Equinox Mamas (Sept/Oct) -- October 5 thread - Page 2

[dallaschildren]

My thoughts are with y'all....god bless you and here's to speedy, pain free, healthy births. Keep us posted! See you in Life with a Babe soon!

[dallaschildren]

CONGRATULATIONS AMYWILLOW! HOLY CRAP...what a punkin your bigun is! I thought mine at 9 lbs. 12 ounces was huge! GREAT JOB! I am sooo proud of you.

[Viola]

Originally posted by weesej
WhooHoo Amywillo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eleven pounds, six ounces Already into 3-6 month sleepers aren't you How big was Molly??

24.5 inches is the longest baby I have heard of.

I think the long length is due to the way the midwife measured her. She ran the tape along the back of her body. I measured her today by stretching her out from point to point, and it was about 23.5" I also measured her head and it was indeed 15" although both my husband and I think it looks smaller than Molly's. But Molly's was more misshapen. Molly was 9-5, 21.5"

I bought a bag of newborn diapers for the meconium until I start using the cloth, but they really don't fit well at all, so my husband bought some 8-14 lb size and they work much better.

My water broke at 5:22 am and Jessie was born at 12:55 pm. I pushed for less than an hour, but I wasn't paying attention to the time, so I'm not sure how long it took. I ripped pretty badly and needed about 10 stitches. It is mostly up inside the vagina and only a little bit down the perineum, according to my doula. I think there was some mild shoulder dystocia as well. I had to have a shot of pit and then a shot of methergine. Or at least the midwife felt better giving me that. I didn't think I was bleeding that badly, but my doula said I was bleeding a lot. I felt fine. It took a little while to get her latched on, but once she was on, she went to town. Then, boy, could I feel the uterus contracting.

I continue to have afterpains, but part of it feels a lot like gas. I just have a tremendous about moving around and I periodically am able to expel it, which helps. Sitting is difficult, which makes using the computer difficult. Right now I am leaning over some cushions on the floor. Not that I have time to use the computer--man, this girl has nursed all day long!

Her latch wasn't so great, but I was much more relaxed about nursing this time so it has seemed easier. I have been nursing lying down a lot. Unfortunately, since I haven't been paying as much attention to latch as I should, my nipples are really sore now. They feel bruised. I just don't want them to start cracking and bleeding because that is even worse. It's weird, because she just doesn't seem to get the idea of latching on right away. I really had to coax her, and then all of a sudden she gets it and sucks and then goes at it for quite a long time. She didn't nurse a whole lot yesterday, but she's made up for it today. She seems to latch on a lot more quickly this time. She was crying a lot yesterday and this morning, so I did the stuff from the Harvey Karp book (Happiest Baby on the Block) which is swaddling, side position, swinging, shhhing and sucking. I've had to use the shhhing and jiggling to get her to calm down enough to take the nipple, but now she seems to get it. I think part of it is that I have to get it in pretty far before she recognizes what it is.

Doggone, are the muscles in my shoulders and back sore. I did some work, I guess. It's all a bit fuzzy now.

Oh, I weighed myself while I was in labor, and then after I gave birth. I dropped 20 lbs! I've probably gained some of that back today, but I have been peeing non-stop. I swear, I'm peeing more now than I was before I gave birth!

[Viola]

Woo Hoo! Congrats to all you moms in labor. I'm sending great laboring vibes your way!

[Viola]

Originally posted by earthmamafor3

You are an inspiration and I cannot wait to hear your story!! Welcome to your daughter and happy babymoon!!!!

Thanks! When I tell you my birth story, you will see that I do not feel like I could be an inspiration. I was really trying to be positive, but all I could think of was that this was for the birds. At one point I was in the shower thinking that the next time I was going to the hospital and getting the epidural. But then I was thinking that thankfully this was the last one anyway, because I wouldn't want to have to make that decision.

Then when it was time to push, man, I was thinking that it was even more painful. Somewhere in there, however, when I realized that the pain I was feeling was about the extent of what I could expect, I started to feel a little better.

