a minute and then he was taken away to get warm. I didn't really get to see him until 6 am. But it wasn't painful I was up cleaning my room by 9 Am so that I could go home.
Posts: 153 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
I've never had a doctor sign off on a birth plan. Maybe it's my personality, but I think they kind of find the whole concept of the patient having a plan laughable. I guess I have a problem with authority.
I imagine the OB thinking "Right, Lady, does your plan include going into labor at 3 a.m. like 60% of the women?"
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Our Doctors and Midwives (plural with how long we were in the hospital) were amused by the birth plan. They had noticed a trend that every person who came in with one prepared ahead of time had their baby C-Section. Oh well, she did great regardless.
Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
It just seems the more you plan it, if one minor thing goes wrong the whole plan is shot. Like "crud, I didn't get the room with the jacuzzi. I might as well have an epidural."
Another problem is if family comes to town for the birth and the time is ticking away. My new policy is don't visit for a month after the due date. Waiting for the baby is stressful enough without A: Having to entertain and B: Worrying they will have wasted their two weeks off/plane ticket and the baby still won't be born.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
I agree and disagree with the birth planning. It seems to me that it is infinitely more important to have a doctor/staff that has a comparable birth outlook.
I've really been biased against Pitocin drips after reading birth stories. In almost all cases, these have lead mothers to have unpleasant birth experiences and feelings of loss of control. Its hard to tell how much of this is medical complication and how much is assistance gone amiss, but this is definitely a sticking point that I am going to bring up with my doctor and hope to avoid.
On the other hand, I think reading all the information I can allows me to have a birth fantasy as well as be prepared for reality. I know no amount of book reading will really prepare me for the real event, but I think it will help, and I am trying to keep an open mind about all procedures.
posted
*bump* I killed my own thread?! Also, I really needed something to post in to keep me from ruining my surprise.
Posts: 1777 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Christy, Pitocin is very common for first time mothers. The average labor for first time moms is 16 hours. Doctors try to help speed that up with pitocin. With the drug, my wife's first labor lasted 16 hours. Without it, potentially it could have gone on longer. I was glad we used it. Especially if an epidural is part of the plan, the possibility of potential increased pain caused by the drug is pretty well negated.
Posts: 995 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Christy, I think it's safe to say that it's the labor being induced part that sucks, not specifically the pitocin. I had the gel first, long before pitocin came into play, and it was no picnic. With my son, most of the dilation and effacing came gradually, so before labor even started I was at 3cm and 90% effaced. That's a great way to go. Whereas I was a 1cm and only 10% effaced when they slapped that gel up against my cervix to start labor. It doubled the length of labor and made it, well, unbearable. That's where the lack of control comes in...having to interfere with the natural way your body wants to work. Ick.
But you don't always get what you want, and in the end, it doesn't matter because you get a beautiful baby, and in a year or so, the experience has some distance, and you have this cute toddler who makes you laugh every day. Then labor and delivery then doesn't really have much hold, and you think, "I could do this again".
I was miserable a lot of my second pregnancy (don't separate your babies by 9 years...it's brutal), and swore no WAY would I want to go through that again. Then the L&D sucked, and I was just confirmed in my conviction. So sure to the point that Ross had a vasectomy when Rainy was 9 mths old. Now, though, she's so cute and fun that we've talked casually about having the V reversed. It's terrible.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Thanks for the perspective, that's good to keep in mind.
Don't drink the water around here, jeni! Even my recently married coworker is getting the itch to have a baby! Must be spring or something!
I know what you mean about not getting what you want, too. My coworker with triplets who has had a really good outlook for trying to carry full term was just placed in the hospital at 25 weeks. They've got her on steroids and drugs to stop the contractions and hope to go another five weeks, but we'll be very surprised if she holds out that long. I hoep for her and her babies sakes that she goes at least another three weeks.
Posts: 1777 | Registered: Jan 2003
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