Birth Stories--post 'em here! - Page 2

[welldone]

So glad you avoided the Cytotec, Christine. Even gladder that your doula's advice didn't come to pass. (Yikes!) You handled all of the out-of-your-control interventions really well! Enjoy your babymoon!

[ladyelmo1]

Christine

I am in such awe of you; you are AMAZING! What a story. I don't know if I could have done what you did with such a good attitude and such strength of spirit.

Enjoy your beautiful new baby!

-Melissa

[TOmomma]

Hey Christine, not only am I impressed with your coping skills (I just had a snotty cold during my first labour and that was bad enough) but your sense of humour is amazing! Good for you, and tell that doula she's a disgrace to the profession.

Congratulations!!!

[LoveChild421]

Christine you have the best attitude and coping skills I have ever heard of! Owen is a cutie!!!

[crayon]

Christine, Wow.... I am so glad you are so positive. It does sound like the nurses and staff tried very hard to take good care of you to that hospital! And they even let the cord stop pulsing- amazing for a hospital! And let the placenta come out all on its own!! They were ripping my placenta out before I even held my DD. I am so glad you were respected!

Your little Owen is just so cute and I am so happy nursing is going well- and I promise sleep will come- or wait do we just become used to no sleep

Sending you

[Patchfire]

What an amazing story, Christine! Good for you on standing your ground with the Cytotec! It sounds like, given the circumstances, you made the best of it. And congrats again!!

[welldone]

Read about jogirl's Davy

[Quindin]

Polihaupt's Baby Boy

Here is a link to the first pictures: http://photobucket.com/albums/v693/polihaupt/
The password is BabyH

On Wednesday afternoon I went in for a NST at the hospital. Everything was perfect except for the amnio fluid which was very low. They started talking about having to induce me right away, until I said I was seeing my midwives and they backed off When they checked my cervix I was 5cm and 90% and during the NST I was having contractions every 5 minutes which I did not even feel! They called the midwives to let them know I was on my way, but I asked DH to drive home first to arrange everything for the kids because I was feeling pretty good

45 minutes later (4:00 PM) when we actually left for the Birth Center, the contractions were coming stronger and I could actually feel them. My favorite midwife greeted me at the door, took us to a nice desert inspired bedroom she had all ready for us and said "I am all yours" Then she came with a menu of all the area restaurants and told us to order some hearty food because "you would not give a farmer a bowl of ice chips before he went off to the fields, would you?" I had a huge Gyro platter in between contractions and felt ready for labor.

I was 100% aware 100% of the time - The other times I was so nervous, out of touch, hungry and tired that the memories of those labors are blurry to me now. DH and I had a lot of fun joking around all the time, going in the jacuzzi and just enjoying that special moment. I really believe that the reason this labor was so pleasant was because we were in such a loving and wonderful environment and I was really able to relax and focus. DH felt so happy he could actually participate on the birth this time! The other times there was always someone else who took over and he was left out in a corner feelins stupid. Now he was fully a part of the whole process being the main support for me. Besides that, both midwives and the nurse were just like doulas throughout the whole thing. If I ever hinted I was about to lose it, they would gently talk me right back into focusing and breathing - they were just like loving moms actually

By the time I got to 8cm, I was not being able to talk through the contractions anymore and needed more help focusing and breathing, which DH and the midwives were absolutely wonderful with. The birthing ball was also unbelievable!! I sat on it most of the time with DH behind me holding his warms up so I could use them as squatting bars when I had a contraction - amazing how it helped! Another thing I wish I knew before is how wonderful it is just to have my arms around DH's neck and have him hug me when a contraction came while I was standing up. I always pushed DH away in the other labors because I had lost control - this time having him close made it all so easy!

By 11:25pm I was 10cm, but had NO urge to push. The uterus had been hanging as a pendulum, not allowing the baby to move all the way down into the cervix, so I just did not feel like pushing. My midwife then guided me through some positions to help the baby fall into place and that was very painful - for the first time during labor I was not able to take deep breathes during the contractions and relax. At 11:35 I was then told to push in order to move the baby down. I had only tried pushing babies ALREADY down, and doing this new maneuver were the absolutely most painful 5 minutes in my whole life!!! I truly thought I was going to die. Both my midwives were abslutely amazing though and guided me through every little step of that, and I believe that was a big part of making this phase only 5 minutes long

At 11:40 I felt my baby in my birth canal and I finally could do the real pushing!! I find this part of labor so empowering and wonderful. You're really working hard and feeling every little part of your baby coming out of you is just undescribeble! In 5 minutes, our baby boy was born!

