The hospital I will be giving birth at is very pro delayed cord cutting, skin to skin and BFing right after for 1 hour. H will not get his way and have MIL in the room with us (no way, no how, I love her it's just not our relationship) and right now I only plan on H and doula in the room, maaaaaaaaybe my sister. I want to labor at home as long as possible (this is where expertise with the doula comes in) and then go as long as possible without meds. I want to be able to walk around, use the tub in the room, and yoga ball. I would rather get a c/s than be induced; if my body isn't ready to push this baby out, I'm not going to force it.
@dolewhipper I was almost 2 weeks overdue, and got an induction. I know other people who had successful inductions and it was fine, but I don't blame you for having this outlook. If I was choosing to try for a VBAC (I'm not, but I thought about it a lot before making that decision) my one caveat was I would NEVER have had another induction.
Everyone I personally know has had problems when given pitocin; either the baby had a low Apgar score, they had to get a c/s anyway, or labor was so long and they were in so much pain they begged for a c/s. No thanks!
Amberdoll84 when my sister gave birth my step dad was in the room, though it was more out of necessity (my mom is handicapped and needs to be watched, and my sister wanted my mom there). He kept his distance, was quiet, and stayed out of "the view". The most he saw was blood on her thigh when the baby came out. I know he was very honored and happy to be there, as his other 3 kids live out of state and he wasn't able to see the birth of those grandkids. If you don't mind it and are having your mom there, and especially because it is his first grandkid, I can only imagine your dad would be very happy and excited.
I wonder...I think with Twins and higher you automatically are taken to OR to deliver, even vaginally, just in case you have to have a c section for baby b. I wonder if they have the same rules as a c-section with only one person allowed. I'm OK with that, of course. I'd like my mom there as she is very calming. She is not prone to excitability and is very level emotionally, so I don't mind if she's there, but if I only could have one it'd be Adam for sure.
Is anyone else taking the classes? They have classes at our hospital, a whole day of them and a tour. Its $45 a couple. Not that I'm not paying quite enough to deliver there.
I prefer just having dh in the room with me, that way we can bond with baby together. I know most families want to be there but because I've been induced each time I just wanted to sleep. If someone else were with us I'd probably feel obligated to stay up (trust me, you will want to sleep as much as possible!). Plus i need someone to watch my other kiddos and my in-laws aren't involved. No photographers for delivery, just our own camera.
My OB gave me a "birth plan" packet to fill out and it's just guidelines on what I'd like to happen. I'm trying for a natural birth this time, no pitocin or epidural. However...I had a terrible time with my son the last couple of months I was pregnant. I had sudden shooting pains that would go down my leg and my leg would give out, so if it ends up like that again I'll go ahead with another induction. My hospital does kangaroo care for an hour after birth, unless something is wrong, and I think it really makes a difference. My youngest dd is very attached to me and I think that's why.
My biggest piece of advice to any FTMs is to go with the flow, but also stand up for yourself! Or someone that will in case you're too tired. Do not get bullied into something that you don't want. It infuriates me when a doctor or nurse tries to put their schedule or ease of job above what the mom wants.
@jlgriff11 I have had two friends do vaginal (with twins), and they were only allowed to have their one support person (both had their husbands) in the room because they had to deliver in the OR. My third friend with twins, ended up doing the first twin vaginal and had to have a c-section with the second twin. They had to move pretty quickly to get everything set up, so I can see why they wouldn't want more than one support person in the way.
So FTM here. I am planning on just having DH, and letting everyone know when we are ready for visitors. I know they will be chomping at the bit to come but I think they will be respectful. DH will be slightly questionable because he does NOT do well in crisis, or if I am in pain/sick. He gets panicky. It has helped in the past because then I have to muster up to be strong and not panicky for the both of us. Just not sure if labor is a time where I am going to have enough energy to take care of him. He may get sent to do a lot of little jobs to occupy his time and mind.
