For first time moms

Lesleyjking · February 2012

How long was your first labor, and also how long did you push?

What was most challenging the first week home?

Thanks ladies, will be joining you very soon!!

caitie2002 · February 2012

I was in labor for 17 hours and pushed about 45 minutes.

I think the most challenging thing was trying to figure out how to make him stop crying! By the end of the first week I had a better understanding of what his cries meant, but he changes every day! That first week was really hard but it's slowly getting better! This week he started smiling at us and cooing..which makes those weeks of crying seem worth the wait!

teambabyf · February 2012

My labor is probably not the best to go by. My water broke at 38 weeks and contractions never really started. I was eventually on the highest dose of pitocin (wanted a NUCB) and my contractions were still 4-6 minutes apart. I had DD 38 hours after my water broke after 35 hours of contractions with SEVEN hours of pushing (in addition to the slow contractions DD was sunny-side up and got stuck). BUT, I wasn't pushed to get a c-section so I won't complain too much. I know seven hours is at the very high end of the scale, the longest I've heard of other than me is four hours. I hope its quick for you!

I anticipated breastfeeding would be the hardest thing the first week home. I fed on demand the whole first week (ok, month), and it actually wasn't that bad. The sleep deprivation was by far the worst thing. I had such a hard time staying awake in the middle of the night to feed her. I suggest getting out of bed and feeding somewhere else until you get used to being awake. Otherwise I was constantly drifting off and scaring myself that I would drop/suffocate her. She had a hard time finishing because I would jerk awake and startle her and it just prolonged the process. Also, try to rest as much as possible in the hospital. I completely failed at that, but if I had it to do over I would definitely try harder.

Good luck!

GeekMom · February 2012

My water broke at 10 pm on 1/18 DD was born at 2:53 am 1/20. Went to the hospital at 10 am 1/19 because I wasn't having contractions (that I could feel) and they started me on pitocin at 1230. I pushed for an hr with the nurse and about 50 mins with the OB.

Most challenging for us was the continual feedings and having her latch correctly.

RoxysMama · February 2012

i was in labor for 6 hours. pushed for 20 mins.

i think the most challenging thing was that my husband didn't take time off work for her first 3 weeks so i was essentially doing it all on my own.

also my nipples hurting so badly from ebf. it took about two weeks for them to toughen up.

Rsoc23 · February 2012

I am pretty sure that I am atypical but my labor was 41hrs and I pushed for 3.5. My MIL and DH were both here the 1st week home so the most challenging thing for me was to sit back and recover while MIL did laundry and cleaning and DH did the cooking. They even took care of all the bottles (sterilizing and making) so all I had to do was feed DS!

christinbeatrice · February 2012

Scheduled c-section, so can't help you there.

But hardest part of 1st week was the not falling asleep while he was nursing in the middle of the night (we don't want to sleep with him, out of fear, no other reason).

Also, how much it hurts when he latches (the first 30 some seconds of each feed) the first few days. Just know it gets so much better! Were only at day nine & it doesn't hurt at all any more!!!

elainedave · February 2012

Entire labor = approx 16 hrs with less than 2 hrs pushing.

I was started on pitocin at 7am, had painless contractions until approx noon, then had an epidural around 4 pm. Started pushing at 9:30pm and LO was born 11:13pm. The pushing was easier than I expected... I think maybe helped by excitement/anticipation to finally see the baby.

The hardest part was lack of sleep. The best part was snuggling up with LO and DH and just looking at our son. Good luck!!!

Nwlywed07 · February 2012

scheduled c-section

1.Sleeping when the baby slept. Just do it! Even if there are 101 other things you think need to be done. They can wait.

2. Getting my nipples used to BF...Oh boy did it hurt until they toughened up.

melszum · February 2012

I had a very normal delivery, no pitocin or anything except an epidural. I was in labor for 20 hours and pushed for 50 minutes

SRK128 · February 2012

I was in labor for 20 hours and pushed for 2 hours

namara5532 · February 2012

My labor was about 6 hours, but it was helped along by cervadil. I suspect I was close to going into labor by myself anyway. I pushed for 25 minutes, but 10 of those were spent waiting for the doctor and not being allowed to push.

