Thread: Jitterbugs Arrivals and Birth Stories!

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by ababyforus

I have a few minutes here so I am going to try and type Emelia's birth story.
As you know I was scheduled to be induced on June 3 at 5 PM. WELL, Emelia had other plans even though she was 5 days late. On June 2 my OB stripped my membranes as much as she could since I was only 1CM 70% effaced and cervix very high. I went to work on June 2 after my OB appointment and worked until 6:30 PM - it was very hard to get anything done though knowing that I was going to meet my baby very soon. I had a little more cramping while at work but nothing seroius. Knowing that I was being induced the following evening I wanted to try and get a good nights sleep, maybe even 10 hours of sleep. HAHAHA like that really happened. I maybe slept one hour before I started having contractions at 2 AM which were about 7-10 minutes apart. I took a shower because I had a feeling I would be going in well before 5 PM. After my shower I got on the computer and even posted on here... wanted to let DH get some sleep because every time I had a contraction I would wake him up I was in so much pain. They jumped from 7-10 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart - we headed to the hospital arriving at 4:55 AM NOT PM. haha On the way to the hospital I was in so much pain I was crying and it was hard to breath through the contractions. Arriving at the hospital they checked me and I was 2 CM 90% effaced. They said I could walk around if I wanted to. We walked not even 3 laps in L&D which are very short laps and I was in even more pain. Went back to the exam room and begged for some pain meds or something. She checked me at 6:30 a.m. and I was at a 3. At 6:40 they gave me a shot of nubain in the arm which releived the pain very little for maybe 10 minutes if that. Right after the shot they moved me to labor and delivery room. Shift change at 7:00 - new nurse brought me consent for at 7:15 for the epidural and started my IV, which by the way they blew the IV 2 times. ugh I was reading over the consent form and had a very bad contraction, had to put the paperwork down. I was like "I think my water broke" Nope, was a huge bloody show I guess. Checked me then at 7:45 a.m. and I was 7CM - they were trying to call my Dr. who was on call but at home. I was SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER for my epidural. They assured me I had time. I screamed and screamed and cried, no I don't have time. 8:15 a.m. huge gush - crap my water broke. I HAVE TO PUSH. No you can't push, the Dr. isn't here yet. Where is my epidural. He's on his way. He's not fast enough!!! I started pushing anyways. So I tried pushing without any pain meds but couldn't do it because I couldn't keep my legs open to push. Dr. arrived anywhere between 8:30 and 8:45. Begged for pain meds because I can't do this. It was WAY TOO LATE for an epidural. They gave me an epithecal (some kind of spinal) close to 9:00 a.m. and little Emelia was born after about 6 pushes at 9:18 a.m. weighing 8 pounds 3 ounces 21 inches long. Very strange is they couldn't put her up on my chest right after delivery because her cord was really short, but I got to feel her in my hands on my stomach while they cut the cord. DH and the nurse gave her a sponge bath while the Dr. delivered the placenta and sewed me up after having 2nd degree tearing. I took a shower and then got moved over to my new room.
She latched on right away so no problems there. She slept pretty well the first night but second night we sent her to the nursery from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. so we could get some sleep. When we left the hospital she weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces but they weren't concerned. We have been home for 2 days now - things are going well. Having a hard time getting her to sleep at night but she is still on my work schedule when I worked nights. But once she gets to sleep she sleeps good waking up for only 2 feedings at night.

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by Mommy2APickle

Born: 06.09.09
Time: 3:32pm
Weight: 5lbs 15ozs
Length: 18.5 inches long

Chase's birth/induction went SO perfectly!! I couldn't have asked for a better experience. We arrived at the hospital at 5:20am for the induction. They finally called me back to get me all registered and get the iv's started. I have to say, the IV went in SO easy! I hardly felt anything at all! Once I was all settled in, they called everyone back into the room. At 7am our OB came in to see if I was dilated anymore, but I was still at 3cm. At 7:20am they started the pitocin. By 10:30am I was contracting pretty hard but they were still kind of sporadic……I would have three good hard contractions in a row, then none for a little bit. At 11:40am the OB came in to break my water, which wasn’t bad at all…in fact, it felt good to get rid of that extra pressure! The contractions really picked up then….they felt like they were back to back with very little breaks in between. By noon I was SO ready for the epidural! The anesthesiologist came in and by 12:45pm I was feeling good. And the epi went in perfectly….no pain what so ever! They also put the catheter in a few minutes after the epidural and that was awesome as well! It felt so good to finally not have the feeling of having to pee constantly! The OB came back in and as of 1:10pm I was 4-5 cm dilated and 100% effaced. At 2:15pm I was still having some painful contractions, but only on the left side….my right leg was completely numb but the left leg was barely tingly. So the anesthesiologist came back in and added more meds to my epidural and I felt amazing!!! I actually was able to dose off for 30 minutes! A little before 3pm the nurse came back in and asked how I was feeling and I told her I felt great!! Boy did things change fast after that!!! She no sooner left when I started feeling contractions with TONS of pressure. At 3:15pm Zane buzzed the nurse and told them I was having contractions with tons of pressure and she came into the room quickly. I told her how I was feeling and she said she wanted to check my cervix. Well, when she checked my cervix she said “Ok, do me a favor….do not push! The baby is RIGHT there!” She grabbed her phone and called the nurses station and told them to get the doctor into the room STAT! Within 5 minutes the OB was in the room and we were ready for a baby!! After only 3 pushes, Chase Robert Marshall entered the world! He was so perfect in every way! I did have a 2nd degree tear, but I felt so good after delivery! And the best part of all, Tyler was in the room the whole time and saw his little brother being born! He was SO excited and amazed with everything!! When Chase came out and was crying he asked Zane’s mom why he was crying and she said all babies cry when they are born, and he gave her the biggest hug ever!! The only thing I’m dealing with now is horrible cramping…….it is TOTALLY kicking my butt!! I swear, the contractions didn’t even hurt this bad. I’m now taking motrin and vicodin for the cramps and as long as I don’t wait too long to take them they seem to be working. I’ll be so glad when they are gone for good, though!! Also, my sugar is now right back to where it was before I was pregnant and so is my pressure!

