Birth Stories: Past or Present

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #270 on: May 27, 2008, 06:25:29 PM » by mykidsmom

Yay! Yay! Yay! Congrats, Cara! I love big babies! You ladies put me to shame. I thought my 9.12er was big. Roll Eyes

Good job, mommas.

patti

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #271 on: May 27, 2008, 07:25:36 PM » by panmamma

wow!! congrats to everyone..........man, you all do have big babies!! here in Taiwan, my 7lb 11oz baby (my 3rd) was considered huge!!!LOL!!.....I told them that he was small compared to others.............goodness.....I wasn't joking:-)

You all are my hero!!!! this one will not be 8lbs, but i'll let you all know in a month:-)

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #272 on: May 28, 2008, 09:01:51 AM » by clover13

Congratulations Cara! I am so very happy for you!!!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #273 on: May 28, 2008, 10:08:44 AM » by cecac

Thank you ladies--you all are the sweetest!! Kiss

Helen, what a treat to read your birth story this morning, oh my how lovely. I have experienced the no ring of fire or any stinging one time with #6--how wonderful for you!!

Blessings,
Cara

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #274 on: May 28, 2008, 07:03:30 PM » by lotsaboys

Wow, Cara! I missed this thread over my busy weekend and am thrilled to read your news.

Congrats on your precious baby boy!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #275 on: May 29, 2008, 07:23:09 AM » by bizymum

Congrats, Cara! What a big boy!! So happy for you!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #276 on: June 12, 2008, 01:36:34 PM » by 4-KRAS

Birth stories are so amazing and so different for everyone. Here is my story. Baby 1 was due April 5 of '01 on April 7 I had some pains that felt like cramps but they were not bad and my husband and I just did some normal stuff and went shopping (it was a Saturday) that night when we went to bed I couldn't sleep because of these cramps and was up all night. At around 3:00A.M. I thought they were pretty bad(hey first time, I didn't know how bad bad gets) so I woke hubby and asked him to call the midwife and have her come. When she got there, she check to see how I was progressing and told me I was at 1 cm and active labor does not start until 3cm. I was horrified. After some time she left and called me thoughtout the day to see how I was doing. The same except the pain would get a little worse. That night I tried to sleep again but the pain kept me up. At 5:00 A.M. I had hubby call the midwife again. Then I thought "if she comes and checks me and tells me I'm at 2 or 3 I think I might die". Thankfully I was at 7 and had our 1st girl--Kelly at 1:30P.M. on April 9. Didn't sleep for about 4 days, only an hour or two here and there but the adrenaline rush from being a mom had really kicked in. Baby number 2 due Nov 17, '02 and in the early morning of the 21st my water broke. My husband called into work, we call the midwife and think wow this baby will be here in no time (I had not learned from my first). All day sat around home, my sisters there and not a single contraction. The next day comes and still no contractions. Then just as I was going to bed that night they started. At 5:00A.M. (my poor midwife) I told my dear hubby to call the midwife. He asked me if I was sure and I know it was the dirtiest look I could give someone and said YES. The midwife arrives, I don't want to be checked so after an hour they were going to have breakfast. I said I felt like pushing and so I finally had to be check and I had Ryan a few minutes later. Baby number 3's due date Dec 13, '04. On Dec 7 my water again breaks. This time we are finally a little smarter and hubby goes to work, I do my normal rountine. Day comes and goes, next day comes and goes, no contractions. Tried some herbal things to help things progress but nothing. Finally after 48 hours after water broke midwife said we need to go to hospital. We choose a smaller one 20 minutes away instead of the 5 min one away. Except for the pitocin I had to get, the hospital was very honoring about the way I wanted to deliver. Pitocin at 5:00, HORRIFIC contrx (the worst I ever had, I would NEVER recommend being induced) at 7:00, but girl Ashley delivered by 9:12P.M. and discharged from hospital at midnight. The midwife actually caught the baby because the nurses were caught off guard by how fast it went and were trying to call the doctor. Baby # 4, our last was due May 25 '07 and on May 21, I start having contractions and then my water breaks. Obviously we did not learn as much as we thought because my husband called into work and I called the midwife and when she got there (at least it was 8:00A.M. this time) contractions stopped. We just prayed all day and did some more herbal things and thank God at 10 that night the contrx picked up and I had Shelby at 2:20 A.M. It was a great last experience too because it was just midwife, hubby and myself. Three other children were sleeping in their beds. It was quite and peaceful. The children came down the next morning and discovered they had a sister. So those are my stories...

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #277 on: June 19, 2008, 01:31:53 PM » by kisbaba_1

my newest birth story!! isaac justice arrived june 12:

i had some light contractions all day wednesday, but they never picked up. so, we went to bed that night thinking they were just "practice" contractions. thursday i woke up really crampy... and grumpy. dh went to work, and we went on with our day. when he came home at 4:00 on his dinner break, he was a little concerned about all the pressure i was having and encouraged me to time the contractions. turned out they were consistently 5-6 minutes apart. so, we called the midwives just to let them know. the midwife on call encouraged me to take a warm bath and have a glass of wine to test the contractions and see if they would stop. they didn't, but they also didn't progress; so, i figured i would just lie on the bed for a while and see what happened.

after 15 minutes of this, the contractions had gotten quite a bit "sharper", and dh insisted we leave for the hospital immediately. we threw the kids in the van and started the hour and a half drive. we got to the hospital somewhere around 8:00pm, and i headed to triage. they kept me there for an eternity, because they actually had to send someone home to clear a room for me! i got up to the room and had to wait a bit for them to fill the tub and get everything ready. dh was feeding the kids a belated dinner in the waiting room and waiting for my mom to get there to take them to her house. it was a really interesting experience. i have never had to labor on my own. dh has always been there for every contraction of every birth. it was sort of lonely, but it was also sort of affirming that i could handle some of this alone. nonetheless, i have never been so relieved to see his face when he walked back into the room! i was already in the tub, and he jumped right in talking me through the contractions. he was awesome!!

