because I hate you, Eve.
Warning: Not for the faint of heart. Birthing stories ahead.
Revision: I went back and decided this entry was way too long, as would be the comments. SO I'm sticking to the questions portion...you'll see what I mean if you haven't been here yet...
What is it about women and their grand process of trading birthing stories? Like kindergartners from the 80’s passing out Garbage Pail Kid cards, a group of women in the room triggered by the presence of one prego always leads to something within that spectrum. And we all love it. Even if it IS way TMI. War veterans with field stories. We might as well break out the measurements for the tear / episiotomy / c-section factor. Bigger scar =better the victim. Because let’s face it. Once you’ve birthed a human from your actual body, it really feels like you can do anything.
I’ve officially begun the pregnancy ritual I execute every time before the big B-day. I’ve started watching TLC . My lineup: A Baby Story. Mental. Preparation. {While I was at it, I threw in “I didn’t know I was pregnant” on the DVR just for kicks. Hilarious.}
I won’t lie. Even though I’ve already done this thing twice, it’s the daunting possibilities of the unknown that get me. Every. Single. Time. So into the world of real live births, I have been sucked. Some of these episodes are a real snooze fest. I think ABS really needs to broaden their horizons for some true baby mama drama down south. (did you know they only film in the NY/NJ area?) Hot water and biting on sticks…while someone runs around in the background screaming she knows nothin’ bout birthin babies…that’s how we roll down here. Ratings, people. Ratings.
My current faves a-la awkward world:
The Idealist:
Expecting her first child, she managed to work out every single day. She bragged…as did her husband. He said he was glad she hadn’t gained much weight. I mean really? “And it did nothing for you,” I spoke a bit too excitedly as I caught a shot of her flopping butt in hot pants. Mrs. I-have-it-all-figured-out planned to give birth at home in her bathtub (bwaaaaa) and ended up freaking out and driving to the hospital. She started begging for an epidural at 2 cm. “Uh, you have eight to go sweetie…” I guffawed through my mouthful of double stuffs on the couch. It’s fine to want the epidural, but try to hold off on the ridiculous writhing and screaming when I’m watching you on the teli. Downing my glass of milk to wash down the double stuffs I opted to eat. RATHER than working out. Sitting pretty at 2. Someone shove a tranquilizer and a reality check down the chick’s throat, already.
The Traumatizers:
Coming in at a close second. This blended family basically brought in all four children in to watch the birthing process. The oldest was nine, the youngest 18 months. Seriously? Scar your children for life much? The best part is, Mommy dearest freaked out WITH her epidural in the end. And midwife Janice went all psycho militant on the kids, telling them to shut it since mommy was having a baby. Uhhh, your children are WATCHING, because you thought a staged birth would be a swell idea/learning experience. Let’s add screaming to the mix of bloody hoo-has and massive needle action. Props to you, mother of the year. That’s just terrifying…I don’t care how old you are. Note: The kids ran out of the room.
So here we go. I want to hear your birth day stories.
{I do have one request…please use your best judgement and leave out any truly near death experiences. I have a strong stomach, but those encounters are best left unsaid right now, since I’m getting ready to do this again.} I’ll try to keep mine short and sweet though as we all know, no words can really do the experience justice…cut and paste my questions with your own answers they're in the comments section... Add anything you like. {Humor me.} It's war story time.
If you don’t have birthing stories of your own, feel free to share your thoughts on the process. I want to hear! Let the discussions begin!
{I still hate you, Eve. } Now it’s your turn. GO.
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p.s. the days are dwindling to enter your guess. Click the link to the left to play the baby game! I'll be closing down in just a few days...
Supa Blogga Supreme Mama
in family, more baby watch 2009, sharing stories
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Vaginal or C-section: The big V. Episiotomies are my specialty.
Natural or Epidural: Uhhh, Epidural, please. Props to anyone who wants to do that, but I'm good with the drugs...
Hospital or Birthing Center or Home: Duh. Hospital. Sign me up for a nice hard bed and some major monitors. It's all I know and I like it that way.
