1. Was your pregnancy planned? Yes, we tried for 3 1/2 years. Yes, that says years. It wasn't until I lost 36 pounds that I was able to get pregnant.
2. Were you married at the time? Yes.
3. What were your reactions? We were in shock. We had decided we were done because #3 was 5 years old. She slipped in just under the wire!
4. Was abortion an option for you? Never.
5. How old were you? 31
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? Home pregnancy test.
7. Who did you tell first? My hubby's mom. She was so excited for us. My mom and dad were gone on a trip, and I wanted to tell them before anyone else on my side of the family, so we waited a whole week before we could tell anyone on my side!
8. Did you want to find out the sex? Absolutely! And when the technician said it was a girl, I started laughing and crying. I was laughing so hard, my belly was shaking and she couldn't keep the wand on! It was funny!
9. What was your due date? August 20.
10. Did you have morning sickness? No.
11. What did you crave? ?
12. What irritated you? Everything!
13. What was the sex of your fourth child? A girl.
14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting? I felt guilty for being so happy that I was having a girl. If I had had another boy, I would have been happy too, and we even had a name picked out for him!
15. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 25
16. Did you have a baby shower? Yes. My mom and my aunt gave me one. It was so nice. They are classy women. Because she came early, the baby shower was 5 days after her birth. So of course I got to put on maternity clothes to go! LOL But it was nice because everyone held the baby and I just got to open presents without being the center of attention!
17. Were they a surprise? No.
18. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? Nope.
19. Where did you give birth? At the hospital I had to give birth at because our insurance wouldn't cover the other hospital or my doctor that I loved!
20. How many hours were you in labor? My water broke in the shower that morning, and my hubby was teaching his last day of classes, so I called and told him. He taught his class (his students thought he was insane for not rushing home, but when it's your fourth, you kind of know what is going to happen!), and then came home. We got to the hospital at 11:00 and it was 1:30 when the doctor decided to start me on Pit. I didn't hardly even feel the contractions until 4:55. Then it was only 2 hours and 15 minutes of labor before she was born.
21. Who drove you to the hospital? My hubby, after he got home from teaching.
22. Who watched you give birth? My hubby and my mom.
23. Was it natural or c-section? Natural
24. Did you take medication to ease the pain? Nope. I started asking for an epidural and my hubby wouldn't let me. I am so glad too because it was only 15 minutes later that she was born.
25. How much did your child weigh? 7 lbs. 1 oz. My smallest baby!
28. When was your child actually born? August 13, 2004 at 7:12 p.m.
30. What did you name him/her? The Princess.
Showing posts with label Birth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birth. Show all posts
1. Was your pregnancy planned? Kind of. With #1, Ihad been on the pill for 4 months, and it took us 4 months to get pregnant. With #2, I had been on the pill for 7 months, and it took us 7 months to get pregnant. I had just started going back to school when we decided to start trying. I had been on the pill for 12 months, so we figured it would take us at least that long to get pregnant, and then with the pregnancy, I would almost be done with school when I was due. Well, Heavenly Father had other things in mind. I went off the pill and didn't even have a period before I got pregnant!
2. Were you married at the time? Yes.
3. What were your reactions? We were stunned. Yes, we were trying, but really weren't expecting it that quickly. And then the doctor said that when you get pregnant right off the pill, there is an increased chance for twins. He immediately took me to the ultrasound room and checked. Thank goodness there was only one!
4. Was abortion an option for you? Never
5. How old were you? 25
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? Home pregnancy test. I always get really cranky and mean and one night I was at my wit's end and I jokingly said, "I wonder if I am pregnant." Well, I had a test, so the next morning I peed on it and it was positive!
7. Who did you tell first? I don't know. We never kept them a surprise, so I am sure our parents.
8. Did you want to find out the sex? Definitely! I wanted a girl so badly. The pregnancy was so different from the other two that I just knew we were having a girl. I even went and bought girl clothes. The night before the ultrasound, I had The Doctor give me a blessing and I was blessed with peace. So the next day when they said it was a boy, I was okay. I did cry some, but I thought I was handling it. The day after that, I was watching Oprah and she had on a woman who had 10 children, all boys. I lost it! I sobbed for 2 hours! But by the time he was born, I was ready for him and wouldn't have traded him in!
9. What was your due date? December 13.
10. Did you have morning sickness? Just slightly nauseous.
11. What did you crave? Fruit.
12. What irritated you? Don't remember.
13. What was the sex of your third child? A boy.
14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting? See #8.
15. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 25
16. Did you have a baby shower? Nope.
17. Were they a surprise?
18. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? I didn't, but the baby had Hydronephrosis. That is on my list of things to blog about. So stay tuned!
19. Where did you give birth? In the same hospital as #2.
20. How many hours were you in labor? I was induced, so from the time the needle finally got in my arm to the delivery was about 8 hours. But the first 3 hours don't count because the contractions didn't even hurt. It wasn't until the doctor broke my water that I started feeling them.
21. Who drove you to the hospital? My hubby. We had an appointment that morning to see if we should go ahead and do the induction, and when he said yes, we casually walked down the hall to the women's center. Much different than with #2!
22. Who watched you give birth? My hubby and my mom. I loved having her there.
23. Was it natural or c-section? Natural.
24. Did you take medication to ease the pain? At the end, I asked, no begged for an epidural. While it was going in, I started pushing. The nurse pushed my legs together and said I had to wait! But as soon as it was in, I flipped over and 2 minutes later he was born. So I still felt everything. We have figured out that when I start asking for an epidural, I am in transition!
25. How much did your child weigh? 8lbs exactly.
28. When was your child actually born? December 4, 1998 at 5:27 p.m.
30. What did you name him/her? The Chocoholic.
2. Were you married at the time? Yes.
3. What were your reactions? We were stunned. Yes, we were trying, but really weren't expecting it that quickly. And then the doctor said that when you get pregnant right off the pill, there is an increased chance for twins. He immediately took me to the ultrasound room and checked. Thank goodness there was only one!
4. Was abortion an option for you? Never
5. How old were you? 25
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? Home pregnancy test. I always get really cranky and mean and one night I was at my wit's end and I jokingly said, "I wonder if I am pregnant." Well, I had a test, so the next morning I peed on it and it was positive!
7. Who did you tell first? I don't know. We never kept them a surprise, so I am sure our parents.
8. Did you want to find out the sex? Definitely! I wanted a girl so badly. The pregnancy was so different from the other two that I just knew we were having a girl. I even went and bought girl clothes. The night before the ultrasound, I had The Doctor give me a blessing and I was blessed with peace. So the next day when they said it was a boy, I was okay. I did cry some, but I thought I was handling it. The day after that, I was watching Oprah and she had on a woman who had 10 children, all boys. I lost it! I sobbed for 2 hours! But by the time he was born, I was ready for him and wouldn't have traded him in!
9. What was your due date? December 13.
10. Did you have morning sickness? Just slightly nauseous.
11. What did you crave? Fruit.
12. What irritated you? Don't remember.
13. What was the sex of your third child? A boy.
14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting? See #8.
15. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 25
16. Did you have a baby shower? Nope.
17. Were they a surprise?
18. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? I didn't, but the baby had Hydronephrosis. That is on my list of things to blog about. So stay tuned!
19. Where did you give birth? In the same hospital as #2.
20. How many hours were you in labor? I was induced, so from the time the needle finally got in my arm to the delivery was about 8 hours. But the first 3 hours don't count because the contractions didn't even hurt. It wasn't until the doctor broke my water that I started feeling them.
