An informal labor survey, answer if you please

[nova22]

Just curious!

Please answer these for each labor you've had.

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?

4. How long did your labor last?

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol)

[boingo82]

Originally Posted by nova22

//
1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?

DS1: Membranes stripped 3x over 3 weekly appointments.
DS2: Nothing deliberate, really - had sex once, then got a horrible case of the stomach flu which finally put me in I think.

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?

DS1: Contractions for seriously a month - I was at 2 cm for a month, 4 cm for 2 weeks. It's impossible to pinpoint a start.
DS2: Contractions intermittently for about a week or 2. Then stomach flu cramping and labor cramping were indistinguishable from each other for a while, until labor cramps became the dominant ones.

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?

DS1: AROM when in transition at 9 cm.
DS2: Midwife slightly helped water break immediately before DS crowned.

4. How long did your labor last?

DS1: Either a month, or about 13 hours, depending on how you measure it.
DS2: I don't know...but I realized I was having *real* labor cramps in addition to my stomach flu cramps and called the midwife a mere hour and a half before he was born.

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol)

You judge:
DS1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...F3150alone.jpg

DS2:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2/DSCF6989.jpg

[nova22]

Originally Posted by boingo82

You judge:
DS1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...F3150alone.jpg

DS2:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2/DSCF6989.jpg

Aaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!! In my slightly biased opinion (because I already have two of the cutest babies in the world ) he is extremely adorable. What cute clothes, too.

To answer my own questions, b/c I'm bored:

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?
#1 - sex, but it wasn't meant to induce...we just did it and less than an hour later I was having contractions
#2 - sex, but it wasn't meant to induce...we just did it and less than an hour later I was having contraction

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?
#1 - I lost my mucous plug a week earlier, then after absolutely no other signs of labor (no BH cntx or anything) I started having contractions 60 sec long and 3 min apart
#2 - After no other signs of labor my water broke and contractions started regularly immediately afterward
#3 - technically I've been in labor for about 3 weeks because of the contractions, but no baby yet

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?
#1 - I think my water broke while I was pushing (on its own)
#2 - it broke on its own

4. How long did your labor last?
#1 - about 12 hours with a 1 hour pushing stage
#2 - about 3 hours with a 10 minute pushing stage

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol)
#1 - Yes
#2 - Yes again
#3 - I haven't met him or her yet but I'm willing to bet YES

[Marylizah]

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?

We walked. A lot. For at least 1 hr every night the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy. Also tried eating spicy food & pineapple.

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?

Contractions that got stronger & closer together. Had a false alert, too, two days before DS was born.

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?

Water was broken at 9cm by mw.

4. How long did your labor last?

Hard to say, officially 16 hours, but it was really more like 3 days on and off.

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol)

Well, OBVIOUSLY!

I really need to figure out how to post pics. But yeah, he is soooooooooo cute!

[De-lovely]

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?

Labor 1,2 and 3- No nothing with any of them.

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?

Labor 1-contrax,Labor 2-water broke and Labor 3-contrax

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?
Labor 2-broke on its own 5wks 6 days early

4. How long did your labor last?

I had THREE c-sections.



5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!?

Yes, they were and still are.

[Peppamint]

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?

#1: medical induction at 38+1 for "PIH", in hindsight it was unnecessary
#2: did a lot of walking... and had sex a few times, but mostly just in case it was the last time for awhile
#3: we had sex a few times, but like with #2 it was more to do it while we could because I didn't have any faith it would start labor. My membranes were swept at 40+6 because my BP was climbing (it worked)

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?

#1: Pitocin
#2: prodromal labor of three weeks finally kicked up a notch into active labor shortly after midnight
#3: prodromal labor of ~five weeks finally kicked into active labor shortly before 2am

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?

#1: AROM at 4cm shortly after Pitocin was started
#2: AROM at 9cm
#3: SROM with first pushing contraction

4. How long did your labor last?

#1: 8 hours
#2: 4 hours
#3: 2 hours

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol)

Yes, each of my babies has been the most beautiful ones in the world.

I hope you're holding your baby SOON!

[Snowdrift]

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?

Sorta'. Just stepped up our walking routine a little bit and lots of sex. No noticeable effects, although I did go into labor the day before my due date, despite this being my first time around. Had sex in labor on day one, partly to help things along but mostly just to stay active and to have one last time together with just the two of us.

