Pregnancy After Loss (#4)

[kaje62]

Hey all welcome to our new thread.

Let's post away.

I am at 32 weeks and my fears still come and go!

[its_our_family]

I'm 6wks 3 days and my fears are just starting! Even though...I'm not really all that fearful now that I'm getting use to the stretching/pulling feelings. I'm a little nervous about my c/s scar stretching. I also have this fear that I'll get an u/s and there won't be a heartbeat or I'll have a late m/c....but those are the same fears I had with my frist pg.....

[MossbackMeadow]

KJ,
What sort of fears are you having?

I'm 37 weeks tomorrow and my fears are fading. I'm just ready to have this baby now.

:rolleyes:

[Eman'smom]

Megan, it took me until about 15 weeks before those miscarriage fears went away, even though I'd been feeling the baby move, and I had an ultrasound at 9 weeks. The ultrasound tech was so funny/odd. Right away he says "we have one fetus, in the right place with a beating heart". It sounds kind of cold but I can't tell you the relief, I practially started crying right there. I didn't even cry during the ultrasound to confirm the miscarriage. Through the rest of the scan the guy kept asking me if I was ok, I was breathing funny and near tears, the relief was undescribable. The whole time dh is standing there with this stupid grin on his face.

In me news, we've made it to 26 weeks and I'm feeling good, my trip to Denver has been canceled (for now), which is a nice thing. I'm feeling pretty good over all. I have my worry days, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, whether it's a pregnancy or delivery problem depends on the day. We have hired a wonderful Doula so that has relieved some of my fears.

[emmaline]

hi eveyone - 37 weeks today

KJ is it VBAC issues worrying you?

like MM I'm just ready to have this baby now

I have some moments that I call normal fears, because they have to do with knowing how big it is to have another person in my life forever, another piece of my heart out there in the world with arms and legs and thoughts of his/her own

and I wonder how on earth the logistics of 12 yo, 5 yo and new baby will work ( having enough grace under pressure when evryone wants me right now), along with finding the spaces for ourselves that dh and I have carved out over the last few years

so, normal stuff - all the earlier fears have receded (where is the pheww, wipes brow, smilie??) but it took a long time to get to this point and memories of the pain of the earlier months is pretty vivid

[kaje62]

Okay here is the deal.

yes I am a bit scared of a VBAC and the wellbeing of the baby and me but am more scared of a c-section
I am afraid of the pain even though I think I have high pain tolerance. I grew up in a home where mom said, Wait till dad gets home so fear is a biggie for me
I am afraid at times cuz I am 41, will the baby be healthy
and then I have the m/c fears. will my baby live?

I never sit on the birth ball
I rarely do kegels
And I think I just got disheartened cuz last time I did everything right
birthball
movement classes
bradley

and he was breech. lotus position. found out at 39.5 weeks. did a version, cranial sacral, moxi stick and chiropractic

and then my water broke.

and i had a healthy beautiful boy at age 38

Thanks for asking

[its_our_family]

So, I was doing pretty good not worrying but today I keep getting this stabbing pain. I'm thinking just strtching but I ama chronic cervix xchecker...so I think checking my cervix causes spotting directly on my cervix...no where else... but then I freak out even more even though I know I'm causing it!

I don't remember this with ds but I do with our lost babe...thats why it worries me...but with the m/c babe i was spotting on tp several days before this pain....so maybe it is jstu stretching??? :confused:

[MossbackMeadow]

KJ,
I wish there was something I could do to comfort you.:hug

Does it help to read positive Vback stories? I just read one myself last night in Family Foundations magazine ( www.ccli.org) about a mom that had 3 csec's and then a vbac at home.

Does it help to realize that all people throughout time have been born this way? Of all the women who have gone before you? I often think of my pioneer grandmothers who had many many children.

With my second baby I was in the worst shape of my life - gained more weight, didn't exercise -- and it was the quickest easiest birth of all. You can start doing kegals today, you know - at stoplights. :)

I think when Emmaline describes the "phew" feeling, she is talking about knowing that the baby is viable. Even if it comes to surgery or some other lifesaving maneuver, baby is most likely going to make it, at this point.

I am looking forward to reading your happy Vbac story!

ItsOurFamily - don't know what to tell you except all you can do is wait it out. I had 3 episodes of spotting around the 10, 12 and 14 week marks with the pregnancy. None with my other 3 kids. I rode it out, never went in for a check. Somewhere in these forums I read a comment like, "you know, your uterus is a busy place right now. Why shouldn't you spot while things are stretching and growing." That made sense to me.