21. Who drove you to the hospital? My hubby. We had an appointment that morning to see if we should go ahead and do the induction, and when he said yes, we casually walked down the hall to the women's center. Much different than with #2!
22. Who watched you give birth? My hubby and my mom. I loved having her there.
23. Was it natural or c-section? Natural.
24. Did you take medication to ease the pain? At the end, I asked, no begged for an epidural. While it was going in, I started pushing. The nurse pushed my legs together and said I had to wait! But as soon as it was in, I flipped over and 2 minutes later he was born. So I still felt everything. We have figured out that when I start asking for an epidural, I am in transition!
25. How much did your child weigh? 8lbs exactly.
28. When was your child actually born? December 4, 1998 at 5:27 p.m.
30. What did you name him/her? The Chocoholic.
1. Was your pregnancy planned? Yes, we tried for 9 months
2. Were you married at the time? Yes.
3. What were your reactions? We were so excited!
4. Was abortion an option for you? Never.
5. How old were you? 23
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? Free pregnancy test at the hospital.
7. Who did you tell first? We told his mom first this time, then my mom.
8. Did you want to find out the sex? Yes. I had to know whether we needed to buy clothes or not.
9. What was your due date? October 24th.
10. Did you have morning sickness? Hardly at all.
11. What did you crave? Salty things. I ate a lot of Saltines.
12. What irritated you? I don't remember.
13. What was the sex of your second child? A boy.
14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting? Yes, I had my boy, now I wanted a girl.
15. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 40.
16. Did you have a baby shower? Nope.
17. Were they a surprise?
18. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? Nope.
19. Where did you give birth? Almost at home or on the road, but we made it to the hospital, and I gave birth 6 minutes after arriving.
20. How many hours were you in labor? 3 1/2 hours.
21. Who drove you to the hospital? My hubby.
22. Who watched you give birth? My hubby. My mom was going to come, but I delivered too fast! The nurse delivered him because he wouldn't even wait for the doctor on call to arrive.
23. Was it natural or c-section? Natural
24. Did you take medication to ease the pain? No, it went too fast. I wasn't going to anyway.
25. How much did your child weigh? 8 lbs. 7 1/2 oz.
28. When was your child actually born? October 24th, 1996 at 7:03 a.m.
30. What did you name him/her? The Artist.
2. Were you married at the time? Yes.
3. What were your reactions? We were so excited!
4. Was abortion an option for you? Never.
5. How old were you? 23
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? Free pregnancy test at the hospital.
7. Who did you tell first? We told his mom first this time, then my mom.
8. Did you want to find out the sex? Yes. I had to know whether we needed to buy clothes or not.
9. What was your due date? October 24th.
10. Did you have morning sickness? Hardly at all.
11. What did you crave? Salty things. I ate a lot of Saltines.
12. What irritated you? I don't remember.
13. What was the sex of your second child? A boy.
14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting? Yes, I had my boy, now I wanted a girl.
15. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 40.
16. Did you have a baby shower? Nope.
17. Were they a surprise?
18. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? Nope.
19. Where did you give birth? Almost at home or on the road, but we made it to the hospital, and I gave birth 6 minutes after arriving.
20. How many hours were you in labor? 3 1/2 hours.
21. Who drove you to the hospital? My hubby.
22. Who watched you give birth? My hubby. My mom was going to come, but I delivered too fast! The nurse delivered him because he wouldn't even wait for the doctor on call to arrive.
23. Was it natural or c-section? Natural
24. Did you take medication to ease the pain? No, it went too fast. I wasn't going to anyway.
25. How much did your child weigh? 8 lbs. 7 1/2 oz.
28. When was your child actually born? October 24th, 1996 at 7:03 a.m.
30. What did you name him/her? The Artist.
1. Was your pregnancy planned? Oh yes, we tried for 3 1/2 months.
2. Were you married at the time? Yes.
3. What were your reactions? We were so excited. We cried and hugged.
4. Was abortion an option for you? Why would this questions even be here?
5. How old were you? 20 (by one month!)
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? We suspected, and used a pregnancy test.
7. Who did you tell first? My mom, then his mom. Then everyone else we could tell!
8. Did you want to find out the sex? Kind of, but we didn't.
9. What was your due date? October 11th.
10. Did you have morning sickness? I was nauseous, but I only threw up if I ate my breakfast too fast.
11. What did you crave? Sweets.
12. What irritated you? No clue.
13. What was the sex of your first child? A boy.
14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting? I really wanted a girl, but I was so happy to have a baby.
15. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 50. I took the whole "eating for two" very seriously!
16. Did you have a baby shower? Yes, the place I was working for gave me one.
17. Was it a surprise? No.
18. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? Just too much weight gain!
19. Where did you give birth? At the hospital.
20. How many hours were you in labor? My water broke at 3:30 a.m. and we immediately went to the hospital. 3 hours later, they put me on Pit because I hadn't started contractions yet. 6 hours and 43 minutes later, he was born.
21. Who drove you to the hospital? The Doctor (meaning my husband, not the person who did the delivery! LOL).
22. Who watched you give birth? Just my hubby. I didn't want any family in with me.
23. Was it natural or c-section? Natural
24. Did you take medication to ease the pain? We had taken Lamaze, so I was able to work through most of the pain. I did end up taking two 1/2 doses of pain killer, and wish I hadn't because all it did was put me to sleep in between the contractions, so I couldn't get on top of them.
25. How much did your child weigh? 7 lbs. 8 1/2 oz.
28. When was your child actually born? October 5, 1993 at 1:12 p.m.
30. What did you name him/her? The Teenager. LOL Not really, but if you know me, you know his real name!
2. Were you married at the time? Yes.
3. What were your reactions? We were so excited. We cried and hugged.
4. Was abortion an option for you? Why would this questions even be here?
5. How old were you? 20 (by one month!)
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? We suspected, and used a pregnancy test.
7. Who did you tell first? My mom, then his mom. Then everyone else we could tell!
8. Did you want to find out the sex? Kind of, but we didn't.
9. What was your due date? October 11th.
10. Did you have morning sickness? I was nauseous, but I only threw up if I ate my breakfast too fast.
11. What did you crave? Sweets.
12. What irritated you? No clue.
13. What was the sex of your first child? A boy.
14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting? I really wanted a girl, but I was so happy to have a baby.
15. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 50. I took the whole "eating for two" very seriously!
16. Did you have a baby shower? Yes, the place I was working for gave me one.
17. Was it a surprise? No.
18. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? Just too much weight gain!
19. Where did you give birth? At the hospital.
20. How many hours were you in labor? My water broke at 3:30 a.m. and we immediately went to the hospital. 3 hours later, they put me on Pit because I hadn't started contractions yet. 6 hours and 43 minutes later, he was born.
21. Who drove you to the hospital? The Doctor (meaning my husband, not the person who did the delivery! LOL).
22. Who watched you give birth? Just my hubby. I didn't want any family in with me.
23. Was it natural or c-section? Natural
24. Did you take medication to ease the pain? We had taken Lamaze, so I was able to work through most of the pain. I did end up taking two 1/2 doses of pain killer, and wish I hadn't because all it did was put me to sleep in between the contractions, so I couldn't get on top of them.
25. How much did your child weigh? 7 lbs. 8 1/2 oz.
28. When was your child actually born? October 5, 1993 at 1:12 p.m.
30. What did you name him/her? The Teenager. LOL Not really, but if you know me, you know his real name!
The Princess was born on August 13, 2004. Friday the 13th.