Induction or Natural labor process, etc.: I'm a high drama type of gal. Contractions...painful ones...for months. And no action. None. Nada. Until they haul me in for an induction. I even had a couple of false alarms. NICE. So I don't know what I do without pitocin, but once they get me started, those stinkin contractions just OVERLAP...
Did you yell at your significant other? Of course. He started crying because he felt so bad for me...I went faster with Aiden than they thought I would, and I was begging for that Epi at seven cm. and counting. I screamed at him to "buck up" since he wasn't helping me breathe...I mean if you're gonna stand there, make yourself useful. SHEESH, JAMIN. (It's really sweet, in retrospect.)
Do you have other people in the room? If so, who? People come in and out depending on how I am doing. But Jamin stays and thats about it, even though my mom is there most of the time. I tend to get a little grumpy. Imagine that.
Fast or Slow: Supa fast. Almost TOO fast...{almost doesn't get epidural.}
The hardest moment: Telling my children goodbye to go have my third. It’s so emotional-and was hard with just Aiden to have Emmy. I’m not even sure why!
The part I dread the most: The simple idea of the unknown: I know it can get harder than Aiden’s…but something tells me it doesn’t get easier than Emmy’s. (birth)
The hardest part of labor or your birthing experience: With Aiden, it was the pushing. (Suction cup. Clamps.) I was so naive and thought that it was all over once i got that Epidural. Now I know better. With Emerson it was the contractions afterwards. I think they should have left that epidural in...for months. From the chest down. I mean breast feeding should count for SOMETHING relevant in the painkillers department.
Biggest {vain} fear: Pooping. On someone.
Most embarrassing moment: I'll spare the general public on this one...feel free to email me and I'll tell ya! or if you egg me on enough I'm sure I'll crack under pressure. It's pretty bad and I don't want to offend.
Real fear: Uhhh, do I need to go there? A healthy baby is my biggest concern…
Best part: Baby! And the fact that it’s a surprise this time really gives the whole experience an extra umph…and can I also say, the meal afterwards? After not getting anything for so long, a simple coke just seems oh so luscious. My sister brought me Amsterdam's from Auburn after Emerson's birth. Best meal of my life. I take eating VERY seriously...
Advice you can give other mommies to be: Try to enjoy whatever you can because this is something to savor, despite the bad parts. Oh, and video the process (from your head’s angle) It’s awesome to have it documented later. REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR STOOL SOFTENER. EAT prunes. DO WHATEVER it takes, but pay attention to your own body afterwards.
Of course it was all worth it. I didn’t even cover the emotional aspects of it all. These are the most important days of my entire life. The birthing process truly is beautiful. It just takes lots of work and pain to get there.
Sorry I've been MIA! I've got two kids literally hanging off my legs so I'll be lucky to finish typing this sentence. My birth story is available for your entertainment at http://rogersfamilyupdate.blogspot.com/2007/07/here-she-is-many-thanks-to-whitney-for.html
good times.
The good news is that I actually adored giving birth to Wesley, which is why Anna Kate's birth was more disappointing than anything. I'm really looking forward to giving birth to #3, actually. I'm gonna make sure we do it right (read: early induction!)
So, since the kids are asleep and I actually have some time:
Vaginal or C-section: definitely vaginal, it seems safer to me.
Natural or Epidural: epidural, all the way, done it both ways (not on purpose, I got an epidural way too soon with Jack and fell asleep during which time the epidural wore off, so by the time he was coming, I could feel everything!! I found out why they call it the ring of fire) The epidural experience was way more peaceful and enjoyable.
Hospital or Birthing Center or Home: hospital, of course
Induction or Natural labor process, etc.: I've had to be induced both times. I was always terrified I would go into labor while in wal-mart or something, but that never happened. My water was always broken for me by the doctor.
Did you yell at your significant other? No, I'm a suffer in silence type of person.