we had gone through a number of still-manageable contractions when i asked dh if he had noticed that i pushed a little bit at the end of that last contraction. now, during all this, there is another girl that our midwife is responsible for who is also delivering a baby in the room next door. the midwife has been next door for some time and has informed us that if we need her before she gets back to bang on the wall, and she'll come running. so, we're basically on our own at this point! another pushy contraction... and then out of control, couldn't stop pushing. in the middle of the contraction, i'm telling dh, "bang on the wall! bang on the wall!" the midwife comes right in to check on us and get set up. a couple contractions later my water breaks, and his head is already trying to come out. two big pushes and he shot right out! wahoo!! since we were in the tub, i got to reach down and catch him. it was awesome!! the only word i could use to describe it was "empowered". i really felt like i could take on anything. he was so gorgeous and so perfect and so tiny! since the hospital was understaffed that night, and since my parents were home with our other kids, and my sister and her family were out of town, we ended up having a quiet, peaceful first night with our baby. it was really strange, because we are used to having a crowd at our births, but it was a sweet, calm way to start our life with our new baby isaac.

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #278 on: June 19, 2008, 05:04:51 PM » by LKS

Wow.

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #279 on: July 10, 2008, 12:24:54 AM » by momof1

The birth of my first was a c-section. We wanted to have him before the first of the year so we could get the tax deduction and being that my due date was the 20th we thought no problem. Well its December 30th and we are doing everything we can to get things moving....spicy food, walking, bouncing on a ball. Finally took some castor oil and at 2:00 in the morning I thought I was having some good contractions although inconsistent. We went to the hospital and I was 3 cm so they said we could stay. I didn't progress at all so they broke my water and I received some nubain. Things still weren't going so they introduced pitosin and I got an epidural. At about 11:30 I was fully dilated so they let me start pushing. About 2 1/2 hrs later the baby wasn't coming down so we opted for the c-section. Labor was almost exactly 24 hours and needless to say we missed the tax deduction

With the c-section I also tore about 3cm from the incision. The doctor said that I would probably be relagated to having all of my babies via c-section.

Baby number 2 my intention was VBAC all along (my dh's too) I had to switch doctors due to mine leaving the practice. However the doctor that did my c-section and the one that assisted were still in the practice. I did not pick either of them to be my new doctor and the one that I did pick was open to VBAC until she spoke with the one that actually did my surgery who said that I was not a good candidate for VBAC. New doc said we will see how things go. No induction for sure and constant monitering and if I don't progress then we must do c/s. I figured sure whatever, I don't want to risk my baby or myself but at least she is open to trying. One thing she did mention though is that if the doctor on call was the one that did my first c/s or the one that assisted, they will probably push the c/s. Dh and I decided that I was not going into the hospital until we were sure that I was in labor and progressing. Well fast forward to July 2, I thought I was having contractions so we started timing, they were 9 minutes apart. Then they were 5, then 2 so we packed the van, dropped my ds at grandmas and got to the hospital. I was already at 7 cm, PRAISE THE LORD. About an hour later I was at 9 cms. The doctor on call was the doctor that assisted in my C-section and he came in about 5 times telling us that we might be making a grave mistake. Kept trying to scare my DH by saying stuff such as I wouldn't let my wife do this (she had 4 c/s) and I would rather have my wife here to help me raise my kids. My dh was getting very nervous with this pressure. I was hearing him too but was too busy trying to breathe through contractions that I didn't really care what he was saying. DH asked if maybe I could get some nubain but the nurse said they don't give nubain when its at 9 cms. Then he brought up the epidural and I told him that probably wasn't a good idea because it could slow us down and he agreed. So then I am at 10 cm and the doc checks me and my water breaks. About 1/2 hour later my son is born. From beginning to end labor was 6 hours. I couldn't believe how fast it went, I was ready to have another 24 hour ordeal. I do have to give glory to God of course. I am amazed at how fast the recovery is and how much more I am able to do it is such a blessing. So hopefully this encourages anyone thinking of doing a VBAC. I understand why the doctor was being doom and gloom, its his job to try and keep things as safe as possible. But don't lose your resolve. Sure things could have went wrong, and we were ready for it if they did, they gave us the closest room to the OR and had everything ready. THings can go wrong in any birth..whether first time, or c/s or VBAC... So that's my successful VBAC story.

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #280 on: July 14, 2008, 09:24:25 PM » by babymakers

I was not due until the 13th and I always go over. It is always about two weeks over and then I take Castor oil to induce labor. (I used to get pitocin when we did hospital births before I knew better) Sometime after midnight on the 8th I started feeling almost pains and tightening of the stomach. I thought for sure it was fake labor because they were not strong and the timing was inconsistent. Besides, I never go into labor on my own even though I want to! So, I laid there in bed but could not sleep. I got up to take a shower after 2 and that got my DH out of bed also (he just got home from work). He got in the shower and I had to confess I was feeling something that MIGHT be labor. After the shower back to bed.

Within an hour I decided this must be real because they were getting stronger (still inconsistent) and I moved to the basement into the clawfoot bathtub that my hubby JUST finished installing the day before so I could labor in it. We only had a standing shower in this house! How could I be in labor?!?!?! I began to realize my nesting list is NOT done! No, pads, not enough cloth diapers, the area where the tub was installed needed to be painted, no dinner meals frozen in the freezer, baby stuff not ready, yard not mowed, house a wreck from the home improvement we just did, and on and on! I always wanted to go into labor on my own so this was a blessing but very unexpected. I should have two to three more weeks!!!! Oh wells!

My husband moved the couch from the other side of the basement over by the tub so there was someplace for him to sit and relax. He is very tired at this point because it has been a long time since he slept. He was a dear and got me things I needed. He also called the midwife about 5 to tell her we were in labor. We did not need her yet though so she stayed at home until about an hour later.

