birthing stories

**PrincessPerky** · 10-28-2009, 01:11 PM

Well I have 4 different stories if you are really interested.

first kid-boy, 3 days past due date, labor ~14 hrs, born ~6pm, 8lb3oz?:
Woke up in the middle of the night with some pain, mostly over before I was really awake. used a potty went back to bed, woke again when my husband was getting ready for work, again mostly gone before I was really awake. told him not to worry he could go to work and all. He declined and stayed home, so I decided if this was the day (with him not getting paid) we had better go for a walk, topped off with a nap.

Decided after that things were real, and made a ham sandwhich while my husband took a shower, called my cousin and durring the conversation essentially ignored her for a minute here and there due to pain, till she told me she had checked the ckock and measured my 'silence' at about 6 minutes apart, so I aught to get a move on.

Called the doc, they said to come into the office, by the time we got there it was more like 4 minutes apart, walking was not pleasant. they turned us right around and shipped us to the hospital, at which point things slowed down to about 6 minutes, nothing to terrible. arrived at I think 6cm, by 8cm I wanted to push. the nurse had spent the last hour trying to convince me to get an epidural, when everyone (ok so one doc and one nurse) told me to not push and get an epidural, I said fine. it was instant pain relief, but made me itch from head to toe, next hour was less comfortable than the previous due to itching.

Finally nurse decides to peek, apparently we are crowning, so she in that 'don't worry the patient voice' tells the doc to run back.
Pushed for 20ish minutes (no idea how, or what I was doing) and had a beautiful ... um ok funky looking grey elephant child. But he cutened up right quick.
Oh and the epidural was useless for the stitching...

Baby 2, girl, 3 days past due date, labor~9 hours born 6am,8lb1oz:

Minor contraction after dinner with company here, I distincly recall the gal offering to help with dishes, cause I must be so tired being 9 months pregnant and all. Mental note, NEVER decline help in your 9th month! (the dishes were still waiting to be done 3 days later when baby and I came home...)
by midnight pain was serious and frequent, called midwife, woke older son up and headed to hospital, by the time I got there I had major trouble walking contractions like 2 minutes apart...again soon as we got to the room things slowed down, till about 5 am when I wanted to push, again only 8cm, midwife said please wait. by 5:30 I was done waiting baby was born less than 20 minutes later, kinda purple, tiniest cry in ever.
BTW my oldest was in daddies arms counting for the pushes with daddy. He was fine with it all.
Oh and that topical stuff for stitching doesn't work any better than the epidural.

Baby 3, boy, 6 days late, labor...short, born 11:30ish pm, 8lb 13oz:

pain after an evening walk to the neighborhood playground, figured we had time, put kids to bed, woke them up around 9pm in major 3 min apart pain. Do you know how hard it is to pack 2 kids and a pregnant lady in a car at 9pm with that kind of pain? by the time we got to the hospital I wanted to push...before I got out of street clothes and into the sheet garb they give you. managed to hold out till the proper room, I think it took 11 minutes for his birth. no idea what he looked like oldest kid flipped out so as soon as new one was in safe hands I was worried about oldest. (girl was in daddies arms counting along just fine.)
So IME Toddlers are fine with birthing, preshoolers are not.

Baby 4, due date was never set in stone, but she was a day later than I expected, Labor....almost 24 hours, born in afternoon, 9lb 1oz

This Labor was totally different. started with my water breaking during lunchtime. I had Never had my water break before. I had minor paid around bedtime, enough to stop me from sleeping, but nothing too real. one 'real' contraction at 10 and I called my home midwife. I panicked afraid my midwife who was an hour away wouldn't make it in time, and called her. by 7 am the next morning no real progress had been made, and I was feeling stupid. (but you shouldn't happens all the time) She went home and I took a nap, woke up in pain, delayed calling till after lunch and by the time they got here I was ready to push. even though I was prolly 8cm, she said sure go for it. no problem we have plenty of time, you just do what your body wants. It was the longest 'pushing' but it was the easiest, No tearing. during the next half hour or so when I said I didn't want to push (even though my body was gearing up for another contraction) midwife said take a break, no problem. Little EL, was born kinda blueish, but by the time the midwife cracked open the oxygen (literally seconds) she pinked right up and started nursing.

BTW the older three were watching movies, reading books and in general ignoring us, youngest wandered in once or twice to peek, but mostly they didn't care. Until EL was born, then the crowded around to meet her, was awesome that night to have us all on the bed cuddling.

So from lunchtime one day of water breaking to delivery the next around 4ish. My longest weirdest labor,but also my easiest delivery, and fastest recovery.

BTW for the first kid (elephant) they said he must be way late (dry skin, long nails), and for the second they thought she was way early (lots of that white cheesy stuff, and hairy) Remember both were officially 3 days late.

Then for my third (6 days late) they said he must be right on time.... (oh and my oldest told me he would be born the day after he arrived, he was closest of anyone, kid was born well after 11pm, few more minutes and my oldest would look like a genius)
Which is why with my 4th I never bothered to check the due date, I was better at guessing than they were!

