What's your story?
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive April 2007:
What's your story?
So here I am, 37 weeks pregnant with my second child, and just as scared as ever about going into labor. With my first, I was induced a week after my due date, so I haven't experienced the whole timing of contractions or water breaking. So, I wanted to hear everyone's story about how they went into labor!
I never went into labor on my own completely. With my first, my water broke a week before my due date. It took me a second to figure out what was going on, then I freaked! I didn't have contraction though so they induced me about 3 hours after I went to the hospital. I got an epidural at 3 cms, he was born 6 hours after they induced. It was about an easy of a birth that anyone could have, although I was hurting pretty good before the epidural.
Then came my second, overdue by 11 days, in the summer, just a year after the first, I was one miserable pregnant lady! I was induced and it took forever to get going. I was in labor for about 12 hours that time and the epidural didn't take.
Then I was overdue again with number 3. I was induced once and it didn't work at all and I was sent home. I was so disappointed! Then they tried again a week alter ad it worked! I was only in labor for about 3 hours, epidural worked, no problems.
Good luck! I'm sure we'll be hearing about your new little one soon! For me the scariest thing was it is different everytime,so there's no way to be fully prepared even if you've done it before. The recovery was easier each time for me.
With my first, I was babysitting a friend's children while she and my husband and a bunch of neighbors were at a neighborhood meeting. I noticed that I was getting a backache, which got worse and worse, and then I noticed that the "ache" was coming in surges - lo and behold, contractions. It was about 9 p.m. when the backache started, I was at the hospital by 11 p.m. with contractions about 5 minutes apart, and delivered shortly after 2 a.m. - all in all, a fairly short first labor. At that time my gyne did not believe in strong anesthesia for a first pregnancy (1961), so all I had was gas near the end.
With the second, I woke up (on Mother's Day) to find that my water had broken and I was having contractions - that was about 6:30 am. We got the neighbor's daughter over to babysit our oldest (pre-arranged), I was at the hospital by 8 a.m., and delivered around 1 p.m. That time I had an epidural (same doctor). My third was induced at about 6 weeks early because my water broke - it was a choice between inducing or spending weeks in the hospital with a risk of infection and/or what was described to me as "dry delivery", and all the medical people felt that with only 6 weeks to go, inducing labor was the better option. That was the longest - I think the induced contractions started around 10 p.m. and Scott was delivered about 8 a.m. the next day.
The thing with short labors like my first two is I think you do feel less tired after the baby is born that if you are 10-12 hours with contractions, but I think the contractions are stronger because things are moving so quickly. But an epidural should handle everything except some discomfort before they administer it.
I will never know what it is like to go into labor because both of my lovely children decided to not want to come out. I was induced with both. Timmy was due 7/1/98 had him on 7/13. Induced at 7am delivered at 6pm. Awful labor and delivery the entire time. H was 10 lbs 2oz.
Jade was induced on 2/22/04 but was due on 2/12/04. Induced at 8am had her at 3pm she was also big and upside down plus she was 9lbs 6oz.
Never had my water break but had awful contractions with both for over 6 weeks.
Good luck.
I will never know either! I was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome on exactly my 38th week and was immediately induced. That didn't work (apparently I have a cervix that will NOT soften or open either). I was in labor (mostly back labor) for 9hrs. thinking it was almost time and I was barely 3 cm. I had an epidural, DD didn't like it, and then had a c-section immediately after, WHICH I in turn had to be put to sleep for because the epidural was so close to the unplanned c-section.
I was asleep so DH couldn't be there for the birth either. I'll never deliver a baby naturally and I'll never experience my child's birth. It's been almost 3 yrs and it still brings me to tears every single time I think about those things. I ENVY all of you who have experienced childbirth!!!! 
My water broke both times. With Sarah, I was 36 weeks and a day pregnant, and ecstatic that I was going to get it over with. Unfortunately, my cervix wasn't ready, though, and despite Pitocin and all that, I never did dilate and had to have a c-section.
With Emily, I had contractions going every 5 minutes or so, for a while on Saturday evening, so we go to the hospital. While we are there, despite walking the halls and stuff, everything stops again. So, in the morning, he wants to send us home, or he could induce me. I was trying to avoid the second c-section, so I go home, because the doctor says, if I'm induced, I have a higher chance of a c-section. Besides, we barely slept at the hospital that night, and I was exhausted. We call the babysitter and ask if Sarah can stay a little longer, so we can go home and get some sleep. Sunday, not much happens. In fact, the baby barely moves inside of me, scaring me all to death.