Well, it has been raining and raining and raining here. The grass is high and the garden is out of control. We did pick 5 qts of strawberries from our patch last night. All this indoor time is helping me get some things done in the house.I love Fridays.

Take care all!

Mom to Caleb, 12 ; Lydia, 10, Zane, 7; 3 miscarried babies and little one due in 3 weeks.

[kaje62]

you are so sweet. I am so excited for your new baby. pm me your address. i have a gift for your new baby. do you know girl or boy?

[MossbackMeadow]

I'm kinda slow when it comes to computer technology. You know, we've been talking on this list for months and I'd like to see baby photos once we all reach our goals.
My dh has a digital camera - my question is, where can we post our photo, and how do we upload that?

It's funny, I've formed pictures in my mind of different people. You don't count KJ cause I've seen yours -and your adorable glasses! I'm picturing Emmaline as a statuesque blonde - actually, I picture the model Emme - know who I'm talking about?
Pynki I'm picturing as very thin and petite with long dark hair.
XM - you're mysterious!


Clueless,
MM

[emmaline]

Clueless from Melbourne would also like to know about posting photos!! dh took a digital pic the other day of me showing off my belly and sent it to heaps of people but I won't be posting that one!! I wouldn't want to blow that picture of a statuesque blonde out of the water!! MM that just had me choking on my porridge - OK now I will deconstruct that image!!! the truth is I'm short, dark haired (with a bit of grey partially covered up with henna) and ... roundish ... even when not pregnant
:rotflmao :rotflmao :rotflmao

I think when Emmaline describes the "phew" feeling, she is talking about knowing that the baby is viable. Even if it comes to surgery or some other lifesaving maneuver, baby is most likely going to make it, at this point. yep that's it

And I think I just got disheartened cuz last time I did everything right KJ all those things you did last time ARE a good idea AND no guarantee of anything unfortunately, some things are just out of our control and that's really confronting. I'm not religious but the 12step idea of handing over to a Higher Power helps me retain some sanity at this point :hug

[OceanMomma]

Hey ladies :D Just found this new thread. I'm still rotund & waiting. Officially I've got a week & a half or so to go. I thought I was gonna have the baby a few nights ago as my braxton hicks started getting noticeable & more regular but they went away when I got up. Well not really went away but became far more infrequent. I've been getting the noticeable ones on & off ever since but nothing major. My MW has typically disappeared into the woodwork so I am just cruising along on my own having my faith that everything is really allright tried yet again. dh is starting to get painfully annoying with his worrying. I'm not allowed to do this or that or go anywhere in case I sneeze & have the baby by accident by the side of the road. I have also had enuf of not being able to see my feet, climb over fences & generally do what I have always done. dd#1 refers to me as the duff blimp & dd#2 has suddenly started being very clingy & wingesome at the slightest upset.

I am very jealous of your strawberries MM. How many pints are in a quart ? It's almost winter solstice here & unseasonally sunny & warm. I've got lots of cabbage & kale in my garden but it doesn't really compete with fresh strawberries. Organic fejoia season is just over as well :(

I am finally getting all the nasty evil big knarly pines removed from around our property. Not sure about how many they're going to be able to get out of the back block as the access isn't great but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

So yes here I am, on top of my hill above the harbour with my house surrounded by men up trees with chainsaws & logging machinery waiting to give birth at home.

[MossbackMeadow]

OM - 2 pints to a quart.
So is your mw going to make it to your birth? My mw is so busy - she had 6 people due this week alone, over a 150 sq mile territory. We're planning on going it alone and calling her in to help with clean up, and the 1 and 3 day checks, pku, birth cert., etc. We'll see.

Emmaline - ok, now that you've teased us - you have GOT to email your belly picture - LOL. I'm going to PM you my email address.:eyes

[kaje62]

I went to the midwives yesterday and....
my iron is up, it was quite low two weeks ago, thanks to my new prenatal (Rainbow Light, one a day)
I passed my third glucose test, so I am done with that
My blood pressure is good, as always
and THE BABIES HEAD IS DOWN
She left the room and I started crying
cuz Charlie was breech and I thought well maybe something is wrong with my body
I am so happy. I have my fears about a VBAC and a unmedicated birth
but I feel like this is a message, It will be okay, Go for it KJ.

Oceanmama you go girl.

[MossbackMeadow]

So happy for you KJ!!

:jammin :banana :hug

[Jacque Savageau]

kaje62, thank you for starting a new thread! #4, boy, we have a lot to say don't we?

