Thread: ~**September 2004 Stars Births**~ 45 Babies!- 17 Girls/28 Boys

Just thought I'd post mine here, too!

Avery's Birth Story

My labor started Monday night around 5 or so. The contractions were really erratic and I wasn't sure if this was it or not. I'd been having pretty intense and regular Braxton-Hicks for a few days at that point. We went for a walk and I was having really sharp pains that were stopping me in my tracks. Then when we got home I sat down and they went away. It was really cold and windy out so I tried walking around the apartment. They started back up and all of a sudden were coming 5 minutes apart. We put Maya to bed and I tried to lay down to rest. That didn't work so Austin ran me a bath. I got in and was there for a couple of hours. Then I got out and tried to find another comfy spot. Nothing worked so I got back into the tub. Around midnight we called MIL and she came over to stay with Maya. We got our stuff together and drove our 2 minute drive to the hospital.

We were pre-registered so they had the room ready to go. I was happy to see my birth plan already in the room. It was good to know that they were familiar with it. They checked me and I was at 2.5. I was really bummed out... I got back in the tub and Austin put on some Bob Marley. It was nice at this point. I could talk between the contractions and we were talking about the baby and our relationship with each other and Maya. It was a great bonding moment. I think it was probably around 4am when I got out and got checked again. I was at 4 by then and she could feel that Avery was Occiput Posterior. I started getting scared at that point. I sat on the birth ball for a while and was getting some rest between contractions. My OB came in at some point and I was pretty much stuck at 4 or 5, I can't remember. She said if we broke the water it would speed things up. I said OK. That is what we did with Maya. Well, she broke the water and there was meconium. So, I really started getting scared. She said it could be normal since the baby had made it to her due date it might have just been time for a BM. All I could think was that she was coming out the wrong way and was in distress.

Pretty much immediately after they broke my water the contractions got really, REALLY strong. It was so totally different than what I experienced with my first birth. It hurt so much. I guess it was maybe 5am by then. After this I was kind of in a daze so I'll do my best to get this right. They warned me that when she did come out that they were going to have the NICU people there and that she would have to be suctioned immediately and I'd have to hold her in while they did this. I thought... OK. Easier said than done but I'll do my best. Umm... I guess for the next 4 hours it was just contraction on top of contraction. When they went away I was still in a hell of a lot of pain. Around maybe 7 I started telling Austin that I didn't think I was going to be able to make it without something. I was a bummed because I knew I could do it since I'd done it before and with Maya there was never a time I even thought of getting an epi. At some point he said he thought I should just give it up and I got pissed at him but later it was all I could think of. From then on the pain was so excruciating I thought I was going to die. I told the nurse I wanted drugs and for the next long while she tried to help me breathe through the contractions. Finally she left and called the dr. to tell her so that she could hook me up. She then came in and told me that there were 2 women ahead of me and it would be 20 minutes for each of them. I told her she must be kidding... That that was completely insane. There was NO way I could wait that long!

Then it was total insanity. Like someone turned the volume up to 11!!! The pain was so unbelievable I felt like my head was going to explode... Like I was the Exorcist or something! I couldn't hear anymore or talk anymore and then I started screaming. Another thing that was really unexpected and hard to handle for me. I am a really quiet person and Maya's birth was silent. I just had absolutely no control over anything. I would scream... then apologize that I was making so much noise. I was thinking of the women in the rooms around me and I didn't want to scare them but it just hurt so bad. I was making noises that there is no way I can explain... and yes, there was some good profanity thrown in, too. That was really embarrassing me. I'd be screaming FFFFUUUCCCKKKK!!!! Then, "Oh my god, I'm sorry I just said f#@k!" The nurse was laughing at me... At least someone was laughing! I don't know how much time passed here but I'm guessing the most intense part was the last 2 hours. I was holding onto the rail on the bed as tight as I could and couldn't let go for anything. They needed me to turn on my side and it was the hardest thing I've ever done. The nurse and Austin had to turn me.