We are all so happy to have him here with us........

**I forgot to add that I actually called the day and time Chase would be born!! (well, close to the time, anyway...LOL) Last week when we saw the OB everyone was saying he could be born any day, but I said I just had a feeling it would be Tuesday the 9th....and that was with the OB saying if I didn't go on my own I was scheduled to be induced on the 10th. On Monday we found out we were going to be induced on Tuesday instead and when we left the office I told Z I just knew Tuesday would be the day and I got quiet for a second, then said "I think he'll be born around 3:45 in the afternoon......that sounds like a good time." Boy was I close, huh!!! LOL



Meeting big brother......

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by shortee77

Born: 6/8/09
Time: 8:10am
Weight: 7lbs 15oz
Height: 19.5 Inches
Pregnancy Lasted: 40 weeks and 5 days

I'm gonna try to make this quick cause my internet shuts off all the time. I arrived for my repeat c-section on June 8th @ 6am. I was first in line so things went pretty quickly. After getting my iv and answering questions, I made the dreaded walk to the OR. They put in my spinal and let DH in the room. It is the strangest feeling not being able to feel my legs, I thought I was gonna have a panic attack. After about 5 minutes I could hear them getting ready to bring her out. As soon as I heard her cry, the tears came running down my face. They showed her to me over the curtain and then checked her out. Her apgar scores were 9 and 9. They had Fred go over to her to check her out. She was born with a tiny skin tag by her ear, no big deal at all. She did have some meconiom but it was very slight. They closed me up and brought me to recovery for an hour......or so it was supposed to be. They kept putting blankets on me to bring up my temperature. After awhile I was so hot, the sweat was dripping off of me. Despite that, my temperature was still very low. I couldn't leave recovery till it went up to about 96 degrees. After about 4 hours or so in there, I finally got to go to my room. I was so loopy that day, I really don't remember much more. I know they brought baby to me hours later because she was being retested for her slight Arrythmia. The prenatal cardologist said everything was fine and believe it'll dissapear on its own. So after 7 hours of her being born, I finally got to hold her. I was in love. She has since gotten a tad jaundice but nothing to be concerned about. We did not have a name for her till that evening about 7pm. I just looked at DH and told him to name her. So Leah Marie R____ it is and I love it!!!!! We couldn't be any happier.
Oh I look great...lol:

Fresh from the womb:


Daddy & Leah:

Gianna meeting her baby sister:

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by ekcanada

Name: Hayleigh Bryn
Birthday: June 6, 2009
Weight: 7lbs, 4ozs
Pregnancy duration: 40 weeks, 4 days

I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, June 5th. He did a very hard sweep. I didn't think it worked because I had no cramping and very little bleeding.

Friday night, contractions started but they were not painful and they were very far apart. I went to an organ concert and felt fine besides the contractions. I went to bed between 10 and 11pm.

I woke up at 3:30am on Saturday Nauseous and had major diaherra. I got into the shower at 4am because of back labour (which lasted throughout the duration - I still don't know what front labour feels like ). Tyler got up at this point and started counter pressure on my lower back. We laboured at home until 6:30 when contractions were 2-3 mintues apart and lasting 50 seconds to the peak. I threw up just before leaving.

We arrived at the hospital at 6:45. I was checked and was only 2 cm (what I had been for 2 weeks). I was discouraged but the nurse told me to walk for two hours and then she checked me again. She also gave me gravol to relieve my nausea. At 9 am, I was 4 cm and they admitted me. Tyler couldn't put enough pressure on my back so I asked for something to take the edge off. The nurse gave me morphine. As I was getting off the bed to start walking again, my water broke. The nurse brought me a hot water bottle to relieve some pain and I laboured without walking in triage for an hour. I finally got into the shower (but don't know what time). After 45 minutes in the shower (heavenly!), I felt the need to have a BM and tried a couple of times. I actually tried to push it out in the shower (gross I know but I didn't care at that point) but I realized it felt a lot bigger than your average BM! DH called the nurse to check me.

she laid me on the bed. As soon as I laid down, my bag of waters popped out! Tyler thought it looked like a small balloon fell out of me! the nurse popped it and checked me. After 45 minutes in the shower I had progressed 6 cm's and was ready to go.