Couple of questions:
1. Do you all have experience with hospitals letting children under 12 in. I went to visit a friend over the summer and the hospital would not let any visitors under 12 in the maternity ward who were not children of the parents. I know I will have to ask my hospital but I didn't know if that was common. (I don't have children but I do have nephews).
2. Does anyone have experience talking to their OB's about delayed cord clamping, skin to skin time? Clearly I will have to ask mine, but I didn't know if this was something that most OB's were into, or if it was something that was more respected by midwives and birthing centers?
So FTM here. I am planning on just having DH, and letting everyone know when we are ready for visitors. I know they will be chomping at the bit to come but I think they will be respectful. DH will be slightly questionable because he does NOT do well in crisis, or if I am in pain/sick. He gets panicky. It has helped in the past because then I have to muster up to be strong and not panicky for the both of us. Just not sure if labor is a time where I am going to have enough energy to take care of him. He may get sent to do a lot of little jobs to occupy his time and mind.
Couple of questions:
1. Do you all have experience with hospitals letting children under 12 in. I went to visit a friend over the summer and the hospital would not let any visitors under 12 in the maternity ward who were not children of the parents. I know I will have to ask my hospital but I didn't know if that was common. (I don't have children but I do have nephews).
2. Does anyone have experience talking to their OB's about delayed cord clamping, skin to skin time? Clearly I will have to ask mine, but I didn't know if this was something that most OB's were into, or if it was something that was more respected by midwives and birthing centers?
1. When DD was born all of my husband's niece and nephews were able to come see/meet her. The youngest was less than a year old. It probably varies by hospitals, but we had zero problems. When I would go for my non-stress tests there would be cousins waiting in the waiting room with grandparents and aunts/uncles waiting to meet their new little cousins.
2. My OB is very encouraging of delayed cord clamping and 2 hours kangaroo care (skin to skin) is normal hospital procedure where I'm delivering (as long as there aren't complications). I don't live in a remotely crunchy part of the country either.
With my first, I was adamant about no one in the waiting room (they were there anyway lol) and only DH in L&D with me. We were dead set on limiting visitors and having plenty of just us time. Once she was here though, my feelings changed completely. I wanted everyone and their mother to come to the hospital to fall in love with my sweet baby. I couldn't wait to share our joy with our family and friends. I was surprised as hell. Haha! This time it will still be just me and DH. We make a great birthing team. I almost didn't recognize this amazing man who coached me through labor and delivery. I fell so much more in love with him that day. (That could also be the oxytocin talking haha!). Since this is most likely our last, we are having a photographer. We will be encouraging our close friends and family to wait in the waiting room if they want and definitely to come visit in the hospital and at home after baby is here. I can't wait!
@mckcak23 I think that's how most hospitals are, I know mine has the same rule regarding kids in the maternity ward. It might have been 8, I can't quite remember. Our hospital calls the skin to skin after birth alone time kangaroo care and they do it for all births, not just preemies. I'm sure your OB can fill you in on whether or not they do it or if it's possible.
This time around it will be pretty similar to my first birth considering the circumstances. Our first birth, we didn't inform anyone that it was active labour until I got admitted and into my own room around 1:30-2AM and my mom/dad/in laws/my sister came to the hospital. I had gotten the epidural so I was sleeping, but it was the birth of our son so they kept my husband company, brought him meals and kept him entertained. By 10:30 AM we were given the OK to start pushing and it was going OK until his heart rate was declining with the pushing - we were then rushed into emergency c-section. We always knew that it was an option and it had no impact on us what so ever. From the minute we were starting to push they all came in wished us luck and did the same on the way to the c-section. All boundaries were respected and even after c-section recovery - baby was kept with me and he was able to go out and show them photos of our son.
After getting into recovery my cousin and SIL we're there and I was able to do skin-to-skin which was great, they kept an eye on me as I fell asleep holding my son in that position. They we're all so respectful and helpful, nobody minded leaving when we needed to breastfeed and if nurses came in they would step out.