My poor husband... He did such an amazing job being really supportive and telling me I was doing a good job. He was really scared. (here come the tears... i can barely think of this without crying...) I was screaming, "Help me... Somebody help me..." He was crying because there was nothing he could do. I kept asking, "Is she OK?" and the nurse was trying to hear her heartbeat.... I don't think she could find it.

They told me that the epi was there and they wanted to check me one more time. So with some help I got my legs up so they could check and I was fully diliated and ready to go... So, no drugs. I couldn't figure out how the hell they were going to get a needle in my spine at this point anyhow. I remember them pushing my legs back and telling me to PUSH and PUSH NOW and you have to get her out! NOW!! I pushed 3 times and her head was out and they were telling me to hold it and they got her all suctioned out then finally told me I could push again. 2 more and she was out. I sat up on the last push and my dear husband remembered to put my glasses on me and I got to see her body born. Then they took her away.... I started coming to and realised there were 10 or 12 people in the room. I didn't see or hear them come in so that was pretty bizarre. The resident OB delivered her. My OB got there right after she came out. After a few minutes I felt like I was all there again. It was like I'd been in another world or something. Austin was crying and saying, "She's here... She's here!" We kept waiting to hear her cry. She looked so purple when she came out. Finally... the cry we were waiting for. They got her cleaned out and gave her a little oxygen and brought her over. I held her and put her to my breast and she started nursing right away. She was wide awake with her eyes wide open looking all around and at us. Her little cheeks were all bruised up from being in the wrong position. Her little nose was all squished but she was just fine. Healthy as can be! 7 pounds 11 oz. and 19.5 inches long.

I have never felt pain like I did giving birth to this child. I didn't know if I'd even be able to actually get the story out on paper. (well, you know what i mean...) For the first few days afterward it was like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder! I had flashbacks and would hear the nurse yelling to get her out now! It was really scary. Then everytime I thought about it I would cry. I found a picture online of the baby coming out OP and it just breaks my heart that Avery had to experience that. Poor little thing. I'm so glad she is OK and it is over. At some point I yelled out that I was glad this was our last baby because I could never do this again! This kind of birth almost always ends in a c-section and I can totally see why. The body is just not made to push a baby out when they aren't facing in the correct direction. Yikes!

Anyhow... If you've made it this far ladies.... Thanks for reading. It feels better now to be able to share it with others. I talked to Ashley today on the phone and we had really similar births. It was great to share and compare with someone who'd been there. For those of you still waiting to give birth I hope this doesn't scare you. I almost thought I'd wait until everyone on our board had had their babies already. I'm done now. It has been a while since I had a good 'ol ramble, eh? It was time! LOL!
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Hi guys!!!
I am home again! I hate the hospital, and I was doing so well, that my doc released us this morning! YEAH!

Well, so I left you guys on Sunday, heading to the hospital to be induced. We tried nipple stimulation first, which worked while we doing it, but tapered off when we quit. Both my doctor, and the doctor on call decided, with us, that breaking my water would be the next step, but Michael was not seated firmly in my pelvis, so they couldn't. They said that it was too dangerous to break my water while he was floating, because of the risk of prolapsing the cord. At this point, my blood pressure was still really high, and they were really wanting to just get him out, but they were willing to wait a day if I wanted to. It was evening already, and everthing was set with the kids, and my best friends were there, and really, one more day would be silly. So.... pitocin it was. They were both really kind, and listened to my concerns, and were completely willing to do it the way I wanted. So, this is how it went!