I was 31 years old.
I was in the shower at 6:00 a.m. when my water broke. It just trickled, so I wasn’t completely sure, but soon it was evident because I couldn’t pee my pants that much!
I called The Doctor and he was excited. It is his last day of summer classes, so he still went to work to take care of some things. I called Mom and let her know. I hadn’t started any contractions yet, so I told her I would call when they started. She is going to be at the hospital with us for the birth.
I called and made arrangements for someone to pick up The Chocoholic after kindergarten (thanks Holly!), and then I got on my email and let everyone know. And then I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
No contractions at all. The Doctor got home at 10:00 and we decided to go up to the hospital then. We stopped at Burger King for something to eat because I hadn’t eaten anything and I knew they wouldn’t let me eat once I got there.
We got to the hospital at 11:00 and they put us in a room and had me change. Then we waited and waited. They finally came in and told us they were moving us to another room. They had been full, and the room we were in didn’t have a monitor in it. So I wrapped the sheet around me and we moved rooms.
We got settled and I explained to them that I was going natural and wanted to be able to move around. Everyone I told that to asked me why I was going natural. No one was supportive to begin with. It was frustrating.
I told them I would be willing to have a hep-lock (an i.v. start). So they started the process of asking questions and getting that in. The first nurse couldn’t get it in my hand. The second nurse couldn’t get it in my arm and that one killed! The vein rolled and she was trying to “float” it and it hurt so bad! Finally they called in the anesthesiologist. It took him like 30 seconds to get it in. He said he would see me in a while for the epidural and again, when I told him that we wouldn’t see him, he was flabbergasted that I was going natural. Grrrr!
Anyway, it took them 2 ½ hours before we finally got the i.v. in. By that time it was 1:45 and I still hadn’t had any contractions. My doctor came in and I wasn’t even to a 3 yet, and we all agreed that I needed to go on Pitocin. I really didn’t want to, but I understood that I needed to. So they got that going.
Pretty soon we could see that I was having contractions, but they didn’t hurt any worse than the Braxton Hicks I’d been having. We were talking and joking and laughing. Mom came up and we were all having a good time. They didn’t have a VCR or a DVD player or a CD player in the room, so we just had to pick what was on TV. But The Doctor was in a rare mood and we were just laughing a lot.
Finally, at 4:55, Mom said she needed to get something to eat, and asked The Doctor if he wanted to come with her to the cafeteria. He looked at me and I told him to go. He had asked me several times through the afternoon if I felt he was ignoring me because he was doing work on his laptop. I assured him that I was fine because nothing was happening and it was going to be a while.
So they left.
The very next contraction was painful. Honestly.
At 5:15 the nurse came in and checked me and I was at a 3. The contractions kept getting more and more painful. I was just praying that The Doctor would get back quickly.
They came back in at 5:30 and I was in the middle of a contraction and I have never been more glad to see him! He immediately came over and held my hand and helped me breathe through the contractions.
About 6:00, I said I had to get up and walk because I couldn’t sit through them anymore. I had been sitting because my water was broken and every time I stood up, I leaked everywhere. So they got me a pad and I was able to get up.
I would pace in between the contractions (they were about 4 minutes apart) and when one would start, I would grab The Doctor's (husband) thumb with my hand, lean against him and rock and breathe and moan through it. They were getting more and more painful, but they weren’t lasting very long, thank goodness. But I started telling him I wanted an edpidural about 6:30.
At 6:45, I asked to be checked again, and I was only at a 5. I was in so much pain and so frustrated. I knew that I couldn’t do it anymore. I started pleading Tom for an epidural and he kept telling me that there wasn’t time and I could do this.
Every time I had a contraction, near the end, I would push a little bit and that felt so good. I could feel her moving down each time.
At 7:00 I asked to be checked and I was at an 8. We knew then that it wouldn’t be long.
I stood back up and had 2 more contractions and then I had to push!
Boy did everyone get moving!
I laid down and The Doctor had to get right in my face and help me breathe. I kept begging him to let me push and he was so good to just keep my eyes on his and tell me to wait.
As soon as the doctor was ready, they said go ahead and push.
I pushed once and her head was out. Then they had the nerve to tell me to stop pushing. I didn’t want to! I wanted to push more! They got her suctioned out and the shoulders in position and told me to push. I pushed once more and she was out!
The doctor let The Doctor cut the umbilical cord and then they placed her on my stomach. The first thing I said was, “Make sure it’s a girl! Check if it’s a girl!” Everyone looked and assured me that she was! Then I just started crying! I finally had my little girl!
The Princess weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and she was 20 inches long. She is the smallest baby I have ever had! But she is so beautiful!
I was 31 years old.
I was in the shower at 6:00 a.m. when my water broke. It just trickled, so I wasn’t completely sure, but soon it was evident because I couldn’t pee my pants that much!
I called The Doctor and he was excited. It is his last day of summer classes, so he still went to work to take care of some things. I called Mom and let her know. I hadn’t started any contractions yet, so I told her I would call when they started. She is going to be at the hospital with us for the birth.
I called and made arrangements for someone to pick up The Chocoholic after kindergarten (thanks Holly!), and then I got on my email and let everyone know. And then I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
No contractions at all. The Doctor got home at 10:00 and we decided to go up to the hospital then. We stopped at Burger King for something to eat because I hadn’t eaten anything and I knew they wouldn’t let me eat once I got there.
We got to the hospital at 11:00 and they put us in a room and had me change. Then we waited and waited. They finally came in and told us they were moving us to another room. They had been full, and the room we were in didn’t have a monitor in it. So I wrapped the sheet around me and we moved rooms.
We got settled and I explained to them that I was going natural and wanted to be able to move around. Everyone I told that to asked me why I was going natural. No one was supportive to begin with. It was frustrating.
I told them I would be willing to have a hep-lock (an i.v. start). So they started the process of asking questions and getting that in. The first nurse couldn’t get it in my hand. The second nurse couldn’t get it in my arm and that one killed! The vein rolled and she was trying to “float” it and it hurt so bad! Finally they called in the anesthesiologist. It took him like 30 seconds to get it in. He said he would see me in a while for the epidural and again, when I told him that we wouldn’t see him, he was flabbergasted that I was going natural. Grrrr!
Anyway, it took them 2 ½ hours before we finally got the i.v. in. By that time it was 1:45 and I still hadn’t had any contractions. My doctor came in and I wasn’t even to a 3 yet, and we all agreed that I needed to go on Pitocin. I really didn’t want to, but I understood that I needed to. So they got that going.
Pretty soon we could see that I was having contractions, but they didn’t hurt any worse than the Braxton Hicks I’d been having. We were talking and joking and laughing. Mom came up and we were all having a good time. They didn’t have a VCR or a DVD player or a CD player in the room, so we just had to pick what was on TV. But The Doctor was in a rare mood and we were just laughing a lot.
Finally, at 4:55, Mom said she needed to get something to eat, and asked The Doctor if he wanted to come with her to the cafeteria. He looked at me and I told him to go. He had asked me several times through the afternoon if I felt he was ignoring me because he was doing work on his laptop. I assured him that I was fine because nothing was happening and it was going to be a while.
So they left.
The very next contraction was painful. Honestly.
At 5:15 the nurse came in and checked me and I was at a 3. The contractions kept getting more and more painful. I was just praying that The Doctor would get back quickly.