At this point in time, the type of delivery is still undetermined but the same set of rules apply. Regardless of the type of birth, they will all attend and will want to be there for the new individual we are bringing into the world for everyone to love. We're hoping for another speedy delivery/recovery with this one. This baby will be showered with so much love and support
@mckcak23 The hospitals in our area (and there are like 10 of them), do not have rules when it comes to children. Sometimes they will put restrictions if there is a flu floating around. Like when my husband's cousin had her son, it was when H1N1 was big, and the hospital would only allow your support person, and ONE other person in your room, nobody else. Nobody was allowed in waiting rooms, and nobody could visit after baby was born. They were really strict about it. When it comes to kids, they don't usually mind, but the nurses will step in and ask people to leave if the kids are being too rowdy and not respecting other patients in the wards. Although it doesn't happen often, I have seen it happen. My friend's nieces come from a family where parenting just doesn't happen. The parents made the kids sit in the waiting room for hours while my friend was in labor. They were extremely restless, and by the time they went into the room to see the baby, they were running around in the room, being loud, opening and closing the room door, and just overall being annoying to everyone there. And since the mom and dad were taking their sweet time loving on the baby, they were just ignoring the behavior of their children. A nurse came in and told them that it was time for them to go (in the nicest way possible), and they left.
I would just contact your hospital and ask what their policy is.
I'm planning a med free hospital birth, like last time with only DH there. My labor with DS was only 3 hrs, so with this one I feel like I'll need to run in order to get there in time! haha As far as visitors I had an onslaught of people a couple hrs after birth which was totally overwhelming... at least they brought good food, but this time I might wait until I'm back home, not sure yet.
With DD, we lived in Long Island, NY and parents were in FL, one of DH's brothers was going to school in NYC. I didn't *think* I needed to have a conversation or set ground rules because parents were so far away and BIL was a college student... and a dude.
I ended up being sent to hospital for induction 9/14 around 1pm. As soon as that word got out, BIL hopped on a train and proceeded to hang out in our room and then camp out at the hospital. DD was born at 5:50 am on 9/15. Totally stressed me out knowing that someone was there and waiting. Then of course, he was invited into the room soon after birth because he had been there all night.
My mom also immediately hopped on a flight and came to the hospital, where she stayed for the duration of my labor/delivery. We knew she would be coming to help post-birth but I wasn't anticipating that she would be in the room for the birth. Once she was there, I didn't have the heart to kick her out.
Moral of the story: have these conversations even if you think you don't have to.
Also- I was induced with cervadil, suffered horrible back labor while trying to go pain med free, then got an epidurals which was amazing, I was given some pitocin along the way, and successfully had a vaginal birth. Baby was delivered by a wonderful Resident. (just putting some things in a positive light that have been covered in the thread so far)
My mom had 4 med free 100% natural births, she did not have thr option otherwise.
With my first, I was was a BR then induced. I did great until they broke my water around 5cm (I thnk). Then the pain went from 'ok, I got this' to 'omg, I am dying'. The epidural was a blessing. I then dilated quickly (2-3 hours). Baby got stuck. My OB had both her hands in my vagina. Up to her forearm. She pushed, twisted, turned, danced, sang.... everything. Nothing. We bolus my epidural and let me sit (this is called laboring down btw). Nada. I still was pushing from the pressure. Yet my body was slowing down even while on high dose Pit.
4 hours of pushing, a C/S was called.
Baby's head was wedged under my public bone. They needed a 2nd team to help get her out. She was under 6 1/2 pounds. Baby had some birth trauma.
I am not a candidate for a VBAC. I am completely ok with that. I was waiting for some crap from my mom. She tool the opposite direction. She was utterly amazed by how hard I and the team worked. She was a 'unofficial ' doula for her military girlfriends. She said she has never seen anything like that and was proud of everything I did and endured.
When I got pregnant the 2nd time, she made sure that I was not going to attempt labor again. She said that having a natural birth does not make me better, stronger or a hero. But that doing the best for me and my child does. That being operated on is proof that I will do anything for my children, and that she is not sure that she could have done that.
