Thread: Sept '06 Sparkles Birthdates/Birth stories (No Comments)

Ryan Josephs' birth story....

Originally Posted by treenbaby

So, here is my story:

I lost my plug on the last tues of August. I finished work on the Friday... thank God. On Sunday night I didn't feel comfortable, but thought nothing of it... I was 39 weeks preggo. On Monday morning I went for a really great / fast walk (like I normally do). By noon I was feeling like I had a bad menstural cycle about to happen. My lower back, and lower uterus were both aching. I started contracting about 1pm, but they weren't consistant. Thoughout the day and evening the contractions went from eight minutes apart to five, then stopped for twenty. Consistantly inconsistant. I went to bed, waking at 4am with heaver and consistant contractions. I couldn't sleep, so I played video games, until 6am, when they were now painful... but still tolerable. By 9:30 they were 5min apart.
We went to the hospital at 11am, thinking that my water was going to break. I was 3.5 cm and fully efaced. My OB showed up at 12:30 to break my water. I thought I would have about 5 - 12 hours after that, but the contractions came on with a vengence. By 1:45 I was yelling.... and in a lot of pain. I was 10 cm by 2pm, and started to push. Twenty minutes later Ryan was born. After birth of the placenta.. not too bad. I had two stiches from tearing... ouch! But then the doctor and nurses started to worry me. I was bleeding out. They had to 'open' me with the forceps, and stich my cervix, as there was a tear. I was in SO MUCH pain. Not having an epidural, or any other pain control, and having emergency mending. I must say that this unexpected event was really hard to cope with. I want to cry just remembering. Poor dh.. having to witness all that.
On a lighter note, Ryan was named a few hours later. I was exaugusted, but couldn't sleep... all I wanted to do is look at our little angel. DH was an awesome coach, he has been my lifeline though all of this. Ryan weighed 7lbs 5 oz and was 20 inches long.
The bleeding and pain at the 'scene on the crime' was more then I expected. I am still feeling really sore and don't have a lot of energy just yet. There is so much more to say, but that covers it in a nutshell. The first two nights were the most difficult. Having no sleep, and then no milk yet is really hard. To all those about to go though the 'first two nights' .. things will be better once you have slept. Let loved ones help, and just try to relax and let it happen.

Love to all you ladies... If anyone wants more details, or anything, PM me and I will do my best to get back to you.

Tree

I had an appointment with my doctor on Tuesday, Sept 5th at 9:45 am to check to see if I had made any progress. Since I still hadn’t dilated at all and was 8 days past my due date, he sent me to the hospital to get an ultrasound and to due a non stress test. My doctor told me that I would be induced sometime in the next couple of days, but that the hospital was very full that day, so they would probably send me home after the tests.

We drove to the hospital (an hour away), and then grabbed lunch before heading up to the labor and delivery floor. I am so glad that we ate then since it wound up being the last thing I would eat for about 30 hours! At 12:15 we checked in at the L&D desk and were sent to the waiting room. After an hour we were called back to the prenatal assessment center where an ultrasound and the NST were done. I was in there for about an hour and only had one contraction during that time, but Connor’s heart rate showed a deceleration following the contraction that caused a bit of concern. I was then sent back to the L&D desk with the results of the NST and ultrasound and then we spent the next 2 hours in the waiting room along with several other pregnant women. At 4:15 pm we were called to the triage room to be hooked up to the monitors again. Several of the nurses made comments about admitting me, but said that they couldn’t make the decision- it had to come from the doctors who were very busy. After being hooked up to the monitors again I was told that a doctor would be in to see me shortly. Fast forward one hour and still no sign of a doctor. That is when one of the nurses came and got us from triage and moved us into an actual labor and delivery room. She still couldn’t guarantee that I would be admitted, but she did have me change into a gown and then she put me back on the monitors and started an IV. While I was in triage Connor had another deceleration, so she was pretty sure that I would be admitted. Scott and I spent the next several hours watching tv and wondering if we were going to stay or go home.

At 9 pm I was finally admitted. The next step was for the doctor to insert a Foley catheter to help with dilation. During the course of the day I dilated to 1 cm on my own- not much, but a slight improvement nonetheless. At 10 pm the catheter went in…that was the first time that I saw a doctor all day! At 10:30 pm my sister and best friend showed up to visit for a few hours. They were so excited that I was finally admitted! The pitocin was started at midnight and wasn’t too bad. I was getting contractions, but they were definitely manageable. At 2:30 am the catheter came out and by 4 am I had dilated to 4 cm. I was excited that things seemed to be progressing so quickly. At 4 am the doctor asked if I wanted an epidural. I told him that I was ok for now, but that I would want one later. He suggested putting in the paperwork to request it then and I agreed. It is a good thing that he did that then because within 15 minutes, the contractions really started picking up and getting more painful. I was breathing through them, but they kept getting more intense. The anesthesiologist was busy with another patient, so it was 5:30 am when he finally made it to my room. I was so happy to see him! Once the epidural was in place I was more comfortable and I was able to get some much needed sleep.