They came back in at 5:30 and I was in the middle of a contraction and I have never been more glad to see him! He immediately came over and held my hand and helped me breathe through the contractions.
About 6:00, I said I had to get up and walk because I couldn’t sit through them anymore. I had been sitting because my water was broken and every time I stood up, I leaked everywhere. So they got me a pad and I was able to get up.
I would pace in between the contractions (they were about 4 minutes apart) and when one would start, I would grab The Doctor's (husband) thumb with my hand, lean against him and rock and breathe and moan through it. They were getting more and more painful, but they weren’t lasting very long, thank goodness. But I started telling him I wanted an edpidural about 6:30.
At 6:45, I asked to be checked again, and I was only at a 5. I was in so much pain and so frustrated. I knew that I couldn’t do it anymore. I started pleading Tom for an epidural and he kept telling me that there wasn’t time and I could do this.
Every time I had a contraction, near the end, I would push a little bit and that felt so good. I could feel her moving down each time.
At 7:00 I asked to be checked and I was at an 8. We knew then that it wouldn’t be long.
I stood back up and had 2 more contractions and then I had to push!
Boy did everyone get moving!
I laid down and The Doctor had to get right in my face and help me breathe. I kept begging him to let me push and he was so good to just keep my eyes on his and tell me to wait.
As soon as the doctor was ready, they said go ahead and push.
I pushed once and her head was out. Then they had the nerve to tell me to stop pushing. I didn’t want to! I wanted to push more! They got her suctioned out and the shoulders in position and told me to push. I pushed once more and she was out!
The doctor let The Doctor cut the umbilical cord and then they placed her on my stomach. The first thing I said was, “Make sure it’s a girl! Check if it’s a girl!” Everyone looked and assured me that she was! Then I just started crying! I finally had my little girl!
The Princess weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and she was 20 inches long. She is the smallest baby I have ever had! But she is so beautiful!
I think I am in love!
The Chocoholic was born December 4, 1998.
I was 26.
We went to the doctor at 8 am that morning. He examined me, I was only at a 1, and then he sent me to get an ultrasound done on the baby's kidneys. (He was diagnosed with Hydronephosis. Another story for another day.)
After he looked at the pictures, he said that they were the same and he wanted to go ahead with the induction. I said okay. I knew that he had my best interest in mind, and the baby's, and so I was okay with it. Last night, I told Tom that I just had a feeling that I would be induced today, and I was okay with it.
So we walked casually down the hall to the women's center at JV Hospital and they were waiting for us. I got changed into that attractive, modest gown and got into bed.
The nurse came in to put in my I.V. It was so awful! Apparently she usually just works on babies, and not the mommies. She was trying to find a vein that was long enough to put the needle in, and wouldn't roll. She kept switching from hand to hand trying to decide which to use. She started on my right hand, and was trying to put it in. It hurt so bad! I mean really, really bad. So she gave up on the hand and tried to put it in the arm. And it hurt, really, really, really bad!
The Doctor (husband) left and told them we wanted a different nurse to put it in. He said they get two tries, and they are out. I didn't even have to ask him to do that! So another nurse came in and got it in my left hand really quick, and hardly any pain. So finally at 9:35, they got the IV going.
I felt the first contraction 5 minutes later, but it just felt like my Braxton's. For about 3 hours, I only felt about half of the contractions, and they were just strong B.H. No big deal. At 12:40, the dr. came in and broke my water. I thought it would hurt, but I didn't feel a thing, other than wet! At that point, I was only dilated to a 2.
The contractions started getting harder, and I had to start breathing through them. Mom came up, as I had invited her to be there for the birth. I just sat in the rocker and watched TV. I hated not being able to walk around. I think if I could have, it would have gone faster and easier. I asked the nurse, and she said it was "protocol" that if you are on Pitocin, you have to be hooked to the baby monitor at all times, except to go the bathroom.
Side note, my nurse was so wonderful! Her name was FaeLynn, and she was the best thing for me. She was so nice and caring and we talked and talked. She really helped me get through all of this.
Anyway, at 3:30, they checked me, and I was only at 5. I was frustrated. At 4:30, the contractions were really hurting. I was having a hard time keeping control during them. They checked me and I was only at 6.
I asked for an epidural.
Let me take that back.
I begged for an epidural! LOL I was in so much pain. And of course I couldn't walk, so all I could do was lie in bed and breathe. So they put a call in to the anesthesiologist on call, and said he would be there soon.
He got there at 5:05 and they asked if I really still wanted the epidural. They checked me and I was at an 8, but it hurt so bad, that I said yes.
They took their sweet time getting set up (LOL) and at 5:15, ask me again if I am sure. They kept asking me because they knew my feelings on going natural. I had them check me again, and I was still at an 8. I was thinking that this birth was taking forever, and I didn't want any more pain! I said yes.
So then they tell me that I am not allowed to move while he is putting it in.
AS IF!
During the contractions, my nurse was staring me in the eyes, helping me to breathe. I started pushing. Everyone is freaking out because he is still doing the epidural. I was telling them, I need to push! So my nurse is now staring me in the eyes, helping me pant! LOL Tom later told me that my eyes were scary! I had a wild look on my face, and he could tell I was loosing control.
I told them I was pushing, and one nurse grabbed my legs and squeezed them together! I was so mad. I could feel the head between my legs!
At 5:25, they got the epidural in, my nurse went around, looked between my legs, looked at another nurse, and said, "We are going to have to deliver this baby now!" I told them I had to push! LOL Keep in mind my dr.'s office is just down the hall. He walked in as I was pushing the head out. He jokingly told me that if I had had this baby before he got there, he wouldn't be my dr. anymore because that would be twice!
Anyway, The Chocoholic was born at 5:27 p.m. The epidural hadn't even kicked in yet! Sure glad I asked for it! So it was a completely natural birth. I tore some and had to have stitches, but that is because I wasn't patient in my pushing!
The Doctor (husband) told me this part later. When his head started coming out, his face was really blue, and the cord was wrapped around his neck. They were afraid that something was wrong. So as I was trying to push, they were holding him in a little bit, trying to get the cord out enough to get it off. As soon as he was born, they had in the layette, giving him oxygen. But his face wasn't blue from lack of oxygen, it was blue because it was bruised from the birth! So I already gave him a bruise! LOL Again, I didn't know any of this for a couple of days. I am glad I wasn't aware of it then.
He was 8 lbs. even, and 19 inches long, with dark hair! As the dr. was stitching me up, the power went off. Of course only for a second, then the generators kicked in, but it scared me! It had snowed all day, the first real snowstorm of the winter.
After he looked at the pictures, he said that they were the same and he wanted to go ahead with the induction. I said okay. I knew that he had my best interest in mind, and the baby's, and so I was okay with it. Last night, I told Tom that I just had a feeling that I would be induced today, and I was okay with it.
So we walked casually down the hall to the women's center at JV Hospital and they were waiting for us. I got changed into that attractive, modest gown and got into bed.
The nurse came in to put in my I.V. It was so awful! Apparently she usually just works on babies, and not the mommies. She was trying to find a vein that was long enough to put the needle in, and wouldn't roll. She kept switching from hand to hand trying to decide which to use. She started on my right hand, and was trying to put it in. It hurt so bad! I mean really, really bad. So she gave up on the hand and tried to put it in the arm. And it hurt, really, really, really bad!