Our last baby was an unassisted birth. This one I had a midwife. I figured it would be better to make everyone else relax. People seem to think having a baby is a medical procedure and think we are crazy for doing it at home. At least this way they will only think we are half crazy. LOL

So, she gets there and soon I am almost there... I let her break my water. She was a dear, sweet lady. So nice. It is great to have a midwife like her because she would never do anything if I did not want it. No pressure. And my hubby was the nicest and most helpful he has ever been in labor. Getting me drinks, holding my hand, quiet and loving. Extra special! I remember saying "what in the world would possess me to do this six times?!" when the labor pains were really bad.

Soon I feel the urge to push. The baby will not come though. My hips are hurting so bad... unusual. I never have had this problem before. Normally when I feel the urge to push it only takes a few pushes and the baby is out. This time I do not even feel the baby coming. So, I switch positions. Nothing. I switched a couple times and once or twice I felt the baby get lower. The midwife suggests resting through a few contractions without pushing. I did this but it was very hard because my body was saying to push. She also has me "blowing raspberries" to make the rest of my body relax during a contraction. Still the baby is not moving down. Then I switch positions again. I ended up on my knees at the edge of the tub. My husband was sitting on a stool outside the tub facing me. I put my arms around his neck and leaned on his shoulder. I feel bad, in a funny laughing sort of way, looking back because it must of been really painful for him. Every time I pushed I would squeeze around his shoulders and neck as hard as I could until the contraction stopped. Finally, I felt the baby move so low I thought it would just pop out. It took a little longer. I felt a burning sensation I had not ever felt before. Finally the baby came out. Sploosh, baby hitting water... push... baby shoulders... baby out!!!!! Fat baby out!!

The cord was kind of short so it was a little harder to turn around and hold him. We wait for the baby to get all the blood from the placenta before we cut it. This is very important. Later on I got to cut the cord. The first cord of six babies that I cut. This was also the first baby with a head of hair. I guess you have to have a half dozen to get a few firsts! LOL!

My midwife showed us what to look for in a placenta which was very interesting! I should of taken pictures! My DH fell asleep on the couch at this point. The midwife cleaned up and she weighed the baby. She said "I bet this baby is at least nine pounds." I said "really?" All of my children have ranged between 7.6 and 8.15 before. Then she said "10 pounds" and we just started laughing. She checked her scale to make sure it was right... it was. Now I know why he was harder to push out than the others. I know why my hips hurt.

We have a beautiful baby boy. The odd thing is he really was early for me. He was covered in a thick layer of cheesy vernix. Something not normal for me. There was also a few other signs to say he was early for me. I wonder why this one was so big so fast... I guess I will never know. I am sure that God had a purpose in it though. I also thank God for a home birth. I wonder if I would have been at a hospital if I would have had him vaginally. He could NOT of come laying on my back and most hospitals do not exactly encourage switching positions to deliver. I also did not tear. He eats like a moose and is healthy and vibrant. He watches everything. Gabriel is wonderful and I am so thankful we did not stop at two or three children or I would not be holding him here on my lap. I would never know him... Seeing him makes me think I would not want to be without him.

« Last Edit: July 15, 2008, 07:45:46 AM by healthybratt »
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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #281 on: July 16, 2008, 04:05:42 PM » by Grace

My due date was Friday, 7/11. On the 4th and 5th(fri and sat) I noticed a large increase in discharge. ::)Several WTM people said for them that meant a baby within a couple days. Shocked

On Saturday evening I started having contrax, but nothing regular or real strong. But strong enough I only got about 4 hours of sleep all night! >:(Sunday morning still contrax, but still nothing I felt very sure about being "it". So we went to church. On the way there(9am-9:30 am) I thought they were getting stronger. During our bible class time I started timing them. 40secs long, 3-5 mins apart mostly. Still wasn't sure so we went ahead and stayed for service. Contrax got longer and stronger! I was having a hard time sitting still and hiding the fact that I was having contrax. About 11:15 I decided to go sit in the back by myself. I ended up kind of kneeling. By this time I was 95%sure I was actually in labour, there is no way to leave our church building discreetly so I really wanted to wait til everyone left. So by about 12:30 most everyone had left and I came out of hiding Grin

and headed out to our truck. A couple people stopped and talked to me and I managed to convinve all but one of them I was fine. The one lady has had six kids and she tlod her daughter that afternoon that I was definitely in labour! Of course this was the day that my DH had a big manlift on a trailer attached to the back of his truck that was rented and HAD to be returned that day! So we stopped at the rental place to return it. Took FOREVER!! Actually less then 15 minutes, but it felt like forever! Then we headed home! In the 20 minsit took to get home I had 5 strong contrax. My DH kept saying are you having a contraction? I say "YES" and he would say "but you just had one"! And I would say I KNOW!!!! Cheesy

So we got home at 2:15 and I called the midwife to have her come. She live about 1 hour away. Since it was Sunday we had left for church and left the kitchen a mess that morning. So my DH fixed lunch for the kids and cleaned up the kitchen. Kiss

As soon as we got home I went and got on my hands and knees in front of the couch with my hands on the couch. Seemed most comfortable at the time! Because I had been pretty sure just a few days earlier that I was in labour and then it petered out, I don't think my DH was convinced that I was in labour at this point! Not that I blame him! Wink

So midwife got there at 3:15 and started setting stuff up. At that point my DH must have been convinced because he called a fried of ours to come and get the girls for the afternoon.