My progress seemed to stall at this point- I was stuck at 4 cm for about 6 hours! At 9 am I had a bunch of doctors and nurses rush into the room and they had me keep changing positions and they put me on oxygen because they saw some more decelerations with Connor’s heart rate that they did not like. They took me off the pitocin and gave me some meds to slow the contractions. While the doctors were in the room, they started talking about a possible c-section, depending on how Connor’s heart rate continued to react to the contractions. For awhile I thought that I was going to wind up in the OR. Luckily, Connor stopped scaring the doctors and me with his heart rate and he didn’t have any more decelerations. The docs decided to let me continue to labor and they restarted the pitocin slowly.

I spent the late morning and early afternoon making progress, but between 6 and 8 cm the epidural didn’t seem to be working as well as it should. Eventually the anesthesiologist came in and gave me a bolis to help with the pain, but that didn’t do too much. Around 2 pm he gave me another bolis, and I was good after that! Lots of family members came in throughout the day while I was laboring and it was great to have all of their support. At 4 pm the doc came in to check me, so we sent everyone to the waiting room. I was finally at 10 cm and it was time to push! At 4:10 I started pushing- Scott and the nurse were the only ones in the room with me. I used a mirror while pushing and it was amazing to see my baby’s head as he came down the birth canal. About an hour into pushing, I started to feel a little queasy and I wound up getting sick right after a contraction. As I was puking, my body was continuing to push and after I was done being sick, I felt so much better. It was almost like I got a second wind and before I knew it, the doctor was coming in and getting ready to catch the baby. At 5:41 pm, Connor was born. It was the best feeling in the world (physically and emotionally)! They put him on my chest right away and I was able to hold him for a long time before they started cleaning him up. At that point, we had my sister come into the room to take pictures and video. She sent a text message to the rest of the family in the waiting room with all the details- Connor weighed 8 lbs, 3 oz and was 21.5 inches long. He has dark hair and we still can’t figure out what color his eyes are, but they are beautiful! After the doctor finished sewing me up (I had a 2nd degree tear), the family came in to meet Connor.

We wound up staying in the hospital until Saturday morning…we could have gone home on Friday night, but I didn’t want to get stuck in rush hour traffic with a newborn. We didn’t get much sleep in the hospital- I had a hard time relaxing with all the people coming in and out and Connor had his days and nights mixed up. Since we came home we have been getting caught up on sleep though, and Connor is doing great. Scott and I are so in love with our little boy- we spend so much time looking at him and wondering how we got so lucky. Overall, the entire birth experience was wonderful!

caligula06 wrote:

(Copied from my blog)

Monday night I could not get comfortable. My sciatica had gotten to the point where moving was nearly impossible and I couldn't find any good position to sleep. At two in the morning I gave up, took a hot shower, got dressed and curled up in the chair next to our bed where I eventually did get to sleep.

The alarm went off at a quarter past six and we scurried to get Sean up and dressed. Mom came to take Sean to school and Ian and I were off to the hospital for the C-section. Mom arrived at the hospital before Harriet was born.

This time I was awake for the whole event. While I loved hearing Harriet's first cry, the spinal was the freakiest and most horrible thing I've ever experienced. Fortunately Dan, the person who administered the spinal was there by my side and talked me down from a complete panic attack. Ian was brought in for the actual birth bit and he got to see her lifted out of the incision (after the surgeon temporarily removed my bladder to get access to her head). I wasn't brave enough after all to ask for a mirror. He says the view behind the curtain was remarkable.

We spent most of our time recovering in a too dark and too warm room with no where comfortable to sit. My last night I was in tears from homesickness and exhaustion.

On Thursday we were released but we had to take Harriet in on Friday to check her bilirubin levels. Jaundice had started to show up on Wednesday night. Friday's labs showed an elevated bilirubin count so she had to be admitted to the hospital for some phototheraphy. I had to spend Friday night and Saturday morning with her, sleeping and reading in a reclining chair. At least the chair was comfortable! When I was scolded for nursing her too long I burst into tears for my second time at the hospital.

Fortunately after thirteen hours of treatment, Harriet's numbers had dropped and she was released by 11 in the morning. We're now home again. My milk has come in and Harriet is much happier for a good supply of warm milk and with her jaundice under control. She is a happier and calmer baby. Hopefully she can stay home with us. We have another appointment on Monday to check on her jaundice and on her weight.

The three of us are adjusting to Harriet's arrival and she in turn is learning our routines. Sean has been a marvelous big brother so far. He's very good at telling us when she needs something and has tried entertaining her. Caligula cat is madly in love with Harriet, having realized she must have been the creature who was petting her from within my belly.

Yesterday was Harriet's follow up appointment after her phototherapy treatment for jaundice. Though she is still a little jaundiced, her bilirubin levels are now average with other breast fed babies. Especially important is her weight gain. In two days she gained seven ounces, bringing her with in two ounces of her birth weight. She has until next Tuesday to regain those last two ounces but she will most likely be well beyond that goal as she's such a good eater.

