thoughts on daily life within our family of SIX....each child in her own phase of childhood....

Monday, September 1, 2008

Labor Day


I visited Rocks in My Dryer today and thought this meme was fun! Join in; I'd love to hear your data!

How long were your labors?

Kid #1, 5 1/2 hours.
Kid #2, 7 hours.
Kid #3, 10 hours.



How did you know you were in labor?

Kid #1, Pitocin IV.
Kid #2, Pitocin IV.
Kid #3, Pitocin IV.

Obviously, I never went into labor on my own. I'm convinced that I would still be carrying around the last one if I hadn't begged my doctor to do something.

Where did you deliver?

The first two were born in the same hospital, same room, same day of the week, same time.

The last was born in a very large hospital room in a nice, new hospital. He was weighed, bathed, checked out and all in my same room. He never left us. Except for the one time that I just had to catch a little snooze, and I was afraid the hubby would doze and someone would come in and take my baby out of my arms.

Well, and there was that other time that he left...you know...it involved his little personal area (sorry, Sweetie...).

Drugs?

Most definitely. Yes. Although I did consider not having the epidural with my first. Until the contractions started. I was a pretty calm patient. No yelling, screaming. No ugly language. But my nurse, an older woman at the end of her shift, did drop this little question that has stuck with me for the past 12 years. She asked, "Did someone tell you this wasn't gonna' hurt?"

My second was "sunny-side up". Back labor. No question about the epi.

Contractions were pretty reasonble with my boy for a very long time. In fact, when the nurse gave me something before the epi, I really didn't think I needed it.

I got the epidural soon enough...soon enough for it to start to wear off before his birth. They fixed it or upped it or whatever they had to do, but by the time that he was almost here, the epi started wearing off only on one half of my belly. Enough that I could REALLY feel it. The staff finally told my mom that there was nothing else they could do for fear of parlyzing my lungs, so we'd just have to go with it.

A little later, as I was pushing and they were assuring me that if the doctor didn't get there in time they could deliver this baby no problemo, one of the nurses said, "Oh, man! Maybe if we turn the pitocin down, she won't feel those contractions as hard." That's kinda' funny. Now.

C-section?

No. And I have to thank my doctor who was wonderful with all three because while I was in labor with the first one, the nurse (you know, the friendly one) took my mom into the hallway and told her that there was no way I was going to be able to deliver the normal way. She was head down, but apparently her head was turned in a funny way. My doctor, though, was able to turn her little head so that it all worked out for me.

Third one, the doctor told me that he wasn't decending, and there was a strong liklihood that I'd have to have a c-section. But I had an amazing nurse with the little guy, and she showed me how to rock and move in ways that got him moving south. Would never want to do those things out in public, however.


Who delivered?
The same sweet, quiet doctor. He's great. A little bit of an underestimator on the weight, but great otherwise.

Weight of Babies At Birth?

Okay, I added this one. Because I think I should get a prize. In fact, I was a little surprised when the staff didn't bring it to me before I left the hospital.

#1 7 1b., 7 oz.
#2 9 lb., 8 oz.
#3 10 lb., 2 oz.

Did you read that part about no c-section? That trophy should be here any day now, don't ya' think?

I want to read your story!

10 comments:

Jenny said...

oh my. 10 pounds. That does deserve a prize. I had 6 and 7 pounders.

Wifeof1Momof4 said...

wooo baby! 10 pounds! wow!

Thanks for stopping by my world. Loved reading your story too!

Amy said...

Yep - I'd give you a trophy. Mine were 9.9, 9.10, 10.6, and 9.14 - all C-sections.

Thanks for visiting - your header is really great. Love the pictures.

Jennifer said...

That comment about turning down the pit so that you didn't feel the contractions made me laugh out loud. Just wondering, did you kick that nurse in the nose while pushing???? I have found it very interesting while reading the responses on OUR website that almost everyone had their babies by Pitocin :) I am in full-on hard labor for the last 3 months, but don't eface, thin-out, dilate, nada! The only way my body will cooperate is by Pitocin, breaking my water AND getting the epidural all at the same time. Once I have the epidural, my labor flies (I went from a 2 to a 10 in 35 minutes with Ian).

Anonymous said...

LOVED it! I hope you get something real shiny every Mother's Day! I'm typically a very modest, conservative woman. But seriously, if my nurse had said out loud hey we could have turned down the pitocin? I think I'd be incarcerated about now. Thanks for a great laugh; stay blessed! ~Whitney

Angie @ Many Little Blessings said...

Phew! Those are some big babies! (My babies ranged from 6 lbs 10 oz to 7 lbs 6 oz. I was glad they were more like their Dad as newborns than me. He was 6 lbs something. I was 8 lbs 12 oz!)

Oh, I just about burst into laughter about being sure they would still be in you if you weren't induced. I have always thought that too! LOL I was induced with two, and had to have Pitocin with the first one. Even though my water broke on its own, I had never had a single contraction at that point. Isn't that crazy?

Cindy said...

Fun stories! I always say I don't care how much the baby weighs...just so they have a small head. :)

Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Your last two were big!! :-) I hope my babies don't get bigger...Drew weighed nine pounds. So hopefully my second won't go any bigger. :-)

tiki_lady said...

wow, your babies just kept getting bigger and bigger.

Mine were all premees

3lbs 10 oz (10wks early)
7 lbs 1 oz
7 lbs 2 oz, ( 5 wks early)
2 lbs 10 oz (12.5 weeks early)

AJsMom said...

You're officially my hero. If I had to give birth to babies that large without a C-section, there would have been MAJOR issues. I can't even imagine. OUCH! I never had any contractions. Had a C-section and an 18-ounce baby. I'm done.