The girls had been "helping" the midwives....mostly just talking their ear off I think.....but one thing they told the midwives was that the baby wouldn't have any hair! So....after the midwife got most of the important stuff ready I was talking to her and she wanted to know if I needed anything and I asked if she was going to check how far dialated I was. She said she only checked if I asked her to. Did I want her to? I said yes, then the other midwife informed me that after she checked me the next contrax would be stronger. I said "so NOW you tell me!" Anywaysshe checked and I was about a 6-7 she said. It was probably 4-4:15 by then. That was the only time the whole labour that she checked me! A nice change from my hospital births where they check me 10 or 15 times! I am not sure of the exact definition of when "transition" exactly starts, but around 4:30 I threwup and midwife said later I was probably in transition at that time. So....I edned up moving back to the bedroom, then onto the bed, and for some reason I started shaking really bad and I was FREEZING in between contrax. So midwife had me get in for a shower. Once I got out of the shower(about 5pm) she told me that the baby seemed a little bit stuck and she wanted to try some things because it didn't seem like things were progressing. I said ok, THEN she told me what she wanted me to do. She wanted my DH to take me for a ride in our truck. Over lots of bumps. She said she had had success with this before. I siad NO, but between her and DH I of course ended up in the truck!! My DH felt really bad because he knew all the bumps were really hurting me, but I think he was laughing a little! I told him in a different time and place I would have laughed too! He went on gravel raods, potholes and RAILROAD TRACKS!!! After like 4 hours(actually probably 10 mins or so!)I said Can we PLEASE go home!!! So we did! Anyways I think it worked, because I was getting back onto the bed, and I felt the weirdest feeling! I kept saying someting is coming out and it is not the head!! It was the bag of water. It sort of buldged out without breaking. Strange. It stayed like that for 5-6 contrax. Then finally broke. After that I started pushing. Midwife said I could push as much as I wanted until it started burning. I don't know how long I pushed for probably 10 contrax or so. Baby still wasn't moving very well so she kept having me change position, hands and knees, kneeling, squatting(OUCH) and finally I ended up laying on my side with one foot up on the assistants shoulder. I kept going from one side to the other because my back was hurting pretty bad. Well baby did start moving down and I definitely felt the burning sensation...so midwife said don't push anymore just breathe! So I tried! At that point midwife and DH were talking and agreed baby would be born by 9pm. I said what time is it? I figured like 8:50? They said 8:15!! I said no way! This is not going to last another 45 mins!!! I really tried not to push, but after I think 4 more contrax the head came out! Midwife checked for cord around the neck and it wasn't there, but baby's hand was up on it's shoulder. That kind of scared DH, but with the next contractions the shoulders came out and DH and midwife caught the baby! Now (this is the best part!) we had really wanted a boy since we already have 2 girls, but we had tried really hard not to get our hopes up and we would have been happy with boy or girl, BUT right after my DH caught him he wa just trying to hold onto him and his hand ended up between baby's legs and all the sudden he said "ITS A BOY"!!! He was SOOOO excited!! They wrapped him in a little towel and haned him to me! He was fussing a little, but not a lot. Just enough that we knew he was breathing! Then( before I even delivered the placenta) DH called my parents to tell them he was born and was a boy. I talked to mom for a minute and she said they were coming the next morning(YEAH). Dilevering the placeta went well. It hurt pretty bad because I had torn it 3 places. No stitches and only one of them has been sore. So...I guess that's about the end of that part of the story....I guess I was kind of long winded! Oh yeah....he was born at 8:23! NOT 9PM!! And he had a ton of dark brown hair!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #282 on: July 28, 2008, 10:35:51 AM » by healthybratt

Quote from: joyful_mommy03 on July 25, 2008, 06:41:59 PM

The Birth Story

When I found out I was pregnant with baby number four, I also found a fabulous midwife and was very excited to give birth at her birthing center. Everything was "boringly normal" throughout the pregnancy, such a blessing with all my pregnancies. Later in the pregnancy, we discovered that this baby was in the head up or breech position - which translates to an automatic c-section in the hospital. Gone were my dreams of having the baby at the birthing center with my trusted midwife.

So, we set to work trying any method possible to turn the baby to the correct position - lots and lots of prayers, chiropractic treatments, lying upside down on a propped up board, homeopathic prescription, more lying upside down, moxa treatments (burning herbs on the toe), and lots more prayer!! Nothing worked. I can't accurately relate with any words how much I did not want to have a c-section. I was desperate for this baby to turn.

Days before the due date turned into days after the due date and our little girl was still stubbornly head up. We wanted to wait until the last possible minute to plan any surgery or induction of labor in order to let her turn, if that was at all possible. So many risks surround the situation - everyday was emotional and hard to endure. Praise the Lord!! He kept me calm and trusting in Him through His Word and through great preaching!!

Monday morning, July 21, I was 10 days overdue and we were scheduled for a biophysical profile on the baby to make sure she was still doing well under the circumstances. During the test, she passed all the marks that were needed except one - so she failed the test. We were sent immediately to the office to consult as to the next step. We had three strikes against us - breech position, overdue, and now the failed test. It sure seemed like the future didn't look very bright.

We came to the conclusion that if I didn't go into labor naturally that evening, I was to make an appointment for the c-section the next morning. We did ALL the "baby turning" techniques in ONE NIGHT and other things to try to start labor. I can't tell you how amazing my husband is!!! I had lost all hope and was just going through the motions and that's just when he stepped up and worked harder for me than ever before. His support and love were amazing as he played relaxing music for me, burned the herbs in the moxa treatment, rubbed my stomach to try to get her to turn, etc etc. He is my knight in shining armor and I am so blessed to have such a man. That night I could not sleep - no contractions whatsoever. I moved out to the couch and read the Bible and prayed and cried and cried but I just couldn't see this working out the way I had originally planned. We had tried everything and it just seemed that a c-section is the answer the Lord was giving us. I was fully trusting in Him and although I really did not want this, I was resigned to it knowing that He knows best.

Then, just like in the movies, at the very last minute, another idea surfaced. My wonderful husband remembered a doctor in South Florida that we had heard was willing to deliver breech babies naturally. Falko asked me to make the call - I almost didn't, but because of all the work he had already done for me the night before and because of his care and support, I couldn't say no. I thought for sure the doctor would be out of town, not accepting new patients, not accepting my insurance or any number of other reasons he would not see me.

Well, I made that call and they told me to get to their office IMMEDIATELY!!! I couldn't believe this was actually happening! We cleaned up the house, got the kids situated with some wonderful friends who were ready and waiting to take the best care of them and got on the road for a 3.5 hour drive to the doctor. We hit rain and traffic and the doctor called and told us just to meet him at the hospital. We finally met Dr. Tsinker at the hospital at 5pm and by 7pm I was being induced! Dr. Tsinker was very honest and upfront with us - he would give me as much time as I needed and as was safe. He would have much rather that we had been there two weeks earlier - bigger babies are harder to deliver breech because, as the baby is coming out, the doctor has to move and rotate the baby a number of different ways to make sure everything comes out right. He preferred a 6 to 7 pound baby. He ordered an ultrasound to check the size of this baby - 9 pounds and 11 ounces was the reading!! "I hope that reading is wrong" he said.

