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Number 11...things didn't turn out as I had planne

I am 37 yrs old and have just had my eleventh baby six weeks ago. I was due on February 8th 2008. But as you know they always let you go a week past your date. I had asked to be induced on Wednesday night or Thursday morning the week of my due date as my hubby was going to have a few days off from work and wouldn't have to call off to watch all our other kids while I went in. My doc called me the next morning and said the head docs gave the okay...but it was a few days sooner than what I asked for. So hub had to call off two days anyway. So I was to come in on Tuesday night at seven for a low dose of pit overnight...then start turning it up on Wednesday morning. That works best for me as I can't have the cervix gel or pill because I have asthma. So that low dose pit acts somewhat the same as that for me. I was having alot of contractions on my own before they even hooked me up to the pit, and once they did as luck would have it they became erratic and eventually stopped. I was checked and was only a two. I tried to sleep but as everyone knows those beds and belt monitors make it pretty much impossible to do so.

Anyway, next morning they started turning up as planned and the contractions started coming really strong pretty quick. They checked me again and much to my disssapointment still only a two. They wanted to break my water then...but I was afraid at only a two after all those intense contractions that I might not dialate and would have to have the dreaded c section as the doctor said once the waters were broke you are commited to delivery one way or another. And my joke with my doctors with everyone of my last five births is I don't care if you gotta reach up there and pull the baby out no c section!! And of course I was concerned with his head being engaged with it being so early on. And he reassured me they don't even consider breaking your water unless the head is there. And he assured me it was but I still refused and said I felt more comfortable waiting till I was a four dialated. So he respected my wishes and said think about it, maybe I'd change my mind. If not fine too. So they kept turning me up and they were really strong and getting hard for me to breathe through. Which was unusual for me as I can usually do the breathing till like a five dialation. But the nurse assured me every induction is different and the docter said I could have the epidural now even though I was only two cm.

At first I said no as I said I usually like to wait longer as to assure pain relief at the end of the delivery when it really hurts. As you know sometimes they wear off later on as the baby decends down. But after a few more intense ones I changed my mind and got the epidural. The epidural was one of the best ones I've had and I was really excited and thought to myself wow this is gonna be a piece of cake. After about two more contractions they checked me again and I was a four almost five. All in a matter of twenty minutes. I was excited and thought for once I'm gonna have a quick delivery!! Yay!! The resident came in and said she was going to break my water. I was on the phone with my grandma from Florida and told her I was a four to five had a great epidural but had to go cause they were going to break my water.

She broke my water and soon after the baby's heart rate dropped with my contraction. And she had a hard time getting his heart rate seperate from mine on the monitor belts. So she called a head docter down to put one of those little electrode things on his head to better monitor his heart rate. So when he came in he said I'm going to check her first. He said shes a six. He continued to feel and looked up at me and said we got a problem. The cords down over the head...you can't have this baby vaginally. I was like you"re kidding, well just move it. I guess not realizing the seriousness of it at first. He said I tried I can't. Although I'm not really sure he even did. Then from there it was rush rush rush.

My resident docter had to ride into the OR with her hand up my crotch holding his head up off his cord. I was scared to death of everything. Mostly the section as I still didn't really realize the seriousness of a cord prolapse. But they put me to sleep and the whole experience was terrible. I didn't even get to see him after he was born. And I awoke in such horrible pain from the section. Anyway to make a real long story short I really am having a hard time dealing with all of it. I hated not being able to come home and do everything I could always usually do after childbirth. I know I should just be thankful he came out healthy and alive even.

But I am so depressed over it and am now second guessing everything. Like maybe if I hadn't asked to be induced and waited to go on my own. Because I really feel like the resident doctor that broke my water didn't check to see if the head was engaged. Of course after when I asked her she said she did. But I honestly have doubts. And it takes me back to the head doctor that wanted to rupture me at two cm....maybe I should have let him do it then as I know he checked. And after research of cord prolapse I now see not letting them break your water at all no matter how many cm...unless fully dilated is the best way to avoid a prolapsed cord. Especially in my case as I've had ten vaginal babies before this last one. So even if his cord would have prolapsed with me being dialated at ten I could have gotten him out fast...I never push for more than maybe five minutes if that. I just can't seem to get over it. And now on top of all that I ended up with a hernia after the section which is the size of a softball by my belly button, which means more surgery...which I'm schedueled for on April 3rd. And I'm scared to death especially after just being put under and having the c section so recently. And it's going to be so hard having eleven kids and trying to not lift stuff for so long. My hub has two weeks vacation that he's taking but the not lifting part is a lot more time than that. I just wish I could turn back time....I feel so terrible. If anyone reading this has had an experience similar to mine please contact me. I hope somebody out there can relate...I feel so alone. Thanks, Dusty

Dusty

My Greatest Experience

I found out that I was pregnant In May and I was so happy to be having a baby, even though I was young (18) I was really looking forward to it, until I found out that my scholarship to college had came though, then I became a bit upset.