My doula said that when she got there in the morning, she figured I wouldn't be having the baby until the next day. I said that nothing was happening. Nothing was, but some periodic cramping. I refused to call them contractions for fear that if I thought of them as contractions, the real ones would be worse. She said she realized I wasn't telling the truth when I was having one minute contractions that were coming every two minutes. She could tell it was productive. I knew it was too. It might have been even more so if I could have squatted more, but I just couldn't! I did use the birth ball part of the time. I think the hardest part for me was not being able to relax between contractions. I felt very shaky and almost sick, and it seemed like the pain never really went away. They were sporadically paced at first and varying in intensity.

Oh well, I'm going to write the whole story out at some point in time. But I'll post some pics before then.

[mamaley]

Amy, can't wait to hear your birth story! And your periodic cramping gives me hope, since that's what i've been doing. And I love her name (my name is Jessica).

Strong cramps (contractions) have been coming every 7 minutes or so and last about 45 seconds. I wonder if it will be soon. This has been going on all evening--earlier in the day they were 3 minutes apart but really short, and then i took a nap. Dh, ds and I are all up late watching a movie, since we took long naps today. I've been taking it easy on the birthing ball, trying to not get too excited. I really hope that they get stronger and closer together, but I guess only time will tell. Yay, here's another one. They're much stronger than what i've experinced in prelabor, and more regular, but they feel good because i want them to happen so bad!! I was checked today and i'm at around 4cm.

Lots of mamas in labor tonight! Weesej, sounds like we're in similar places in our labors. Good luck to you! And you too, Penelope, and all the other laboring mamas!

[earthmamafor3]

OK, I am excited for all you guys in labor finally and really feeling sorry for myself!! Even one of the mom's from my childbirth class who wasn't due until a month after me had her baby yesterday and I just cried all evening. What am I going to do if I go past 43 weeks again????? I guess have a baby at 43+ weeks.....
I am still having inrregular BH, lots of them and more and more pressure that I gotta tell you is killing me, I am so uncomfortable.

Truly, congrats to those who have some great action going on, I can't wait to hear how its going!! Bless your hearts for keeping us posted, it is so exciting!!

Amy, you are still so inspiring, for the very reason you kept going even when it hurt like he**!!! Sorry about the tearing, that is a bummer. My first was 11lbs even, so I remember the nursing!! whew.....I am hoping things go quickly when they go for me too.
Thanks so much for the updates and enjoy your sweetpeas!!

ana, it looks like it is going to be you and me, girl!
Blessings to all and gentle laboring

[Viola]

Well. I got on the scale, then picked her up and weighed myself again. Not the most accurate way, but both times there was a 12 lb difference and she was wearing a diaper and clothes. My scale weighs in half pound increments.

http://members.aol.com/duein2003/JJW10-6-03.jpg

[earthmamafor3]

She is gorgeous, Amy!! I LOVED my big babies, my smallest baby was the last one, she was 9 13. So sweet......Are you just so amazed you got her out?!?!?! If you don't mind me asking, what position were you in to push her out?
Amy, you had your homebirth!!! You must be feeling so victorious about your decision!! Also what makes you inspiring.....
Enjoy

[anabean]

Originally posted by earthmamafor3
ana, it looks like it is going to be you and me, girl!
Blessings to all and gentle laboring

!$!%$@#^!%$^!!!!!!! :LOL
i think you're right!


i've been feeling like crap lately. i just can't take this anymore. it's so hard to sleep, walk, bathe, put shoes on, etc, etc. this baby needs to come out!

going in tomorrow for a NST, they will check the cervix with the ultrasound. from there, we will decide on the course of action. i really want to have this babe by the weekend. and i'm seriously considering induction with pitocin if my cervix looks favorable. i will try the blue and black cohoshes first, then the castor oil, and pit will be my last resort. had some sex today, and made sure i took advantage of them prostaglandins.

the baby has been moving ALL day like crazy. it's actually a bit bothersome, but always better than one of those lazy days when i drive myself crazy counting kicks.

i'm still not able to feel my cervix, which makes me think it's still way high. i really want things to start happening, this suspense is KILLING me.

*takes deep breath*




Amy!! your baby is gorgoeous! she looks so big and healthy! good to hear you're doing well, i hope your stitches don't hurt too much.

[mamaley]

Amy, what a beautiful baby!!! Congrats!

I actually got sleep last night. My contractions are now about 10 or so minutes apart and i have to breathe through them, they're stronger than anything i've experienced and dh says about a minute long, although they definitely seem shorter to me. Hopefully they'll get closer together and stronger...