Ian has also found a way to get Harriet to sleep at night; she likes to sleep in her bouncy seat. We've made a spot for it next to our bed so that she can be within arm's reach while she sleeps in this unconventional way. It also gives Sean a little longer to have his room to himself while she is so restless Last night I managed to get 4.5 hours of sleep and Ian got 5.5 hours. We got up at six-thirty and shared a pot of coffee while Harriet fell back a sleep and snoozed on my lap upstairs.

All of Harriet's pictures are here:
http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/photos/hms/

Carson Joseph. Sept 7, 2006. 9:06AM

Well I am now back home out of the hospital. It feels great to be at home.

We were set for the c/s on Thurs Sept 7th at 8AM. We were to be at the hospital 2 hrs early and call 1 hr before to make sure they were still going to have room for me.
I called and got the all clear to come on in.

We checked in the L&D room a little after 6AM. Everything was ready to go. Then the nurse came in and told us that there was a woman at 9cm and the dr was going to deliver her first. That was no problem to me. Then about a 1/2 hr later dr comes in and said that he was going to deliver me.

So back to the OR. Everything went great. Spinal block was wonderful. No pain. At 9:06 Carson was delivered. He was 8lbs 5 oz. 19 1/2 inches. Looks just like his big brother.

He has been a perfect baby. Doesn't cry, eats well, etc. Logan (DS) is thrilled. He has to keep tabs on his baby at all times.

No excitement here... just a wonderful birth.
Hope you all are doing great!

Sunday morning at about 6:45 I was woken up with a contraction. This one was much more painful than
the others that I'd been previously having. I got up and showered and told Tim that I kind of just wanted to
stay close to home b/c I felt different. I was timing them and they were about 8-10 minutes apart and lasting about a minute or so.
Around 11 or so we decided to take a walk to see if that made the contractions worse or any different at all.
After the walk they were between 4-6 minutes apart and lasted between 60-90 seconds. Around 3:30 we decided to call the doctor
to see if we should go in b/c they had lasted all morning. We called, and my regular OB had been on call the night before
and so I got to talk to the on call guy. He suggested I come in so they could see what was going on. So, we grabbed our bags (just
in case) and headed in. They hooked me up to the machine and I was about 5-6 minutes apart but the contractions were lasting about
2 minutes each. At the time I was only 2 cm dialated. So, I walked for an hour or so and they got worse while walking. After that
they were still that 2-3 minutes and I was at 3 cm. They decided to keep me there.
So, we called our doula, Josephine, and my parents to let them know what was going on. I'd decided that I wanted to walk as much as
possible and save the painkillers until later. So, we walked for a few hours. well, a couple at least. The contractions were getting
terribly painful. I decided then to get painkillesr, maybe about 11pm. First we decided to try a birthing ball. But that didn't help
much. So, they monitored me and Luke again when they gave me the painkillers (IV) and decided I needed to stay on the monitors. Not
really sure why. The IV pain meds helped alot at first. Then after a couple hours they started to wear off. The second round did virtually
nothing for my pain. I'm wondering if there was a kink in the iv line. Anyways, at 2:30am they decided to give me an epodural and break my water.
They did the epi first,wasn't as horribly bad as I anticipated. Then after that took effect they broke my water. Somewhere in there decided that
we needed to internally monitor my contrations and his heartbeat. The epidural was enough that I was able to get some sleep. a little while after
I got it, however, my blood pressure crashed. I have naturally low blood pressure anyways, but it went down to about 80/35. The doctors
didn't really like that. They were having ALOT of trouble bringing it up. I, wasn't really feeling it too much. But they started pumping me full
of fluids and finally the dip**** doctor gave me ephidrine. Which, made my heart race. Eventually they got it up. And then, they started watching
Luke's heartrate b/c he'd had a period where it'd dropped into the 70's or something. So, they were watching that. It went up to an acceptable
level, but still was watched. At around 5:30 they checked me and I was dialated to an 8. He still had only dropped to a 0, But they figured
in the next while, he'd drop to the right level (-3 or wahtever it's suppose to be)
Around 7am they let me know that my regular OB was coming in to do the delivery. At this time I was feeling a terrible pressure in my butt. I thought
it was probably the dialating that was doing it. Not knowing any better of course. I was also getting really frustrated b/c I couldn't feel my legs,
but I was uncomfortable. So, I had Tim and Josephine moving my legs around trying to get me comfortable. Finally I decided I wanted to be on my right
side but needed help to role over. So, they called a nurse. She came in and they helped me roll over. But rolling that way put Luke in distress.
His heartbeat lowered again. So, they told me I had to go back on my other side. And I lost it. I just started bawling. I was so uncomfortable and stresed
and in pain in my tailbone area that I just bawled. And at that time when they were rolling me, they decided to check his position and my dialation. I was
at 10, but he still hadn't dropped any lower. My doctor came in. She decided she wanted me to push to see what happened. So, I pushed, his heartbeat lowered,
and he came down a little, but when I stopped pushing, he bounced right back up to where he'd been. so, she gave me the choice. Either I could keep pushing, but
she felt for some reason it really wouldn't progress, or I could have a c-section. I chose the c-sec.
So, they prepped me and got me all ready. by this time I was having uncontrolable shakes. Like I looked like I had parkinsons shakes. It was awful.
I also had been neauseous for about 6 hours. So, just as my doc was coming in , I threw up. Right after they got me into the OR I threw up again. This time they couldn't
role me over and I ended up throwing up down the side of my head into my ear and hair (i know, yuk).
but they got him out. Turns out his cord was wrapped around his neck, arm, waist, testicles and ankles. He has a nice big bruise on one of his ankles from it.
And my uterus hadn't softened up completely, so he was stuck up top. So, all in all, the c-section was the totally right choice, b/c if I hadn't chosen that, he may
not have made it.
here's a couple pics.
I will write more. There's more abuot in the hospital and such, but am tired.