Do you have other people in the room? If so, who? Only the husband, although he almost wasn't allowed in for Riley, for more personal reasons that I'm sure you can guess at.
Fast or Slow: Jack: took forever to get to 10 cm, but when it happened, he came out after the first contraction, super fast. Riley: second push, super, super fast
The hardest moment: Experiencing the most precious moment and having to share it with someone who hated me. (sorry, probably tmi, but it was very hard)
The part I dread the most: the pain
The hardest part of labor or your birthing experience: blood clot, near death experience, long story, not cool.
Biggest {vain} fear: same as yours, #2 on the bed
Most embarrassing moment: having my biggest vain fear actually happen, twice
Real fear: same, healthy baby
Best part: new baby that's all yours to hold. I would make myself stay awake at night, just so I could hold my baby all night because the nurses would take them to the nursery if I fell asleep.
Advice you can give other mommies to be: Have everything prepared and ready early on because sometimes you don't know when baby is coming. I wasn't prepared for Jack because he was like 5 weeks early, and I kept thinking, oh I have plenty of time. Then one day, I went to work and left during lunch for a check-up and they put me in the hospital halfway through the check-up and Jack was born the next evening. I didn't have any kind of hospital bag with me, and probably even worse, my parents had to go to my house to assemble the crib and other people went out and bought stuff for the nursery, that I hadn't gotten yet, like a changing table and such. You get the idea.
okay, so after talking to you, I thought, oh she totally asked not to include any near death experience stories. And i didn't really, but I did kind of, I mean, I did write that phrase. So, I just wanted to assure you that the whole blood clot thing was totally me, some kind of weird factor I have in my blood that's totally unrelated to giving birth. rest assured.
Umm, so you think I'm weird for having all three kids in the room when Hank was born??? In my bath tub?? TOTALLY JOKING!!!! Duh. You are so funny. And HOT by the way. You make me sick. I'm now off to eat a whole Mellow Mushroom Pizza, then wonder why I don't look like you. :-)
I'll have to write again when I have time to answer your fun questions. Love you. Hang in there.
Kara- you are too funny... I already knew that story & you didn't scare me!
Holly-i think people haven't commented bc these questions are long, but I thought it would be fun anyway! & you are too funny...mm pizza sounds incredible right now.
Well, my water broke right after I returned from my daily 5K run, and Brett called the midwife to come to the house since I really wanted to experience the delivery naturally...
HA! Everything was the complete opposite... induced at 39 weeks because I was showing signs of going into seizures: I had a migraine every day the week R was born, crazy reflexes, blood levels out of whack. Hooked up to a thousand and eight monitors, check. Epidural, check. Pushing for an hour, check. Episiotomy, check. Other "issues" from pushing, check.
And she was totally worth it. Especially the moment we found out that "the little one" was a girl. I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. So glad you & J are waiting to find out what M is.... :) love it!
Sorry if this sounds weird, but I actually enjoyed reading this post. It makes me feel a little more educated on the birthing experience. :-)
Yes - I have blessed others with my LOVELY (not) birthin' story at the following link: http://weliveinthecountry.blogspot.com/2008/08/from-mother-of-twins-dont-tell-your.html
"From a Mother of Twins…Don't tell your friends who are having twins…"
Enjoy! Ha! I sure did. 'nt. DIDN'T!
Vaginal or C-section: I had C Sections with all of mine, but if I had a choice I would choose Vaginal delivery.
Natural or Epidural: Pain meds are my friends. :)
Hospital or Birthing Center or Home: Hospital.
Induction or Natural labor process, etc.: Induction, I suppose that is similar to a planned C Section.
Did you yell at your significant other? No.
Do you have other people in the room? If so, who?
No one is allowed except the medical staff since I go under general anesthesia.
Fast or Slow: Fast, Once they get started!
The hardest moment: The fear that overcomes me every time, right before entering the operating room! It is crippling, I am so scared something bad will happen to me or the baby while I am under.....
The part I dread the most; Being the last persone to see my precious baby.
