Your personal delivery experience- what happened

itsa307 · Jan 25, 2008

My 1# was very sad and was a 21wk fetal demise. It was a horrible delivery and I won't get into it but if anyone needs info on a loss like this please pm me and I will share my experience. I feel I can help other's by sharing my daughter's story.

#2 I had another high risk pregnancy with 2 placenta tears and a baby that dropped at 5 months. I went in for induction at 39wk. I walked in 3cm dialated received pit and an epidural and water was broken. I pushed for almost an hour and things were getting serious when dr figured out the cord was wrapped around baby's shoulder. He was born shortly after with no assistance and was perfectly healthy. My labor lasted 6 hours total. He was 7pd 5oz 21in. The interesting thing here was that when the OB delivered the placenta there was an extra section and without that my son would've been a loss too.

#3 Another high risk pregnancy with bleeding starting at 6wk that lasted until 21wk off an on. I knew this baby wanted out early. I had no internal exams for fear that this would cause labor. At 28wks while at a child's birthday party with my toddler (husband out of town) I wasn't feeling "right" and decided to go home to rest. At 35wks was verbally attacked by at dr at the office I work at and came home not feeling "right" again unable to talk. Went in for 36 week check and dr wanted to do internal because I thought my bag was leaking. It was buldging but no leak. I was 4cm and he wanted to hook me up to monitor. I didn't think I was contracting but I was having irregular ones. Dr let me go home after making me promise that if I had any thought that I was in labor I would come right back because this was going to go quick and he didn't want me to deliver at home. As soon as we left I started feeling strange. And this tingling sensation kept coming across my belly. We stopped at the store and for food and went home. I laid on the couch and started to notice this tingling was coming every 5 minutes. So I started to think...my inlaws were already at my house watching my 3 year old....my husband had the week off already due to lack of work...my mom was off the next day. It was like all the stars in the sky lined up. I called the dr ofc and the NP told me to have a glass of water any lay down for a bit. I thought she was crazy but I did and then got a feeling of serious urgency to go back to the dr. I called and told them I was coming and the NP was a total witch. Thank god I went in b/c when the OB checked me I was 7cm. Feeling no pain and walking around just fine. They told me they don't see women like that that far dialated. I got an epi expecting that I would need it. It didn't take at all and I wish I didn't get it because I ended up with a spinal headache and needed a blood patch. Anyway my beautiful daughter was born a 36wk in about 2hrs. She was 6pd 14oz 21in. She spendt a week in the hospital - 4 days after I was d/c. When all was said and done, all those times that I wasn't feeling "right" is exactly what it felt like when I was contracting. Just a tingling feeling across my belly. She's 16 months now and doing great!

After all that I'm 99.5% sure we're done having babies now!

rnmomtobe2010 · Jan 25, 2008

It was Monday February 26, 2002. I got up and was feeling fine. My now ex husband wanted to do you know what. I refused. Shortly after he chased me around the house, I felt a slimy gush. It was my mucus plug. What a yucky feeling. I started having mild contractions and he took me to the hospital. I was only 1 centimeter and I knew I was in this for the long haul. Went back home and the pain intensified. He took me back and I could not make it to the elevators. He told the nurses that the foot was hanging out(which was a lie) All I saw was nurses running towards me like mad. Boy when they found out he was kidding, they chewed him out.

Anyway, I was monitored for what seems like forever and I was sharing a room with this girl who gagged the entire time until I called the nurse because I could not deal with that. The girl was moved. They finally admitted me and I hurt for soooo long. The sun is coming up and I was getting frustrated. The nurse kept sticking me and I told her that if she stuck me one more time and did not get what she was looking for, I was going to stick her in the neck with the needle. (I did not mean that).

Doc came in and examined me. I was 4 cen. by then and my back was killing me. Could not locate his heart beat. I started to panic and they did an ultrasound. I guess he was as frustrated as I was and he turned over and went to sleep. He is like that now. My blood pressure went through the roof, I had a seizure and things got really bad for me. I woke up later that night greeting my son and the worst pain in my life. I had passed out during the seizure and had an emergency c-section.

Everyone was fine afterwards.