They put me on a low dose of pitocin, upping the dose gradually to keep me in a good pattern. Of course, after a couple of hours, they asked me how it was going, and I told them I had better, and stronger contractions at home the other night compared to this! So my doc checked me to see if they were doing anything. It was 10:45pm, and I was only 2cm dialated (got nowhere there!) but I was about 50% effaced. The plan was to break my water on a contraction, so Michael's head would be against my cervics. Thankfully, he managed to get the hook in there. The contractions picked up at this point thank goodness! An hour later, the on call doctor, who later delivered Michael, checked me, and I was just about at 4cm. I was handling the contractions really well at this point. My best friends Amy and Beckie each had one of my feet, and were massaging them with lavender oil. Alan Parsons Project was playing in the background, and I was in a really good spot. I was focused, and relaxed, and it was just wonderful! Philip as my main support person, was so wonderful! He got in the wierdest positions for me, cause I was changing all the time. They were taking my blood pressure regularly, and when ever it would get to high, I would climb back into bed for a bit, to lie down. I could never stay long though. I just hate to labor lying down!!! Its just not very effective gravity wise! Laughing Sometime in here, it became intolerable for anyone to talk, at all, even whisper, during a contraction. I just couldn't take it anymore, and so Philip and I went into the bathroom. I just can't say enough good about laboring on the toilet! Laughing You all probably know already! Anyway, this is where I ended up transitioning, about 6 contractions (sorry!) It was getting really hard to concentrate, but Philip was sooooo wonderful. (He calls it my rolling head stage! Laughing ) He kept telling me that it was not going to be long now. After a couple of contractions, he told me that if I didn't want to have the baby in the bathroom again, I should really move quick in between contractions. I told him that this part was so hard, and that I didn't want to go back out there is they were going to put me back on all those monitors! He reassured me that he would take care of it, and it Really wasn't going to be long now. Somehow, I managed to wash my hands, return to the toilet for a contraction, and get out the door, and on the bed. I decided that I needed space under my bottom, like the toilet, and they dropped the bottom of the bed for me again. I got situated, and had two really strong contractions. I was really relaxed though, and focused completely, so they were easy, even though they were really hard. At this point, Philip told the nurse that she needed to go get the doctor. She for some reason wanted to talk to me, and continued to wait, and Philip told her that if she didn't go get her now, she wouldn't get here on time. So the on call doctor came to check on me, and put an internal monitor on the baby, so I wouldn't have to be strapped. Well, I opened my eyes and looked at her, as she was checking me, and she said I was at a 9. Beckie holds her fingers up, and says NINE???? Laughing The next contraction hit, and of course, I am bearing down. I remember I am nine, so I am panting and blowing, but my contractions just push him out anyway. Its now 12:54am) The oncall doctor was really surprised! We had tried to tell her that it was useless to put the monitor on, but she was putting it on when he came out! Laughing My doc was taking a nap, and arrived soon after Michael was born. They put him on my chest immediately, and covered him, and did what they could while I was holding him. They were so wonderful, and waited til I delivered the placenta before Beckie cut it. (She cried! It was so wonderful to have them there!!) Michael nursed right away, and it was about an hour before we got a weight on him, and found out how long he was!!!!!! It was so relaxing, and wonderful! I felt great, didn't tear at all, and we walked down to our recovery room at the other side of the 4th floor at about 3:00am. Everyone else went on home at this point. Michael was so awake, and alert, that we nursed, and talked to each other, while Philip got some sleep. I am still only running on about 2 hours of sleep at this point! Laughing

All in all, even though I had to be induced, I had a great time. They turned the pit down, and then off when Philip asked them to. Really, I had only 2 hours of labor that was really laboring. 2cm to 10cm from 10:45pm to 12:54am!!!! I felt so good after giving birth, that the oncall doctor was just floored. Laughing I didn't need, or ask for any meds, and I was so focused and relaxed, that it was a perfect birth to end on. Even though, I had to have the pit. I am happy, and content, and glad to be home.

Here is my full story: I am new here: and below that I will include Kilee's Birth Story:

Hi my name is Monica Burg( 37 ) and I am married to Jack Burg( 38 ). We have been married for 12 years so far, and I have 6 children all girls, 2 of which we adopted. I will go ahead and tell you all my story.