pics:

Xavier Francis' Birth Story

Xavier Francis
8 lbs 1 oz, 20 inches long
Born September 10th, 2006 at 10:06 pm in Berkeley,CA
39 weeks and 4 days pregnant

On the night of September 9th, I had a ton of Braxton-Hicks contractions. They just kept coming, albeit irregularly. My back had been achey all evening and I was somewhat more alert. I was not nearly as hungry as I had been normally for that time, and all day I felt just a little "off." In hindsight, I should have known that something was up, but I was really antsy about going into labor, so I just chose to chalk it up to that.

At a little past midnight, I went to the bathroom, and a trickle came out of me that did not feel like urination. I thought that it was probably me just losing bladder control for a second. Then a second came and I caught some on a peice of TP. I smelled it, and it was odorless to me. I had Dave come and smell it, and he said it didn't smell like anything he'd ever smelled before. I got a little nervous, but I figured I would wait and see and try laying down to see if it pooled and gushed when I stood up. As I lied there, I called my doula and we talked about what to do if it was aminiotic fluid. She and I basically agreed that I would rest as much as possible and see how it was in the morning. After that call, I stood up and went and sat on the toilet. The same trickle happened again. Then it happened again. I had Dave get me a white styrofoam cup to see if I could get a better sample of the fluid. It was straw colored and smelled like nothing to me and to Dave this time too. I tried conducting my own experiments to see if it was acidic or basic. I took a small bit and put lemon juice in it. I thought I saw a very weak reaction. Then I took some baking soda solution and put it in another bit of the fluid. It had no reaction at all. I still wasn't totally convinced, so at 2 am, I went to sleep.

I woke up at 5 am really needing to pee. When I sat down on the toilet, a much larger gush came out. I was pretty convinced that this must be it, but I figured I would try to sleep just a tiny bit more. I still didn't want to fully believe that this was it, only to be told it was pee.
When I got into bed and got comfortable, a gush came out that was larger than the first one. At that point I told Dave that I was going to call the OB. I had an unmistakeable real contraction immediately after I decided this. I called the OB and she said to go into L and D immediately. Dave ran and got a car from the city car share area up the street, and I called my doula to tell her we were going in.

When we got to L and D, the nurse did a nitrazine test, and it came up positive within a nanosecond after swabbing. She even said she smelled the amniotic fluid before she tested. She did the microscopic test and it came up positive too. I was admitted right there, at 7 am.

At about 8:30 am, the nurse checked me and I was at 2 cm, 85% effaced and Xavi was at -2 station. I was contracting for 30-40 seconds every 3-4 minutes, but they were little contractions. The OB ordered a low-dose pitocin drip, and I asked to be allowed an hour to see how things progressed before the drip. I walked around the halls and bounced on my ball. I ate popsicles and called friends. The hour passed and there had been no change. I agreed to the pitocin. About an hour later, the contractions picked up and I went into active labor. I definately was feeling them get stronger. I took a shower, and it felt great! The contractions kept coming on even harder, but Dave sat with me and helped me though each one. I moaned as loud as I felt I needed and breathed through each one. At 1:30, when my doula showed up, I was getting terribly uncomfortable, but I forged ahead.

At 4pm, I asked to be checked again and I was at 8 cm and 95% effaced. Xavi was still at -2 station. I asked for some phentinyl, but the contractions were still very, very hard and coming on way strong. I took another shower, but it wasn't helping. I was exhausted. I hadn't eaten since 11 pm the previous night and had only slept 3 hours beforehand. I considered taking an epidural. My doula, Dave and I (as much as I could) discussed the options I had. I decided to get checked again before making a decision. I was still exactly the same. I wanted to rest for the pushing. I got the epidural.

The anesthesiologist was very quick and did a great job. I was grateful for the chance to rest in the dark a little. Dave was too. We all sort of half slept after Dave and my doula ate some dinner. It was exactly what I needed.