The Doctor (husband) left and told them we wanted a different nurse to put it in. He said they get two tries, and they are out. I didn't even have to ask him to do that! So another nurse came in and got it in my left hand really quick, and hardly any pain. So finally at 9:35, they got the IV going.
I felt the first contraction 5 minutes later, but it just felt like my Braxton's. For about 3 hours, I only felt about half of the contractions, and they were just strong B.H. No big deal. At 12:40, the dr. came in and broke my water. I thought it would hurt, but I didn't feel a thing, other than wet! At that point, I was only dilated to a 2.
The contractions started getting harder, and I had to start breathing through them. Mom came up, as I had invited her to be there for the birth. I just sat in the rocker and watched TV. I hated not being able to walk around. I think if I could have, it would have gone faster and easier. I asked the nurse, and she said it was "protocol" that if you are on Pitocin, you have to be hooked to the baby monitor at all times, except to go the bathroom.
Side note, my nurse was so wonderful! Her name was FaeLynn, and she was the best thing for me. She was so nice and caring and we talked and talked. She really helped me get through all of this.
Anyway, at 3:30, they checked me, and I was only at 5. I was frustrated. At 4:30, the contractions were really hurting. I was having a hard time keeping control during them. They checked me and I was only at 6.
I asked for an epidural.
Let me take that back.
I begged for an epidural! LOL I was in so much pain. And of course I couldn't walk, so all I could do was lie in bed and breathe. So they put a call in to the anesthesiologist on call, and said he would be there soon.
He got there at 5:05 and they asked if I really still wanted the epidural. They checked me and I was at an 8, but it hurt so bad, that I said yes.
They took their sweet time getting set up (LOL) and at 5:15, ask me again if I am sure. They kept asking me because they knew my feelings on going natural. I had them check me again, and I was still at an 8. I was thinking that this birth was taking forever, and I didn't want any more pain! I said yes.
So then they tell me that I am not allowed to move while he is putting it in.
AS IF!
During the contractions, my nurse was staring me in the eyes, helping me to breathe. I started pushing. Everyone is freaking out because he is still doing the epidural. I was telling them, I need to push! So my nurse is now staring me in the eyes, helping me pant! LOL Tom later told me that my eyes were scary! I had a wild look on my face, and he could tell I was loosing control.
I told them I was pushing, and one nurse grabbed my legs and squeezed them together! I was so mad. I could feel the head between my legs!
At 5:25, they got the epidural in, my nurse went around, looked between my legs, looked at another nurse, and said, "We are going to have to deliver this baby now!" I told them I had to push! LOL Keep in mind my dr.'s office is just down the hall. He walked in as I was pushing the head out. He jokingly told me that if I had had this baby before he got there, he wouldn't be my dr. anymore because that would be twice!
Anyway, The Chocoholic was born at 5:27 p.m. The epidural hadn't even kicked in yet! Sure glad I asked for it! So it was a completely natural birth. I tore some and had to have stitches, but that is because I wasn't patient in my pushing!
The Doctor (husband) told me this part later. When his head started coming out, his face was really blue, and the cord was wrapped around his neck. They were afraid that something was wrong. So as I was trying to push, they were holding him in a little bit, trying to get the cord out enough to get it off. As soon as he was born, they had in the layette, giving him oxygen. But his face wasn't blue from lack of oxygen, it was blue because it was bruised from the birth! So I already gave him a bruise! LOL Again, I didn't know any of this for a couple of days. I am glad I wasn't aware of it then.
He was 8 lbs. even, and 19 inches long, with dark hair! As the dr. was stitching me up, the power went off. Of course only for a second, then the generators kicked in, but it scared me! It had snowed all day, the first real snowstorm of the winter.
See the popped vein in my forehead from pushing? Beautiful!
Oh, I love baby stretches! This outfit, as unattractive as it is, was the outfit we brought all 3 of our boys home in.
The Artist was born October 24, 1996.
I was 23 years old.
At my doctor’s appointment the day before, he stripped my membranes. I didn’t know what that meant, but I know it hurt. About 30 minutes after leaving the doctors, I started having Braxton Hicks contractions every 10-15 minutes and they hurt a lot more.
About 3:00 the next morning (the 24th) I woke up to sharp pains, but they were very irregular – 10 minutes apart, then 12, then 8, etc. But they hurt. I would stand up and walk them out, then try to sleep.
The Doctor woke up about 4:00 and I told him what was happening. I wasn’t sure if they were real contractions because my water hadn’t broken. He finally called the hospital and they said it sounded like I was in labor, and when they were regular and 2-3 minutes apart to come in.
So I decided to get in the bathtub to try and relax. While I was in the bathtub, the contractions started coming about every 6 minutes. I got out and put on my robe.
My mother-in-law was here and we started telling her things for taking care of The Teenager. Every time I would have a contraction, I would stand up and walk it out. It hurt too bad to just sit there.
The Teenager woke up at 5:30 because of all the noise, so then every time I would have a contraction, I would go into the kitchen. I didn’t want him to see me in pain. But he was so cute. At one point, I asked The Doctor to run my back because it hurt, and The Teenager came up to us and said, “Oh, me back hurt. Rub it please.” It was so cute.
I called my mom at 5:45 to let her know and so she would be ready when we went to the hospital. I was so tired by this point. The pains hurt so badly and they were still 6 minutes apart. I told The Doctor I wanted an epidural because there was no way I could make it a couple more hours like that. I was so scared.
Around 6:30, I went upstairs to go the bathroom and it felt like his head was right there. It was weird. A little while later, I told The Doctor that I had to push. I really had to push! I was scared. I didn’t want to have the baby at home. So we threw our stuff into the car and took off.
The Doctor sped the whole way to JV Hospital. I was praying that we would make it in time and safely. In hindsight, we really should have called an ambulance!
I was trying so hard not to push, but when that instinct is there, you can only put it off so much. I was “panting” and trying to blow it off, but was only partially successful. The Doctor was driving as fast as he could and was passing cars on the median and honking.
When we were turning into the hospital, I was pushing and felt this “pop” and my water broke with a gush. The Doctor said earlier that I couldn’t push yet because my water hadn’t broken. Well, now it had!
We pulled into the hospital and the women’s center is on the 2nd floor but there was no way I was going to wait for the elevator, so I ran up the stairs.
I ran down the hall shouting, “Help! I’m pushing!” The nurses kind of looked at us funny, and then realized what was going on. They rushed me into a room and I laid on the bed. The Doctor (husband) looked and he could see the head!
My doctor (doctor) just happened to be on call that night and the nurses had actually been on the phone with him when I cam in. So they were trying to get me to wait for him to come, plus I wasn’t fully dilated yet. They were trying to get me to stop pushing and stretch me out a little more. I tried, but I couldn’t for very long.
8 minutes after we walked (well, ran) in the door, my baby boy was born. Dr. Hansen walked in about 60 seconds later. Mom walked in about 60 seconds after that. I felt so bad she had missed it.
The Artist was so adorable. He weighed in at 8 lb. 7 ½ oz. and was 21 inches long.
At my doctor’s appointment the day before, he stripped my membranes. I didn’t know what that meant, but I know it hurt. About 30 minutes after leaving the doctors, I started having Braxton Hicks contractions every 10-15 minutes and they hurt a lot more.
About 3:00 the next morning (the 24th) I woke up to sharp pains, but they were very irregular – 10 minutes apart, then 12, then 8, etc. But they hurt. I would stand up and walk them out, then try to sleep.