Like all first time mothers, and even women who have already had children I was really curious about labor. I had heard all of the terrible labor stories, and the stories of pain meds that didnt work. But still I didnt want to jinx myself or what not. Through out the whole labor I told myself that my labor wa not gonna be bad and that I was gonna be in control the whole time. I was gonna let my body tell me what to do next. I was open to having pain meds also.

My doctor told me that I was gonna have to be induced because it was already 1 day past my due date. So 2 days later I went into the hospital to be induced. Monday night they gave me Cervadil and told me that it was gonna have to be in there all night. I was having contractions but I couldnt feel them. I went to sleep that night and then the next day at about 7am they woke me up and let me take a shower and clean a little bit.

At 10 am they started me on the pitocin. I was having really good contractions, but I still couldnt feel them. At about 1 they broke my waters and then I started to feel lite cramping like contractions. They gave me Stadol so that I could get some sleep. That worked really well. I woke up about 3 hours later and the epi man was there and ready to get the epi. I didnt really need it then, but he said that he was going to be booked for the next few hours so I minus well get it now. I got it and I just relaxed until it was time to push. I pushed about 10 minutes and then he was out!

That was by far the best and most rewarding experience that I have ever had. I cant wait till I can have more!

Dusty

I loved labor

I was young and pregnant. I read books and magazines. I remembered this one particular article though. It was called " I Love Labor" it was several stories of ladies saying that alot of times ecspecially first time mothers are so nervous, that they actually make labor worse. They talked about just being relaxed and think about what you were about to bring into this world.

I knew early on in my pregnancy that i wanted to do it totally natural. I dont know why i wanted it that way i just remember shortly after finding out that i was pregnant, i told my mom i want to have this baby natural.

Only being 19, and not knowing any better i had been having contractions for 3 days and didnt even know. I went to a regular doc appointment 3 days before my due date. I was laying on the table and the doctor was asking me what all had been going on. I said everything is good except the past couple of days my stomach has been getting real tight, i just thought that was kinda weird. The doctor laughed and said "Summer those are contractions and you just had right now" He told me i was dialated to a 7.

He told me to have my mom drive me to the hospital right away. I was a lil nervous on the way to the hospital, but i just thought about those articles. My water broke 30 mins later as i lay in lthe hospital bed. I sang to my doc. theres a hole in my bucket dear henrey dear henrey. He just laughed.

I started having hard contractions about 20 minuets later. I pushed 3 times and my beautiful son Dylon Shay 6lbs. 13 oz came into this world. So now i can honestly say I love labor, and i did it totally natural no epidural or meds. I still just have my one son he just turned 9 this last Sun.

I cant wait until the love of my life is ready to have one of our own. I loved the whole pregnancy thing, but i think im looking forward to labor itself.

Summer

summer lippard

Kelly's Birth

Kelly was born on September 19th 2003, I am pregnant again and I hope this baby will be an easier delivery. Joe and i were at target doing some last minute shopping because the baby was due in two weeks. Suddenly I started feeling some minor contractions and I was having those so I thought they were just a false thing.

We went home and set up the nursery. I put on the sheets of the crib and then i got some bad cramps. I had invited my mother over for dinner that night and I told myself "I am due in TWO weeks. I am not in labor and I know it!" After my mom left I had a strange craving for Sun Ships.

When Joe arrived at home I ate them and went to bed. It was about eleven o clock. I went to sleep and I fell asleep fast cause when i woke up it was one o clock in the morning, and Joe was rubbing my belly. I gave him a kiss and went back to sleep. I was awoken by seering pain at four. It was so bad I began to cry. I went to the bathroom and then MY WATER BROKE! I thought that this couldn't possibly be happening but I didn't want to have a homebirth so I told Joe.

He called the doctor and I was ordered to come to the hospital. I did and the doctor said I was about 1 centimeter dilated. Even though I wasn't even half way through the labor, it hurt. The labor went really fast. It was time. I started pushing. It lasted a while and then Kelly was born.

"She's amazing," I thought. She was my little princess and still is but she has turned a little different. But i love her!!

Maggie

c section

It was the day before i was getting married. i left my boyfriend then at his mums house i drove to my friends house 20mins away i was stuck in a traffic jam in the town. i felt as if i had wet myself. i was 32wks. i looked down and blood was flowing through my tracksuit pants.

i turned the car round and drove to my friends. i was very calm. knocked on her door and stood in her fornt room with blood running down my legs. she rang for an ambulance. i was more worried about her carpet being cream and covered in blood. i walked into the ambulance. i was saying sorry for the mess.

the paramedics were great. myself and my friend where laughing in the ambulance about all the drama as when she was in labour it was the norm. The doctors were great and so were the nurses. i had a placenta abruption so they had to get her out quickly. my boyfriend get there in time just. His family and our friends had to rally round and ring people up to let them know that the wedding was cancelled.

We have a underfull little girl. she weighed 3lb 12oz. She was born in 2004. she spent 3wks in SCBU with tubes and monitors. Now she is a bubbly handful and we wouldn't be without her.

We did get married in the end.

sally Mcpartland