What would you do different the next time around?

Oohgurl · January 2014

My labor nurse was great and the nurse right after that helped clean up the horror scene was great. All the others blew. And they had be waking to feed every 2 hours around the clock. That I would do different. He didn't eat half those times anyways and I got zero rest. Next time I will push it to 3 hours.

Oohgurl · January 2014

@jayro10 which hospital where you at? I was at Providence Novi and HATED the LC.

jayro10 · January 2014

flyliceandcoffee · January 2014

That sucks you guys had horrible experiences with your nurses and LCs!

I think if I had to do something differently, I wouldn't have waited 2 weeks before going to see the LC. The two I worked with for the 2 months after S was born were great. I know there were a couple at the hospital that I didn't like, but the two I had were amazing and I sometimes wonder if I hadn't waited for 2 weeks, if I could have EBF instead of having to supplement.

I'd like to say I'd start putting the baby into his/her crib for naps from the very beginning, but honestly I think each kiddo is different so for all I know, the next kid might be just fine with sleeping!

pnutg · January 2014

Love this thread.

Like other pps, I wouldn't wish away the newborn stage. I was so sleep deprived and just wanted an easier 6 month old. Now I'm sad he won't sleep on my chest anymore.

I will request another ultrasound after the 36 week one. They estimated I would give birth to a 7 lb baby and he was 9.5 and I could barely push him out, followed by a 4 month recovery.

More tummy time. C hates being on his tummy.

Blueyed228 · January 2014

beaubecca said:

This post surprises me - I had no idea so many of you had such bad labor & delivery experiences! I'm so sorry to hear that. They say every baby is different so hopefully if you have more (or have had others first) you will have better experiences. Except you, Blue, I know you are not planning any more!

My SIL had bad experiences with her nurses too. They put a lot of pressure on her and were condescending about her not wanting to breastfeed. As if giving labor isn't tough enough and sometimes traumatic - we don't need extra pressure from the peanut gallery.

This makes me want to keep in touch with my L&D nurses just to ensure they are there for the next one because I was blessed with good ones.

My delivery was such a fucking disaster that I was told not to have anymore.

KLJ3 · January 2014

The only thing I'd change is how I felt about breastfeeding / pumping / formula. Next time, if the baby doesn't latch well (C didn't), I'm not gonna fight it. I'll exclusively pump the shit out of the first 6-8 weeks, introduce formula right away, build a freezer stash, then happily feed a mixture until we're completely FF. Hopefully all without the guilt that accompanied it this time.

And if I ever see the LC that I dealt with last time, I'm gonna tell her to GTFO.

Schell2013 · January 2014

Blueyed228 said:

beaubecca said:

This post surprises me - I had no idea so many of you had such bad labor & delivery experiences! I'm so sorry to hear that. They say every baby is different so hopefully if you have more (or have had others first) you will have better experiences. Except you, Blue, I know you are not planning any more!

My SIL had bad experiences with her nurses too. They put a lot of pressure on her and were condescending about her not wanting to breastfeed. As if giving labor isn't tough enough and sometimes traumatic - we don't need extra pressure from the peanut gallery.

This makes me want to keep in touch with my L&D nurses just to ensure they are there for the next one because I was blessed with good ones.

My delivery was such a fucking disaster that I was told not to have anymore.

Yup me too but I think I'll try to have one more! I almost died and so did my baby so I don't know, I don't want T to be an only child cause me and my bro are close and have fun I want the same for her.

Blueyed228 · January 2014

I didnt almost die, but I wanted to.

Good thing I got 2 for 1. Silver lining I suppose.

strawny0807 · January 2014

I'm not sure I want to have another LO but if by chance I do... If I'm not with my same OB, I will find one that will do a CS (mine said next time will definitely be CS) because my vag delivery and recovery were horrible; I don't know that I'd even try to BF (please don't flame, it was horrible, I hated every minute of it and it made me resent LO); I will work harder on getting LO to take a pacifier; I'll accept help when it's offered;

Amer0317 · January 2014

@oohgurl. I delivered at providence park as well. The lc came in just as one of my friends arrived, I asked her she could possibly return after she made her rounds, she said yes. She never came back and when we were being discharged the next day, I asked to see a lc before we left. She didn't come in for 3 hours (we were antsy to get home) and didn't really answer any if my questions. She did however notice the sample of nipple cream on the table and told me if it hurt I was doing it wrong. But didn't offer to watch or help or anything.

Oohgurl · January 2014

Amer0317 said:

@oohgurl. I delivered at providence park as well. The lc came in just as one of my friends arrived, I asked her she could possibly return after she made her rounds, she said yes. She never came back and when we were being discharged the next day, I asked to see a lc before we left. She didn't come in for 3 hours (we were antsy to get home) and didn't really answer any if my questions. She did however notice the sample of nipple cream on the table and told me if it hurt I was doing it wrong. But didn't offer to watch or help or anything.

Yup that sounds about right. She blew me off like I would fail in a week. She popped in when our pedi was there and came back 30 minutes before we were supposed to leave a day and half later. Her timing felt intentional to me.

Shoegal36 · January 2014

I was really lucky and had a good experience with all my nurses from L&D, maternity, and the LC's.