When in the delivery room. the nurses had me kneeling of the bed with my arms draped over the back. I delivered her in this position because it helped relieve back labour!

I pushed for two hours. I really had trouble when she was crowning (worst pain I felt the entire time!). the doctor was speaking forcefully to me which was exactly what I needed!

I had 2nd degree tearing almost to my bum and up towards my clitoris so it took forever to get sewn up. The baby was a wonderful distraction though!

I couldn't have had an easier birth experience in my option. And best of all, I did it without an epidural (just the shot of morphine at 4 cm's).

Thanks for reading, sorry so long!

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by DunyaWolf

Kieran’s Birth Story
June 13 2009, 9:34 pm
8 lbs 3 oz, 21 inches long
@ 41 weeks 1 day

Its kind of hard to know where to begin with Kieran’s birth story, since by the time I got to the hospital it went so quickly and most of the day before we left I simply didn’t realize I was in labor. The day before he was born (Friday) I had gone in for an NST and ultrasound to confirm everything looked ok since he was a week past his due date. Assuming everything did, my doctors were going to give me the weekend to see if I would go into labor on my own, and if not I had an induction scheduled Monday night/Tuesday. It was overwhelming having a set date, but I really didn’t want to be induced. But, it just didn’t seem like my body was going to do it on its own. Anyway, so the NST and US both looked great, he was moving well and had plenty of amniotic fluid etc. So they sent me home and I expected to come back Monday night.

Sometime early Saturday morning (4 am ish?) I got up to pee and there was tons of bloody mucous when I wiped. I had that all the rest of the day too. I knew something was up from that, though I didn’t know if that meant anything about when exactly I would go into labor, whether it would be sooner or later. I was also pretty crampy, but went back to bed for a few hours and ignored it. So the bloody show continued that day, as did the crampiness. Only it didn’t feel like what I thought a contraction would feel like- with a clear beginning and end… it was more like a general cramping in my lower abdomen that sometimes got a little worse. I always figured I would feel the contractions in my entire abdomen. I was also feeling it in my back a lot too along with a lot of pelvic pressure, but it didn’t seem quite intense enough for it to be “back labor”. In fact, none of it was intense enough to signal to me that I might actually be in labor at all lol. Though, I was pretty uncomfortable… and another thing, I had always read that women in labor often want to move around, walk, etc… not me! Any time I stood up it was way worse. I had to keep sitting down- the best was on the birthing ball.

That afternoon my mom, sister and brother, stepdad, and DF’s mom came to visit. By that point I was really not so much in the mood for visitors… I kind of just wanted to be left alone. I didn’t feel like talking about any of it and didn’t feel like trying to maintain conversation with people since I was increasingly uncomfortable. They visited for a while though. By the time they left, at 5 or 6 pm, I was REALLY in some pain. I could breathe through them and everything, but… it was definitely more difficult. So I finally decided to sit and time them for a while, just to see. They were coming about every 3 minutes or so and lasting 30-60 seconds each at that point. So I called the answering service at the OBs to see if they thought I should go in… the doctor I got (also the one who delivered me) seemed appalled that I was more than a week past my due date and told me definitely to come in.
So we did. By the time we got to the hospital and were waiting to be taken to triage, the pain was definitely worse. I couldn’t get up and walk through contractions, or really talk through them, and having to sit leaning back while they monitored the contractions and heartrate was almost torture. I was definitely re-thinking my decision about doing this medication-free. My biggest fear at that point was that I’d only be like 1 cm dilated and they’d send me home. When the doctor finally got in to check me, I found out that I was in fact 5 cm dilated, 90% effaced and baby at zero station. I thought I mis-heard him- up until that point my cervix hadn’t done a thing to get ready, and I was already at 5 cm??
So I most definitely was not going home. That was around 7 pm. From there they sent me to the labor room. And actually from there things are fuzzy. I don’t know if endorphins were kicking in or what, but I was actually quite out-of-it from pain and my memory of the actual delivery isn’t clear. Like, I was asking Daniel about things that happened, and apparently the doctors were making comments/jokes and things that I don’t remember hearing or responding to. I sat there for a little while, and the contractions were getting really unbearable. I was not tolerating them well… wasn’t crying or screaming, but I was definitely tensing through them and was miserable. In fact, I kept my eyes closed pretty much the entire time. Not sure why, it just seemed like that was the best way to get through them. I told them that yes, I wanted the epidural. The anesthesiologist took what seemed like an eternity, and I was getting really scared about how I would handle anything worse. I didn’t feel like I could do it. I also assumed I’d have a while to go, and the thought of putting up with that for any longer was terrible. I told them I wanted something else in the meantime until the anesthesiologist got there- anything! But right after that he arrived, explained the procedure to me and had me sign a consent form (honestly? That form could have said they would amputate my leg and I would have signed it at that point!) and FINALLY started the procedure. For all my previous nervousness about getting one, it really wasn’t too bad… at that point it couldn’t have been any worse! After he did it I was sitting there anxiously awaiting it to kick in, but I didn’t feel all that different. Then it seemed like it was only working on my right side, so they had me roll over to my left to help it work on that side.