NHCNurse · Jan 26, 2008

Baby #1...I woke up at 1am (after crying all night cause all of my friend's who were pregnant had already had their babies and I was convince I would be pregnant forever) having cramping. I thought I was just starting my period until I woke up again at 2:30 and realized I was pregnant so my period theory was out the door. Called the doc and he told me to go for a walk and if it got worse to come on in. Got half way around the neighborhood and realized it was FOR REAL, made it back home, showered and shaved my legs and off we went. Checked in at 2cm, completely thinned, they broke my water and gave me demerol. I slept until they woke me up to tell me I wan't progressing and they were giving me pitocin (wow baby). Got stuck at 4cm for 6 hrs. Finally moved to 6 the last time the nursed checked me and the minute she walked out of the room I felt something coming out. My Dad got the nurse, she told me I was crazy she just checked me, but I convinced her to look under the sheet. She did, and the next thing I know she's hitting the red emergency button and telling me not to push. I didn't need to, my daughter let herself out without any help! Nurse was freaking because it was only her 2nd week on the job!

Baby #2

Scheduled induction. Got hooked up at 3:30pm was at 6 at 6:28 and he was born at 6:30. They had alerted the doc and delivery team that I would go at six and they were all there waiting...it was great!

trmr · Jan 26, 2008

2 babies, both such easy deliveries...and no I didn't have any drugs. Just made to have the easy road when it comes to delivery.

Baby #1... labor started slowly, just felt like crampy diarrhea ( sorry ) during the night. The next morning, lost the mucous plug..no big deal. Had a dr appt already scheduled that day. went to the appt I was 2cm and 50% effaced. So we went to the movies nearby the dr office and stayed in a hotel. It was kinda fun because the hotel people were a tad nervous to have me there. Then that next morning I went to the hospital with contractions. I was 6cm and 1 hour later I was holding my new baby girl. My contractions never hurt, just felt like someone wrapping their arms around me and squeezing.

Baby #2... I was fine and eating an egg sandwich. One hour later I had that familiar "diarrhea" feeling. Thought nothing of it but informed the nervous nellie husband who said lets go NOW!! So we went to the dr, husband driving like a mad man, got there at 11:00pm ( in one piece ), still with me thinking nothing of all this. To my surprise I was ready to push. Talk about a whole lot of scurrying going on in that room, then I got nervous because good ol doc wasn't there yet and I was pushing. He made it though, and 37 minutes later I was holding my baby boy...

Husband is way too scared to try a third baby!!!!

trmr · Jan 26, 2008

forgot to mention...I had a new nurse the second time and she ran out of the room after checking me and discovering there was a head there. So another nurse came in...I never seen the first one again!!

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 27, 2008

2 babies, both such easy deliveries...and no I didn't have any drugs. Just made to have the easy road when it comes to delivery.
Baby #1... labor started slowly, just felt like crampy diarrhea ( sorry ) during the night. The next morning, lost the mucous plug..no big deal. Had a dr appt already scheduled that day. went to the appt I was 2cm and 50% effaced. So we went to the movies nearby the dr office and stayed in a hotel. It was kinda fun because the hotel people were a tad nervous to have me there. Then that next morning I went to the hospital with contractions. I was 6cm and 1 hour later I was holding my new baby girl. My contractions never hurt, just felt like someone wrapping their arms around me and squeezing.
Baby #2... I was fine and eating an egg sandwich. One hour later I had that familiar "diarrhea" feeling. Thought nothing of it but informed the nervous nellie husband who said lets go NOW!! So we went to the dr, husband driving like a mad man, got there at 11:00pm ( in one piece ), still with me thinking nothing of all this. To my surprise I was ready to push. Talk about a whole lot of scurrying going on in that room, then I got nervous because good ol doc wasn't there yet and I was pushing. He made it though, and 37 minutes later I was holding my baby boy...
Husband is way too scared to try a third baby!!!!

There are words for women like you... who have these "ho-hum, nothing-to-it" labors.. as in "ooops ! Was that all there was to it? You mean I've had it already? " :rotfl:

That's amazing.. you are soooooooooooo fortunate. Easy Breezy.

I've spent ALL afternoon reading this thread.. I have laughed, I have cried, I have snorted, chuckled, spit, and howled. This thread is GREAT !!! :up:

So I'll add my two experiences....

First was DD just about 31 yrs. ago.. when "natural birth" was the "new idea" and while there were no birthing "centers" yet, I did at least have a "birthing ROOM" for the delivery part, but was then placed in a larger room with several other new mothers.. babies were brought to us for periods of time, but they were not kept at the bedside as they are now. I thought it was pretty neat just to have my baby in a "birthing room" as opposed to the sterile, bright-lights glare of a delivery room.