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?

Contractions started spontaneously, probably in early morning, becoming stronger and regular with activity when I got up.

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?

AROM, but late in labor.

4. How long did your labor last?

33-1/2 hours.

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol)

yep

[L'lee]

This is my first, so answers are based on only one birth experience...

Originally Posted by nova22

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?

Nope, he was born early.

Originally Posted by nova22

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?

Contractions started without intervention, water broke with a *SPLOOSH* about 1/2 hour later.

Originally Posted by nova22

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?

Naturally

Originally Posted by nova22

4. How long did your labor last?

7 hours from the first contraction to the birth of my babe.

Originally Posted by nova22

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!?

Absolutely!! He did look a bit like Rocky because he got into a tiff with my tailbone, but it was a win-win situation.

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by L'lee

Absolutely!! He did look a bit like Rocky because he got into a tiff with my tailbone, but it was a win-win situation.

Aw, poor guy (and poor you with the tailbone!)...

[quirkylayne]

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?
i drank raspberry leaf tea.

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)? i had very mild contractions on and off for a few days before (so mild I didn't even realize they were contractions until i happened to put my hand on my belly). the night before i had what i thought was indigestion. then, the morning of my water broke and the real contractions started.
3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?

4. How long did your labor last? from water breaking to delivery 12 hours and 6 minutes

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol) of course!

[veganf]

Originally Posted by nova22

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?
walking, sex, nipple stim. w/ #1, nothing w/ #2

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?
water broke spontaneously both times

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?
naturally

4. How long did your labor last?
#1 - 14 hours, #2, 1 hour 40 minutes

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!?
not really. They got cuter later.

- Krista

[adamsgirl28]

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?
Nope i never tried anything just let it come natural for both preganancies

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?
My contractions just started on their own both times.

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?
N/A

4. How long did your labor last?
1st preg - 6hrs of hard labor 3 of light labor
2nd preg- 4hrs hard labor 1 hr at the hospital the rest at home and driving to the hospital

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol)
Yes, she was, the nurses kept fighting over who was going to get to hold her, and my ob said the nurses voted and she was the cutest in the nursery!

[luckylady]

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.? - yes. nipple stim and b&b cohosh - i actually took an herb from a loca store. labor started that night.

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)? ctx

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured? nurse ruptured when i was 10 cm

4. How long did your labor last? 5 hrs

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? of course!!!!!!

[guestmama9906]

I don't want to answer this until I HAVE THIS BABY!!!!! ARGH!!

[NinaBruja]

dd#1
1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?
tried sex, nipple stimulation, walking around walmart all day, excersize bycycle while watching tv, walking for miles around town, talking to my baby...sOB was threatening with pitocin/csection if i wouldnt go into labour when he wanted. i was young and stupid

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?
the broke my water

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured? see above

4. How long did your labor last? 27 hours, cut short...literally

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol) of course but i had other things on my mind

dd#2
1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.?
not intentionally. i did pace miles in the front room nursing dd#1 for hours then had sex...oops

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?
i was woken by contractions and when i sat up i thought i peed myself.

3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured?
naturally as far as i can tell...i was asleep

4. How long did your labor last?
uhm...40 hours? i think...

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol)
i was in shock for the first few minutes. and i remember thinking she was rather striking and that she didnt have a cone head...

[JayGee]

1. Did you try any methods of induction, natural or medical, including nipple stimulation, blue/black cohosh tea, sex, membrane sweep/rupture, etc.? Drank RRL tea for the duration of the pregnancy, EPO from 38 weeks, sex when we felt like it

2. How did your labor start (e.g. water broke, contractions started after nipple stimulation, c-section, etc.)?
#1 ~ induction
#2 ~ labor began in the middle of the night with contractions that just woke me up
#3 ~ 5 days of prodromal labor that finally took off when I got up and moved


3. If your labor started with your water breaking, did it break naturally or were your membranes artificially ruptured? n/a ~ water never broke until I was pushing

4. How long did your labor last?
#1 ~ 40 hour induction ending in c-section for failure to progress
#2 ~ 30 hours from first contraction to delivery
#3 ~ hard to say because of the prodromal labor, but it was 12 hours from when I started timing contractions until she was born

5. Was your baby the cutest thing EVER?!? (Sorry, that's me being wistful about meeting my baby! lol) Of Course!!!!!