The midwife began singing, put him right on my tummy and began working on me. I lost A LOT of blood but she quickly massaged all the globs out (eeewwwww) and I did not keep bleeding heavily all night long like I did with my other babies.

After our baby had nursed, the midwives cleaned the bed while I took a shower (there was blood all over ) and tucked all three of us in for the night. DH loved being able to sleep together with us instead of having to rest in a hard hospital chair.
We left early this morning and all 6 of us are really happy.

Our baby was nice and pink, chubby and VERY VERY vocal He tells you right away if there is something he does not like and seems to have a very strong personality. We will have to pick a name to match that - we have some in mind, but are not sure yet.

DH's boss said he does not want to seem him for at least one week because mom and kids need him home right now I feel so blessed!

Thank you all for your support, labor vibes, positive thoughts and prayers.

[Breathless Wonder]

Beautiful birth, beautiful baby! Congratulations again!

[NYCVeg]

What a lovely story! Congratulations.

[cholderby]

Congrats!
: : :

[bubbles]

Birth Story of Quinten Lucques-March 9, 2005

Tuesday night I was feeling a little different, but it had not yet occurred to me what was happening. Michael was leaving for a well-deserved evening out playing blue grass music. As he was getting ready to leave he joked that this would probably be the night that I went into labor. We were both looking forward to a good nights sleep that night. Michael hoped to come home from some fun and catch up after working many late nights over the past week. I had been on bed rest for the past several days so Michael had kept the house and family taken care of during the day and caught up on work at night.
I snuggled into bed with Miles to read him stories and get him to sleep. As I was lying there with him I started to feel contractions that were a bit different than what I had been feeling. It was about 7 or 7:30 when they started. Soon I realized that they were about 10 minutes apart. They were very easy but I thought it was probably the start of something real.
Michael came home about 10 pm and I greeted him at the door. I know he was hoping to get right to sleep but I let him know contractions were 5 minutes apart and getting strong. He was awesome. He got paper and a watch to time things, asked what else we needed ready, and comforted me. It was still very bearable, but becoming more uncomfortable. Michael got out the chart that told the stages of labor to try to see where we were. It was like a textbook labor. I fit the description of each stage to a T. We decided to let the kids sleep and we would have them go to grandmas if they woke up.
We called the midwife about 12 and she did not seem concerned. She did not realize how far along I was since I seemed to be getting through it pretty well. She told us to call when we really felt we needed her. I was not sure how to know when that would be!
As contractions became stronger we finished getting the pool ready to help me labor. I was most comfortable standing up and did not want much help from Michael. My midwife had told me to lie down and rest (right!) and labor on my side for a while. I told her it was much more painful lying down and I preferred to stand. She told me that the stronger more painful ones lying down would help me progress faster (again, she had not seen me yet so did not know that I was progressing very quickly). I hung up with her and told Michael I did not realize I had hired the boot camp midwife.
I tried at that point to labor in the water, but it really did not help. I could not get comfortable and really wanted to be upright. So much for the giant pool taking up half the bedroom. I continued to labor standing up and sometimes on all fours. I just kept telling myself that I could do it and that the pain was an indication of my body working to bring my baby down.
The midwife arrived somewhere after two, I think. She was still trying to reach the second midwife to join us. First she checked my blood pressure since that had been a concern. It was great. The relief over that made it easier to go on. The other midwife arrived and they got busy getting everything ready for delivery.
Miles woke up and needed daddy. He would not go back to sleep so we woke Nicholas and he and Miles headed over to grandmas down the street. When the midwife told Miles that mommy was having the baby he grinned from ear to ear. At that point labor was very difficult, but I had not yet said I could not do it anymore. I did tell them that I needed help to make it through this. The midwife checked me and was surprised to find I was 8 cm and almost fully effaced w/ a slight lip. We would have a baby very soon. The midwife decided to check me again as I was standing up. My water broke and she said all I had to do was get rid of the lip and I would be ready to push. She had me lie on my side again (I hated her at that moment) as she said it would get the baby’s head just in the right position to push the lip away. She decided to go shut her eyes for 20 minutes while the other midwife stayed with me. She helped me through two very difficult contractions with cranio-sacral therapy and her calming disposition. I told her that I really needed to squat and push. So much for midwife number one having a nap. 6 minutes and a few pushes later there was a head and a little hand coming out. The hand grabbed onto the midwife’s finger and would not let go! It was so hard not to just push the baby out when I saw the head. She had me slow down to ease him out. It was such an amazing experience to feel the contractions and see how they were working to bring the baby out. After a total of 8 minutes of pushing our little baby boy came into the world and into my arms. He was perfect.
Unfortunately, the placenta would not deliver. Contractions stopped and we kept trying. After determining I had lost enough blood, they called 911. Baby boy and I were taken by ambulance to the hospital where I had a d & c and blood transfusions. That part is still hard for me to talk about, but we were given great care, accepted warmly, and all came out well. I spent one night in the hospital and my baby was hardly taken from me. I was fortunate to be in a “baby friendly” hospital.
We are all trying to figure out the new family dynamic. My little marathon nurser and minimal sleeper is keeping us all busy. Everyone is tired but well.