Anyway... really can't remember all the details except that I was pretty insistent on having a natural birth. My OB "group" however, while they pretended to accept my wishes, probably just rolled their eyes, and when the time came, did exactly as THEY wished.

And back then, I wasn't self-confident and assertive as I am now.

So I meekly and resentfully allowed them to do as they "thought best". :madface:

Remember being in labor for over 24 hours with DD, having to walk the halls.. A LOT... AROM, stalling at 6 cm forEVER, being induced, epidural (which I had NOT wanted) fetal monitoring (had NOT wanted).. IVs and all the "stuff". I was so disappointed. First epi was given too low.. now only my legs were numb. They did a second.. this time they went too high and I went into respiratory distress... remember vaguely as through a "fog" about the discussions and concern in their voices.

Finally pulled out of that and when it was time to push I still had no feelings in my legs, and upper torso as well was too numb to push much of anything. I felt I wasn't contributing a darn thing to this birth and I was really angry about the whole situation being do different from what I had wanted and envisioned.

Baby was big, I was small, nurse jumped up on the bed and straddled me, "kneading" her out with her elbows... I was sooooooo ticked ! Then up with the legs in the stirrups, forceps.. the whole deal. Legs wrapped in some wrappings... sheeeeeeeesh !!!

Sweet baby Jessica was finally "push/pulled" out of me.. 8# 13 oz.

(Didn't know the sex back in those, days, either!)

She is now about to have her 31st B'day and is 5'9" tall.

No, they didn't lay her on my tummy or offer to let me put her to breast. As soon as they took her away and I was alone, I climbed right off that table, leg wrappings and all, and walked out into the hall and lit me a cigarette and smoked all my frustrations away. :rotfl:

Four years later, pg with second and last child. DS. Switched docs. Found the SWEETEST little Lebanese doc who was all for natural birth, and he was the kindest, gentlest little man I had ever met. This time was completely different. Had Adam completely natural.. no pain meds, no epi, no hooks, wires, IVs.. nada.

Felt like I was passing a HUGE watermelon through my bottom, and was really hard NOT to push when I wasn't suppose to, but my little doc was right there and he was so good about telling me everything I needed to know, what to do, to not do... and when.

DH was there as well (yes, in the silly blue gown and "shower cap").

Can't remember how long Adam took.. but everyone tells Adam it took 24 hours just for his FEET to be born. Another 8#, 13 oz. and 21 inches, just like his sis. And he's just short of 6'5 now, at 26y/o. And yes.. huge feet.

I'm so grateful I experienced the natural birth.. would never have it any other way. Sure.. there was pain, but a GOOD pain, and a "mind over matter" pain.. I knew it wouldn't last forever and was neccessary to accomplish what needed to be done there, and I did it willingly.

Both babies were breastfed until they weaned themselves at nine mos.

Would do it again in a heartbeat. But I'm pushing sixty now, and DD is about to give me my very first grandchild.. as in ANY DAY NOW !!!

I'm as nervous as I was when I first went into labor with her... and I'm wondering how her own experience will be for her. I will be there with her throughout, and hope I can be what she needs me to be.. do what she needs me to do. Things have changed so much... she will have a beautiful room to herself to give birth and then stay with her baby at her side... birthing balls, whirlpool.. all the things I didn't have "back in the day". A lovely birthing center.. I so hope this will be a wonderful experience for her. She, too, will breastfeed.

She is going with the epidural, though. She has no tolerance for pain.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jan 28, 2008

After putting DH through school for 4 years, he was finally working and we thought we could manage a baby. I (for some reason completely lost to me now) wanted a "Christmas baby". DH said OK we'll start trying in March. I thought that was way too late; it would take longer than that. NOPE ... got pregnant the first month we tried.

Stepdaughter (age 13 at the time) gave us a card that said ... "Congratulations... so are you hoping for a boy or a girl... or just praying it isn't one of each?" ha ha. Our secretary at work said one day that she'd dreamed I had twins. ha ha

Pregnancy progressed normally, with slightly elevated BP but not cause for great concern.