I want to appologize, I've been off-line a few days due to a migrain. I feel like I've missed so much! I hate not being here! You all feel like my spirit sisters :hug

I'm going to create a yahoo board that you can download picturess on easily if you'ed all like. This way it can be private and approved members only. So, you'd have to apply and email me to get in. How does that sound?

As you all notice, I don't even use my kids names on the boards. I get paranoid for some reason. However, I'd feel really safe about a private Yahoo board.

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns?

OM, you've been deeply in my thoughts! I'm sending so many healthy birthing vibes your way - hope you can feel it!

MM and Emmeline - healthy baby vibes your way too.

kaje62, I know how hard this is :hug Please keep posting and reaching out here. Though we can't take your fears away, sometimes knowing that others understand can help :hug

IOF - Sending you lot's of HUGS!!!

Eman'smom, things are sounding good. I hope things remain calm for you!

[Jacque Savageau]

Ok, I set the group up. If you care to share you pictures privately there just email me at msmom@mothering.com and I'll give you access. I can also tell you how to upload your pictures - it's REALLY easy!

[its_our_family]

I just got off the phone with a friend who has a dd 2 days older han ds and is pg again...due in october. And I asked her....did your tummy just eer hurt? Like it is just painful and feels like you are being stabbed and cut open.

She laughed and said, "It's scarry isn't it?!" According to her it is jsut stretching because my ligaments weren't totally back when I got pg. She had the same thing....which makes me feel tons better!

I know it is just stretching but it feels good to have someone say...yup I've been there :)

[emmaline]

hi everyone!

my baby arrived safely on jUNE 17 8:56 pm

back with details later

:love :love :love :love

[OceanMomma]

Congrats Em :love I just came here to say exactly the same thing - except you got here first. Our little one was born on friday 20th at 11:22 am. I had a lovely home birth & an easy quick labour. She weighed 7lbs 11oz & we've called her India Jasmine.

[emmaline]

OM fantastic I'm thrilled for you, absolutely delighted
big :hug to all your family esp India Jasmine

[kaje62]

Oh my godness and godessness. I am so happy Emmaline and Oceanmama.
I have tears of joy.

[MossbackMeadow]

Love her name OceanMama!


Hearty felicitations to the new mommies. I can't wait to read the birth stories - let us know where you post them.

Hoping to join your ranks soon,

MM

[emmaline]

oops forgot to add; another boy, 7lb 13 oz (3.5kg), blonde and blue eyed like his brothers

[its_our_family]

Congrats ladies!!!

I have 32 more weeks to go! I'm finally starting to relax...i think! I'm taking my aches and pains as normal. i almost think my cm has changed color and it isn't really spotting.

I have things starting to change that now that they happen I remember with ds. for instance, my breasts change color. not the nipple or areola but the actual breast turned brown. it did it again this week.....so I'm assuming things are moving along great!

i have my first midwife appt tomorrow and I'm very excited about it!!

[Jacque Savageau]

I have tears and goosbumps! I cannot beleive the transitions that have taken place in this forum. It's simply amazing.

I'm so very happy for you both :crying tears of shear joy are comming right now.

Post when you can, but, as long as I know you're both ok and your babies are safe, I can wait (a little anyway ;) )

Sending you love and gentleness :hug :love

[emmaline]

here's some detail! still no name

http://mothering.com/discussions/sh...9852#post659852

[kaje62]

thanks for sharing. And again welcome new baby.

http://mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&postid=659852#post659852

I reposted this link cuz I could not get yours to work. So I searched and found the story.

[Eman'smom]

Yeah EM and OM great to hear about the new happy healthy safe babies :D :D :D

[emmaline]

Originally posted by kaje62
thanks for sharing. And again welcome new baby.

http://mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&postid=659852#post659852

I reposted this link cuz I could not get yours to work. So I searched and found the story.

thanks kaje, dunno what happened to my link?? it did work at first...

thanks to all for the good wishes, I'm feeling better by the day (swigging Floradix) and ds3 (I get a thrill evry time I write that!) is doing great tho still abit jaundiced

we're having a quiet time at home, I haven't been outside the front gate yet, dh is making delicious healthy dinners, ds2 is still out of his little gourd ( for any Dilbert fans, we have named his condition the ratbert syndrome, from the episode where Dilbert brings home a doopy and ratbert loses the plot totally and cries "now I'm not the cutest one in the family anymore!" ) and ds1 is needing lots of philosophical dialogue since finishing Harry Potter 5

[XM]

:banana :banana :banana

Wow! I have'nt been keeping up with MDC as much lately (can't NAK very well) so I just now found this! I have been wondering how you two ladies were doing and I am delighted to hear that your babies are in your arms now.