Here are a few pictures http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?...OWTQlg&notag=1

Sybil

[Ravenmoon]

He's gorgeous!Happy birthday baby

I'm happy your birthing went well(isn't Shiva awesome!)but sorry about the hospital.Enjoy your babymoon~

[Quindin]

Sybil - what a precious little baby you have He is just gorgeous!!!
I am happy it all turned out great in the end and that people in the hospital were so baby friendly.
Enjoy your new little boy

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by polihaupt

Here is a link to the first pictures: http://photobucket.com/albums/v693/polihaupt/
The password is BabyH

At 11:40 I felt my baby in my birth canal and I finally could do the real pushing!! I find this part of labor so empowering and wonderful. You're really working hard and feeling every little part of your baby coming out of you is just undescribeble! In 5 minutes, our baby boy was born!

polihaupt, I just read your birth story and it is so beautiful. I completely agree with your feelings about the descent through the birth canal. I did not feel it w/ my first as he was born w/ the vacuum and was quite high up. It is truly empowering. You described it so well.
I am glad to hear you are all well and happy. He is beautiful! It took us a full day to name our little guy, so I can relate on that too, lol.
Congratulations

[crayon]

Bubbles, he is just so cute! What a birth! I am glad that you were treated kindly at the hospital and that your boy is nursing and finding his way into your lives!

Congrats!

[2boys2girls]

Congratulations Polihaupt! Yeah!! He's here! I knew you would go soon!

What a bruiser! Did you find a name yet???

My second was 9 lbs 12 oz, and his nickname has been "moose" since birth. He's now 6'2" and 190 lbs. His name is Micah Daniel, and I always thought that was a strong sounding name. It has fit him all of his life, although he is blond/green, as yours is dark. Still fits well for a strong big boy ~ I've loved it, and he's lived up to it! When he was born, I wrote in his baby book, the verse Micah 6:8 He has shown thee, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of thee, but to do justly,and to love mercy, and to walk humbly by thy God.

Congrats and God Bless you all!

[AnneCordelia]

On March 8, my EDD, I felt my braxton hicks change. I’d been having them for upwards of two weeks. In the evenings they would come every 5 minutes for HOURS on end and then just stop in time for bed…what a tease! But, on my EDD, they changed…they got slightly more intense but farther apart; 30-45 minutes apart. I dealt with them all day…we went out for lunch and had a nice day.

At 3am on March 9, a contraction woke me up…and then another one 7 minutes later made me stop to think. I got out of bed and puttered around a bit. They came every 5-8 minutes for a couple hours and then slowed down to about 30 minutes between again. Sigh. So, I went on with my day. I packed up Nolan and got on the bus to my mom’s house. We had a nice lunch with her…contrax coming every 15 min or so. We hopped back onto the bus and came home around 3pm.

That’s when I got out my breast pump. With the help of the pump, I got them coming every 4 minutes…and STRONG. I called my sister and had her come over…I called Chris at work to warn him but told him to continue his work. As soon as I stopped the pump, the contrax eased up a bit. They came every 7 minutes or so and weren’t as strong. We watched Dr. Phil at 5. Chris came home and Jordan went back to mom’s house for a bit.

This is where it starts to get a bit hazy…Chris went to the store at some point to get juice, bread, milk and such just in case this was the real thing. I think it was before Jordan went home. The contractions were still bearable at this point but I called the midwife anyway…she was nervous that I’d go fast. She told me to call back when the contractions last longer than 1 minute…they were only about 30 secs at this time.

Around 7pm, I called my mom’s house and told her that I thought we were going to have a baby tonight. She laughed…all the women in our family go ridiculously overdue…even Nolan was 2 weeks past. However, she said that we should walk the mall to get things going. She cancelled her hair appointments for that night and came over with Jordan. They arrived around 7:30…that’s when things picked up. I’d just lost my plug and decided against the mall. I needed to hold onto someone for a contraction…I couldn’t talk through them anymore. They were coming every 2-3 minutes but still only lasting 45 seconds so we didn’t call the midwife back yet…she only lived down the street anyway.

