Kaeleb's Wonderful Birth...Feb 8, 2003

[Justice2]

My story actually starts with the premature birth of my daughter 8 years ago. She was born at 32 weeks and I was told then that I would never carry a baby to term. I was never afraid though, of having more children though. However, it means that I can't have a homebirth. My dh and I found out that we were going to have a baby 10 days after we were married in July. In Sept my dh was offered a wonderful job opportunity in New Orleans so we packed up and moved, me being 4 months preggo. In Nov we struck out to my my ex husband in Alabama so that he could take my dd for a week. Our car broke down and sitting there, on the side of the road, I went into labor. I was 25 weeks along. I was rushed to a local hospital where they stabilized me with Mag and transferred 80 miles south to Mobile where I stayed three days on Mag. I was told that I was 75% effaced and dialated a fingertip and that my pregnancy wasn't going to last much longer. We returned to New Orleans. I hated being there while I was pregnant. I hated the doctors. I convinced my dh that I needed to be where I was comfortable so on Dec 21 he moved me back to South Carolina. The beginning of January I went to the doctor and was again in labor. This time only given Brethine. I had progressed to 1 full cm and 80% effaced. I was sent to the hospital for steriod shots and home to bedrest and the Trendleburg position (pelvis above the heart). Gravity was my enemy! I went into labor again at 32 weeks, another three days in the hospital on mag, again at 34 weeks, brethine and home. On the morning of Feb 8th, 36 weeks, I felt wonderful! My best friend had called from Florida and her first words were "Are you still pregnant?" She had been having dreams all that week that I was going to have my baby! When I got off the phone with her I sat down to put my shoes on (was going with my mother to pay her insurance) and I noticed a slight ache in my back. I didn't become alarmed because my back had hurt since week 30 when the doctor told me he could feel my son's head (I could too, I only had to go up to the nuckle where your finger meets your hand and there he was!) already engaged in the pelvis. When I got in my mother's car I happened to glance at the angel that hangs from her rear view mirror. It has a caption that reads "God, watch over me as I make my way into the world today" and I knew that I was going to have my baby. It still gives me chill bumps to think about it. We pulled into her insurance company at 10:55 and that was when I had my first contraction. Then next one was at 11:05. After that they were a consistent 3 min apart. My mother stayed in that place for over an hour before I walked in and asked to use the phone. I called my doctor and he said to go to the hospital right away. My dd was born rather quickly (once I was taken off the labor stopping meds) and they figured that this pregnancy would go even faster. They were right! I arrived at the hospital at 12:15. My doc ordered an IV, that I didn't want, due to my iminent preterm delivery. Something about an infection, that I didn't have. I was allowed to get in the jacuzzi and was incredibly uncomfortable so I didn't stay long. Then they brought in the birthing ball, which I also hated. I did yoga breathing through my contractions and that helped a great deal more than any medication could have. My mother called my hubby and he made his way to the hospital (he had been working). The doctor broke my water at 3:00. At 3:45 I begged for an epidural. I do mean begged, but only for about 2 minutes! I cried, I didn't want anymore drugs but I just really didn't think I could do it anymore. I wanted to do this as naturally as possible. The nurse checked me, told me that I was dialated to 5 and that I could have an epidural. She hung a bag of fluid and told me that I could have it when that bag was empty, that it would take ten minutes. When the ten min was up I asked her to go get the Anestesiologist. That I could not do it anymore. She walked out of the room and I told my mother to go in the hall and call her back that I had to push. Then nurse walked back in, checked my cervix and said that I was fully dialated (This was at 3:55) and I was ready to push. My hubby cleared the room and I pushed for 7 minutes. Kaeleb was born at 4:02 pm after about 5 hours of labor. I had a small tear, no episiotomy. It was not the birth I wanted, but I probably will never be allowed a completely natural birth. My babies seem to be impatient to make their way into this world!

[earthpapi]

just wanted to let you know that Kaeleb has the greatest birthdate in the world woohoo. also glad to hear everything worked out. again the 8th of feb greastest day ever

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

ITA! a great day to have a baby!