We started with Cytotec, a pill that is inserted and irritates the muscles into contractions. The first dose started mild contractions. Three hours later, the second dose started contractions that were a bit harder. The third dose, everything stopped. I looked at the clock at 3am and lost hope again. Every time I was checked, there was very little progress as far as going into real labor. Then, the doctor decided to hook up some pitocin - another way to induce labor. Maybe, with the small amounts of movement that had already happened, the pitocin would really get things moving. The doctor was willing to let me try as long as we were progressing. If there was no progress, then we would move toward a c-section.

A few minutes after being on the pitocin, the doctor also broke my water - then I could really feel contractions!! I finally felt like things were moving! I regained hope! Falko was there for each and every contraction, helping me focus, rubbing my shoulders and neck, reminding me of cute things that the kids do, showing me videos and pictures on his phone of our beautiful family. With each contraction, the pain got worse and I had more wonderful things to focus on. Finally I was checked and had dilated to 7cm! We were nearing the finish line!

I did not realize that after the doctor checked me, he had an emergency call to see a patient. I progressed from 7 to "ready to push" in a fairly short time. I remember all the signs of the transition period, when your body goes from contracting to getting ready to push. I asked to be checked again and they found that I was, in fact, READY!! The room began to be transformed and the doctor was called. I could not stand the waiting - this was by far the worst part of the whole labor! I had to hold the urge to push while waiting for the doctor to get there. It could only be THIS doctor that could catch this baby because of his willingness and experience with breech presentations - I HAD to wait! In hindsight, I'm sure this helped the very positive outcome that we had as this time of waiting, of pushing a few times when I wasn't supposed to and of my body getting even more ready to deliver.

I finally saw the doctor enter the room and a huge wave of relief swept over me! Finally, the moment we had been waiting for! Up to this point, we had been through all this before - the pain, the transition, the emotions - with our other babies. This part was completely different - how was this breech baby going to come out? I didn't have time to think about all those questions I had been over in my mind a thousand times every day up to this day. I had been lying on my side, curled up to try to keep this baby from coming before the doctor. Once the doctor was ready, I rolled over and saw the doctor and made one final huge push. She came out ALL AT ONCE!!! One push - unheard of in a breech delivery!!! I will never forget the look on the doctor's face - arms waving in the air (after he had handed the baby to the nurse, of course) and such a look of joy and victory and brightness!!! What a feeling of relief - and then when I heard her cry, I just knew she was going to be okay!!!

WHAT A MIRACLE!!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!

She was perfect and healthy and wonderful!! The rest of the story goes back to "boringly normal" - which is NOT boring at all!!! She is nursing wonderfully, I feel GREAT!! I think the recovery with Elia has been the quickest so far!!

As the children's song says "My God is so GREAT, so STRONG, and so MIGHTY, there's nothing my God cannot do!!"

Also, my husband ... once again, my words fail me as I try to tell how wonderful he has been throughout this whole learning experience. When I felt like everyone thought I was crazy - he stood by me and was a strong support. When I thought I was crazy - he reminded me of all the reasons I was making the choices I was making. When I had lost hope and courage - he found it and carried on with it for me. I'll never forget how he worked so hard that Monday night and then drove 3 hours just to get me to the doctor the next day. What a wonderful man I have!!

Not to mention the family and friends I have had trying to help through all this - the prayers that have been offered up on our behalf time and time again, the babysitters (both those that got to babysit and those that didn't ) ... so many contributed to this outcome in so many different ways, I don't have the space to tell you about all the stories and wonderful people the Lord has blessed me with. Thank you to each one of you for all you have done!

I have an awesome God!

I have an amazing husband!

I have a fabulous family!

I have a great church!

I have wonderful friends!

What more could one person ask for!! And the "more" that I asked for ... God gave me that, too! A natural breech delivery!!

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,3140.msg195384.html#msg195384

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #283 on: August 31, 2008, 07:32:17 AM » by Mrs. Visionary

What an amazing and beautiful story! Sniff! Congratulations!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #284 on: September 13, 2008, 06:10:09 PM » by petrimama

Okay, almost a month late and after several requests I am posting my most recent birth story....
I was induced in early August and went through an external version and 20 hours of labor, only to have my contractions stop. Shocked

Because it was important that my labor not be spontaneous so I would have time for the IV antibiotics, my midwives they suggested that I spend a half hour several times each day with my hands on my belly so that I would feel the tightening of my contractions in time to get to the hospital. (Generally I am oblivious to my labor until 2 hours before the birth.)
Then, two weeks later, I awoke at 4AM in the mood for a hot shower. Weird. So I decided that while I showered I would feel my belly, and lo and behold it was tightening every 3 minutes - but I couldn't feel a thing. So, around 5:30AM I headed to the hospital to see if it was labor. It was, so they said to stay and I got my IVs but it was strange since I was not in pain and I had never had time to wait around for a birth before.
It was fun, though. My husband said it was like a slumber party because both of my midwives hung out in my room all day (one acted as nurse, the other as midwife) and we chatted and watched youtube and ordered pizza, etc. Finally, one of my MWs suggested I do lunges to loosen my muscles for labor. I only did about 4 before I needed to use the bathroom. Within seconds of being in the bathroom I felt terrible pain and started shaking, so I called my husband and had him quickly help me to the bed where I was checked for dilation. The time was 6:31PM and I was still only 4cm. Embarrassed

Then I started having the urge to push, but the mw's kept insisting that I MUST NOT PUSH. I didn't push once. My beautiful daughter was born at 6:41 PM - exactly ten minutes after the pain started. Praise the Lord!
I only needed 3 stitches, which is miraculous since I usually need TONS. This was my best birth yet! And my recovery has been great too. Sometimes I wonder at the unceasing gifts of the Lord and I cannot help but give Him glory! ~L

« Last Edit: September 13, 2008, 06:16:44 PM by petrimama »
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Check out my birth story:
http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,10948.msg201680.html#msg201680

Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #285 on: September 19, 2008, 05:32:59 PM » by purewellspring

Thought it was about time to finish and get this posted, seeing as little Elsie is going to be three months old next week!