XM

ps~I have not had a chance to write Ezra's birth story, but I will be sure to post a link when I do.

[emmaline]

I didn't realise you'd named Spawn Ezra XM! how is he doing? how are you?

babyX is getting closer to being named, wouldn't want to rush anything:D

[Jacque Savageau]

Ezra - that's an AWESOME name! I just LOVE it!

Can't wait to hear more about your births - but, I suppose I'll wait! You're all quite busy right now!

Emmaline - It's so wonderful that you arranged your birth wishes before hand. Little ds#3 got to have his momma's milk right away! Hope your healing well! So, the appendix was ok? Just a virus? Are you feeling well now? Sending :hug's!

OM - I'm so excited for you! I look forward to hearing more when you get a spare moment (that may take a while lol). You take care and give thoese little sweeties a hug for me!

[emmaline]

Dear jacque
appendix was fine and is still there!, so it was 'just' a bad bug, but i was glad to get the c/s done with, it's not an enjoyable experience even when all goes well - I am jealous of mamas who get to do it the normal way tho it's not easy however it happens

I had a long interview at the hosp a few weeks ago with a midwife who noted and flagged all my requests - bf asap and notrhing else, room in (this is standard anyway), no hep b or other shots, no creams, lotions potions on babe (baby wipes are issued as standard:( ), they were very keen to do as I asked (esp wjhen I mentioned ds1's ananphylaxis) and i had some interesting conversations with the midwives while I was there too as each one would come at the bgeinning of her shift to ensure I knew that she knew what I wanted!! all very laudable

I do feel sad that so often I still read here that babies are given things without parents permission, that rooming in is not standard, that bf is not well understood or supported etc, tho there seems to be a wide variety in what hosp practises are, here the standards are widespread and fairly predictable but it doesn't hurt to underline what is important

also as a 3rd time mama you get a lot of respect!!

e:down

[MossbackMeadow]

Emmaline,
How are you feeling physically these days? It seems like it takes longer after each child for me to feel normal again. After last birth, I retained some very big clots, which took 10 days and lots of pain to pass. I am almost dreading the postpartum period.

In the throes of false labor,

MM

[emmaline]

Dear MM
sure it's false??

I hope yr pp time will be easier with this one, painful clots at 10 days sounds awful:( :(

physically I am just going very slowly. at this stage after my first (when I was 'only'29!) I was up and about and even went on an anti nuke street march on Palm Sunday - by that night I had a 40 degree temp and raging mastitis!! so I am going slowly ! having a real confinement, doing for the baby and a little light housework plus spending as much alone time with ds2 as I can is enough activity for me but I was very sedentary during the pregnancy so it will take a while to get active anyway. A good lying down rest and sleep is essential every day or i won't make it.

btw I have never felt normal since ds1 was born! I became someone else! so I'm looking for a different kind of normal now!

[MossbackMeadow]

Hey all,
I'm missing my Pregnancy after Loss buds.
What's up with everybody?

Tell you what, after 3 mcs, I NEVER expected to be 8 days past my due date. I know it's just a guess, but still, a disappointment. I guess I'm supposed to enjoy this pregnancy to it's very fullest!

After so many weeks of cautiously looking for blood on my toilet paper, now I'm hoping to see some! Weird.

Kaje - haven't seen you around - everything ok?

MBM

[kaje62]

MM you are so sweet, thanks for thinking of me. You are planning a VBAC, right? Or am I dreaming? And...can't believe you are 8 days past due. Keep us in touch.

I had a hard yesterday. I went to my prenatal and my blood pressure was up again, so they had me do the lay on my side thing and it went down, so they want me to be on modified bedrest, which means lay on my side 2 hours twice during the day. I know it is not total bedrestbut I am like how am I to take care of Charlie? So I asked you don't mean on my side, just sitting right? And she said, "you can do this or be admitted to the hospital like a young woman was today. So then I talked to my Doula friend and I said she doesn't mean 4 hours she is just saying this to make me do one hour and Doula said if she says 4 she means 4. Jeezz....They drew blood to check my liver and stuff which I will get results tomorrow. I also had a non-stress test which went well but I had a 105 minute visit that was to be 25 minutes. And teverytime I go in they bring up the size of the baby and how maybe a VBAC will be too risky if the baby is large. Again Charlie weighed 9.15. So they are doing an ultra sound next week to help determine the size and Carrie my doula is going with me because it has been so hard on me these last few visits cuz I never get encouragement about the VBAC. I feel like all they ever do is bring up concerns. So anyway I am a bit disheartened. Even though, so far my baby is doing well and I am doing pretty well.