At 6am, the next morning (monday 3-23-92), my water breaks and it's not a MAYBE, it is for sure! I didn't even have any pads in the house, since I'm a tampon girl and this was more than a pantyliner would have absorbed. We had been to one LAmaze refresher course and gotten some itty bitty diapers, so put one of them in my underwear, so I didn't make a mess on the way to the hospital. We drop Sarah off at the babysitter again, and head to the hospital, knowing this time it was for real!
So, things are progressing nicely and the doctor puts in the internal monitoring stuff. I'm having wicked contractions, but get my epidural and life is good. I make it to 5 cm and my temp goes up to 102.7! Sheesh. That was the end of my labor, right there. Even with pitocin, I make no more progress. At 4:30pm, she is born by c-section, posterior and cord around the neck a few times. He said I would have never gotten her out vaginally. Oh well. She weighed 8 pounds, 1oz, too.
I got two healthy daughters, and that is really the main thing.
Jelygu, I think I was more scared the second time around. With the first baby you're kind of clueless and don't really know what to expect. LOL!
Reds, {{{HUGS}}} I know how you feel, because I also have not experienced natural childbirth, but that doesn't make either one of us any less of a mother. The objective is to have a healthy baby and mother at the end of a pregnancy. The method of delivery doesn't matter! I have been blessed with two healthy children. I'm very thankful for that, especially considering all the couples who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to full term.
Now, to answer Jelygu's original question...
Baby #1 - I was 5 days over due when my water broke. Contractions started shortly thereafter. I was admitted to the hospital at midnight on a Saturday. After many hours of labor and pitocin to try to speed things along, they took an x-ray to see WHY there was still no baby. Aha, his head was wedged against my heart-shaped pelvis! He was born via c-section at 11 pm Monday night. He was 7 lbs. 15 oz.
Baby #2 - This baby was supposed to be a scheduled c-section. Five days prior to the scheduled date I got up to go to the bathroom at 3 am. While getting out of bed my water broke.  I went back to bed and lay wide awake until 5 am worried contractions would begin. I took a shower, shaved my legs (LOL!) and then woke up DH. He was groggy, until I told him my water had broken two hours earlier. My friend, who was supposed to baby-sit DS during the scheduled delivery was away camping for the weekend so I called the back up baby-sitter (her mother) at 7 am. She rushed over and off to the hospital we went. It was a Saturday morning so they had to call in the surgical OB/GYN team on call. While they were prepping for surgery contractions started. Yikes! DD was born via c-section at 11 am weighing 6 lbs. 9 oz.
Trina- I guess that's what it is, because I am certainly just as scared (if not more than) this time.
I was a little nervous with my second DD as well. (who is six weeks old tomorrow...)
The 1st time around I did not even know I was in labor! I had back labor and it felt like I just needed to go to the bathroom, which of course I was able to go. LOL! DD was sunny side up coming out, so I was in labor forever with her. Thank goodness for epidurals! and ended up with a c-section because she did not want to come out at all. I pushed, and she would one step forward and two steps back. I was scared and relieved at the same time going into surgery. It was such a whirlwind, that I really did not have time to think.
My second DD was a planned section, but Olivia decided to come 4 weeks early! I was sound asleep waking to my water breaking. I jumped and tried to tell myself that I just missed the bathroom, LOL! But I knew something was up considering I couldn't control that! Anyway I stated having contractions on the way to the hospital an hour later. So I knew this baby was coming. Of course I was so worried being four weeks early. But everything turned out okay. and still healing from my second c-section...
Baby #1 - I was due on May 21st. I got undressed to get into the shower and noticed a little leakage. After my shower I called the dr. who had me come in right away. He did some sort of test (the ph one with that piece of paper, gosh i can't think of the name of it) anyway they said it was not amniotic fluid that was leaking out. So they sent me home and told me to call if it happened any more. Well it did happen right away. I went back to the doc, got undressed so he could check and, well it was no longer a small leak. It was dripping down my leg, but it was not yet the GUUUSH of water LOL. He checked me and said "yep, your going to have a baby!, go to the hospital.." the dr. offices are part of the hospital so i didn't have far to go.
I got into my room and they were about to start pitocin when my contractions started on their own. 6 hours later my little girl was born at 12:59 am on May 22nd, weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz.!