*****
After planning a home water birth with an incredible midwife team and amazing support from family, God changed our plans at 13 days overdue. During our second meeting/biophysical profile with our backup doctor where we discovered baby doing perfectly well, but running very low on amniotic fluid, we received an ultimatum: Go to the hospital now to be induced, or I'll drop you as back up (which means we lose our backup and our midwife in one fell swoop, because MWs can't practice in CA without a backup on call).

We tried stripping my membranes and castor oil with my midwife, along with some homeopathic remedies and acupuncture, to no avail. He'd given us until 3pm that day to make a decision, and at 2:30 we received a phone call from our midwife that he wasn't willing to budge. After a good cry and lots of discussion, we let go of all our dreams for this birth and packed bags for the hospital. We struggled somewhat, knowing inductions have a far higher intervention/pain med/c-section rate in general, and after having prepared so hard for a natural, safe birth, we had no idea what was coming. But, we decided to trust God and embrace this as our adventure.

To fast forward just slightly, we arrived at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at 5pm, Monday, June 23, I received my IV and fetal/contraction monitors, they started pitocin at 6:15, gave me my walking monitor (so I could wander the halls with my IV pole and not be stuck in bed!)...and things steadily progressed over the next...32 hours.

Our midwife team joined us as our doulas...they were amazing! Plus, my sister was there (you'd have thought she'd attended a million births, she was so calm and poised and incredibly helpful!), and the most amazing husband in the world. The doc had given us 20 hours to reach four centimeters (I "started" labor at about 1/2 a centimeter dilated), and we reached that with 6 to spare, which made me excited! Things steadily progressed all day Tuesday. My birth team continued to walk the halls with me, "dance" with me (towards active labor hanging on Steve became my preferred contracting position!), get me food (I ate all the time, and not a single nurse said anything!), get me drinks, make me laugh (I did the same for them...one of my midwives said she'd never been at a birth where she laughed so hard in her whole life), and basically help me get through what was an incredible experience.

Around 12:30 pm, the Doc came in to check again and said I was between four and five, and things should pick up after I hit five. We got excited! Around 5pm or so, I hit between 7-8, and we all began hoping to meet this baby by sunset. Oops! I started feeling pushing contractions probably around 9pm...but was still only at 8 centimeters. Now THAT was uncomfortable. Things started slowing down then, and by maybe 11pm, when I was still only at 9 but had been feeling pushy for two hours, I hit "transition"...only we didn't recognize it, because all my other emotional signposts had been so iffy...basically I'd been laughing and chatting and smiling the whole labor, so those were harder to peg. For the first time the whole labor, I was afraid I'd have to get an epidural, and I was just in tears. I didn't even think I'd need it for pain, but just because it'd been 29 hours and I didn't think I could go any longer. Steve cleared the room, and just sat with me for a little while encouraging me. It was enough to get me to call the nurse and have her check. Finally! Progress! I'd made it to 9.5 cm, with enough of a bulge in baby's bag of waters to break the water. A resident broke my water (releasing between a tsp and TBSP of water...not much; and then less than a cup came out when she was born) and I was finally allowed to work with the contractions. We quickly reached 10 and I got to push! YAY!!!

The nurse checked me for a couple of pushes and then said I might have to slow down to make sure the Doctor got there. The looks on the faces of each member of my birth team said the same thing...yeah right! At this point I'd been in labor for nearly 31 hours...like I'm slowing down so he can put on some warm clothes? I don't think so! Didn't really need to anyway, he got there quickly and after a short hour and 15 minutes of pushing, we had a baby at 2am Wednesday morning, June 25! And it was a girl! I was so shocked it took a few hours for it to sink in (probably a little sleep helped that process, too)!

Weighing in at 9 pounds even, measuring 22 1/4 inches long, born 15 days after her "due date," baby Elisabeth Shalom came home with us from the hospital a short 15 hours after she was born...and we've been having a blast ever since. Her name means "My God is a vow of Peace/Wholeness," which we thought aptly described her birth. She's beautiful and such a blessing. We wouldn't change a thing about her...or about our birth story. God has radically rocked our worlds through the turn of events leading up to and including the birth...the days ahead can't possibly be anything but an adventure!
*****

here are a couple of pictures...I believe I promised these about 3 months ago!

one day old; and just yesterday, the day after her 12 week birthday (i got the supergirl hat for free off of craigslist. gotta love it!)

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www.wagnerlifeadventures.blogspot.com

Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #286 on: September 20, 2008, 11:14:28 AM » by steadygirl

Here is my birth story of my little girl as promised- just a little late. Just thought I would add that I knew it would be a girl through my whole pregnancy. Grin

(without peeking Wink

)
I laid down for a nap on July 9 at about 1 and noticed I was having very light but fairly regular contractions. So much for a nap. I was too excited to sleep even though I knew I should. I thought things would go fast this being my second and the first was only 12 hours from when I noticed the first contraction to my sons birth. Things didn't go fast, in fact, after I told the midwife I was in labor and I would call as soon as things picked up, things slowed down some. In fact, I didn't even tell my husband I was in labor until 8 that evening! Things had picked Up very little since I had first noticed I was in labor. The midwife told me she was going to come and check on me since she was far away and things could pick up very quickly at any time. She arrived at 10 with her two assistants, in the mean time things had picked up some, but not much. We joked and laughed as she set things up. I was nesting like crazy. I kept moving things and asking people if they needed anything and pacing. At around 11, I quit laughing and really had to focus on the contractions which were hard, but still about 6-7 minutes apart. The contractions really never got very close together. We had bought a large, heavy, inflatable kiddie pool so we could have a water birth. We filled that up, but ran out of hot water. I tested the water after a bit and thought it was warm enough, but after I got in I was cold! They started heating water on the stove and got it warmed up enough where I wasn't shivering anymore. Roll Eyes

