Who will be at my labor?
- Eric, my man who I love and adore. He told me last night he will do as he's told. ;)
- Laura, my good friend who wants to be a doula and is extremely supportive and patient. I got to be there when she gave birth to her baby, Max.
- Nicole, my hippie friend who gave birth at home in a tub and who will be excited and encouraging while I'm freaking out and cursing.
- Possibly my more-than-acquaintance, Tami. I see Tami a lot at parks and we have great chats. She wants to get into birth photography and is building her portfolio. She is so talented and offered to take photos of this wee one for free! To see the pics she just took of Jess' new baby, click here.
- My midwife and her aprentice(s), of course.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Birthing at Home
Why do I want to birth at home? There are lots of reasons that people give birth at home. But the main reasons is more of a logical process for me. I really wanted someone to catch my baby who I would get to know at more of a personal level than a doctor. There are lots of midwife groups up here that deliver at hospitals, but even then, you don't know who will be there to catch and coach you through the labor and they don't get there until right before you have the baby, as well. That's why I chose a birthing center. I would get to meet my midwife, have an appt with her for an hour every month (and more as it gets closer) and be guaranteed that she be the one to catch this baby girl.
Then the more I thought about the birthing center in comparison to my house, the more I realized how ridiculous it will be to get my laboring ass in the car just to drive to a location that has nothing more than my house (besides it being cleaner and having a big tub). Also, birthing centers kick you out of their house 4-6 hours after delivering because they want to get you home in bed with your new babe as soon as possible. So thinking about getting up, getting back in the car and climbing my steps to bedroom right after I have a (probably) big baby come out of my va-jay-jay doesn't sound appealing.
Also, it's a scientific fact that laboring women progress faster in a comfortable environment.
There are many other reasons why women choose to give birth at home, but these are the main reasons that I'm choosing it. I'm super excited. And nervous about the pain. But mostly excited.
Then the more I thought about the birthing center in comparison to my house, the more I realized how ridiculous it will be to get my laboring ass in the car just to drive to a location that has nothing more than my house (besides it being cleaner and having a big tub). Also, birthing centers kick you out of their house 4-6 hours after delivering because they want to get you home in bed with your new babe as soon as possible. So thinking about getting up, getting back in the car and climbing my steps to bedroom right after I have a (probably) big baby come out of my va-jay-jay doesn't sound appealing.
Also, it's a scientific fact that laboring women progress faster in a comfortable environment.
There are many other reasons why women choose to give birth at home, but these are the main reasons that I'm choosing it. I'm super excited. And nervous about the pain. But mostly excited.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tootie Dog
My 8-year-old pup has been driving me crazy. Since I've come back from Chicago, she has high energy all day and follows me from room to room panting. When I sit down, she rushes her face into my stomach. When she hears a small noise, she barks so loud she about gives me a heart attack. I can't take it anymore. Eric thinks she senses that I'm pregnant and is being over-protective. But I just may kill her.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Coming Baby
I'm pretty sure I'm going to have this little girl at home. It seems way simpler than traveling to a different house. I'm just trying to convince Eric now. :)
Isaac Steven- born 10.27.06
Isaac's birth story:
I was sure I wanted an epidural with Ike because my last epidural was so dang awesome. My due date was November 1st and I thought that I would go early because Calvin was so early. I had lots of contractions that resulted in nothing and the hospital kept sending me home after giving me a shot of tributalin (sp?).
And just a week before my due date, a contraction hit me stronger than anything I had yet felt and I was sweaty and out of breath. Eric walked in and said, "Is it time?" when he saw the look on my face. I said, "Yes, but I need to take a shower first. I'm all sweaty." That was my big mistake. It took so long to take a shower because the contractions were immediately close together and knocked me on the ground every time. By the time we got out the door to drop Calvin off with a friend, I was in tears from the pain and so angry that I had to sit in the car.
We got to the hospital and I yelled, "This is not a drill! Please get me an epidural!" After first checking me in at triage (6 cm dialated), then hooking me up to a water IV, they told me it would be another half hour before they could get me an epidural. I started crying again because I didn't think I could make it that long. After the water was in me, they ordered the anesthesiologist and he took his sweet time getting that needle in my back. I yelled, "I can still feel the pain!" They told me it takes about 20 minutes to kick in. It finally started feeling better but I could still feel all the contractions and my right side felt fuzzy and numb. 20 minutes later it was time to push- and I felt all of it. The doctor broke my water and Ike fell down to where I could see his head in the mirror. I pushed that big kid out in a contraction and a half. 8 lbs; 10 oz.
It was a total of 3 1/2 hours from first contraction to birth.
I was sure I wanted an epidural with Ike because my last epidural was so dang awesome. My due date was November 1st and I thought that I would go early because Calvin was so early. I had lots of contractions that resulted in nothing and the hospital kept sending me home after giving me a shot of tributalin (sp?).
And just a week before my due date, a contraction hit me stronger than anything I had yet felt and I was sweaty and out of breath. Eric walked in and said, "Is it time?" when he saw the look on my face. I said, "Yes, but I need to take a shower first. I'm all sweaty." That was my big mistake. It took so long to take a shower because the contractions were immediately close together and knocked me on the ground every time. By the time we got out the door to drop Calvin off with a friend, I was in tears from the pain and so angry that I had to sit in the car.