And then I felt like I had to poop lol. I told them that and immediately began pushing… they are right, its more of an uncontrollable reflex than an “urge”. So they flipped me over to my back and I began pushing with contractions. I still am not sure how well the epidural worked. I think it did help the contraction pain a little, but I still felt everything while pushing. I’m not sure it had enough time to kick in before I had to push. And I never did lose feeling in my legs. Total I pushed for 30 minutes, maybe a half hour. Again, my eyes were closed pretty much the whole time- I was in another world. I remember the doctor saying he had hair, and that was encouraging. Eventually I pushed his head out, then an arm, and finally the rest of him. That was the weirdest feeling in the world! Also, apparently he was sunny side up, so I guess that was back labor I was feeling earlier. I did open my eyes briefly when they put him on my chest, and I was just in shock. I couldn’t even process it. They took him away and the doctors spent some time stitching me up… which I felt, and it wasn’t fun. Finally they brought him to me all wrapped up, and it was just a totally surreal experience. I couldn’t even say anything. After a while a nurse helped me to nurse him, which he seemed to want to do immediately. Even right after he came out he was rooting around and shoving his fist in his mouth so I could tell he wanted to. We had some time to hang out and bond before family came rushing in lol, so that made me happy as it was something I was worried about.

So… that was our story! I’m totally in love!


By dunyawolf, shot with DSC-W150 at 2009-06-16


By dunyawolf, shot with DSC-W150 at 2009-06-16


By dunyawolf, shot with LSI_S5K4AAFA at 2009-06-16

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by thinkinpositive

Let me first say, this is going to be long. Rudely long. No way around it. It's not that I'm the pompous sort - really. I’ve just read so many of these stories on pg.org since 2005 and never thought I’d be the author. And this is likely to be my only chance. I also need to record it; to let any woman with a uterine malformation know that pregnancy is possible in the face of what seems like insurmountably negative fact. The world is a miraculous place and life will find a way, even in cases like mine: just when you think all hope is gone.

My HSG. You can see how the catheter goes in and turns abruptly to find my oddball cervix. That tiny triangle on my left thigh is my uterus - or was. Heaven knows where it is now



And look what it was able to do!



And sometimes the curse becomes the blessing. For those who run from this epic novel (no jury would convict you) I want to mention early on because it's pretty amazing - that my severely retroverted cervix – that abrupt horizontal right turn that we doubted any baby could make to get to the outside world – is likely what allowed me to carry Trace full-term. Dr. S. said it basically locked the door, holding T.J. safely inside. If it were vertical (as we’d wished it was) we likely would have lost him or delivered him very prematurely.

Hidden blessings. Turns out life is full of them. Who knew.

Here’s the story of Trace Jackson (T.J.) T_______ Our “Little Miracle Man”



6 lbs. 19 inches
born June 12, 2009
38 wks 6 d.
by scheduled c-section due to necessary breech presentation (since wk 28.)
in a unicornuate uterus (that's my boy!)

Chris and I left the house at 4:30 a.m. on June 12th, excited and nervous – and for me, empty and dry as a bone. I’d slept a tiny bit, the only shut-eye I would get for 3 days. I was prepped at the hospital by a sweet nurse named Julie. Put on my gown (those things are huge) then asked if could put on deodorant (the surgery instructions hadn’t mentioned it) and ended up getting it all over myself like an idiot. Julie had to poke my IV twice, but did an amazing job of putting it under my arm, not on top or in my hand so I’d have more freedom to hold Trace. Then it was shift change and I met Holly who would be my nurse.



Chris was glued to his laptop getting things set up on TJ’s website to show the families. I kept having my upset-stomach-gotta go to the bathroom nerves, which was a super pain, because I could barely go when I got in there and had to get my IV into the small room with me and there wasn’t a bathroom fan (WTH?) I was given the antacid (a super sour somewhat vile “shot glass” of liquid) and then Betsy, the nice pre-op nurse came to chat. She would be assisting in surgery. Another friendly face on this scary, emotional, surreal day.

DH had me roaring with laughter as he “scrubbed-up”. At first his pants were inside-out and the tag was hanging behind him and then he hopped around trying to get them off and back on with his shoes on. He looked amazing in them though (he’s so slim and handsome) like a doctor. So of course in true Chris form, he picked up a stethoscope laying nearby and goofed around. What would I do without his sense of humor.



Then, to my delight, Cory, the super caring anesthetist from my pre-op popped into my room and said he’d be on my team! I was so thrilled to see him, because he’d spent a lot of time with me the day before. Because of the fused vertebrae in my neck, there was some concern about my range of motion if they had to go to general anesthetic. Cory was all set with specially shaped tools to do the job (once you’re out, they put a tube down your throat – ack!) and it was reassuring to know we were all set, come what may. Cory would end up being my right-hand-man once Chris left the OR with T.J.