After I got settled the contractions got so much harder. I didn't remember them being so difficult the last time. I knew they hadn't been so hard when I started thinking, "Now I know why women get painkillers!" I never reached that point with my last. I was clinging to my poor husband with every one. He was so nice to hold on to. Things all of a sudden slowed down and I felt the urge to push. I thought" Oh, good. A couple hard pushes and she'll be right out. " The second one is always easier. Not so. It hurt so bad to push! I clung to my husband and screamed. (no, I wasn't panicking. it just hurt) My midwife checked me. As I pushed, she realized that the baby was coming out face first instead of head first! She started telling me to push and I pushed... and pushed. Hard. That was the hardest thing I had ever done. Out came my little girl, very blue. My midwife did a little mouth to mouth and the baby started screaming. Everyone sighed a breath of relief! I held her for a few moments and they wrapped her up in blankets. She latched on the very first time and has been a great nurser since. She is such a sweet baby!
She was 8lbs 2 oz, 20" long. Her name is Lillon Adella. Born at 2:10 am.
Lillon was my great-grandma's name and is Mom and my middle names.

« Last Edit: September 20, 2008, 11:18:56 AM by steadygirl »
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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #287 on: September 20, 2008, 02:33:56 PM » by ManyWeavers

Adorable!!!!!!!!!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #288 on: September 20, 2008, 05:19:10 PM » by westernskys

My red raspberry story... Wink

I had been taking rrl tea for the last 6 weeks, VERY strong...like - a handful of leaves to one quart of water. anyways...at 12 am, I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep...with irregular, but strong contrax. nothing too bad, tho. After pacing around for 3 hrs or so, I woke hubby, and till we got to the hosp. it was 4am. I was having 2-3 contrx that were totally painless, then one huge hard one. I was worried that they werent doing anything, cause they were so irregular, and not that painful. well, I was at a "stretchy 5", so I settled down to real labor for two hours, then felt like I was in transition, but-wait-I was only at "7" Huh

two more contrax, and I was like : I gotta have some help, here-bring on the epidural! Shocked

(this is why I delivered my first three at home/birthing center...didnt want that option. Undecided

) anyways...but then my midwife (medwife??) said. "ok, you can have meds, or we can break your water and just have this baby right now." HUH??? my sweet homebirth mw would never break my water before 10 cent. She said:"do you still feel like pushing?' I said yes...she said "ok, then do that , whatever your body is telling you, just do it" I'm like, "ok, you are nuts...everyone knows you have to be at 10 to push a baby out, but,...I was open for suggestions, and didnt want meds. So she broke my water, and I ushed thru the next two contrax, and she said, "you are at ten...lets have this baby!" YES!!! one or two more pushes, and I felt it CROWNING!!!! I know alotof ya'll think the 'ring of fire' is terrible, but I LOVE it...Then I know this baby is nearly here!!! anyways, so I instinctively stop pushing, and it's head eases out, then I had to sorta gather my wits about me to push her body out! WOW! this is after 3 hard, long (10-24+hr) labors, and wishing I could die each time. Sad

anyways...yay for rrl...the first time I have taken it.
and welcome to our sweet little princess...Lucia Danielle 7.4 lbs, 20 inches
born 10 days ago...

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #289 on: October 04, 2008, 04:39:00 PM » by Meagan Visser

Well, as some of you know I found a midwife close to where I live (Out in the sticks and I love it!) and DH and I decided to have a homebirth. I had so many plans for a beautiful, perfect, all-natural homebirth for our first baby! So I continued seeing my OB at the same time I was getting all my prenatal care from my midwife. My OB was very supportive, and my midwife was wonderful. Everything would check out great every month.

Well, my due date was May 10th, and that came and went. I was close to a week late, and my OB suggested a biophysical profile to check the amount of amniotic fluid. That checked out well so she let me go one more week or they were going to induce me. I didn't want that so we prayed, our family prayed, our church prayed, but deep down I trusted God that His timing was perfect. So another week went by and I was getting close to my last day...I actually had an appointment with my OB that Friday. So Wednesday a friend from church called me up and asked me to meet her at the park to walk together. She knew how discouraged I was feeling about being induced because she knew how badly I wanted a natural home delivery. So we walked and talked and by the time I left I was feeling better. So I went home and that evening around 4:30 I started having contractions. They were very sporadic and different so I didn't get excited.

We went to bed that night, and I woke up around midnight with regular contractions every 5 min. I woke DH up and we decided to hold off on calling the midwife to see if they picked up any. Well I was so excited that I was finally in labor that I couldn't sleep. Around 4:00am we called the midwife, and she made the hour drive to us. Long story short, the entire day (Thursday) we walked, I took herbs, I used a birthing ball, I took a hot bath, she used acupressure...we did everything that you're supposed to do during natural childbirth to no avail. The baby was posterior and his head wasn't putting direct pressure on my cervix because my water wouldn't break and that was cushioning the contractions. So by the time she checked me which was 3:00am Friday morning, my contractions were every 3 minutes and very painful. I was having bad back labor, and I'd have DH put tons of pressure on by back during a contraction. I couldn't sit still. Well, it ended up that I was only 2 cm but totally effacted. Talk about being bummed...this is 28 hours after regular contractions began. All I wanted to do was sleep. I was so tired, and I couldn't sleep through the contractions.

Our midwife said our only option was to break my water, but that I'd probably have to go to the hospital anyway because it had been so long. So my hubbie and I talked about it, and decided to go ahead and go to the hospital. So we had to drive an hour to get there, and I couldn't sit still. I couldn't even wear a seat belt because I had to keep moving around...it was 4:30am when I got there. They gave me an IV and my contraction belts then checked me and I was 4cm after the car ride. I opted to get the epidural so that I could sleep for a while, dialate quickly, and hopefully have enough energy to push. I got my epidural, and my OB broke my water which was clear so even though the baby was late there was no evidence of meconium.