The most challenging thing was (and still is) the lack of sleep. Because I'm breastfeeding, I have to be up with him every time he wants to eat. His schedule is still pretty spontaneous, so some nights I can get 3 or 4 consistant hours between feedings, others he wants to feed every hour. Coffee and sugary snacks are my friend right now during the rough nights. I've had to just accept that I'm not going to get to help with housework because I have to catch whatever snatches of sleep I can during the day.

blue2355 · February 2012

I was in labour for 20hours with 3hours of pushing.

Don't go by mine as I was actually stuck at 9and a half cm for over 6hours and my DS was a posterior baby.

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halo_tx · February 2012

I was in labor for 19 hours, pushed for an hour and 15 minutes (I was induced).

The biggest challenge of the last 2 weeks has been just exhaustion. The first week I was running on adrenaline and didn't take enough opportunities to rest while DH was home and my parents were visiting. Now I'm on my own and getting extra sleep is hard! Also, I had several severe tears and was in quite a bit of pain until the last few days. BFing has actually gone really smoothly for us do that's been great!

mac&chip · February 2012

My labor is also not one to go by, but I was in labor for 8 hours and pushed for 90 minutes before having an emergency c-section, because of not getting enough oxygen. LO was in the NICU that first week, so our biggest battle was her jaundice.

mfgale09 · February 2012

i am not sure how long i was truly in labor..in was in the hospital due to preterm labor with twins but was ready to be discharged. that morning around 8 i realized i was having discomfort which quickly turned painful! when they checked me i was 8 cm. soon after that i went to the or to deliver. Maybe i pushed for 15 or 20 minutes and the boys were born 5 minutes apart. super fast!

they were in the nicu the first week.

MrsT2008 · February 2012

I was in very early labor for about 24 hours (uncomfortable, but not painful, contractions that were anywhere from 10-20 minutes apart). Hard labor (contractions 6-8 minutes apart) started about 10 hours before I delivered. I went from 2-10cm in about 5 hours. Pushed for 30 minutes.

The most challenging thing about the first week was just figuring out what to do! What she wanted when she cried, when to sleep, etc. Plus, you're still physically recovering, so your body is still a little out of sorts. I was sore because I had a bad 2nd degree tear.

ETA: how in God's name could I forget the nipple pain??? it was awful...toe-curling and made me want to cry every time she latched. It was our only "problem" with BFing. Lanolin was my friend. I used to lather it on before and after feedings (it's safe for LO)

linnsey26 · February 2012

I was in labor for 18 hours with 3.5 hours of pushing. The hardest thing the first week was the sleep deprivation combined with my emotions running so high. I was crying at the drop of a hat and felt like a terrible mother if my baby cried for more than 30 seconds. But those crazy emotions passed after about 5-6 days.

keeshondowner · February 2012

I was in labor for about 7 hours. I pushed for 15 minutes. DD is my first baby.

The most challenging thing for me the first week (first 2 weeks, actually) was my MIL being here. Seriously.

Thinkerbelle80 · February 2012

I had horrible contractions once every hour for an entire week before I finally went in. It didn't count as labor to them but I most certainly count it. The day I went in, my contractions were still 15 min apart but they admitted me because they were lasting for two minutes and very intense. So, it was technically not real labor to them but good enough I guess. I went in at 11 PM and started pushing at 9 AM the next day. I pushed for an hour. Pushing was the easiest part because I had an epidural so I felt no pain. It was so easy and calming to push. Recovery from the horrible tears I had was much worse. The part before delivering was the easiest because of the epidural.

ar52kortlang · February 2012

I was in labor from 215am to 922pm when my daughter was born via c section, unexpected... I pushed for 45ish minutes... Only to find out her head was too big to fit through my pelvic bone... She was 21 inches and 9lbs 6 ounces.

hmsnbl103 · February 2012

Contractions started at 8p on 1/19, water broke at 8:35p...little girl was born at 4:13a on 1/20. I pushed for about an hour.