The hardest part of labor or your birthing experience: the recovery. it is alot harder and longer than vaginal birth recovery, with a lot more restrictions! for six weeks! UGH
Biggest {vain} fear: I was always afraid my babies would be born missing body parts! crazy i know! like with camp i kept having dreams he had no ears
Real fear: complications from the surgery for me or my baby,
Best part: Baby!
Advice you can give other mommies to be: cherish all the little things about having a newborn. they grow so fast and you will miss it.
Vaginal or C-section: Vaginal!
Natural or Epidural: Epidural!! I'm not suffering through that when they have meds available. However my back has always bothered me since i've had two.
Hospital or Birthing Center or Home: Hopital! I worry to much as it is.
Induction or Natural labor process, etc.: hmmm. Well i've done both. Not by choice. With Rhegan I was induced 2 days after my due date. And it was fine...I had a reaction to my epidural (ichy, shaky,) And then when they gave me benadryl to help...I like couldn't see for about 30 minutes, which just scared me. But that was just from me not being very tolerant of drugs. I had her in 8 hours. Then with Austin I PLANNED on being induced on a Monday. And on the Friday night before I started having contractions. And had then ALL NIGHT. And so I called the hospital...and they were like "oh they probably aren't doing anything, go back to sleep and they will go away" GO BACK TO SLEEP?? Are you serious. I can't sleep when I'm having contractions like this. Well by 5 am they were every 5 minutes apart. So in 14 degree weather...we headed to the hospital. I was only 3 cm when we got there. I went ahead and got my epidural. (b/c on saturdays the OP room and Labor & Delivery share 1 anestisiologist (laugh at my spelling HA). So if I would have waited and there was am Emergency surgery...I was out of luck!
He was born at 10:30...3 hours later! So it was just really fast!!
Did you yell at your significant other? With Rhegan I did....I think out of just pure nervousness. But this past time...I really didn't have time!
Do you have other people in the room? If so, who? With Rhegan - Nick, My mom , And his mom. (MISTAKE)
Austin - Nick, My mom.
Fast or Slow: Fast
The hardest moment: Hate getting the epidural!!
The part I dread the most: Something going wrong. There is SOO much that could happen. And just the unknown of it all.
The hardest part of labor or your birthing experience: Nothing was really that HARD. I hate the afterwards part of ice pack pads on your hoo haa. And bleeding so much. GROSS. And then with Austin I had HORRIBLE headaches for about a week solid after I had him - and then they just went away.
Biggest {vain} fear: Pooping while pushing!
Most embarrassing moment: Yea...TMI. I'll go ahead. I went to the bathroom the first night - right after the baby had nursed the first time really good. And so i guess that triggered contractions. And i had two REALLY huge blood clots fall out ON THE FLOOR. By the size of them...I thought I was about to DIE. So i called the nurse and she was like "oh sweety that is nothing. We see them all the time WAYYYY bigger than that" And then she proceeded to clean them up!! I was like OMG I'm sooo sorry. I can do that. I didn't call you down here to clean it up! I just wanted to see if that was normal!!! It was just completely embarrassing!!, but I guess "normal".
Real fear: Healthy Baby!
Best part: Seeing the baby for the first time!
Advice you can give other mommies to be: Don't rush it! It all happens way to fast. Enjoy EVERY moment. Babies grow WAYY to fast...so don't rush them either!!
Melissa-thanks for shedding some light on the C-section game. That is something I am totally terrified of, but I guess just like all of it, you go with it and get through it. That's what I plan to do this time! ;)
April-LAUGH out LOUD hilarious on the blood clots. I want to know why MIL was a mistake! ;) and AMEN to the epidural part. I hate it too, and I also got the shakes/itches really bad with Emerson. I could barely sit still long enough to push-my teeth were chattering nad I was shaking so bad the bedrails were shaking with my hands! Glad I'm not the only one.
ps now that we have an induction date, I will DIE if this baby comes on its own. because I'm a control freak and have it all worked out!