At about 16 weeks while I was visiting my parents, my mother looked at me and said "you must have two". ha ha

At 22 weeks, I measured 23. No big deal. At 25 weeks, I measured 28 and had gained 9 lbs. in 3 weeks. Sent for US, with assurances from PCP that she doesn't think I have twins or I'd be bigger than this. She says we probably just have the dates wrong or the baby just grew a lot this month.

US shows transverse twins. DH says baby sure did grow a lot this month -- it grew another baby!

At 32 weeks x-ray shows that presenting twin is breech. BP has become worrisome and by 35 weeks I am placed on bed rest. Since only child at home is 10-yr-old stepson whose needs are simpler than, say, a toddler's, I don't mind bedrest at all. I address Christmas cards, read books, and lie on the sofa with the cat on top of my belly.

24-hour urine collection is a real drag at family Thanksgiving dinners.

At 37 weeks proteinuria increased such that it is time to schedule the C-section. It is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Baby A arrives weighing 5 lb. 12 oz. with Apgars of 8/9. One minute after baby A, baby B comes along, weighing 6 lb. 8 oz. with Apgars of 9/10. We are delighted with our baby boys.

Through the night the nurses come frequently to take vitals and to clean me up. I keep hearing them talking about needing more chux but don't know where any more are. They tell me I'm losing a lot of blood and they're giving me a plasma extender... I may not remember the order of a lot of this. At one point DH calls to tell them my BP has dropped to 70/30. They give me ephedrine. One nurse kind of lightly pokes at my uterus. Then they bring in someone else, and she thoroughly massages it. I finally get to try out the breathing I'd practiced for labor 'cause this hurts.

By a.m. my hemoglobin is either 3.5 or 3.9. I have the worst headache I have ever had. But I'm lonely and bored and look forward to visits. Except when my mother-in-law starts arguing over how we spelled my son's name. (we spelled it the way it's spelled in the Bible, but she even argued about that). While visitors are there, we mostly have the babies with us. At night they are brought to me to feed. It didn't even really occur to me that I could have asked to have them more often. Forgive me; I was not well.

By day 4, hemoglobin is 5.2... we all go home. I have to have DH stop the car on the way so I can vomit. The babies are wonderful. A home health nurse is scheduled for every 3 days. By nighttime of day 7, I wake up drenched in sweat and breastmilk, and a complete bloody mess, and I sit on the toilet and cry. Earlier that day, my PCP had called to offer me a blood transfusion because my hematocrit was still so low, but I was feeling pretty good and declined it.

By nighttime of day 8 I'm just all used up. DH is worried. We go to ER where I receive 2 units of blood. Very soon I feel human again and can actually care for and enjoy my babies. I wish I'd had the transfusion before leaving the hospital.

porterwoman · Feb 2, 2008

I love this thread!

Baby #1--11 hrs of labor, in the hospital. Midwife kept asking me "Are you sure your back doesn't hurt?" which, no, it didn't. Baby was descending, midwife said "OMG that's not a head, that's a butt." Deep breath all around. "How do you feel about a lady partsl breech?" I feel great about that!!! Her OB backup came in a little later, he sat back, watching; all the providers were wonderful and let my body do its thing. Everything went beautifully with no problems at all. We have some awesome black & white pictures of a crowning butt & testicles--there's also one where his body is out & his head isn't yet--amazing. I wasn't a nurse then. Ignorance is bliss.

Baby #2, 6 yrs later--several days of "what do you mean this isn't labor yet" contractions, doing all I can to get it going--DH was really happy about that part! Woke up at 0230, couldn't go back to sleep, pacing, packing, yep, this is finally the real deal. Arrived at the hospital 0515. 7 cm--woo hoo! The awesome nurse popped an IV in quick to get me a dose of antibiotics for GBS--mostly I stood at the bedside swaying and singing--singing is a great way to control the breathing. Then I was pushing and grunting; maybe 3 pushes later I said "I have to get on the bed" and I hopped up there on my hands & knees. I know in my head that it's a good pushing position, but somehow my brain turned off and I was confused there for a minute. The doula said, yes, that's fine, and so I pushed a few really hard pushes and the baby's head popped out. The nurse said to my husband, "Go out and get the midwife" who was at the nurses station. Bless him, he went out there and said "She's having a baby in there--" um, well, yeah, we know that. 0640 was official time of birth. Of course a nurse would have her baby at change of shift!

Two great experiences. Two great kids. Hooray for OB nurses.:redpinkhe

Rebecca