Eons passed as we waited for Dr. S. Finally, he zoomed in with a big smile, saying “are you ready to do this?” I said, “Yup. Let’s have this baby,” and eek - it was Go Time. He felt my stomach for positioning (no need for u/s - by now we both knew what the head felt like) said something like, “See you in there!” and left for the OR.

I don’t even remember saying goodbye to DH before leaving, which I’m sad about now. (what if? what if?) DH videotaped me as I walked down the hall with nurse Holly to what is titled on the wall as the Caesarean Delivery Room (I appreciated that). I’d been worried I’d cry at this point, but somehow I didn’t.

We pushed the doors open and it was bright and clean and new looking and there was the whole team, Dr. S., Cory, Betsy, lots of other assisting nurses – and they all applauded and cheered – such a lovely unexpected welcome. Elton John’s “Daniel” was playing at a good volume – Dr. S.’s preferred “birthday music.”

Turns out it was a mix-tape of sorts with Elton and Billy Joel songs. Of course several songs played during the delivery, but I only remember the words to the one playing when I first met Trace: Billy Joel’s “For the Longest Time.”



I sat on the edge of a skinny table and held onto a nice nurse I’d never met before while I rounded my back as instructed by Cory (hard to do when your front is round as well). They inject the block directly into your spinal column and Cory warned me to speak up if I felt any kind of electrical shock feeling. He numbed the area (uttering words of support) then in it went and I felt a truly odd sensation, like a quick shot of cold liquid shooting down my spine. I’m sitting there thinking “was that electrical?” Egads. I’m gonna need a vacation after this!

I immediately felt hot and my feet began to numb. The nurses swung my legs up onto the table and I lay down and they got started. Cory was right there explaining what they were doing and talking me through. They put a blood pressure cuff on my right arm (left one had the IV) so all I could do was lay there. For those that don’t know, you still feel sensation and motion, touch basically and for me the feel of any palpitation seemed magnified by 1,000. Dabbing at the incision felt like someone was jumping on me!



Dr. S. commented that Chris was out in the hall “pretty darned excited.” Judge for yourselves:



They actually started the incision before they got Chris, which was a bit un-nerving. Cory softly says, “They’re making the incision now” and I’m repeating, louder each time, “Did someone get Chris?!” After what seemed like an eternity, his smiling face appeared on my side of the curtain, bringing tears to my eyes (darn, hadn’t cried through any of the scary stuff, but seeing my sweetie did it).



I felt a lot of pushing and pulling (good grief what the heck are you doing to me?) and let out a lot of “Oh God”s and “Oof”s. Cory suggested that Chris peer over the curtain and take a picture or two, which was weird for me at the time, but I’m SO glad he did:



Sure enough. Our breech baby emerged bottom first and they flipped his little legs out as he came into the world. Shortly after, I glimpsed motion out of the corner of my eye, heard “Get your camera ready” and there was my narrator Cory again with those unbelievable words I never thought we’d hear: “There’s your baby!”



My eyes filled up and I called out “Oh wow!” as I heard Trace cry and spotted our tiny pink, perfect (and crying – yay!) son in one of the nurse’s arms. For a millisecond Chris seemed frozen to the spot. Then he jack-knived up and headed for the bassinette/warmer. I’ve never been so jealous in my life!





I lie there, basically a “head” with an attitude, going “Oh good, he’s crying!” / “Is he okay?” – and most of all – “How does his FACE look?” LOL! (We’d had an terrible u/s image of T.J.’s face at the end of the pg that looked all the world like he had lips 4-feet long) Thank the Good Lord – not a beak nor platypus bill in sight!

They announced Trace’s weight at 6 lbs., his length at 19” and his Apgar scores of 8 & 9. Then Cory called to Chris – “Bring him over, hold him up, show your wife your son,” and I’m staring in wonder at Chris and this little warm bundle in a tiny knitted hat.



I managed to blurt out, “Hi sweetheart,” and soaked in every detail of his little wrinkled, tiny face through my tears. Every time I relive that moment I cry and it’s one of the most joyous life experiences I’ve ever experienced. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Despite all my (needless) worries, all of my misgivings along the way - We DID it! The “Little Uterus that Could” DID it! We posed for a couple quick pictures and Trace and Chris left for the nursery. (Had it been a dream?)



Having Chris leave with the baby was a decision we’d made early on and didn’t second-guess. But if I had it to do over, I think I would’ve wanted him to stay. Because despite all of my fears about walking into the OR and having to deliver that way, it was the trials of the medical team putting Humpty Dumpty back together again that were my greatest psychological challenge.



First of all, Dr. S. called over to me from behind my curtain (while showing the medical team) that I do indeed have a unicornuate uterus (UU) on the left side with a small rudimentary right horn. I felt so redeemed that the “hunch” we’d all had from that single HSG so long ago was bang on. And of course that the nasty OB from that time who shattered our lives by telling me me babies were unlikely but "you can still make love for pleasure" UGH - was VERY WRONG! I felt like a case study and had sort of an out of body feeling of watching what they were seeing in my mind’s eye, although all I saw was blue curtain.