After what felt like an hour and a half of rest, the OB came in to check me. She said I was at 10 cm, 100% effaced and ready to push. My nurse at the time was super awesome. She really did everything she could to help me push. We did side lying positions, squatting, laying on my back with my knees almost by my ears, and she thought I was making pretty good progress. After about 2 hours of pushing, the OB came in to the room and said that she was concerned about the fetal heartrate. It turned out that the baby had been tachicardic for the past hour. His heartrate had climbed into the 190s at one point. Not only that, but he still hadn't come down by much. She then said one word that I didn't want to hear: C-section. I began to sob as soon as she mentioned it. Between pushes, I wept so hard. I really wanted to push the baby out. I was so looking forward to crowning and feeling his little head for the first time. I was so upset that after all this work, he would have to be surgically removed from me. I asked to be allowed to rest for a few while wearing an oxygen mask to see if that helped lower the heartrate. It didn't; it remained at 180 the whole time. After 15 or so minutes, my OB said it looked like the section was the way to go. She said she felt terrible for making me so upset, and that if the baby hadn't have been in distress, she would have let me push for much longer, so long as infection was not an issue. I needed a moment alone with my husband, so we kicked everyone out and talked about it. He had heard the baby's heartrate on the monitor, and he said he was concerned before the OB mentioned it. Knowing he was scared for the baby made me see it in another light. The goal was a healthy baby. Waiting too much longer could have been bad for Xavi, so I agreed to the C-section.

I was prepped for surgery, and I cried the whole time. I was so very scared. I had never had surgery before. I looked at Xavi's 3D ultrasound pics for strength, and the anesthesiolgist did his very best to comfort me while he upped my epidural. He was really sweet. Soon after, the drape came up and Dave came to sit by me. I told him to talk to me so that it kept my mind busy. I didn't want to know what was going on. I felt the pressure of hands going inside me and rooting around inside my uterus. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't a pleasant experience either. I felt them go way high up into my uterus and soon after, a spatter of blood hit the drape above me. Then, I heard the most beautiful sound in the word. My baby was crying. He had such a strong, amazing cry. Dave looked at me and said, "Do you hear that?! It's our baby!" He was in tears and he gave me a kiss before going over to watch them clean and weigh Xavier. While they checked him out, he cried so loudly. I tried to reassure him from across the room. "Hello Xavi, I'm here! I'm your mommy! I love you! It's all okay," I said, over and over, in hopes that he'd know my voice. All the fear and disappointment I had over the c-section almost vanished immediately. Dave brought him to me on the way out and, I got to kiss his little head and say hello to him. I will never ever forget that moment. It still makes me a little weepy to think about it.

They let my doula come in while I got stitched up and she sat with me and held my hand. The 20 minutes they took to fix me up felt like hours. I started shaking really badly and my jaw hurt like I had been chewing bubble gum for 48 hours straight. I hated being stuck on that table. Soon after they finished, I was wheeled to recovery to meet my amazing little baby boy and my wonderful husband. Even though I was shaking and numb, my doula helped me hold my son for a while, and it was beautiful.

When everything calmed down, my husband told me about how Xavier's head had a nasty laceration from hitting my pubic bone a bunch, and his head had moulded into a cone shape at a 45 degree angle. His head was cocked too much to get through. I am grateful to have a healthy baby and now that all is said and done, I wouldn't have changed a thing about how my labor went. I have learned so much about myself and have now seen an even more nurturing side to my husband. Have experienced pain greater than any other I had ever known, and faced some fears, which only served to help me grow stronger as a person and as a woman; and best of all, I have felt joy that surpasses my greatest expectations. For this whole experience, I am eternally grateful.

Logan Matthew's birthstory

Tuesday ~ September 12
I had my 3rd membrane sweep at 2.30pm. My midwife made another appt for me for Monday at the hospital for a NST. She said I could either keep that appt or it would become a home visit. And as a joke she said, "Call me after 6am". I've previously been very accommodating so my response was "sure thing"

After the appt I had an errand to run downtown so by the time I got home it was nearly 4pm. I was a little disappointed because I wasn't feeling anything yet (prev pg I felt something within half an hour after the 3rd sweep). So I went walking around the property, and around, and around . Even got DH to join me because I felt like a dork and the neighbours were probably watching. Every once in a while I had a little "bounce" on the rebounder and then would go walking again. It got boring and very quickly. So I made dinner instead and carried on with the normal nighttime routine here.

Around 9pm I was sitting with my 2yo having quiet snuggly time before his bed. I was having backache at this point, right up to under my shoulder blades but no contractions. Finally at 9.20pm I said to DH that I thought something might just be happening after all. So I put DS to bed and then sent DH to bed too. I got on the pc and caught up here at PO. At 11.30pm I was tempted to ring my parents, who were staying with friends half an hour away, but decided to let them sleep. The back pain had turned into contractions but they were very mild and were coming 5-6 minutes apart. So I decided it was a good idea to go get some sleep and see what happens.

Wednesday ~ September 13
At 5am I woke, which was very unusual for me because I'm a heavy sleeper. Something had to have happened to wake me up. I laid there for 30 minutes, had a couple of more intense contractions so got up and had a shower. Going vertical made it come fast! I got out and DH was awake. I told him he needed to get up. I was in the kitchen timing them and they were coming 4-5 minutes apart! I'd called my parents and told them to come NOW (no coffee first, do that here). Then I rung my midwife, it was 6.20am. I told her it was her "friendly wakeup call and it was after 6am :rofl:".