The only bad thing I can say is that when I went in a few hours after being given Cervidil, the nurse I saw should NOT have sent me home without checking to see how dilated I was or having a doctor check me. She told me to go home and rest, and I was like "are you effing kidding me?"...2 hours later I went back a 2nd time because I just couldn't take it anymore, and they're like "oh, you're 10 cm, no wonder you were having so much discomfort!"

Next time, I will be staying put and I will be getting an epidural if I have to go find it and stick it in myself.

emmy236 · January 2014

I did like my nurses. My L&D nurse was a tough Eastern European woman but I needed that and we got pretty close at the end, physically. They lost R's heartbeat because I had zero fluid and his cord was wrapped around his neck cutting off all blood from the cord. I had to have my cervix ripped open, get on all 4s while my nurse had to get on the bed behind me, and put her hand in and keep pressure off the cord. Then the doctor, anesthesiologist, and other nurses raced me to the ER for my emergency c- section. It was such an emergency I had zero pain medication through everything including the first incision of my cs. After that I was pretty close to all of those people. Even the anesthesiologist because he felt awful I had to go through so much. Having that woman scream in Romanian helped for some reason.

drhibbard · January 2014

Huh. My experiences were good at the hospital. Different... I would do one bottle a day from three weeks on. My kid still doesn't like the bottle. I'd sleep train earlier.

kmcd23 · January 2014

1. No induction. If it doesn't happen naturally, surgical extraction for sure.

2. I'll feed more often and ignore the pressure to supplement.

3. I'll take probiotics and start vinegar washes right away to ward off thrush.

4. I'll ask for more help/company/support.

pnutg · January 2014

kmcd23 said:
1. No induction. If it doesn't happen naturally, surgical extraction for sure.

2. I'll feed more often and ignore the pressure to supplement.

3. I'll take probiotics and start vinegar washes right away to ward off thrush.

4. I'll ask for more help/company/support.

I remember your thrush nightmare. Turns out we never had it, just clogged ducts behind the nipples due to a previous surgery. I'm so torn about trying to bf the second time around.

jayro10 · January 2014

@emmy236 your birth story is terrifying. I can't imagine how scared you must have been. I'm glad you and your baby made it out okay.

emmy236 · January 2014

@jayro10 thanks. It all happened so fast. Within 45 mins of pulling into the hospital parking lot I was in the OR. I'm just lucky and the stars aligned. I only live 1.4 miles from the hospital. There weren't any other emergencies at that time. I had the high risk surgeon on call that night. They told us there was a very good chance he wouldn't make it so to have him come as healthy as he was a miracle and luckily shock kicked in at the end there. Poor DH had to sit outside the OR and he was a mess and it was 1am and no know would wake up and talk to him. I don't remember this but I guess a few other dads were in the hallway getting ice or whatever for their wives and everyone got knocked out of the way as they raced me to the ER. I guess they completely freaked out saying that it was not anywhere on the birthing class video.

Blueyed228 · January 2014

My c-section was unmedicated as well. It took 4 minutes, 5 incisions, and the vacuum to get Julia out after they got Ant.

They were never in danger and were born perfectly healthy so I cant complain, but the damage to my uterus was too much, that I wont be able to carry another child.

Not that I want to anyways

fancefpp · January 2014

I'm so sorry some of you went through so much. I can't imagine an unmedicated csection! I've had two csections and the thought of that is terrifying.

DiFazette · January 2014

I would have asked for a surgical extraction after my 3rd hospitalization for BP. They tried to induce me to see what would happen since a c section would be additional stress on my BP. I may have been able to see my baby within 24 hours had they not waited until the situation was dire. I lost my shit on my dr after 24 hours and told him I'd rip out my catheter and mag drip myself if it meant I could see my baby. I saw him about 3 hours later.

jayro10 · January 2014

These stories make my hundredth degree tear seem like a cake walk. Damn.

Blueyed228 · January 2014

Meh- birth sucks either way you slice it. Shit happens.

smg2302 · January 2014

I'm sorry to hear about everyone's difficult experiences. During delivery, DD tried to turn and face upwards and in the process her collar bone snapped under the pressure of my pelvic bone. I was so overwhelmed and the way the nurse explained it to me, I thought it was my fault. Turns out its pretty common and heals pretty easily. Then, when DD's stump fell off, she had an umbilical granuloma. Again I freaked out. Next time, I need to calm down and understand these things happen and are pretty normal.

Lolalipsy · January 2014

@smg2302 So sorry. Glad your LO is alright.

CNJ4EVA · January 2014

smg2302 said:
DD tried to turn and face upwards and in the process her collar bone snapped under the pressure of my pelvic bone. I was so overwhelmed and the way the nurse explained it to me, I thought it was my fault. Turns out its pretty common and heals pretty easily.

I don't care how common it is, sounds like a reason to freak out to me!

Schell2013 · January 2014

I would start sleep training at 5 weeks (dec 13' board reccomends it) :-/ I would also spank earlier!!!

huzzahuzza · January 2014

beckyschell said:

I would start sleep training at 5 weeks (dec 13' board reccomends it) :-/ I would also spank earlier!!!

so you're saying you spank now???

FLAMES!!!!!

Schell2013 · January 2014

huzzahuzza said:

beckyschell said:

I would start sleep training at 5 weeks (dec 13' board reccomends it) :-/ I would also spank earlier!!!

so you're saying you spank now???

FLAMES!!!!!

Well probably at 5 months. Cut them a bit of slack.

Eta- 100% a joke. Just in case you missed the posts that this comes from.

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