SOME SOBERING UU FACTS:

The uterus is developed by the fusion of two mullerian ducts that usually are identical and fuse together into one vessel. In about 1 in 4,000 women (more common in those with renal malformations such as a solitary kidney like I have) the uterus is formed from only one duct. Sometimes there is a partial “horn” on the other side, which cannot support life and will lead to fatal uterine rupture if a pg implants there and is not immediately removed with the horn.

In one study of 290 women with a unicornuate uterus, 175 women conceived but only 50% of them delivered a live baby. The rate for ectopic pregnancy was 2.7%, for miscarriage 34%, and for preterm delivery 20%. The intrauterine demise rate was 10%.

So for perspective, later on Cory would discover that I had sensation waaay lower in my core than I should have. He says my body metabolized the spinal block faster than most, giving me LOTS more feeling and discomfort than I should have had. Combine that with the fact that the “closing up” part took a lot longer with me and the UU and you’ve got a memory not soon forgotten.

I could hear Dr. S. talking to the team beyond my blue world and was snapped back to reality that this was indeed surgery and my innards were still splayed all over the table.



“I’ve got a floppy one here. It’s not responding to the pitocin.” (They administer pitocin after c-sections to create uterine contractions, firming up the organ before re-insertion.) My poor little uterus had swollen to such an un-natural size that the normal procedural dose wasn’t touching it. They upped it and it still didn’t work, so they injected another med (didn’t catch what that was) into my left thigh and then when that wasn’t enough, something else into my right. Some firmness resulted and they moved ahead.

“Uh, Cory. I have a headache. A bad one. Just on the right side of my forehead. And it’s getting worse.”

All the meds had raised my always excellent blood pressure to quite a height, hence the headache. Lying there, feeling somewhat alone, I was doing battle in my head not to think of it as a dangerous sign.

“Cory – Cory, now my chest hurts. On the left side and up under my arm.”

Cory was amazing and reassured me that everything I was feeling was a common reaction to the medications and that my BP was high but still okay.

“Oh God – Oh Ugh!” I gripped handfuls of both sides of the table in my fingers as they jostled and pushed my giant uterus back into its new placement.

“Can I give you something to relax you?” Cory kept asking me. “Will you be mad at me if I give you something?”

“Oh no, I’m okay,” I kept saying, but then my headache intensified.

“I think I’d better give you something,” he said, and I agreed, adding “Just a little bit.”

I felt the tiniest bit drowsy after that but still a lot of abdominal acrobatics during my “reassembly.” Then Cory told me they were stitching me up and after what felt like an eternity, they were done.

As the curtain came down, I spotted a smiling Dr. S. and said, “Fancy meeting you here!” Everyone was full of congratulations and so nice and said I was a “real trooper.”

Then I was transferred to a hospital bed and wheeled out to recovery. Chris and Trace came in (it WASN’T a dream!), the Lactation Consultant appeared and we got T.J. BFing immediately. He latched right on perfectly and she said, “It’s almost never that easy,” (Go T.J.! I’m so proud of you, sweetie.)



Then they wheeled my bed down the hallway and nausea hit – big-time! I barfed my way to our room into those strange little plastic cylindrical bags that reminded me of The Cat in the Hat’s hat. (It continued for a few hours until they found an IV med that stopped it.)

So there I was. IV in my left arm, oxygen sensor on my left finger and to ease my mind, compression hose and boots on both legs inflating and deflating on their own. (My dear father died of a blood clot, 4 months post surgery, hence my blinding fear of all things OR.) When Dr. S. first mentioned a possible c-section, I’d called my Mum shrieking and crying. For the rest of the pg, I’d felt really “tricked” into facing my worst fear, as there wasn’t any other way to get T.J. out.

I don’t think I slept in hospital at all. There was always someone coming in. T.J. fed 12 times on his first day on earth with 3 wet and 3 dirty diapers (and with me bed-bound, Chris had to deal with the meconium!)

How to sum up this epic novel? Well, here’s what I wrote when I just couldn’t sleep in the wee hours of the next morning, laying there in hospital with Chris on the couch and our newborn son sleeping peacefully in his plastic basinette beside me:

“We are so much in love with Trace. We shared him on the webcam with our parents yesterday. Mum had been crying all day, so happy and so worried. It was incredible to see her on the camera, still emotional and in a state of disbelief. She never thought she’d ever be a Grandmother and it was incredible to share the moment with her. And my step-dad is so happy too, which is so special to me. He's going to be a wonderful Grandad. He was a good friend of my Dad's, so it's almost like sharing T.J. with him too.

I was able to eat supper last night in a chair and had my catheter removed at midnight and could “go” on my own in an hour! The compression stuff has been removed and today I’ll finish my IV med and be able to lose it and shower – heaven! I also get to go with T.J. to the nursery tonight

T.J. is truly a Miracle Baby and we’ve never felt so blessed in our lives. Chris can’t stop holding him, walking around the room with a giant grin, whispering excitedly, “He’s so precious!” over and over like he’d discovered hidden treasure.