When Jack and I maried we srarted trying right away and got pregnant right away, but unfortuantely 3 months into our pregnancy we havd a miscarriage. Now being strong beleivers in God we knew it was his plan to take our angel away from us and knew that everything would work out. Well about a year after that I got pregnant again and was thrilled when my pregnancy entered the 2nd term., however I went into premature labor in my 6th month and delivered a stillborn baby boy. After mourning our second loss we got pregnant again and this time I didn't go into labor untill my 8th month. We delivered a healthy baby girl on May 7, 1995. WE named her Rena. We knew for sure that we wanted more children and so we never used protection, and we got pregnant, a little sooner than planned, but we were overjoyed. I delivered a healthy baby girl on August 23, 1996. We named he Michal. Because we wanted more than two kids we tried again and again but unfortunately faced two more miscarraiges one at 4 months and another at 3 months. The doctors told us that it was a fluke that we had two healthy babies and that it would not happen again, so as not have more miscarriages I got my tubes tied and we decided to adopt a baby. So we adopted Linda on Febuary 29 1999, she was born on Feb6, 1999.We then put in the paper work to adopt another little girl, and no longer than 2 months after paper work was started we found uot that I was pregnant(How Weird?!?!) So we didn't have the heart to back out now, because the little girl knew us already, so we continued on. We adopted Krista on july 7th 2003 ( She was born on March 28, 199 and gave birth to Sara at 7 months of pregnancy on August 6, 2003. We began birth control but an opps happened anyway right after Sara's birth and so I gave birth to ANOTHER baby girl on Septemer 19th 2004. Anyhow now here is my Family list

Jack( 38 )
Monica( 37 )

Rena( 9 )
Michal( 8 )
Krista( 6 )
Linda( 5 )
Sara( 14 months )
Kilee( 1 month )

Here is Kilees Birth Story:

Well I was only 6 weeks into my pregnancy when I started having BH contractions. This was my 8th pregnancy and sonothing was new to me. I thought I would just go in and have my contractions stopped. When I went in though my doctor did an ultra sound and told me that we had to deliver now. I was a little scared because he wouldn't tell me why. I knew he was a great doctor and my husband told me just to trust him. So I went in and the baby was delivered by C-Section. WE had already decided to do it that way, because Kilee was breech and unless she turned that wouldn't have been possible. She was so tiny!! only 4lbs 15 oz. After my delivery I was told that the umbilica cord was around her neck and that is why they wanted her delivered then. I always think of those BH contractions as a gift from God because otherwise we may have lost Kilee too.

By the way her full name is Kilee Elis (pronounce e- as in elephant, and lis as in listen) - Monica Burg

We had been joking to Walter that he had to stay in there until midnight Friday/Saturday, September 17/18, as after that he would not be premature and could be delivered at home as planned. As a matter of fact he waited all the way until 2:39 a.m. to make his wishes known!

I was suspicious when the first contraction hit out of the blue, but the midwives had told us there would be all sorts of weird cramps in the next couple of weeks so I went back to sleep. But at 3:15 it happened again, and at 3:45 and 4:05…. It started building really fast after that and getting more and more painful. I told Danny that this was probably “it”, but our info from the midwives said to wait until the contractions had been 5 minutes apart for two hours. So I followed some of their advice and stood in a warm shower for a while.

The contractions continued to get longer and more painful and closer together. At ten to six I just called the midwife, two hours or no two hours. She suggested I stand in a warm shower, wait an hour, and see what happened. I “explained” that I had just done that. When I had the third contraction while actually on the phone with her, she decided to come straight out. I waited for her by inching my way crab-fashion back and forth, leaning on the headboard and punching little marks in it with my fingernails.

By the time the midwife arrived half an hour later, I was already getting the urge to push and was VERY glad to see her. They have a policy at the practice that one sees each midwife a few times so that a stranger doesn’t show up to deliver your baby. Well, one midwife was on maternity leave, and I had never seen this woman before. Did I care? Nope! I was just thrilled the professional had arrived. She said we’d have a check on how I was doing, and did that in a relaxed and quiet manner, and then yelled, “You’re fully dilated! I’m getting my bag!” and ran out of the house to return three minutes later and start coaching me on breathing and pushing.

She was very good and I was very, very happy to have her there. Danny was right there through the whole thing too, and took pictures and supported me and helped her, as the assistant hadn’t had time to arrive. About 40 minutes later, also known as several hundred years, at 7:41 a.m. our time, Walter was born. The whole thing took 5 hours. The midwife was floored by it. I am VERY glad I called when I did and that she came straight out!!!