We got to the hospital and I yelled, "This is not a drill! Please get me an epidural!" After first checking me in at triage (6 cm dialated), then hooking me up to a water IV, they told me it would be another half hour before they could get me an epidural. I started crying again because I didn't think I could make it that long. After the water was in me, they ordered the anesthesiologist and he took his sweet time getting that needle in my back. I yelled, "I can still feel the pain!" They told me it takes about 20 minutes to kick in. It finally started feeling better but I could still feel all the contractions and my right side felt fuzzy and numb. 20 minutes later it was time to push- and I felt all of it. The doctor broke my water and Ike fell down to where I could see his head in the mirror. I pushed that big kid out in a contraction and a half. 8 lbs; 10 oz.
It was a total of 3 1/2 hours from first contraction to birth.
Calvin David- born 9.27.04
First Birthday PartyCal's birth story (long version):
Calvin's due date was October 31st, 2004. On September 23rd, I had a bad night of sleep and remembered later that I woke up moaning a couple times without really realizing why. I woke up normally and went to work- I worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters in Northwest Arkansas and we had a special event planned that Friday: A charity golf tournament. So I spent the day running around the golf course, making sure drinks were aplenty and people were happy. Around noon, though, I felt awful and my stomach hurt. I asked my boss, Melody (who was also my very good friend), "What would it feel like if I were in labor?" She answered, "Honey [southern thing to say], you would know if you were in labor!" She gave me permission to go home, however, and get some rest and then come back in the afternoon to help clean up.
I went back to my house and crashed for a couple hours- again, waking up intermittedly, moaning. I finally realized I couldn't sleep and got up to watch tv. I then realized the pains were coming quite frequently, so I started writing down the duration. By then, I started calling Eric and was getting no answer. I was a little frustrated because I wanted some reassurance but relieved, too, since this wasn't the real deal.
I finally called the hospital when the contractions were about 6 minutes apart, 30 seconds long. Some nurse told me not to worry because they needed to be a minute long. I called back when they were 4 minutes apart and 45 seconds long and they decided I should come in to get checked out (duh).
During the contractions, I took a shower, packed a bag and would sit on the couch inbetween. They weren't that strong so I was able to talk and move about, sort of freely. I finally got ahold of Eric as I was headed out the door and yelled at him, "You need to have your cell phone on you at all times! What if I was really in labor?! Meet me at the hospital." So I drove myself to the hospital- about 15 minutes away.
Eric and I went in around 5:30pm, I got hooked up to a machine and I waited. After a while, a nurse came in to tell me they were going to put me on magnesium to stop the labor and I asked, "So I'm really in labor?" She said, "Oh, honey. You don't know what's going on, do you?"
After a lot of pain and time, they offered me a drug that made me feel drunk and I HATED! Finally, they took me off the mag. and offered me an epidural at 2am which I excitedly accepted.
Four hours of interrupted sleep later, they woke me at 6am to start pushing. Since we hadn't yet gone to the birthing class, I had no idea what I was doing. The nurses were very kind and showed me what to do. Without feeling a thing, thanks to the epidural, I pushed for 15 minutes and out came Calvin David (with help from that stupid knife)- 6lbs; 3oz. He was perfectly tiny and we got to take him home the next day.
Calvin's due date was October 31st, 2004. On September 23rd, I had a bad night of sleep and remembered later that I woke up moaning a couple times without really realizing why. I woke up normally and went to work- I worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters in Northwest Arkansas and we had a special event planned that Friday: A charity golf tournament. So I spent the day running around the golf course, making sure drinks were aplenty and people were happy. Around noon, though, I felt awful and my stomach hurt. I asked my boss, Melody (who was also my very good friend), "What would it feel like if I were in labor?" She answered, "Honey [southern thing to say], you would know if you were in labor!" She gave me permission to go home, however, and get some rest and then come back in the afternoon to help clean up.
I went back to my house and crashed for a couple hours- again, waking up intermittedly, moaning. I finally realized I couldn't sleep and got up to watch tv. I then realized the pains were coming quite frequently, so I started writing down the duration. By then, I started calling Eric and was getting no answer. I was a little frustrated because I wanted some reassurance but relieved, too, since this wasn't the real deal.
I finally called the hospital when the contractions were about 6 minutes apart, 30 seconds long. Some nurse told me not to worry because they needed to be a minute long. I called back when they were 4 minutes apart and 45 seconds long and they decided I should come in to get checked out (duh).
During the contractions, I took a shower, packed a bag and would sit on the couch inbetween. They weren't that strong so I was able to talk and move about, sort of freely. I finally got ahold of Eric as I was headed out the door and yelled at him, "You need to have your cell phone on you at all times! What if I was really in labor?! Meet me at the hospital." So I drove myself to the hospital- about 15 minutes away.
Eric and I went in around 5:30pm, I got hooked up to a machine and I waited. After a while, a nurse came in to tell me they were going to put me on magnesium to stop the labor and I asked, "So I'm really in labor?" She said, "Oh, honey. You don't know what's going on, do you?"
After a lot of pain and time, they offered me a drug that made me feel drunk and I HATED! Finally, they took me off the mag. and offered me an epidural at 2am which I excitedly accepted.
Four hours of interrupted sleep later, they woke me at 6am to start pushing. Since we hadn't yet gone to the birthing class, I had no idea what I was doing. The nurses were very kind and showed me what to do. Without feeling a thing, thanks to the epidural, I pushed for 15 minutes and out came Calvin David (with help from that stupid knife)- 6lbs; 3oz. He was perfectly tiny and we got to take him home the next day.
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