[mamaley]

I'm not timing anymore, but i don't think they're as regular... I still have to breathe through them though.
If I do nipple stimulation, the contraction starts right then. I wish I knew if it was going to be soon...I feel like maybe today? I just had another one, this sure is different than prelabor! It really helps to breathe through it and relax everything...
Hope I'm not being annoying with the play by play...

[cobluegirl]

Congrats Amy!!! WOW....Glad you didn't have the hosp birth..they would have wanted you to have a cs.

The picture is beautiful. She is huge....hehe...

Good luck ladies in early labor..I hope we have some new babies soon.

[weesej]

Well I took a warm bath, laid down to rest, and had a really good nights sleep Still crampy but not contracting. LOTS of bloody show, just went potty and wiped a 6-7" ropy hunk of it. Sorry if that grossed anyone out. I'm wavering between amazed and appalled I've seen similar stuff, but usually when the mama is pushing and I KNOW I'm no where close. Still encouraged that I'm in pre-labor, early labor, prodromal labor, whatever you want to call it and overall it won't be too much longer.

Keep thinking about something I read somewhere about labor being an orchestra of hormones, etc from both mom and baby. That all the instruments can take thier time tuning up and preparing. It might make some noise or even sound pretty good, but it isn't until everyone works and plays together that you have a symphony. Waiting for mine to get organized

[halah]

Amywillo, I'm so pleased for you...she is a beautiful, rosy baby girl...

Thinking about Ravin (Jodi), I do wish she'd come on and let us know how she is doing...

Today I'm feeling majorly irritated at my family regarding naming our possible boy...We had one name picked out that we both liked, Jude, and my family slammed it in every possible way. So I backed off from their hostility and went with the other similar name I liked, Julian. Now they're complaining that Julian is too "faggy" (yes, that's their word for it, not mine...: )

What I hate most is that they badgered me for months about what I would name the baby, and when I finally, tentatively offered the names I held close to my heart, they visciously slammed them (not like, "I dislike that name" but calling me to specificially tell me how much they hated it and what was wrong with it and that they fervently hope I have a girl).

Well, guess what, folks...dh and I have decided to go back to the original name we chose and loved, Jude, and if they start complaining all over again I'll remind them that they don't know what our 3rd choice might be...we might want to name the baby Lucifer or Sasquatch or something. :LOL:

[mamaley]

halah, i love the name Jude, and Julian too.

[earthmamafor3]

Ohhhh ladies.....I am sooooooooooo with you in your disappointment and frustration that you thought it was time and now things have slowed down....it has been three weeks of similiar episodes for me and my family. I can't believe how hard it is. I really can't.....Penelope, I can so relate to feeling silly after making it sound like the baby was coming soon. It does really sound like it ladies, you are doing very important early work...it will be soon, I am sure.

Ana, I just starting weeping last night from being sooo uncomfortable and tired of being pregnant and everything hurting, Dh felt so bad for me and didn't know what to do. Waiting is just incredibly difficult, I am so in awe of your ability to get on with life while waiting, that has been the greatest challenge for me. I just want to sleep until labor starts, I can't concentrate on anything and am exhausted. I don't want to clean up the same messes anymore, I want everything to stay in a state of suspended animation until the birth!! With three kids, a dog and a cat, that is absolutely impossible!!

halah, this is the reason this time, dh and I are not sharing the name until the babe is born and it is a done deal. I am so sad that your family has been so unkind to you about those beautiful, honorable names for your son. I have known a Jude and he was truly one of hte most beautiful men, inside and out, that I have ever known. It is a great name. Don't tell them anything else, you have the right to the dignity of chooosing the name that your child whispers to your soul and it is no one else' s business!!

I also adore the symphony analogy, veryyyyyyyyyyyy beautiful.
if you can't talk about mucous here, where CAN you???

mamaley, I LOVE your play by play...I can live vicariously through it!! You of all people know how it is to watch and wonder if your labor will go like the one you are reading about. Even tho I complain about being envious, I truly am more excited for you that you get to meet your precious babe soon! It feels a little like being there! Thank you for sharing this journey with us!
Blessings
Deb

[earthmamafor3]

Ohhhh ladies.....I am sooooooooooo with you in your disappointment and frustration that you thought it was time and now things have slowed down....it has been three weeks of similiar episodes for me and my family. I can't believe how hard it is. I really can't.....Penelope, I can so relate to feeling silly after making it sound like the baby was coming soon. It does really sound like it ladies, you are doing very important early work...it will be soon, I am sure.