The Doctor woke up about 4:00 and I told him what was happening. I wasn’t sure if they were real contractions because my water hadn’t broken. He finally called the hospital and they said it sounded like I was in labor, and when they were regular and 2-3 minutes apart to come in.
So I decided to get in the bathtub to try and relax. While I was in the bathtub, the contractions started coming about every 6 minutes. I got out and put on my robe.
My mother-in-law was here and we started telling her things for taking care of The Teenager. Every time I would have a contraction, I would stand up and walk it out. It hurt too bad to just sit there.
The Teenager woke up at 5:30 because of all the noise, so then every time I would have a contraction, I would go into the kitchen. I didn’t want him to see me in pain. But he was so cute. At one point, I asked The Doctor to run my back because it hurt, and The Teenager came up to us and said, “Oh, me back hurt. Rub it please.” It was so cute.
I called my mom at 5:45 to let her know and so she would be ready when we went to the hospital. I was so tired by this point. The pains hurt so badly and they were still 6 minutes apart. I told The Doctor I wanted an epidural because there was no way I could make it a couple more hours like that. I was so scared.
Around 6:30, I went upstairs to go the bathroom and it felt like his head was right there. It was weird. A little while later, I told The Doctor that I had to push. I really had to push! I was scared. I didn’t want to have the baby at home. So we threw our stuff into the car and took off.
The Doctor sped the whole way to JV Hospital. I was praying that we would make it in time and safely. In hindsight, we really should have called an ambulance!
I was trying so hard not to push, but when that instinct is there, you can only put it off so much. I was “panting” and trying to blow it off, but was only partially successful. The Doctor was driving as fast as he could and was passing cars on the median and honking.
When we were turning into the hospital, I was pushing and felt this “pop” and my water broke with a gush. The Doctor said earlier that I couldn’t push yet because my water hadn’t broken. Well, now it had!
We pulled into the hospital and the women’s center is on the 2nd floor but there was no way I was going to wait for the elevator, so I ran up the stairs.
I ran down the hall shouting, “Help! I’m pushing!” The nurses kind of looked at us funny, and then realized what was going on. They rushed me into a room and I laid on the bed. The Doctor (husband) looked and he could see the head!
My doctor (doctor) just happened to be on call that night and the nurses had actually been on the phone with him when I cam in. So they were trying to get me to wait for him to come, plus I wasn’t fully dilated yet. They were trying to get me to stop pushing and stretch me out a little more. I tried, but I couldn’t for very long.
8 minutes after we walked (well, ran) in the door, my baby boy was born. Dr. Hansen walked in about 60 seconds later. Mom walked in about 60 seconds after that. I felt so bad she had missed it.
The Artist was so adorable. He weighed in at 8 lb. 7 ½ oz. and was 21 inches long.
Big brother, meet little brother
Isnt' he adorable? Look at those chubby cheeks!
I love to read birth stories. Each one is so unique. Even my own children were each so different with how they chose to come into this world.
I would love to share them with you.
We will start with The Teenager. I am just going to copy this out of my journal.
The Teenager was born October 5, 1993.
I was 20 years old.
My water broke that morning at 3:00 a.m. I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and when I got back into bed, I started to wet my pants (or so I thought). So I got back up and it leaked all the way to the bathroom. It was just a slow leak. So I woke The Doctor up and we went to the hospital.
The nurses confirmed that my water had broken. I went into the birthing room at PV Hospital and they hooked me up to the monitors and we waited. I called my mom (it was 4:00 a.m.) and told her she was going to become a grandma that day.
When I first got to the hospital, my contractions had barely started, and I was only at 1 cm. At 5:30, I was at 3 cm. At 7:30, I was at 3+ cm.
So they put me on Pitocin.
That was awful. I didn't like the Pit at all because it caused my contractions to come real hard, so I really couldn't get on top of them. But they never lasted for more than 45 seconds.
About 10:30 I got a 1/2 dose of painkiller, and again at 12:30. But that's all I had. I did it completely natural!
I forgot to mention that when I got there, I received my first enema. It was awful!
My mom had always said how when it came time to push, it felt so good. Well, maybe the first one!
About 12:50, I go the most urgent need to push! I was standing up and automatically started to push. I could not control it! It was almost scary!
The nurse came in to check my dilation and told me to push a little bit, and she stretched my cervix and popped it over his head and told me to go ahead and push. It hurt to push. It was so hard!
I pushed for 20 minutes, and the last few, they put an oxygen mask on me because my heart beat was going down. It was so frustrating to see his head come and then when I would stop pushing, it would slide a little bit back in. 2 steps forward, 1 step back.
Finally at 1:12 p.m., little The Teenager made his entrance into the world.
One thing, while I was pushing, I could see his head and still feel him kick me. It was weird! But he was so strong. He started to cry even before he was all the way out.
When his head came out, he was so ugly (Sorry, but it’s true!). His face was gray and wrinkled and squished.
The first thing he did when he was all the way out was go the bathroom, just missing Dr. Dinger (yes, that’s his real name).
While the nurse was cleaning him off, Tom turned to me and asked if I was ready to have another one. I just about asked for a divorce right then and there! I told him no, I was only having one child. Ever.
The nurse finally brought The Teenager over for me to see him. He was so cute and tiny! He weighed 7 lb. 8 ½ oz. and was 19 inches long.
I would love to share them with you.
We will start with The Teenager. I am just going to copy this out of my journal.
The Teenager was born October 5, 1993.
I was 20 years old.
My water broke that morning at 3:00 a.m. I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and when I got back into bed, I started to wet my pants (or so I thought). So I got back up and it leaked all the way to the bathroom. It was just a slow leak. So I woke The Doctor up and we went to the hospital.
The nurses confirmed that my water had broken. I went into the birthing room at PV Hospital and they hooked me up to the monitors and we waited. I called my mom (it was 4:00 a.m.) and told her she was going to become a grandma that day.
When I first got to the hospital, my contractions had barely started, and I was only at 1 cm. At 5:30, I was at 3 cm. At 7:30, I was at 3+ cm.
So they put me on Pitocin.
That was awful. I didn't like the Pit at all because it caused my contractions to come real hard, so I really couldn't get on top of them. But they never lasted for more than 45 seconds.
About 10:30 I got a 1/2 dose of painkiller, and again at 12:30. But that's all I had. I did it completely natural!
I forgot to mention that when I got there, I received my first enema. It was awful!
My mom had always said how when it came time to push, it felt so good. Well, maybe the first one!
About 12:50, I go the most urgent need to push! I was standing up and automatically started to push. I could not control it! It was almost scary!
The nurse came in to check my dilation and told me to push a little bit, and she stretched my cervix and popped it over his head and told me to go ahead and push. It hurt to push. It was so hard!
I pushed for 20 minutes, and the last few, they put an oxygen mask on me because my heart beat was going down. It was so frustrating to see his head come and then when I would stop pushing, it would slide a little bit back in. 2 steps forward, 1 step back.
Finally at 1:12 p.m., little The Teenager made his entrance into the world.
One thing, while I was pushing, I could see his head and still feel him kick me. It was weird! But he was so strong. He started to cry even before he was all the way out.
When his head came out, he was so ugly (Sorry, but it’s true!). His face was gray and wrinkled and squished.
The first thing he did when he was all the way out was go the bathroom, just missing Dr. Dinger (yes, that’s his real name).
While the nurse was cleaning him off, Tom turned to me and asked if I was ready to have another one. I just about asked for a divorce right then and there! I told him no, I was only having one child. Ever.