What happened then was as follows: after Walter was born Saturday morning, the midwife said that he was a little small (5.1 pounds) and that he was a little cool. Otherwise he was just fine, very alert, eyes open, not thin, crying well, and then studying our faces. Apgars of 9/10/10. She said that in such cases a paediatrician usually likes to see the baby and that we might have to head right out for the hospital, and she called the paediatrician. This doctor said we needed to be admitted so that Walter could be observed for two days and have his glucose levels checked every hour or two, so the assistant drove us to the hospital, and sent Danny to the lobby for a wheelchair.

We were checked in, and they brought a mobile cradle for Walter but naturally I hung onto him instead. They checked his glucose and blood gases, and asked if he’d been making this grumbly whining noise the whole time, and he pretty much had. So it was decided that he should be placed on the baby ward without me—but I could visit at any time. That was difficult, but what is best for him must happen. After a while, they moved me to a more permanent room with telephone and all. I was wheeled down to see him (Danny had had to leave to take care of the puppy, and was also completely exhausted, of course, because he went to sleep at 2:30 and the contractions started at 2:39). Walter was not feeling very well—making a grumbly whine and unhappy faces—and he also wouldn’t drink (I didn’t have milk yet so they were trying to start him off with a little formula to give him a good start). So they gave him a stomach tube and a nose thingy for extra oxygen, poor little guy.

That day things stayed about like that but he was obviously happier. But then a nurse woke me up at almost 7 a.m. Sunday to say that he had been whining again, and that they had done a chest x-ray and seen that because of working too hard to inflate his lungs he had developed a small hole in his lung, and that they had put a drain in and put him on a tiny amount of painkillers. I rushed down there and he looked as OK as could be expected under the circumstances, and had stopped whining again. It should go without saying that I often had trouble maintaining my composure. Everyone was very understanding. I called Danny and gave him the news.

Then they called up that there had been developments, at about 11. They had adjusted the chest drain and suddenly he had suffered a collapsed lung. They had a resuscitation team in instantly but they were not needed after all. Walter was critical for a while, but then stable and stayed that way. He never needed to be “brought back”. I was able to talk to him and hold his head for a long time.

Then I was informed that it was felt best that Walter be transferred to a hospital with an excellent neonatal intensive care unit, more staff, etc. I called Danny and told him not to come out until we had an idea where we were going to be. I was then informed that in order to get Walter the best care, it was not certain we’d be placed in Amsterdam, and also not certain there would be a maternity-ward room free for me wherever Walter ended up. This was very scary—I didn’t want to be far from home and in a hotel or something with Danny back in Amsterdam taking care of the pets! But then it turned out that there was room for Walter and I at the best hospital in the province, in Amsterdam. Walter—now with a second chest drain—was taken off with the baby ambulance, a specially equipped one with a neonatal specialist aboard, and another ambulance took me over.

Once there Walter was given even better care than the excellent care he’d been receiving. The hastily added drip and so forth were replaced with new ones through the umbilical cord and he was put on a respirator to give his poor lungs a break.

Walter then remained stable, and improved for several days, and just as they were about to discharge me and I’d have had to stay at a Ronald McDonald house to be near him, they decided he no longer needed intensive care and transferred him back to the hospital close to my home, so I went home and took cabs out to see him twice a day. We worked on breast feeding and I held him and they taught me about bathing him and so forth, and then when he was two weeks old they had me spend the night there, doing what they call “rooming in”. It was a trial run, and I took care of him as though he were at home and they checked on me and him. And then he came home.

He’s healthy as a horse, and although small, is not abnormally small, and is growing right along with the charts. Naturally he was on bottles of pumped milk when he came home, but by the end of November we could stop all that and have been breastfeeding ever since.

Charisma Rose
8lbs, 13 oz[/b]

Smallville her B-day is the 29th right?

Did we want this gone too?

Naw I like having all the baby's birthdays on a thread

somehow it got lost, i brought it back....weird ok lets keep it up here. I thought it was weird it was on the last page.

Oh the announcements are on every page Pretty sure, stickies can be pruned but announcements can't.
On another note, I just read through some of the birth stories and I just can't believe it. Look at how little Owen was