The nurses are saying they’ve never seen a newborn look so much like his Daddy. That made me so happy, because when we were told I was basically infertile, my deepest sadness was not being able to give Chris our own child; to see each other in his eyes and family members like my beloved Dad in his talents and gestures in years to come.

I can’t believe we have a son. By far, this is the greatest wonder I have ever experienced in my life. God bless you, T.J. I’m so glad you chose us.

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by babyJtime

Tuesday
3 p.m.: 2 c.m. Dilated, stretch and sweep done
Irregular contractions and losing mucous plug throughout the day.

Wednesday
More irregular contractions and losing more mucous plug.
10:30 p.m. Contractions are 9 minutes apart, lasting about 45 seconds.

Thursday
5 a.m. Woke up because the contractions were 5-6 minutes apart, lasting 30 seconds.

8:30 a.m. Called the Midwife. Contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, lasting 30 seconds.

9 a.m. Midwife came to my home. 4 c.m. Dilated and fully effaced. Antibiotics for GBS given.

9:45 a.m. Checked again and 5 c.m. Contractions are still the same. Midwife had to leave to go to a consultation appointment.

10 a.m. My sister and friend arrive and apply counter pressure to my lower back with each contraction. Much better way to get through contractions!!

11 a.m. Midwife returns.

12:30 p.m. Contractions 1-2 minutes apart, lasting 45 seconds. Checked and at 6 c.m. Because of the progress, was asked if I would like my waters broken.
Agreed and lots of clear fluid.
Was told to go have a couple contractions on the toilet.
Had one contraction and 10 seconds later a very intense contraction. Called for my sister and friend to come for counter pressure.
With the next contraction, I felt like I had to have a bowel movement.
Somehow I moved to the bedroom in between contractions. Had one more contraction before they checked me and I was fully dilated.

12:38 p.m. With the next contraction, Maria Konae came into the world, VERY quickly! I'm not sure if anyone caught her or not!!
Maria was put on my chest and breastfed right away! I cut the cord and held Maria for at least 90 minutes before they did their baby checkup!

Maria Konae
40 weeks and 2 days
7 lbs 12 oz.
21.25 inches
12:38 p.m.

So 3 days later, things are going okay. Maria only cries when she is getting her diaper changed and it is a MAJOR meltdown cry!!

Breastfeeding is going 'okay'. She sucks great but there are some latch problems so I'm already all scabby and cracked. Getting help from the midwife with that. It needs to get better because it is very painful!!

Jeena is doing great as a big sister. She is always talking to Maria and helping me with diapers, etc.!!

A MAJOR bonus is that Maria was born on Thursday and my DH was granted a special leave (in the Army) to come home for Friday and Saturday!! So he got to meet his second little lady! Originally he would meet her when she was about 3 weeks old!

Here is one picture for now... more to come when I sort out the hundreds we already took!!

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by Thyninne

My water broke at 5:45 in the morning. Thankfully, my MIL was staying with us this weekend, so she was able to stay with the boys. DH and I took off to the hospital. I was feeling pains in right around my mid-section that came and went like contractions. Didn't feel like full contractions though, just really intense menstrual cramps. They intensified when we got to triage. I got undressed and put the gown on. Right away, I felt the urge to push. I was so scared, thinking there was no way I could be fully dilated yet. I yelled out that I felt the urge to push, they came running to check me, and confirmed that I was fully dilated! We were whisked into a delivery room, and I pushed for about 20 minutes, and she was born at 6:58 am! We never had a minute to spare!

Victoria Dorothy Irene
Born June 20, 2009 @ 6:58 am
9lbs 4oz
20.1"

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by katiecougar

Lauren's birth story:

I was scheduled fo an induction and asked to come in to the hospital on Thursday, July 2nd at 5pm for Miso (oral) to ripen my cervix. I checked in with DH after dropping of DD at my parents at 5pm. By the time I was admitted and in bed it was 7pm and the monitors were picking up regular contractions about 10 minutes apart. But they were not painful. I was a fingertip dilated but my cervix was still long.

We ate dinner, and they gave me something to help me sleep and sent me to bed without any unduction drugs. I was woken up at 11:30pm by the nurse stating that my contractions had stopped so they gave me the oral meds and put me back to sleep. I slept OK, but not great. I was up for the day around 5:30am and waited for the dr to arrive. I was checked around 9am and I was 1-2 CM dilated - so basically nothing much had happened, but my contractions had picked back up - still not painful.

They started petocin around 10am and let me rest. About an hour later they decided that they would insert a bulb in my cervix to dilate it manually to see if that kickstarted that. At 1pm I was having more painful contractions and when I got up to pee, the bulb fell out and I was bleeding a bit. I walked around for about 30 minutes and labored through the contractions.

Around 5pm they have to move me to a new room (closing the wing I was in cause there was only 2 patients in it) and by then the contractions were really painful and I was about 5-6cm. I told the nurse that I wanted the epi as soon as I got to my new room. It took the anastesiologist 30+ minutes to get there and I was having a hard time with the pain. It too two tried for her to get it. but when she did, I was in heaven. I could feel my legs but NO pain!!!!