Oh and it took hours to check out after the first, and twice as long after the second (I mean 6-8 hours to get out!) After the third I said I was leaving as soon as they did the 24 hour 'test' and the fact that it was midnight was not my problem..it took less than an hour to check me out. Of course having the last at home it was no trouble at all. midwife had the room clean and her stuff out in less than an hour (including weighing the baby) she hung around a short time after, but all were doing well.

**Inkstain82** · 10-28-2009, 01:32 PM

Aug. 24 of this year.

Little guy was measuring as having an exceptionally large head in every ultrasound, so they induced at 39 weeks.

Started the Pitocin at early in the morning, and things got steadily stronger. By about 5 p.m., the contractions and pain were intense enough that my wife asked for an epidural, which she had been hoping to avoid but knew was a possibility.

At 9 p.m., it was time to push. They told us 15 minutes to maybe two hours was normal.

10 p.m., not much progress.

11 p.m., my wife is *really* exhausted and starting to look very pale and weak. The head is slightly visible, but not getting much further. Nurse practitioner is doing all kinds of things, such as using shampoo and soap, trying to get things moving. Says in 30 minutes she'll have to call the doctor for a possible c-section.

11:30 p.m. Still no more progress. N.P. seems to not want to have to call the doctor, says we'll keep trying a little bit.

Midnight Same as above, I'm getting very scared and angry.

12:20 Doctor is called, and demands a c-section immediately. Does not seem happy she wasn't called sooner.

12:35 a.m., Baby Inkstain is born. All the anger and freaked outedness I had about being in the surgery room disappeared the moment I heard him cry. I looked over and saw the doctor holding him and couldn't believe it.

Alls well that ends well. Mrs. and Baby Inkstain have been remarkably healthy every step of the way.

Baby Inkstain's head had a wicked red, circular welt for the first few days were you can see he got caught in the birth canal. The welt shows that he wasn't anywhere close to fitting, his head was just too big. We could have pushed for days and not gotten anywhere.

**MonkeyMama** · 10-28-2009, 02:24 PM

You need to peruse some baby forums.

But, what the heck.

To preface - gave birth at old hospital because it was closest, and only one with NICU (which is only reason anyone would go there - doesn't have the private rooms and suites, etc. that all hospitals do these days). I was also a miserable, miserable pregnant woman (sick/throwing up for most of 9 months, long undiagnosed anemia - had an idiot doctor, and was in "labor" for 3 months, I swear. Last 3 months - always contraction - just never enough for bedrest/disability. Of course doctor was idiot - I should have been on disability - I just called in sick for weeks instead since doc thought I was a whiner. I am so not a whiner, so frustrating).

I share all that because I had a super easy labor. But I feel I paid otherwise!

My baby was a week overdue and I had been fighting doctor over unecessary induction. So, went in for stress test at 41 weeks. Unfortunately, baby was in distress, so they sent us to the L&D. Wasn't critical (like c-section or anything).

Anyway, the only labor room big enough for delivery was becoming available when I arrived, and so they sent us to eat some dinner while they readied the room. (Score!). It was about 5:00 and we had a really nice meal in the cafeteria. They told me I wouldn't be allowed to eat, once admitted.

I got hooked up to the pitocin around 5:30, and dh ran home to get some things for me. Figured it would be HOURS. An all nighter, right?

They broke my water at some point (don't remember when) and I didn't really feel much of anything until about 7:00. Around when dh returned. From 7-8 I labored rather intensely. I was pretty set on no drugs, but open to the possibility. I mean, you just don't know what to expect the first time. (or any time). I remember telling my dh that there was no way in hell I could labor like that for 12 hours. I felt bad for whimping out so early, but I was whimping out. I told him I could hang on, but I was pretty sure I Was going to end up with the drugs!

Around 8 the contractions subsided, and I felt a lot of pressure. I don't think I said anything for a while, because the whole thing was absurd. Must be wishful thinking. Finally, I asked dh to get the nurse. Nurse checked me and very calmy said, "Let me get the doctor." She played it well. I didn't think much of it, but doctor came in and said I was ready to deliver. Um, what???? At that point almost a half hour had passesd, from first being fully dilated (looking back) and my body decided if I wasn't going to push out the baby, it would do it by itself. The nurses and doctors rushed around prepping and told me not to push. (Um, yeah right????????). I am a pretty non-assertive person, but someone asked if they could wheel me to delivery, and I said something like, "Hell no!" They really wanted to go to the delivery room - probably more tools/supplies. I was just yelling "NO!!!!!!!! Bayb's coming NOW!!!!"

Funny enough, my "doesn't take no for an answer" MIL had arrived at our house and started calling the room. I remember at some point saying, "Can't someone turn that phone off????" IT was like ringing the whole time I gave birth. Funny now, but SO ANNOYING then.