The nurse finally brought The Teenager over for me to see him. He was so cute and tiny! He weighed 7 lb. 8 ½ oz. and was 19 inches long.
The Teenager's first picture. My goodness, I was young!
Getting ready to come home from the hospital.
I had NO CLUE what I was in for! But did any of us?
How long were your labors? (I am counting from when the pains started, not when my water broke)
The Teenager: 7 hours
The Artist: 3 1/2 hours
The Chocoholic: 8 hours
The Princess: 5 hours
How did you know you were in labor?
The Teenager: My water broke
The Artist: The intense pain!
The Chocoholic: Because I was in a hospital bed with an i.v. of Pitocin hooked up to my arm
The Princess: My water broke
Where did you deliver?
The Teenager: P.V. Hospital
The Artist: J.R. Hospital (BEST WOMEN'S CENTER EVER!)
The Chocoholic: J.R. Hospital (DITTO)
The Princess: A.V. Hospital
C-Section?
None
Who delivered?
The Teenager: Dr. Dinger (I am not kidding...and I hated him! But he was better than the dr. I had for the first 90% of the pregnancy...Dr. Slezack. I'm not kidding!)
The Artist: Dr. Hansen (BEST DOCTOR EVER!)
The Chocoholic: Dr. Hansen (DITTO)
The Princess: Dr. Smith
Drugs?
The Teenager: Two half shots of pain killer, which did nothing except put me to sleep in between contractions so I couldn't get on top of them.
The rest: Nothing. Just wonderful pain and the best feeling in the world is pushing that little baby out. I loved it!
The Teenager: 7 hours
The Artist: 3 1/2 hours
The Chocoholic: 8 hours
The Princess: 5 hours
How did you know you were in labor?
The Teenager: My water broke
The Artist: The intense pain!
The Chocoholic: Because I was in a hospital bed with an i.v. of Pitocin hooked up to my arm
The Princess: My water broke
Where did you deliver?
The Teenager: P.V. Hospital
The Artist: J.R. Hospital (BEST WOMEN'S CENTER EVER!)
The Chocoholic: J.R. Hospital (DITTO)
The Princess: A.V. Hospital
C-Section?
None
Who delivered?
The Teenager: Dr. Dinger (I am not kidding...and I hated him! But he was better than the dr. I had for the first 90% of the pregnancy...Dr. Slezack. I'm not kidding!)
The Artist: Dr. Hansen (BEST DOCTOR EVER!)
The Chocoholic: Dr. Hansen (DITTO)
The Princess: Dr. Smith
Drugs?
The Teenager: Two half shots of pain killer, which did nothing except put me to sleep in between contractions so I couldn't get on top of them.
The rest: Nothing. Just wonderful pain and the best feeling in the world is pushing that little baby out. I loved it!
Posted by
The Mom
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Labels: Birth , The Artist , The Chocoholic , The Princess , The Teenager 1 comments
If you thought your hospital was bad, let me share the experience my cousin's wife had when giving birth to their 3rd child.
"This is the email announcing M.'s birth. None of it is made up, it's all true and all our personal experience. Afterwards LV clearly stated if we ever have a 4th, it will not be in England.
"Born in Milton Keynes England on December 1, 1997 at 11:15 am to LVD and JTD, a son, MTD.
"In the fashion of Dave Letterman’s nightly top 10 list we submit the following as a case study of social medicine at its best. This is taken directly from our experience in the new town of Milton Keynes England. Everything that follows is totally true and in our speaking with the native population very normal.
"The Dial's Top 10 reasons you want social medicine...
"10. PERSONAL PILLOW - Staffs concern for personalized comfort extends to specifically recommending you bring your own personal pillow -- or do without.
"9. Use of actual WORLD WAR 2 WHEEL CHAIRS means the dried blood on the foot rests is probably older than you are.
"8. COMMUNAL BATH TUB AND TOILET means no wasted plumbing. It also means no real privacy and possibly waiting in line.
"7. DRIP DRYING - After bathing the staff highly recommends the all-natural drip drying method. Alternatively you can bring your own towel.
"6. NO SIDE RAILS on the bed to interfere with a patient’s desire to fall on the floor while withering in pain during labor. After all who is going to fall out of a single bed while giving birth?
"5. NO WASTED MEDICATION - There were no shots, no pills and no epidural. In an apparent attempt to reduce cost there is no medication for pain even when requested. We made specific requests 1) a couple of weeks ahead of time, 2) on the morning of the birth via phone prior to arriving at the hospital and 3) repeatedly during labor. All are ignored in what we can only view as either a total lack of concern for the patient’s wishes or simple incompetence. One plus is that laughing gas normally used at the Dentist was available. This is of course closely regulated and monitored by the highly trained part time staff consisting of me, JTD.
"4. PERSONAL MEALS - Meals are brought to the communal room where you are expected to get out of bed, bring your child along and get it yourself. LV was less than impressed with the high quality of the prison food along with the portions sized for 9 year olds.
"3. RECYCLED TV SET - In the private post delivery room we requested and paid for, the TV set provided was in reality a vintage 1960's 9" black and white. The tuner was manual like found on a clock radio and the set was incapable of picking up anything at all other than snow.
"2. PAY PHONES - In what can only be viewed as an attempt to save on the patients hard earned money there are no phones in your room. If you want to make a call you can either go down the hall to a common area and stand in line or if the phone is not in use a staff member will wheel it into your room where you can feed it 50p pieces at an alarming rate.
"1. WARDS - In yet another attempt to reduce costs, the maternity wing consists of 4 wards of 6 or 8 beds each. For privacy each bed can be closed off from all others by simply pulling the suspended curtain in a circular fashion providing any new mother and child with all the peace and quite needed.
"Some general comments and observations on the social system and our experiences in the UK...
"During a pre delivery visit with a Dr., he commented that he would not want to practice medicine in the US because he was fearful of being sued. With the level of care they give here he is right. He would be sued. You’re just a number on their charts.
"There is no consistency with the doctors or midwives you see during your pregnancy. You see whoever happens to be working when you have your appointment. The same holds true for the actual birth. Unless there are complications you don’t even see a doctor and the delivery itself is handled by the midwife currently on duty. A few weeks prior to the birth LV specifically requested a particular doctor and was told in no unclear terms he was not going to be available to preside over her delivery. He was booked full. That is unless we were to option out of the NHS and go with private medical care. If we did this the same doctor was available and willing. Here, as everywhere else, money talks.
"We had a pre birth walk through of the maternity ward including the pre and post delivery faculties. On the way out I noticed dust balls rolling down the hall. LV later asked me if I had noticed the woman hobbling to the bathroom, her gown stained with fresh blood. Lucky for me I was busy counting dust balls.
"After the birth when we had had enough and decided to go home. The checkout process was both very simple and very unclear. Their PC was down and no one knew what forms needed to be filled out. It must have taken a good 30 minutes until finally we were cleared to go. Yet at no time did anyone check to make sure the baby we had was really ours or that LV was the mother of the child. Is it any wonder that less than a week later a baby was stolen from a hospital in Basilden to be reunited with her parents a few hours after a mass public appeal for help on both the TV and Radio?
"Enough said. We all survived and are doing fine. And it surely could have been worse.
"JTD"
Wow, what can I say, except God Bless the USA!
"This is the email announcing M.'s birth. None of it is made up, it's all true and all our personal experience. Afterwards LV clearly stated if we ever have a 4th, it will not be in England.