My family went and got dinner together and when they got back it was like 6:30pm. I was checked again at 8pm and I was 8cm. My 9pm I was full and complete and ready to push. After two short pushes Lauren arrived and they placed her right on my chest!! I never got that with DD #1 cause she had pooped in utero. She nurse right away and I was in HEAVEN!!! She was 7lbs, 9.9oz and 19 inches. 13 inch head.

Birth Stories

Originally Posted by Mandie565

With everything that has been going on, I have not had time to type out the wonderful story that brought Joey into the world…. As I sit in bed resting from all of these gallbladder problems I have finished and added a few more pics from the 1st few days of his life. My next goal will be to upload new photos so u can see how big he is getting!

Joey’s Birth Story

At 1am Friday (6/12) I woke up to go to the bathroom. On my way back to bed I felt a pop and my underwear was soaked. I waddled back to the bathroom still not completely understanding what had just happened. After cleaning up I called DH at work. (He works 24 hour shifts). I told him it was time to come home. Later on I found out that he grabbed his stuff and just walked out of work. The guys he works with knew I was due soon so they assumed I was in labor but it was so funny that DH panicked as much as he did. My hubby has delivered babies already, he’s a paramedic. He also gave himself an asthma attack. LOL.

Well we called the OB who said to go to the hospital but don’t rush in. I got a shower and finished packing and then we stopped for coffee on the way to the hospital for DH. When I got to the hospital it was around 2am and I was 2 cm at this point. I tried to nap a little and got a few cat naps.

Around 7am they hung pitocin to get the contractions going. Wow did that stuff work right away!!!! I could breathe through them and they weren’t awful. At 9am my OB came in and checked me and I was 4 at this point. And my god did that check hurt!! This is the only point I cursed during the enter delivery!! She told me that I was dilated enough that I could have an epidural when ever I wanted one. I held off for a little while but then I asked for it and it was put in around 10:30am. What relief!! I was able to relax a lot at this point and even took some naps!! I was feeling soo much better and I’m so glad I decided to go with the epidural. I had almost talked my self out of it during the pregnancy.

Once I got the epidural the Nurse kept turning me. Well around 1pm we flipped to my left side and things just started to go wrong at this point. My B/P started to climb up, I started to get a mean headache and Joey’s Heart rate started to decelerate. We put me on my back again but Joey’s heart rate wouldn’t stay up. We would get it up for a little bit but then it would drop again. I was so scared at this point! In the end we think that I had so many contractions in a row that it never gave me or the baby time to recover from them so his heart rate dropped and my Bp went up. They stopped the pitocin for almost an hour and then they started it back up slowly.

At 3pm the OB doctor came back in to check again and I was a 6 almost a 7. This time it didn’t hurt at all thanks to the wonderful epidural! She came back in an hour and by that point I was 8cm and fully effaced. She told me it wouldn’t be too long at that point.

At 445 I felt the need to push. They also discovered that my temp was at 100 but they weren’t too worried yet. They set up the room and let me start pushing. I actually got the hang of pushing pretty quickly and things got moving along. The Doctor came back in about 530.
At 603 John Joseph B********* IV entered this world. They put him right on my stomach and then he finally cried. He had an extremely short cord so I couldn’t hold him very well until DH cut the cord. I was so in love immediately. DH & I cried and just couldn’t believe our miracle baby had arrived! I had a temp of 101.9 at this point.

I think we only held him a few minutes and he went over to get his checks done. He was 7lb 5ozs, 20.5 inches, 14 inch head with a big cone on it, His 1st APGAR was 8. His temp was 100.9, heart rate 162. They called in the neonatologist pretty quickly and they decided he was going to go right to the NICU for blood work and antibiotics. Joey left the room a little before 7pm.

I had a 2nd degree tear and got stitched up and cleaned up. I was up and in the shower with in 30-45 mins. That shower felt amazing!!! Then I got to eat!! Thank god!! I spent 9 months of pregnancy not being able to eat a whole lot and then I spent the entire 18 hours of my delivery starved!! I have never been so hungry and of course I wasn’t allowed to eat anything other than ice chips and water ice. The water ice was amazing! I missed the cafeteria being open but they gave me a box lunch with a turkey sandwich and I think I cried because it tasted so good. DH was so amazing during the entire delievery. I can’t even imagine going thru that without him!!

Joey didn’t return to our room until a little before midnight. It was so rough not getting to see him for so long. We held him for a little while and then I actually sent him to the nursery. I didn’t want to but I knew I needed to try to get some sleep and work on recovery.

Both Joey and I were given clean bills of health and we were able to go home on Sunday!! I was worried Joey was going to have to stay but thankfully everything worked out. Bring him home was the most amazing and overwhelming thing. DH & I listened to the new Darius Rucker song called “It won’t be like this forever” during the car ride home!!


DH & I waiting for Joey to make his big arrival!


Little Joey in the NICU. I love the look on his face!!


Grissom giving Joey kisses! Grissom loves Joey so much.


My Dad holding Joey once we got home.