6.45am Still waiting for my parents to show... in the meantime, my boys were all getting up. So we got them dressed and told them we would be going to the hospital and they would be getting the day off school .

6:50am my parents finally arrived and we were out the door! Contractions were coming 3-4 minutes and the occasional 2 minutes .

We still had a 20 minute trip to the hospital. DH said, "express way?", "bloody oath" I said, hanging on to the hand rails in the car (gotta love a proper 4WD with all the hang-on-for-your-life handles). It was about then when we got stuck behind a slow ute! Grrrrr, last time it was a ute pulling a boat and not doing the speed limit. I said to DH "pass him NOW!”

Half way to the hospital I told DH that I didn't want to do it today and to turn around and go home.

Anyway, we finally arrived at the hospital and it was 7:10am. I got to the delivery room (which happened to be the same room DS#3 was born in) and went to get ready. All of a sudden I felt a small gush, it was a bloody show. My midwife walked in 2 minutes after we arrived and got me on the table to check me out. I was 9cm dilated! I started getting the chills, which was also a good sign, so DH put my wooly socks on and tried to find me a blanket. Lying on my left side I had my blood pressure done, and then listen to the baby. It was about then I said I needed to . Once that was done, we were ready to go. 8:00am I got on my knees, the back of the bed was put up and it was time to push. A good 10 pushes and Logan's head was out. The cord was wrapped around his neck once so I was told to pant while that was fixed, another quick push and there he was at 8:04am. All done with no meds! (I'm so proud of myself )

Officially labour started at 5am (when I woke). So total labour time just 3 hours.

Logan had to be suctioned twice for mucus and then he came to me for a whole hour and a half for skin-to-skin time. He was weighed at 9.15am and was 3630gms (8lb) and 55cm (21.6") long.

I got two stitches for a minor laceration and have yet again got a vaginal wall prolapse.

We didn't want to stay long at the hospital at all. Got the all clear to go at 3pm and we were all home again by 4pm.

Hi Ladies! Sorry this is late. Things have been extremely hectic! Here is Carter's birth story.... I will update this post with pics of him later on today. I could not figure out how to resize them so that they would fit. Need DH's help!

I went to OSF Hospital in Peoria, Illinois to be induced at 5 PM on September 5th. By the time we were checked in and had gotten settled into the room, it was 7 PM. At that point, they started the pitocin drip, which was to be turned up every half hour. The nurse mentioned that the dr did not have me on a very high dose, as he wanted me to get rest through the night and start the real labor in the morning. So, even after the drip was turned up between 7 pm and 3 am, I really did not feel much. I was having light contractions, but nothing painful. At about 3 AM, I started having terrible back pain, and could not seem to get comfortable in the bed. I kept having to turn from one side to the other, which really was nothing too unusual for me, since I had similar back pain while sleeping at home. Even though it seemed like it could be normal pregnancy pain, I figured that I should let the nurse know. When I told her, she made a comment "Oh, the joys of pregnancy". She basically assumed that it was just pregnancy pains. By the time 6 AM rolled around, I had even worse back pain. Since my nurse was helping with a C-section, a different nurse came in to check on me. When she found out what kind of pain I was experiencing, she informed me that I was having back labor, and offered me the narcotic drug. I figured that it was too soon for the epidural, and said yes to that drug. About an hour later, my dr showed up, and broke my water. He checked me, and found that I was 3 CM dilated, which is one more then I was when I came in. After the water was broken, the contractions came on VERY strongly in my back and my abdomen. So, I requested the epidural. Since there was only one epidural guy, and the hospital was overloaded with women in labor, I had to wait 2 hours!! I was not a happy camper, and kept telling the nurses to get me that epidural. Finally, around 9 am, I got it. The pain went completely away, and I was happy.

About 2 hours later, I felt a strange sensation (kinda like I had to poop), and called the nurse in. I told her that I was ready to have this baby. Well, unfortunately, she really didn't believe me since I was only 3 cm dilated just two hours before. With a skeptical look on her face, she decided to check me. To her surprise, she found that I was 10 cm dilated. At that point, I totally freaked out because the dr was not even there. I told them to call him immediately, which they did. He had them give me one more dose of the epi, and wanted me to hold off on pushing for awhile longer. He wanted the labor to go on it's own for a little while, and then he would be in later so that I could push. After about an hour, I told the nurse that I couldn't refrain from pushing much longer and to call the dr and tell him to get in. He showed up about 30 min later, and I was ready to push. I pushed for 20 minutes, and Carter William was born (September 6th, 2006 at 1:06 PM).