Baby #2 - I was due on November 24th. I had a dr. appt. on Nov. 20 for the regular check up. He said I was 4 cm dialated and 80% effaced so as soon as i start labor I had to come in right away. That evening while watching Oprah I felt something that felt like a contraction. I started timing them. I got up, made dinner and kept feeling them (but they didnt' hurt much yet). As soon as dh got home I told him that I thought I was in labor. We sat down for dinner.Of course I didn't eat. Once the contractons were pretty clost together and regular, we called dh's parents who were going to watch dd. We went to the hospital around 6:30 and ds was born at 12:15 am on NOvember 21st. Weighing 8 lbs. 11 oz. We came home from the hospital on Thanksgiving day.
I'm so glad he didn't come a day later because the next day there was a BLIZZARD! No one could even come visit us at the hospital because of all the snow. It would have been awful to get stuck in that while in labor!
Let me tell you about a little miracle. I'd had a caudal (spinal) when I had my first son. I had a very long labor, and he was a forceps delivery. (Please remember that this was back in the stone age of the late 60's.) I had planned to use the same method to have my second child. I was two weeks over-due, and since it was a military hospital in Germany when they NEVER INDUCED, I had been advised to walk, walk, walk. My next door neighbor and I did just that. After about five miles, I was so pooped that my hubby fixed dinner, and I went to bed. I awoke in a soggy bed. I had slept through several hours of labor. We rushed to the hospital and discovered I was ready, so I went straight into the delivery room. The doctor came in and said. "This baby's coming fast. We don't have time to give you anaesthesia." Then he left to check the woman in the next room. I had not prepared for natural childbirth, and recalling films I'd seen about it, I started panting and blowing with each contraction. By the time the doctor came back in, I was hyperventilated, and high as a kite. Doug was born soon after, all 10 pounds ½ oz. of him. It took some time to get him untangled. The cord was around his neck twice and under his arm. The nurse told me later, that they were sure they were going to deliver a brain damaged child because he'd been deprived of oxygen for such a long time during delivery. My inexperience and (I believe my guardian angel) caused me to do the one thing that saved my baby from harm. My blood was so over oxygenated, that he too was hyperventilated when his oxygen supply was cut off. He came out a little blue, but he pinked up quickly. He was crying as soon as the cord was loosened. That too helped to bring extra oxygen to his brain. I truly believe that Someone was watching over us that night. Doug is now 30. He has his own construction company, and thankfully he is healthy and whole .
Trina - Thank you for those words of encouragement. I don't think I would mind the c-section so much if I hadn't been put to sleep. Like I said, as a result, NEITHER of us was there for the birth of our daughter which is heartbreaking. I have no idea what it feels like to see a baby come out (however it comes out) and hear those first cries. Four hours later I saw her and barely remember it. That's the sad part.
Baby number one was induced.
With baby #2, I woke up around 5:30 am and felt like something was happening. I don't know how to describe it, really. I wasn't having painful contractions or anything. It was just a feeling. I stayed in bed for about a half hour and then decided I should go shower, just in case. Around 6:30 I called my mom to get her opinion. She thought that if I was thinking it was time, it probably was. I called the hospital to talk to the nurse and she said even if I was right, she was sure I had plenty of time since there were no painful contractions. I went up and woke up dh and told him he should shower and get ready to go. By this time I felt like I should head to the hospital. I called my neighbor to take ds #1 and carried him over to their house. At 7:30 dh was on the phone with his mom and making coffee and I felt the first *real* contraction. We lived about 45 minutes from the hospital. I told dh to wrap up the conversation because we needed to go now. We arrived at the hospital at 8:30. I walked in and the nurses gave me a gown and showed me to my room to get changed. Everything was relaxed. The nurse checked me and was shocked to find I was dialated to 9. They quickly paged the doctor on call. They had to page him 3 times before he answered!! (He was at his kid's swim meet and had a good parking space he didn't want to lose!!). He finally arrived at 9:00. Ds #2 was born at 9:16 am, weighing in at 10 lbs 4 ozs.
With baby #3, I had an appointment one afternoon. My midwife stripped my membranes and told me I would probably go into labor that night or the next day. By 5:00, I knew she was coming. Dh and I left for the hospital around 7:30 and the contractions started hurting around 8:30. (I wasn't taking any chance waiting this time!) At 10:30, when she wasn't born yet, I started to panic because I didn't think it would take that long. She finally made her appearance at 11:33. What I remember most vividly is the moment of her birth. I didn't have any drugs at all, so when it was time for her to come out, I heard the midwife say, "Reach down and get your baby, Mom". So I did the final part of her delivery. She went straight to my chest and just laid on me, not getting weighed or bathed or anything until after 1:30. It was the most amazing birth of all.