For all that, baby's heart rate dropped a bit at the end and they got out the forceps. They gave me one last chance to push him out, and by some miracle he popped out. I was so well rested and alert (no drugs) that the birthing part was easy. Your body just floods with endorphins. Resisting to push did not feel good - pushing felt awesome.

In the end I remember thinking, "That's it?" I think also your body kind of prepares you for no sleep the first week or so. I was so high on adrenaline and endorphins for like a week. Though I had help and baby slept okay, I could not literally sleep for a week. IT was crazy. But yes - it was the most azaming experience of my life - that is for sure. I've never experienced anything like the high of giving birth.

Nurses insisted I leave baby in nursery so I could rest. I couldn't sleep at all, of course. I regret I gave in. I feel guilty I left him in the nursery his first few hours of life. They also pushed all sorts of heavy duty prescription pain meds on me, which was so unecessary. I stood my ground the second time. Take away the drugs, and just give me my baby!!!

Oh, back to the phone. When my mom arrived from out of town, MIL told her how she was worried and no one was answering. PAtient confidentiality - hospital staff wouldn't tell her a thing. So my mom calls, and we answe the phone. I don't think she believed when we said baby was there. I had thought our parents were insane to rush up (2-hour drive) when I Was first induced, but in the end, was glad they all got to see the baby before all my visitors were kicked out for the night!

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My second wasn't so easy. I labored about 8 hours. When I went to L&D they didn't think I was in labor. I was super cautious because I had gone so FAST the first time. But on the flip side, we needed to arrange care for my oldest son. I was so worried we wouldn't get to the hospital in time, or dh would miss the birth because we had no baby sitter, or something.

In the end, they just admitted me because baby seemed in distress. (IT was 2 weeks early, but I knew I Was in labor - I just knew). I don't know if they expected to induce me or what (because at first they did not agree I Was in labor), but I was clearly in labor, soon enough. Labored all night - was not fun. Though was a much slower progression than the first time. Nurse insisted if I wanted to go natural I had to do all these exercises. I wish I hadn't of listened. Around 5am I collapsed in exhaustion after nurse told me I was only at 5 or 6 cm. I was getting to my wit's end at that point. No sooner than I completely relaxed, I felt the baby coming. We called him back in and I said, "I know you just checked me a minute ago - but the baby is coming." MEanwhile, we told everyone who would listen how fast I went the first time and no one cared.

Baby was indeed coming, and no one was prepared. I was lucky to score one of only 2 birthing suites in the facility. There was a hustle/bustle of panic, and we were pretty convinced a nurse was going to deliver our baby - doctor was nowhere - hadn't even met him. That whole part was a little deja vu. I think doctor walked in just in time to catch baby. His head ended up being in the 100th percentile (100!!!!) and it was a much more painful delivery (I tore like crazy).

With both kids, I didn't really have to push at all (maybe 1 or 2 tries). IT was more like they both were coming whether we were ready or not!

I am pretty petite, and some of my more petite friends have given birth to even bigger babies. Mine were 8 & 9 pounds. IT is funny to me how much baby that little people can squeeze out sometime. No c-section for me - big head and all. The human body is amazing.

The second time was quite a chore compared to the first, but I remember telling my spouse a few hours later that I Would give birth all over again, the same day, if I had to. So worth it!

**Radiance** · 10-28-2009, 07:21 PM

Gave birth at home with a midwife, two assistants and a doula.
Them, plus my husband, no idea how they all fit on my tiny bathroom!
My baby was born in the bathtub.

It was great, I only had two hours or perceived pain because I lost my concentration.

No drugs, no IV, nobody giving me orders, I walked, i sit, I did anything I wanted. Dimmed lights, candles and relaxing music. The midwife only measured my progress once, that hurt so I didn't let her do it again. I didn't want to know how many centimeters anyway because it would affect my attitude and I was in my own world.

It all started to really happen (regular contractions) around 10pm and the baby was born 4:29am. so that is 6 and a half hours? It felt like much less thanks to hypnobirthing techniques.

When all was done I was on my own bed totally in love with my little baby.

I guess my story is boring, but that is exactly how I wanted it.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 10-29-2009, 06:52 AM

Thanks, I am loving these stories. Nah, most boards are first time moms looking for advice. The stories aren't so colorful.

**MonkeyMama** · 10-29-2009, 07:42 AM

Actually, go to the "Due in October" board - google them - you'll see birth stories galore - believe me - I've read tons!!

**Inkstain82** · 10-29-2009, 08:06 AM

justmommies.com is a fantastic site for reading stories. Like MM said, go to the forums divided by month and find ones that have already given birth.

**fruitbowlk** · 10-29-2009, 08:52 AM

Mine isn't really exciting. My water broke at work. I drove myself to the hospital. I was in labor for 15 hrs. I did have a crazy nurse. I was lying in my bed and she came to me and said I have some bad news I looked at her and my heart started beating really fast then I said what she said we are going to have to change your room. I wanted to sock it to her.

birthing stories