Carter was 6 lbs and 9.5 ounces. He was 20 inches long, and healthy!! I did have an episiotomy, which was kind of painful, but is healing well. All in all, I had a pretty easy delivery. The nurses at the hospital were very uncaring and insensitive, and unfortunatley, they pretty much ruined my whole stay at the hospital. I am very grateful though to have my beautiful son, and will not let the experience with those nurses put a damper on my special day. (I will be going to a different hospital if I decide to have another baby though!)

Jax arrived last Friday(September at 2:31pm EST weighing 6lbs 8ounces 21 inches long and 14inch head. After 3 weeks of hospital bedrest for complications including Preeclamsia/toxemia/PIH.
I was exactly 37weeks and was induced that morning starting with a low dose of pitocin at 5am.
At 9am my doctor came in and I was contracting hard but hardly any progress. I was still 3cm and was effacing but thats it. She broke my water. OMG (the pressure after that killed me I swear). Every contraction I had hurt so bad with pressure I couldnt stand it. I started dilating very quickly after that. In fact One time around 10am(i think?) the nurse checked me and I was 5cm and then 15min later my doctor comes in and checks me and I was 8cm. I hit 9cm and totally effaced very quickly, but Jax's heart started to show he didnt like the pitocin (as they had turned it up high since 3cm), so they had to cut the pitocin off. And would you believe I actually stopped contracting at 9 freakin cm?
Well i was contracting but very mildly. And no progress for 2 hours after that. Jax got better so they started the pitocin again low, and boom I was totally dilated and pushed for 14min and he was out. No tear and no episiotomy. My doctor actually helped me to avoid that by doing the perineal massage and told me to stop pushing once his head crowned so I could have time to relax and stretch out.
I did have an epidural- My BP was high (they had threatened c-section) and they said it would help. Im kinda glad in a way that I got it- I mean i was fine till the pressure sank in with every contraction. I thought I was going to die. I wasnt sure though If I was able to ask for a small dose of the epidural, I really still wanted a natural birth. So out of curiousity I asked the anesthesiologist if he would please only give me a low dose if possible because I still wanted to feel the contractions. So guess what? He actual did it! I didnt think it was possible but I still felt all the contractions and the pressure (though not as intense as before but still pretty intense) I was able to still move my legs and toes and everything. I wasnt totally numb or paralyzed like before when i had the epidural with DD. I actually felt it all, just not quite as bad.
Poor Mario though, you guys wouldnt believe. When I was just 3cm (and contracting hard though) he got so excited and nervous he threw up and almost fainted. I called the nurse and they helped him outside to get some air. Several times he had to get assistance because he was going to faint. And all the while im thinking "geez, we arent even to the exciting part yet".
He actually was removed from the room while i got the epidural because of his fainting spells, and also wasnt present for the pushing or delivery. They even had to draw the curtain in my room while I delivered my placenta because of his weak stomach and nerves so he could come in the room and see the baby without seeing the table. I did all the pushing all by myself holding my own legs and everything. He waited outside my door in the hall in the rocking chair with smelling salts.
Hahaha.. But anyways I did it! He's here and he is so beautiful. I was very pleased with my birth. I did it as naturally as possible with my complications.
We have had a rough start though. Jax came out more premature than we all thought. His birth weight was ok and so was his size, but somehow his cartilege in his ears hadnt developed so his ears were flat, and he had no sucking reflex at all. He didnt know how to suck a finger, bottle or anything u put in his mouth. In the begining we were trying to feed him with a medicine cup but that gave him to much air and he was throwing up. So they gave me a tube hooked up to a syringe and we did that and slowly he seemed to develop a little sucking reflex from it, but quickly stopped trying when he realized I would push the plunger no matter what, so he got a little lazy on us. Then we decided to try a preemie bottle, and he tried and tried and finally figured it out. He still wouldnt latch on to me though. We tried every feeding and I just wanted to cry. I felt like I should have stayed pregnant longer. They said they didnt understand exactly why he hadnt completely developed except their best guess was due to my placenta maybe being affected by my high BP. If thats the case its good we delivered him early, God only knows what other problems my placenta could have caused from the damage my BP was doing.
I was sent home and rented a hospital pump. Ive been pumping and feeding him through preemie bottles my milk but still trying to encourage latching and rooting (he never rooted or knew how). I would run the nipple of the preemie bottle over his lips to try to teach him how to root and when he was going to get fed. I did the same with my nipple. I tried and cried to get him to latch to me, and finally just a day or so ago he latched on! At first it was only for a min or two and he gave up, but now he is latching on really well. Well- except that his latch isnt proper because he is used to the preemie bottle nipple. But we are working on that. I called my lactation nurse and she has given me advice to not give up and just relatch when he is hurting me.
Anyhow he is crying now....

Here is some pics (including one last belly 5 min before they started the induction)...
Hospital picture
http://www.growingfamily.com/webnurs...LID=3Y2T8D4K0F
And my photobucket album sub catagory HospitalandBabyJax has the rest...
Here's an invite to view those..
Hello,

You have been invited to visit a photo album http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/Madrejoyce/

The read only password to view this album is: friend


Sorry to post and run, Ill be back after I feed Jax.

Congratulations to all the New Mommies!!!!!!