"Born in Milton Keynes England on December 1, 1997 at 11:15 am to LVD and JTD, a son, MTD.
"In the fashion of Dave Letterman’s nightly top 10 list we submit the following as a case study of social medicine at its best. This is taken directly from our experience in the new town of Milton Keynes England. Everything that follows is totally true and in our speaking with the native population very normal.
"The Dial's Top 10 reasons you want social medicine...
"10. PERSONAL PILLOW - Staffs concern for personalized comfort extends to specifically recommending you bring your own personal pillow -- or do without.
"9. Use of actual WORLD WAR 2 WHEEL CHAIRS means the dried blood on the foot rests is probably older than you are.
"8. COMMUNAL BATH TUB AND TOILET means no wasted plumbing. It also means no real privacy and possibly waiting in line.
"7. DRIP DRYING - After bathing the staff highly recommends the all-natural drip drying method. Alternatively you can bring your own towel.
"6. NO SIDE RAILS on the bed to interfere with a patient’s desire to fall on the floor while withering in pain during labor. After all who is going to fall out of a single bed while giving birth?
"5. NO WASTED MEDICATION - There were no shots, no pills and no epidural. In an apparent attempt to reduce cost there is no medication for pain even when requested. We made specific requests 1) a couple of weeks ahead of time, 2) on the morning of the birth via phone prior to arriving at the hospital and 3) repeatedly during labor. All are ignored in what we can only view as either a total lack of concern for the patient’s wishes or simple incompetence. One plus is that laughing gas normally used at the Dentist was available. This is of course closely regulated and monitored by the highly trained part time staff consisting of me, JTD.
"4. PERSONAL MEALS - Meals are brought to the communal room where you are expected to get out of bed, bring your child along and get it yourself. LV was less than impressed with the high quality of the prison food along with the portions sized for 9 year olds.
"3. RECYCLED TV SET - In the private post delivery room we requested and paid for, the TV set provided was in reality a vintage 1960's 9" black and white. The tuner was manual like found on a clock radio and the set was incapable of picking up anything at all other than snow.
"2. PAY PHONES - In what can only be viewed as an attempt to save on the patients hard earned money there are no phones in your room. If you want to make a call you can either go down the hall to a common area and stand in line or if the phone is not in use a staff member will wheel it into your room where you can feed it 50p pieces at an alarming rate.
"1. WARDS - In yet another attempt to reduce costs, the maternity wing consists of 4 wards of 6 or 8 beds each. For privacy each bed can be closed off from all others by simply pulling the suspended curtain in a circular fashion providing any new mother and child with all the peace and quite needed.
"Some general comments and observations on the social system and our experiences in the UK...
"During a pre delivery visit with a Dr., he commented that he would not want to practice medicine in the US because he was fearful of being sued. With the level of care they give here he is right. He would be sued. You’re just a number on their charts.
"There is no consistency with the doctors or midwives you see during your pregnancy. You see whoever happens to be working when you have your appointment. The same holds true for the actual birth. Unless there are complications you don’t even see a doctor and the delivery itself is handled by the midwife currently on duty. A few weeks prior to the birth LV specifically requested a particular doctor and was told in no unclear terms he was not going to be available to preside over her delivery. He was booked full. That is unless we were to option out of the NHS and go with private medical care. If we did this the same doctor was available and willing. Here, as everywhere else, money talks.
"We had a pre birth walk through of the maternity ward including the pre and post delivery faculties. On the way out I noticed dust balls rolling down the hall. LV later asked me if I had noticed the woman hobbling to the bathroom, her gown stained with fresh blood. Lucky for me I was busy counting dust balls.
"After the birth when we had had enough and decided to go home. The checkout process was both very simple and very unclear. Their PC was down and no one knew what forms needed to be filled out. It must have taken a good 30 minutes until finally we were cleared to go. Yet at no time did anyone check to make sure the baby we had was really ours or that LV was the mother of the child. Is it any wonder that less than a week later a baby was stolen from a hospital in Basilden to be reunited with her parents a few hours after a mass public appeal for help on both the TV and Radio?
"Enough said. We all survived and are doing fine. And it surely could have been worse.
"JTD"
Wow, what can I say, except God Bless the USA!
So I gave birth to all 4 of my children naturally.
3 with Pitocin.
No epidurals (well, one, but as soon as it was in, I pushed the baby out).
No screaming.
No hours of pushing.
No naps.
No brain?
LOL
I chose to give birth this way. My choice. My body.
Does that make it the right way? The only way?
NO!
So why, when I tell people that I did this, do they think I am crazy?
Is their way the right way? The only way?
NO!
I don't bash on them for having epidurals, why do they bash on me for not having one?
When I went to the hospital, why did the nurses look at me like I was nuts when I told them I was going natural?
My choice, my body.
(However, my sister says it like this: When you go to the dentist for a root canal, do you say, "No thanks, I don't want any novicane. I want to go natural." LOL She does have a point!)
Child #1 - water broke, 3 hours later, started Pitocin, 7 hours of labor, two 1/2 doses of painkiller, didn't do anything, 20 minutes pushing: beautiful boy
Child #2 - 3 1/2 hours labor at home, started pushing, raced to the hospital, water broke in car, 6 minutes after arriving at hospital: beautiful boy
Child #3 - induced with Pitocin, 8 hours labor, begged for epidural, received epidural, immediately flipped over and pushed out child, epidural kicked in for stitches: beautiful boy
Child #4 - water broke, started Pitocin, 5 hours labor, 2 pushes: beautiful girl
I loved, loved, loved the feeling of pushing that beautiful child out into the world.
And if you chose not to do it that way, okay. Your choice. Just let me have mine in peace.
And if you had your children by adoption, that's okay too.
But when we are talking about births, don't clam up. Tell me your adoption story. Because children come into our lives in all different ways.
Does that make my way the right way? The only way?
NO!
So let's all get along.
3 with Pitocin.
No epidurals (well, one, but as soon as it was in, I pushed the baby out).
No screaming.
No hours of pushing.
No naps.
No brain?
LOL
I chose to give birth this way. My choice. My body.
Does that make it the right way? The only way?
NO!
So why, when I tell people that I did this, do they think I am crazy?
Is their way the right way? The only way?
NO!
I don't bash on them for having epidurals, why do they bash on me for not having one?
When I went to the hospital, why did the nurses look at me like I was nuts when I told them I was going natural?
My choice, my body.
(However, my sister says it like this: When you go to the dentist for a root canal, do you say, "No thanks, I don't want any novicane. I want to go natural." LOL She does have a point!)
Child #1 - water broke, 3 hours later, started Pitocin, 7 hours of labor, two 1/2 doses of painkiller, didn't do anything, 20 minutes pushing: beautiful boy
Child #2 - 3 1/2 hours labor at home, started pushing, raced to the hospital, water broke in car, 6 minutes after arriving at hospital: beautiful boy
Child #3 - induced with Pitocin, 8 hours labor, begged for epidural, received epidural, immediately flipped over and pushed out child, epidural kicked in for stitches: beautiful boy
Child #4 - water broke, started Pitocin, 5 hours labor, 2 pushes: beautiful girl
I loved, loved, loved the feeling of pushing that beautiful child out into the world.
And if you chose not to do it that way, okay. Your choice. Just let me have mine in peace.
And if you had your children by adoption, that's okay too.
But when we are talking about births, don't clam up. Tell me your adoption story. Because children come into our lives in all different ways.
Does that make my way the right way? The only way?
NO!
So let's all get along.
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