I am so proud and happy to have her support. My in laws all had easy natural births and never said a damn thing. MIL and SIL knows the story and are amazed that I am doing this a 3rdtime.
@jlgriff11 I'm taking ALL THE CLASSES but partly because my insurance covers them 100% and free is my favorite price. But beyond my love of free stuff, my husband and I both think taking the classes will be a good bonding experience for the two of us so he's all about it, he wants to as involved as possible in all aspects of birth and parenting, which to me is about the sexist thing on earth.
So FTM here. I am planning on just having DH, and letting everyone know when we are ready for visitors. I know they will be chomping at the bit to come but I think they will be respectful. DH will be slightly questionable because he does NOT do well in crisis, or if I am in pain/sick. He gets panicky. It has helped in the past because then I have to muster up to be strong and not panicky for the both of us. Just not sure if labor is a time where I am going to have enough energy to take care of him. He may get sent to do a lot of little jobs to occupy his time and mind.
Couple of questions:
1. Do you all have experience with hospitals letting children under 12 in. I went to visit a friend over the summer and the hospital would not let any visitors under 12 in the maternity ward who were not children of the parents. I know I will have to ask my hospital but I didn't know if that was common. (I don't have children but I do have nephews).
2. Does anyone have experience talking to their OB's about delayed cord clamping, skin to skin time? Clearly I will have to ask mine, but I didn't know if this was something that most OB's were into, or if it was something that was more respected by midwives and birthing centers?
My nephew was able to come in and meet my son at the hospital. He was 5 at the time.
I have had two natural hospital births so most of my birth plan is just figuring out logistics. My second birth I delivered within an hour of getting to the hospital. This time DH might be at work so I will need to have someone available to drive me and somewhere for the kids to go or someone to stay here with them. Also having DH make it to the hospital on time.
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Just DH and I at the hospital. Ill probably tell out of town family when I'm going into labor so they can make arrangements and telling local family when I'm ready to go home.
The first few hours/days I want to focus on bonding with baby and have as few distractions as possible - and hospitals are stressful enough as is.
More than likely it will just be H and I again. No birth plan. I've had an epi at the very beginning, an epi just for pushing accidentally, and then no epi for my last. We shall see how everything goes this time. If it's a quick labor like my last two I will probably try to skip the epi.
The only thing I really want is for the baby to stay in my room instead of the nursery. Oh and I plan on BFing immediately.
More than likely it will just be H and I again. No birth plan. I've had an epi at the very beginning, an epi just for pushing accidentally, and then no epi for my last. We shall see how everything goes this time. If it's a quick labor like my last two I will probably try to skip the epi.
The only thing I really want is for the baby to stay in my room instead of the nursery. Oh and I plan on BFing immediately.
Do they still have nurseries in hospitals?
Yes, though they're not used frequently. At least in my area, hospitals encourage rooming in vs nursery.
@silvers626 My husbands cousin had like 10 people in there (along with her mom and her husband). The doctor didn't care, as long as everyone was respectful, and stayed out of the way. There was a reason that she had that many people in there though. His family is extremely close, and do everything together. When she had her daughter, it was right before 6 of the teenage girls in the family were leaving to go to college, and not having any sister's herself, these girls were like her little sisters. She did it more of a learning experience, to show them that there was nothing glamorous about having a baby, and delivered her daughter drug free, in front of all of the girls.....to give them a little scare before they headed off to college. My husband and I got there about 45min after the baby was born, and the look on the girls faces as they came out of that room....priceless! It must have worked, because since that has happened, they have all graduated from college and none of them have ended up pregnant. HAHA
Good for her! I just can't imagine having that many people around and I definitely would not be comfortable with all those people watching me. But good on her and if it showed those girls a little glimpse of real life then mission accomplished!
People in the room: husband and my sister who has acted as my doula for my last two L&D experiences.
Inlaws will be watching my boys and will bring them to visit newbie probably the day after in the hospital.