Ana, I just starting weeping last night from being sooo uncomfortable and tired of being pregnant and everything hurting, Dh felt so bad for me and didn't know what to do. Waiting is just incredibly difficult, I am so in awe of your ability to get on with life while waiting, that has been the greatest challenge for me. I just want to sleep until labor starts, I can't concentrate on anything and am exhausted. I don't want to clean up the same messes anymore, I want everything to stay in a state of suspended animation until the birth!! With three kids, a dog and a cat, that is absolutely impossible!! I can't remember how overdue you are, but I can so relate to wanting to do something, anything to get that baby out. At the same time, some gentle support for patience for you...let your babe decide his/her time, trust trust trust my friend. There is a reason, and please know I am speaking more to myself than you as everyday I want to drink castor oil etc....I am so glad you are thinking of natural choices first before going to pit....pitocin sets into motion all the medical interventions, so depending on how important a natural birth is to you.....I speak from experience and regret of my own choices and would hate for anyone else to have to deal with that too. I hope my intention of support comes through and know that whatever you choose it is your birth and you can make it as beautiful and miraculous as it is meant to be!!

halah, this is the reason this time, dh and I are not sharing the name until the babe is born and it is a done deal. I am so sad that your family has been so unkind to you about those beautiful, honorable names for your son. I have known a Jude and he was truly one of hte most beautiful men, inside and out, that I have ever known. It is a great name. Don't tell them anything else, you have the right to the dignity of chooosing the name that your child whispers to your soul and it is no one else' s business!!

I also adore the symphony analogy, veryyyyyyyyyyyy beautiful.
if you can't talk about mucous here, where CAN you???

mamaley, I LOVE your play by play...I can live vicariously through it!! You of all people know how it is to watch and wonder if your labor will go like the one you are reading about. Even tho I complain about being envious, I truly am more excited for you that you get to meet your precious babe soon! It feels a little like being there! Thank you for sharing this journey with us!
Blessings
Deb

[shanetedissac]

Birth story of Harrison Robert.....