Good luck. I hope this time you are able to be awake and alert for that miraculous moment. (((HUG)))
My water broke with ds #1....it wasn't a trickle...it was a gush, so thank god I was home. Dh and I had just walked in from Home Depot. Dh still talks about how he would have been so embarrassed if my water broke at Home Depot. It took 4 towels to mop it up. It was around 5pm when we went to the hospital. They gave me pitosen to get my contractions going. Well, after I was dialated to 4 centimeters, the doctor came in to check me, and ds was sitting down in my pelvis. There was no way to turn him, or get him out, so I had to have a c-section. He was born at 11:56pm. So, I really was just in actual labor for a few hours.
With ds #2, I was induced. He was due July 04, 2000, and they ended up inducting me on July 06. He measured big, and we weren't 100% on my due date, so they induced me right after my due date. I went in at 8am. They didn't start me on pitosen until around 9:30-10:00am, and he was born at 1:00pm. So, it was a pretty short labor. I was in labor for about 3 hours, and then pushed twice, and he was out. As soon as he came out, he peed on everyone!! He is still a little stinker today! 
My oldest, born c-section, was just 6lb 9oz, but he was also 2-1/2 weeks early. My youngest was 8lb 9oz. It figures, my big baby had to be the vaginal delivery, and my small guy, was the c-section.
You may not want to hear *my* stories....
I had pre-eclampsia with both pregnancies. I went into early labor with Jeff at 6 months, was hospitalized for a week and put on meds to stop the labor, then sent home on bed rest taking meds around the clock. I had been working full time up till then. Due to the side effects, I was taken off the meds @ 36 weeks. A week later, I went into labor, but I went to the hospital 3 days in a row and they kept sending me home telling me it was Braxton Hicks contractions. I knew it was different, I'd had those all along. These HURT. The only reason they ended up keeping me the 3rd time was that my water broke. Jeff was face up, but in the early 80's, ultrasounds were not commonly done, so there I was, feeling like Grand Central Station, every doctor and nurse around was poking around in there, they kept talking about a tumor on the baby's head, etc. No one did any tests to find our why he was stuck, what it was, etc. By then I was 3 nights without sleep, 16 hours since my water broke, dehydrated and running a temp. Just before they were going to emergency section me, 2 nurse bore down on my belly and literally pushed him out of me. Face up. He was in PICU for a week and it was touch and go for a while, the pediatrician kept warning me there may be brain damage, etc. He went on to become an honors student, so no permanent damage there. LOL
With Jen, I was also on bedrest due to the pre-eclampsia, which was difficult because Jeff was a toddler and I had 2 adolescents in the house as well. My doctor induced me @ 37 weeks, and the delivery was pure magic. Got my epidural, they broke my water and 6 hours later she was here, and I was raring to get up and out of bed. VERY easy delivery and recovery.
I cannot imagine what it's like to go past your due date! I was pregnant through the hot Louisiana summer with both of mine and I was miserable and HUGE.
Enjoy these last few days/weeks of your pregnancy. And I know this probably doesn't help, but don't be afraid!!!!
I was thinking about how different child birth stories are, and I find that amazing. Something I thought was weird with mine is that when I was in labor with the first 2, I thought dh was just great. He'd hold my hand and breathe and count, the whole deal. With my third my pains were different, It was like I could feel every bit she was moving down and my hips hurt more than my back or stomach. Dh was getting on my nerves with her, even though he was just doing what he did before,lol. He was like " look at me and hold my hand.." and I was yelling " i don't want to look at you and hold your hand, I want to close my eyes and scream!" But then the nurse came in to get me to breathe and I was fine with her telling me what to do,lol. Also with her, the nurse checked me and said she was going to call the dr. because I was 6cm and it was my 3rd. About 3 minutes later I moved and yelled for someone to help me because my baby was coming! another dr was prepped for one of her patients and came running in along with everyone within earshot in a pair of scrubs! My dr came in dumbfounded with his hands in his pockets saying he got there as fast as he could, and since he was there he may as well take care of the placenta!