After about 6 hours and some much needed sleep and pain relief, I was fully dilated and ready to push. Much to my relief, my nurses where so nice and ready and willing to work with me in order to have this baby as naturally as possible. They put me in a few different positions to help the baby rotate into the correct position before time to push, but he only ended up turning half way - I think they said he was transverse meaning not face up or down but sideways. My DH, mom, and midwife were all there with me. They let me do several different natural pushing methods even with an epidural such as squatting and hands and knees, but after 3 1/2 hours of pushing, Judah finally turned face down and was born. All was well with the world.

My OB was asking the nurses if I was gonna have to have a c-section, but they were telling her No, that we were progressing slowly but surely. I'm so grateful they didn't give up on me and want to hurry me along. This being my first baby, I never expected it to take so long and be so different than what I'd planned, but my hospital experience wasn't as bummery as I was expecting. God is so good. I had a healthy baby, and I was in good health...just very, very tired and sore.

So all's well, and Judah is 4 months old and a very happy, healthy boy. I'm ready for the next one...and another shot at a homebirth!!

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Meagan <><

Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #290 on: November 09, 2008, 06:40:56 PM » by kilikina

We are so excited that we got to have the homebirth/ waterbirth that we had been praying for! My due date was November 25. My other boys had come a week before they were due, so I planned on this one coming around the 18th. Well, we got quite a surprise Thursday night (Nov. 6). About 10:30 pm, I was cutting my dh's hair... and I started leaking! It was very little, but it kept coming, especially when I laid down.... so I called the midwife. She came over to make sure it was amniotic fluid, and it was. (We had a limited time to go into labor because she had just got my group B result and it was positive.) I went to bed and slept for 2 hours when my contractions woke me up. They were 5 min. apart, so I called the mw again. As soon as she got here they slowed down. So we all went back to bed. I got a few more hours of sleep before the others woke up. We tried things all day on Friday to get contractions to pick up, but they didn't. That night the mw told me to get rest and we would use Blue Cohosh in the morning. Our last resort would be Castor oil. Lips Sealed

I was determined to avoid that! I slept a little and woke up in the middle of the night again, with contractions. In the morning the mw came back and again they slowed down! (It was so frustrating that they seemed to pick up when I needed to sleep!) I took 6 drops of Blue Cohosh every hour for 4 hours. Then, at the boys' nap time (when I tried to sleep) the contractions started again. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon, and the contractions were getting tough to handle. I knew that I was definitely in labor and these contractions were not going to stop, so I got in the bath tub until the mw got there. I got out and she checked me and said I hadn't progressed (though I had emotional signs of being further into labor than where I was dilated to). By 6:30 pm the mw left to get her things so she could stay the night. An hour later the contractions were so hard to deal with, I needed my dh to use counterpressure on my back. I also felt like throwing up, so I let the mw know and she said I could get in the birthing pool.... yay! Dh put the boys to bed, and got into the pool to help me. Mw got there at 9:00 pm and her helper came a few minutes later. By this time the contractions were horrible, but it was so comforting to lean on my husband through them. I kept having awful pain in the front of my pubic bone. I felt like the baby was trying to break through it! We found out later that he had kept his hand up by his head, and that was probably why it was so bad. He even has bruises on the knuckles of that hand! That also made pushing a little more painful. I pushed for about 20 min. He was born in the tub at 10:49 pm on Saturday night, November 8th. He looked great, but his heart rate dropped for a minute. The mw was rubbing him and we were talking to him/ praying for him. It was great to hear him cry! He was 37 weeks and 4 days... and he weighed 7 lbs 9 oz. and was 21 inches! The mw said that the baby looked early, but his placenta looked old. Undecided

We named him JosiahTimothy. He started nursing right away and is doing great.

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #291 on: November 09, 2008, 08:12:13 PM » by smileyface

Well, after a ridiculously long wait (10 days overdue!), we finally got to meet our newest little one! It was a girl! Kiera Lynn entered this world November 7th at 9:01 am. She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 19 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful! We are all in love with her.

I started having contractions Friday morning around 5:30. They were pretty erratic, but since I tend to have quick labors, I called my sisters and let them know they should probably be on their way. (They live almost 2 hours away.) They were coming to watch our kids. I figured they had plenty of time. Well, about an hour after I called them, things started to pick up a bit more. I still figured I had plenty of time though, so we didn't call our backup person to come sit with the kids.

By the time my sisters were almost here, I figured I might have pushed it a little bit. My husband rushed me out the door as soon as they got here. We made it to the hospital in record time! I think I had him a little worried! At one point, he said, "Just tell me that we will make it in time." Grin

I didn't tell him that I was beginnning to get a little nervous, but I think he could tell! We had to call about halfway there and let them know that I wouldn't be able to walk up to the birthing center though! =) We got to the hospital and my doctor and a nurse were waiting for us at the hospital entrance with a wheelchair. My doctor told me, "Just breathe and keep your legs together!" Shocked

When we got up to my room, I got undressed and they checked me. I was dilated to 9 1/2 with a slight lip. What I must have missed him saying was that the head was way down there, almost crowning. I started pushing, figuring I had a bit to go. I remember feeling like the baby was crowning, and I almost reached down to see. But I was so sure that it couldn't possibly be that already, and I didn't want to get discouraged. I didn't even want to ask if they could see the head when I pushed! So I kept pushing, and all of a sudden I felt her come out! I think I'm still in shock! Cheesy

Kiera was born 19 minutes after we got to the hospital! My biggest regret is that I missed my bath in the jacuzzi tub! Roll Eyes

It was great! They didn't have time for IV's and fetal monitoring (I'm a VBAC, so that's kind of a requirement), so that was great. I had no tears, and the labor was so short that it didn't wear me out much. I feel great, and came home from the hospital Saturday morning.

« Last Edit: November 09, 2008, 08:24:19 PM by smileyface »
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Baby #5 is on the way!

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