Birth of Harrison Robert

The night before, I felt that the baby was not moving as much as before. I ate some chocolate to stimulate movement. It did not really do much. Thinking back this was a sign of on coming labor.
On Monday morning, September 29, I got out of bed at 6am. I got up a little earlier than I usually do. I just was not able to remain comfortable. I had a few contractions overnight that hurt my back and I also had my usual very uncomfortable effort to roll over. In the morning I usually wait until Mark leaves for work at 6:20am or so before getting out of bed. He made a comment to me regarding the fact that I was up before he had left. I can’t remember if I said anything about the sensations I was feeling. He left for work.
I did my usual morning routine, dressed, computer work, breakfast. While on the computer I was have frequent sensation but did not time them. I made a point to not time them, did not want to get stuck in a number. I was not able to sit through them though. While I was on the computer I could still read while standing but when I got down stairs and had a sensation I had to lay my head down and rock through them. I also told the kids to be quite while mommy ‘rested’. They were pretty responsive to this and respected me the best they could. At 7am I tried to call Mark on his school cell phone and got voice mail, tried his own phone and got voice mail, called his school office and got his boss and left a message to not have Mark go one him hike today. I called the school cell phone again and left the same message.
Mark called me back at 7:50am and we spoke. I was not able to tell him how things were really going though. He decided to take care of a few things then come home. Said he would be home around 11am. Good thing he called me back a little bit later and said that he was leaving the school and would be home soon. Before I left to take Theodore to school I spoke with Joan, our MW, and she was concerned that I was going to drive. Asked if I had anyone to help out. I mentioned my neighbor and did call her and left a message. She did not call back before I had to leave. I ended up driving Theodore to school. It’s about a 15/20 minute drive. I had a few contractions on the way there, then some there, and some on the way home. They had gotten more intense on the drive home. Nothing like keeping the car on the road to keep me distracted! Every time I felt a sensation coming on I would turn the radio off and tell Issac to be quite. When it was over I would turn the radio back on and talk with Issac.
When I got home I called the MW and told here that they were more intense. Mark was not home yet, which surprised me, since he left work over an hour ago and it takes 30 minutes to get home. I even said to Issac, “Where is Daddy?” I called him on his cell phone and ends up he had lots of traffic on the way from work. He was home 10 minutes later. I was very happy to not have to keep track of Issac anymore.
The sensations were getting stronger and I needed to focus even more on them. Most comfortable position remained the same pretty much the whole time, leaning over something with my belly hanging down. With each one Mark would do his best to massage my lower back. It was ok until the end when I did not want to be touched. He did once massage my shoulders in between sensations, this was very nice.
When Mark got home I was in the Kitchen, then I moved to the Dining room and then I went upstairs. I paced the hallway in between sensations and hung onto the railing to go down stairs during. I was not feeling much relief in between them. I was feeling frustrated and was having a hard time dealing emotionally.
Joan can over to borrow our car seat to use with her grandchild at about 9:30am. The caretaker she was going to pick up for the grandchild did not have one. She came in, I said hello from upstairs and she and Mark talked. I had a few sensations while they were down below talking. She was originally planning on taking the car seat and going to Oxford to pick up this man that was going to help her. When I heard Oxford, not sure how far but a few towns away, I said she should not go. To me that felt eons away and she would not be back in time. With my history I was afraid she would not get back. I think in general at this time I was getting scared of something. I can’t pinpoint what it was but I was emotionally stable. I started to cry at one point. This is so unlike me. Looking back, I was just so afraid of what was happening, not the labor and such, but of having the baby. I’d been holding back ever since I found out I was pregnant. Not knowing that we were going to be pregnant again through me for a loop and I’d been handling it the whole pregnancy. With labor it became much more obvious and direct and it scared me so much. Allowing this labor to progress and bring our baby into the outside world.
I was not feeling a break in between the sensations. I decided to get into the bathtub. I started the water and waited for it to fill at about 10am. Once it was full I got in and it felt really good. The warm water allowed me to move about as I wanted. I sat facing out of the tub cross legged. When a sensation came on I would move to hands and knees. As the sensations got stronger and stronger I would more my face closer and closer to the water surface. I was getting so close that the tips of my bangs were getting wet and I could see the ripples of water from my breath. When the sensation would let off I would move back to sitting. Mark brought me some tea to drink. At one point I looked up and it was not where I had left it. He had moved it to the counter. I asked Issac to bring it to me but he was not able to reach. Someone did retrieve it for me.
Soon the urge to push came on. At this point I was on hands and knees and this is where I stayed till he was born. I did not find pushing to be a relief and was very verbal. My MW said that I had a ‘beautiful birth song’.
My water broke with a huge pop. The fluid was clear. It’s amazing to look back and remember that I made a conscious note to look at the water after my water had broken.
I was so scared and had a hard time letting go into the urge. As he came closer and closer to being born I felt more and more intensity. At first I would sit into the push but as he came closer I moved my body forward, like I was trying to move away from the pain. Having the intense need to push and also having these intense emotions that were trying to hinder me was so difficult. Good thing I have such a strong pushing urge, or this baby would not have come out so quick.
As he emerged his head was crowning and his face paused right after crowning. Right across his eyes, so he has some popped blood vessels in his eyes from this. Finally his head emerged, what a relief. To push his body out I did have to focus some energy into the push. This was very difficult but I did find the courage to go with the push and out he came. 10:26am on Monday September 29, 2003. He was born a whole 1.5 hours after I dropped Theodore off at school.
Wow, was I spent! We did not look to see the sex because we were supposed to have my older son do that, but he was at school and I was not able to keep the baby covered very well and saw. Another boy had been added to our family.
On a note my middle son, Issac was by the side of the tub the whole time that I was pushing and birthing. The others said that he just stared at my face the whole time. When I looked at him afterwards he had this most intense look and could not take his eyes off of me. He reached out and touched the baby. Ever since all he wants to do is touch the baby. So different from his brother, who wanted nothing to do with the new baby. Theodore would not even go near Issac until Issac was about 6months old. Go figure.

[cobluegirl]

What a beatiful birth story Shane!! Congrats.