And then Jerry was to take Charlie to swim lessons tonite rather than Thursday cuz we are going to the collective to hear birth stories on Thursday. And Jerry was 25 minutes late home from work and as he was trying to get out the door we exchanged harsh words so now I am just sitting home crying. Like that is good for my blood pressure. So what I am saying is he went last night rather than Thursday so we can have this bonding thing and then we have a yucky argument.

Okay one piece of good news, my friend Teresa who is the ritual doula gal is coming over Sunday the 19th to do a body torso casting with us.


__________________

[MossbackMeadow]

Kaje,
Ohhh, that sounds like a stressful day.:( Hope your test results come out ok and that you are able to spend some time resting on your left side.

My Dh and I had words yesterday too - you can read about that on the July Mama's list if you're interested.

No, I'm not planning a vbac. I've had 3 homebirths, and would like this one to be unassisted - just me and dh. Keeping my options open though. I have a mw backup.
I'm starting to have a bad feeling that dh isn't going to make the birth. We have a busy busy week coming up with our county fair/4H animals/shows, etc. I'm afraid he's going to be 10 miles away at the fairgrounds with the kids and I'm going to be home in labor unable to get ahold of him.

That is, if this baby EVER comes.

Take care!

[emmaline]

i was wondering today about the ladies on this thread!

kaje i'm sorry to hear you are having a rough time :hug

mm are you just too busy to have a baby?? the amount you have on yr plate makes my head spin :hug

[MossbackMeadow]

Emmaline,
This county fair thing is one week out of the year. Life is usually not like this. I don't know why the planets aligned to have me due at this time!

Need to get up and do some food prep and floor mopping. I'm battling a charley horse in my left calf muscle - anybody else bothered by these cramps?

:wild MBM

[kaje62]

how is everyone?

[its_our_family]

Doesn't look like this thread gets used a lot...I know there are a lot of us out there too!

I'm 20 weeks on saturday and my u/s is next tuesday! I'm having major bh and I'm wondering if maybe I have a fybroid or something causing irritation...

I'm pretty confident this baby is here to stay and I just have the normal fears and worries. I'm glad I'm through what seems to be my hump!

Now I'm jsut trying not to be too concerned with the bh and praying I don't end up on bedrest! We may be moving in December and I'll be around 32 weeks pg!

[Touch of Sunshine]

:) I'm here, just discovering this thread.

I'm currently 32+ weeks pregnant. I've a very active babe in the womb. She beats on me regularily, keeping me up at night, breathless during the day, and sore.....and I love every minute of it.

The Dr. feels that everything is going perfect. She said baby is big for dates, however my 3 babies were all well above average at birth. All my aches and pains are said to be due to this being a 7th pregnancy. It's normal to be more achy. I'm not spotting, or cramping terrible. She figured with in a couple days of EDD I should go into labor. Dh wants me to be induced so it's not the waiting game. Can you tell he's anxious?

Based on when we conceived, EDD is actually the 8th of November, but I'm not telling anyone..lol. this gives me that much more time for spontaneous birth.

While all my losses were early on, less than 20 weeks.... I'm still somewhat anxious. I've waited so long to hold a baby of my own. I'm not sure i'd survive a loss at this stage...not again.

[Jacque Savageau]

Bumping up for some of the new PAL mamma's. Hay, I like the initials PAL!

[Touch of Sunshine]

Gee, I've been so busy with things I forgot to check in here.

I'm thrilled to share that I'm no longer pregnant! 7 weeks ago I delivered a 9lb 3 oz baby girl! Kristen Amanda. Her delivery was not so bad, though we had shoulder dystocia, my OB was right there and one psh she slipped right out.

She's a big girl, nearly 15 lbs already. Ilove her so much! She wonderful! I sleep with her every night, I relish her little body up against me, the soft downy hair....

She is pretty needy in my arms most of every day. But I'm not complaining, I've waited a long of time for her, she's my last so i'm reishing every moment of her babyhood.

[Jacque Savageau]

:throb I'm SO excited for you and your family! What joyous news :hug

It's so amazing to me to see so many of you come full circle. You're love for her is so apparent here, what a lucky little girl to be loved for so deeply and cared for so beautifully!