Biggest challenge the first week was probably getting breastfeeding down. It wasn't so much that I had problems with her latching on or eating or anything, but she was spitting up a lot and I was afraid she wasn't getting enough to eat. She was 4 oz over her birth weight at a week and a half though, so she was doing just fine!

Good luck with everything!!

FarmvilleLover · February 2012

I didn't labor at all. I was induced and shortly after beginning the drugs, I went into an emergency c section.

Most challenging the first week home was definitely operating on being sleep deprived. It was damn awful and I don't know how I would've done it without a husband who was 100% on board to help me.

Good luck to you!

UAbride31007 · February 2012

48 hours of labor (induced), 3 hours of pushing then a c/s.

The most challenging thing has been adjusting to sleep deprivation.

shawna0116 · February 2012

29 hrs and 20 mins.

BF and latch issues. Once those worked out, it went a lot better. And food. Try and prepare lots of different kinds.

Good luck!!

wychets · February 2012

Lesleyjking:

How long was your first labor, and also how long did you push?

What was most challenging the first week home?

Thanks ladies, will be joining you very soon!!

wychets · February 2012

wychets:
Lesleyjking:

How long was your first labor, and also how long did you push? I was in labor for 26 1/2hrs due to an induction, and pushed for only 20 mins:)

What was most challenging the first week home? SLEEP!! I cried for the first week because I was so sleepy, but it is much better now! GL:)

Thanks ladies, will be joining you very soon!!

OurJellybean · February 2012

19 hours, I pushed for two of those and ended up with forceps and episiotomy. The most difficult thing is no sleep and a baby who screams non stop and nothing you do will make her stop. Also I am breastfeeding, so waiting for my milk to come in sucked! She would suck 24/7 and I had nothing to give her...Lots of crying

iluvmylab · February 2012

Mild contractions started on Sunday evening and throughout the next day. Monday late afternoon, the contractions were getting worse. I got home from work at 4:30, water broke at 6:00. When I got to the hospital I was 5 cm. I started pushing around 12:10 and LO was born at 12:57AM on Tuesday.

The most challenging thing was actually 2 fold. One was specific to our situation. He was in the NICU for 5 days and came home on an apnea monitor that was worn 24/7. The wires and alarms were a PITA. The other was breastfeeding. It was very difficult, but I'm soooo glad I stuck it out. I love it now.

beth2663 · February 2012

My labor lasted about 7 hours and pushed for 45 minutes.

My DD was delivered vaginally and i tore up and down and ended up with 6 stitches. Walking around with the LO while my DH was working was the most challenging the first week home. It was the only way to get her to sleep when she got fussy.

Good luck with your delivery!!

frasey · February 2012

labour was 10 hours from water breaking until delivery, pushed maybe 3 times, 20 mins or so. She was 37 weeks, and 6.5 lbs.

One thing no one mentioned to me was that there are still contractions when you push. I didnt realize this, and I guess I just assumed the contractions stopped once you reached 10 cm, but this is not the case. They continue and you push as they come. I had a really long break - like 10 mins - btwn said contractions.

I would say the hardest part was the one of my nipples hurt like a b****. We had to try different positions to try to make it better to feed DD, and I guess it got better with time. And I was really tired.

Redsoxchick · February 2012

I was in labor 31 hours, pushed for 3 and ended up with a C-Section....but don't worry I don't think this is typical...and it was ALL well worth it!

Being home is a challenge because I'm limited due to the surgery. I think just getting into a routine was a struggle and feeling comfy with LO...not thinking I'm going to break him...still working on that!

lildevil968 · February 2012

Lurking and not a first time mom. My labor with DD was 17 hours, and I pushed for exactly 30 minutes. She was born at 37 wks 3 days. The hardest part for us was not knowing what to do. It took us a good 2 wks to have everything under control.

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