Edited to add: I forgot to mention he also has Jaundice. But it seems to be under control and getting better, if not they are going to send a nurse out to our house with UV lights. His last level check was 12.7. I think its getting better, he doesnt seem as orange as before. He also has a problem with his right hip, they said it hadnt developed completely either and has a click and doesnt think its dislocating when its moved but says its a possibility that it is. The doctor also said it should fix itself and it doesnt seem to be painful at all to Jax. In 2 months we will be getting an ultrasound if it doesnt appear to be better and perhaps discuss surgery if needed.
Weight is 6lbs 4 ounces. He was weighed Monday and was 6lbs 2 ounces. So still not back to birth weight but doesnt seem to be dropping anymore.

Im really happy he is here, he is a great baby! And he is more beautiful than every imagined. I love him incredibly.

My only regret is that I wish I hadnt had all the complications I had- so he could have stayed in longer and not had the problems he has had. Kinda feels weird knowing he was born early and on purpose for health reasons, it feels weird also knowing I should still be pregnant now and im not.

Still though he is such a blessing and miracle to us. Thats my story

Originally Posted by mydollymya

If a mod could please add this to the birth story thread, thanks!!

Well, it all started on Sept. 12th. Well sort of. I'd had contractions for 3 weeks already and had been to the hospital for false labor 3 times already. By the time Sept.11 arrived I was so exhausted from the contractions and I just wanted labor to start so badly. I was in tears when Cory arrived home from work at midnight. I couldn't sleep, I wasn't hungry, and couldn't get comfortable. I had learned that the previous week I was already 4 cm dilated and fully efaced. The baby was sitting at a 0 station and ready to be born!
I went for a walk at 2:30 AM, Sept.12th. The walk helped calm me down and when I got home I was able to sleep a little.
At 9:30 AM I heard the loudest "POP" come from my belly that I literally jumped. I'd read that your waters breaking can cause such a sound but didn't really believe it. When I jumped DH asked me what was wrong. I said that I'd thought that my waters had broke and got up to see. Nope, false alarm. So I went to the bathroom and then got back into bed. 10 seconds later I was soaked, the bed was soaked and I had the strongest contraction! I yelled at DH to grab a towel and a pad. He was up and threw me a panty liner, LOL. Umm okay, the bed is soaked and a panty liner is going to help? LOL. He kind of realized that after he saw how soaked the bed was and threw me a bigger pad.
Another strong contraction, that had me bunched in a ball on the bed moaning. I think that this is when DH realized that this baby was coming NOW!
He ran to Mya's room and told her to get dressed in a hurry. He phoned my sister and told her that we were bringing Mya right away and tried to reach my mom but there was no answer. Meanwhile I'm trying to brush my teeth and finish packing my bags in between contractions. The problem was that there was no "in between" anymore. It was just one long contraction....
Let the dogs out to pee.... wait for them to pee..... bring them in and feed them......and we are in the car. The hospital is about 7 minutes from our house... my sister is about 15 minutes from our house and then another 10 minutes or so to the hospital. We phoned my sister to say that we were going straight to the hospital since things were moving so quickly. She said that she'd meet us at the hospital to pick up Mya.
We arrive at the hospital at 9:55. As soon as the nurses saw me they knew, and they had me strip and get into bed. They checked me right away and I was "5cm....no 6 cm.... no 8 cm." I went from 5 to 8 cm in a matter of seconds. They phoned my Dr and told her to come right away.
I said that I wanted an epidural, as the pain was unbearable and the contractions just didn't stop. The nurse said that there was no time and she gave me some gas.I remember looking up and seeing Mya's round saucer eyes, she was white as a ghost. I felt so horrible for my baby girl to see me in such pain! The nurse must have noticed my concern as she had Cory leave with her, so I was all alone. They checked me again and I was completely dilated and they told me that I could push when I felt ready. My Dr arrived and told them to take away the gas... LOL. I think that I was abusing it My mom arrived after my second push and watched Mya so that Cory was able to be there. 3 pushes later and my baby girl was here! She was born at 10:30 AM, only 48 minutes after my first contraction! I am still in shock! It was just sooo fast.
I have a tear, and severe bruising and swelling that they may have to drain. And the lovely hemmorhoids. Mom and baby are healthy though! There was some concern with Andi's fast breathing in the hospital and her lungs were filled with fluid because of the fast delivery. She has gotten much better over time. Her heart rate is still high, sometimes in the high 190s and we will see the Dr on Wednesday for a follow up appointment. My Dr is thinking that this is just from the stress her body is feeling from having so much mucus in her chest and lungs.
Andra Hope was 7 lbs, 6 oz and 20.5 inches long. Her head was 13.5 inches.
I knew that I would love her.... I just didn't know how much! I only met her 6 days ago and I already have a lifetime of love for her.


She looks exactly like Mya did at birth except that her hair is much lighter. It's amazing how closely they resemble each other!


Mya was so excited to finally have her baby sister.
It made me cry to see how happy she was. She is so in love with Andra.