I started to get nervous…this is probably where I entered transition. I NEEDED to have someone by my side, standing, at all times so that I could hold them during a contraction. Jordan lent her tiny body, my mom did too…and so did Chris. It felt great to have people so willing to let me hang my 180lbs frame off them…I knew it wasn’t easy…especially for Jordan who weighs barely 115lbs herself. I got nervous when Chris wandered off to set up my music and commanded mom or Jord to stand with me (even though they were only two feet away on the couch). Hahaha.

We got set to watch American Idol while I laboured…I moved over to the couch and that’s where I popped. It felt like a balloon popped inside me and then warm water ran down my legs. I was THRILLED!!! My water broke on it’s own!!! We headed to the bathroom to get a pad. I sat on the toilet and we checked my pants. My biggest fear had been cleared…the fluid was clear. No meconium. I was so excited that my water broke…I kept talking about it…and then it hit me: the contractions would get more intense now. Oi.

When I got off the toilet, there was some bloody show in there. YAY!

Chris called my midwife, who, in the couple hours since we talked to her, had gone to another birth. So, she sent her back-up: Carolyn. Carolyn arrived around 8:30. She offered to check me but I refused and kept labouring. Jordan’s boyfriend, Greg was sent to the store to get more juice and to pick up my other sister, Alison.

Around 9pm I felt the contractions change…I was getting pushy. I started grunting at the end of each contraction involuntarily. So, we moved to the bedroom. I knelt on the floor beside my bed. We joked that the baby would arrive before Greg got back with the juice…Greg has been known to take his time…but we love him. I started to really feel pushy. I stared at the eye on my fish-shaped hot water bottle during contractions and concentrated on not pushing until I couldn’t help it anymore. Apparently, I would look into the hallway at random times, smile at Chris and tell him that he was going to be okay…this was going to be okay. Hahaha…

At 9:30ish my primary care midwife arrived, Lisa. She brought her birthing stool so I sat on it. My mom held me up from behind and Jordan donned some gloves infront of me to catch the baby. Greg and Alison arrived at this point although I don’t remember it happening. I started pushing involuntarily…I just couldn’t help it. I pushed when I wanted to and everyone cheered me on…no directions…just cheering. All of a sudden I felt a *POP*! The head had come down and was out now! I asked, “Is it out??? Is it out???”(meaning the head) and my midwife misunderstood, thought I meant the baby, and said, “No, not yet.” I was disappointed but doubled my efforts. She barely managed to slip the cord from around the baby’s head when I pushed out the rest of her body. It was too quick for even Jordan to catch her. I pushed for 2 contractions…5 minutes in total.

The baby was put onto my chest and I climbed onto my bed. I lay there with this child on my chest and she started crying. I’d never heard Nolan cry before he was taken to the NICU…this was incredible. They didn’t suction her…she didn’t need it. I just held onto her for 5 minutes before Jordan said, “Well, WHAT IS IT???” So we checked…A GIRL! Born at 9:39pm. Real, hard labour only lasted about 2 hours.

Nolan came in to visit me with my mom…he’d woken up. Then he went right back to bed. They assessed my perineum…2nd degree tears along my previous midline episiotomy (didn’t tear along the mediolateral though) through to my rectum…but didn’t damage the sphincter muscle so no hospital transfer was necessary. And, I tore up along my labia. We had to wait for the placenta before stitching though…it seemed to take forever. I was bleeding too much so we decided against a physiological third stage. I cut the cord that held my daughter and I together…what a crazy thing. I nursed Mallory. 45 minutes later, and another trip to the birthing stool, and the placenta came out. They started the stitching.

Once I was stitched up, my sisters helped me to the bathroom where I showered. Jordan dried off my bottom. Hahaha! She thinks that’s funny. I put on the nursing nightie that my mom bought me. I climbed into bed with my little girl and we all hung out. Jordan brought me juice and muffins. Chris and Alison took pictures. Mom sat with us. It was great.

Just after midnight they did her assessments. 9lbs 4oz. 21” long. 14.5” head circ. 9&9 on her apgars. Good respiratory noises, good heartrate. She was perfect!

We took a tour of the placenta…I sent it home with mom to store in her big freezer.

I finally went to bed around 2am. Sigh…much needed sleep!

I think that covers everything. It was the best experience…I haven’t stopped smiling since. Everyone was perfect…respectful of my wishes: no vag exams, no directed pushing, no suctioning baby. It was fantastic.

[bubbles]

Emily-beautiful story and welcome Mallory

[welldone]

Click here for Ellery's birth story!

Pictures here.