My dh is italian and therefore very hospitable to every one and like to make people feel welcome at our house of course and....well other places too:
I was in labor with dd, baby #1. My mom and dh's parents and brother came to the hospital to wait for the baby. Dh goes and tells everyone "come on in! Sit down!" in the delivery room! I still remember them coming in and all sitting on the couch in the delivery room and just....sitting there. I gave dh a look. The nurse says to me "when you are done having visitors, let me know" and right way i said "i'm done having visitors" so she kicked them out...politely. I could not believe he let them all in there. I didn't need everyone staring at me while I was having painful contractions. I could have killed him!
Thanks for all the stories. Some of them reassured me, and some were scary! But I liked hearing them anyways!
I too was much more scared the second time. Let's face it, after the first time you know what you are getting into
dd (child 1), I go to the doc on my due date, I am not effaced, not dialated, he informs me that it could very easily be another 2 weeks. UGH. That night we go out to dinner with a friend. I go to pick up her baby who is 6 months and I feel like I pulled something. All though dinner I have these crampy pains, makes me feel uuuhhh, but they don't hurt. I go home, walk a bit, hope this is it. I lay down for bed and sleep, I wake up with the same funny feelings. Wednesday, same thing, all day, feel blah, funny little spasms. I time them, they are so sporatic, 2 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 5 minutes. I decide these are probably contractions, they just have to get regular. So I sleep wed night, not well, but a few hours. I wake up at 6:30, I decide that maybe I will call the doc, I have been feelling poor for more than 48 hours. So I roll over and tell my engineer husband, that I think I am going to call the doc. He asks, in a tone only engineers have, what is different today than yesterday that you think you should call. It struck me wrong and made me mad..LOL. I sit up to fuss at him and my water breaks. But not a gush, I heard a pop, but when I go to the bathroom I am completely dry. I call the doc, he says, oh you would know if it was your water, but if you still feel odd in an hour come on in. I am 30 minutes from the hospital (30 miles also..lol). So I decide I am going in. I gather my stuff, take a shower, hubby has to stop by work. We call people. I know I am in labor, I am not in pain, but I just knew. Again these contractions were never regular. So I get to the hospital at 9. I have my first contraction that really hurts. They check, they say oh you are at a 4 maybe a 5. Do you want your epi? sure, I am tired, I could use some rest. So I did, I slept until about 2:00. When I wake up I am chatty with the nurse, asking what next, what happens (i had my last lamaze class scheduled for that evening). She checks and says, oh your ready, just push with the next contraction...uh. My little girl was born at 3:15, 8lbs 1 ounce.
My middle kid was induced at 37 weeks. The admitted me the night before, and did the gel, nothing really happened, my cervix softened some. They hooked me up to pit at 6am. I had strong contractions every 2-3 minutes and felt awful. At 2 pm I was only at a 2. I was miserable and crying and not having a good time. I explained to the nurse that she needed to get me some drugs. Long story, but I was down for only an epi, nothing else. So she goes to talk to the doc. Comes back at 2:45 with drugs, as she is giving them to me, I feel the baby go into the birth canal. The nurse ignores me, I get a second nurse in there to check me. She ays, oh my...get the doc. My son was born as the doc walked in, he didn't get a chance to sit. He was born at 3:11 8lbs 6 ounces.
My little guy was also induced, but only a couple of days early. We had a big long discussion about when I would get my epi, how this was going to work, I was not going through what happened last time. So we make a plan, as soon as I have 1 contraction and am commited to labor I can have my epi. GREAT! So I check in at 7 am. I get my pit, no contractions come, they keep with it. At 10:30 the doc says, okay, if this isn't going soon we are going to talk options. At 11, contractions start, the epi man comes, I get my epi, at 11:30, I have a bad reaction, they turn it off, they flip me over. I pass out and then went to sleep. I wake up at about 3. It apparently was very frightening for my hubby. The anes. sat there with me until I was lucid again. Well nurse had changed, she asks me, how I am, etc. She checks me, I am at a 4. at 3:20 I realize that I am not doing so great, she checks again, I am ready to push. My little guy was born at 3:47. He had the cord around his neck and had some breathing issues, so they got him out, wrapped him up, I held him for 3 seconds and they dashed to the nicu so he could be on oxygen. I didn't get to really hold him until after midnight.
So my stories....all so different. My only birthing advice is to know that all bets are off and be flexible. Know that this will be a unique experience and for the most part, this is short and most of us make it through it and have more children!
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