Thank you for letting us know!

[its_our_family]

Hey ladies--I'm at the END!!! Baby can come at any time. I've already been experiencing days of "false" labor!! I thought this baby was coming on New Years eve but he was a no show. Which is fine cause Iw asn't quite 36 weeks. I'm 37 weeks next saturday so I hope to wait that long. Some moments it feels like its tomorrow and some days it feel like forever!!

I've gotten over my fear of m/c.... every once in awhile I fear stillbirth... but for the most part it is jsut excitement and fear of adding to this crazy house!!

[kaje62]

welcome and hello to its our family
welcome touch of sunshine
i so understand having your last and cherishing your babe
i had my last this august at age 41
i just realized i never updated this thread on her birth
so i am going to post my birth story
sorry if it is too long


Jerry and I were happy to learn shortly before Thanksgiving that we were expecting another baby. We decided that we wanted to have a VABC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) so choose midwives to work with and about ½ way into my pregnancy hired Carrie Dunbar as our doula. My pregnancy went quite well until around the 34th week when my blood pressure crept up. It stayed pretty much at this borderline level but just enough for me to be put on modified bedrest with weekly ultrasounds, non stress tests blood draws and a couple 24 urine tests. All of the tests came back good with no other symptoms other than the elevated blood pressure so we felt okay hanging in week to week.

It was hard to be on bedrest when I wanted fun times with Charlie during our last weeks as a family of three. I am grateful to my friends for help with Charlie, meals and supporting me to take rest while helping me figure out ways to bond creatively with Charlie.

At about 40 weeks, my blood pressure went up a bit more and the midwives started to talk induction or Caesarean. I needed to be careful with induction because we were limited to what we could use as we were doing a VBAC and some gels etc…have been linked to uterine rupture. Also if my cervix was not progressing, pitocin would be ineffective. At our 41 week visit, Jerry and I scheduled a c-section for August 22, which would bring us to 42 weeks. I started to get antsy the couple days before and did not know what to do. I no longer felt okay holding off on the surgery. I called my midwife that Thursday morning and she said, “Kathy why don’t you come in and we will check you out and if your cervix is favorable we can try a trial of labor with pitocin and if that does not work then you can have the surgery tomorrow.

So we called Grampa Peterson who would be with Charlie until that evening when Corrine would come and spend the night with him. We spent some time with Charlie, packed up and went off to the hospital. Our doula Carrie met us there. My cervix was ripe enough so we were given the go ahead but my blood pressure was up a bit more so I was put on a magnesium drip shortly after our arrival. This makes you very hot and really hurt going in through the IV. It also limits movement during labor and actually is used to slow down labor for moms not full term. So before too long I was put on something used to speed up labor, pitocin and something to slow down labor, magnesium. About ½ way into labor, my blood pressure was not coming down enough so they increased the magnesium. Other than that, it was really a calm beautiful night and Jerry and Carrie were wonderful. A few hours into the labor, I started to have some bloody show which is a sign of your cervix thinning so we were feeling excited. A few hours later I felt discouraged. After 12 hours of pitocin, I knew before I was checked that I had not advanced much. The midwife said that she was willing to do 3 more hours of pitocin but did not think we could go much more than that. After she left the room, I told Carrie to tell the midwife that I wanted them to turn the Pitocin off. We called some family members and things moved quite fast as we prepared for surgery.

It all seemed to go much more smoothly than the surgery with Charlie, including the spinal. When Charlie was born, we had in our birth plan that Jerry would announce the gender so at that exciting moment, the OB asked Jerry to stand up. Jerry stood and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce the birth of my baby boy, Charles Andrew Peterson and then he broke down in tears. So on Friday we once again made it clear that we wanted Jerry to announce gender. The OB gave him the cue and Jerry said, "It's a girl, right?" And the OB said, "It appears to be." And the anesthesiologist said, "And that it is."

Angelyn Rosemarie Peterson was born Friday August 22nd at 9:28 a.m. weighing 9 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long. (I was born at 9:28 a.m. on May 20, 1962. Pretty sweet that we were born at the same time.) The trial of labor was valuable as Angelyn's apgar scores were 9 and 9 (same as Charlie's) at birth. Even though Charlie was c-section, my water broke with him and it is said that a trial of labor even for awhile can help babies lungs and apgar scores once born. I feel I made all the right choices during the last few weeks. I do not think I should have waited any longer for baby to arrive and do not think we waited too long. Angelyn is beautiful and is in no way overcooked.


there are some recent photos by my signature