No birth plan other than desiring limited interventions. First baby had to be induced and I had a epidural and 3.5 hours of pushing. Second kid I went into labor naturally but then stalled at the hospital so we did pitocin again. My contractions didn't hurt until my water broke but I waited too long to get the epi so I went pain med free. Only 15 minutes of pushing. I'm praying labor and delivery is a lot more like my second experience than my first. Goal will be epidural free again this time, but we will see.
More than likely it will just be H and I again. No birth plan. I've had an epi at the very beginning, an epi just for pushing accidentally, and then no epi for my last. We shall see how everything goes this time. If it's a quick labor like my last two I will probably try to skip the epi.
The only thing I really want is for the baby to stay in my room instead of the nursery. Oh and I plan on BFing immediately.
Do they still have nurseries in hospitals?
Depends on the hospital. Most of the ones in my area have gotten rid of theirs, and your baby is with you the whole time. Then they have certain hours (in the middle of the night) where you can request that they take the baby so you can sleep for a little bit longer (our hospitals hours were from 2-4am), and the nurses just take the babies into the nurses station and they just watch over baby and love on the baby until time is up, then they bring them back to your room (but that is only if you request it, we kept our DD in our room 100% of the time).
L&D with DS was a nightmare! Totally taking a different approach this time around. My DH and mom will for sure be in the room through labor and pushing. My mom was the key player in getting me through 29 hours of labor + 3 of pushing with back labor.
This time we will NOT have my sister or any of my grandparents in the room. If it weren't for the lengthy story I'd write it all out. Lol
Birth plan = give me the drugs, epi is your friend lol, and birth a healthy baby. We are expecting baby boy #2 so we have additional things to discuss again with my OB before its go time. We do plan on having a birth photographer! I wish I would've gotten photos of my labor / post delivery because I honestly felt like a champ after the whole ordeal lol
@silvers626 Ours does. They say they encourage rooming in, but they repeatedly asked if they could take our daughter. Maybe because we seemed distraught (we were!), but we wanted to keep her with us and try to figure things out (we didn't, haha). DH went with for the middle of the night weight checks and tests and said a several babies were in the nursery at night.
As far as a birth plan..no idea. I had originally thought I would be all for the drugs, but my mom said she did natural births with my 5 siblings and I, and she said it's not as bad as you'd think it'd be. Any STM+'s agree?
I think that it really depends on the person and their threshold of pain tolerance. I have had two friends do both. They had a epidural for their first, but not for their second (not by choice, both were too far into labor to get one). And they both said that after the non-epidural birth, they were sore, but felt much better than they did with the epidural birth....and were up walking around less than 30min after delivery. But both also said that the actual labor, crowning, "ring of fire" hurt FAR worse than it did with the epidural birth.
My mom and her sister both had unmedicated births (my mom had three, my aunt had two). I felt I had nothing to prove...if I was in that bad of pain, I was going to get drugs for it. There is a reason they invented the drugs. So my plan was to go as far as possible without drugs, and see how I felt. If I needed them, okay....if I didn't, that was fine too. I was induced and I was not prepared for back labor....which is pure hell, and the fact that it would take 12 hours to go from 1cm to 2cm. I was so wiped out, hadn't slept at all that night, and it felt like someone was taking a sledgehammer to my back. I never thought I would get a epidural before AT LEAST 6cm.....and I ended up getting one at 2cm. My labor was 28 hours and ended in an emergency c-section, so in the end, I was glad that I had the epidural so it was already placed for the drugs I needed for the c-section and didn't delay any time.
All births, vaginal, medicated, c-section, etc.....have their pros and cons, and everyone's will go differently, so its something that people need to decide for themselves when it comes to pain management and whether or not they go for it. My aunt likes to throw it in anyone's face (that has an epidural) "Everyone needs to have an unmedicated birth and see what REAL pain is all about, instead of taking the easy way out!" She says it ALL of the time. One day, in all my raging hormone glory, I snapped back with "Easy way out? You should have a c-section and see what REAL pain is all about...."
Oops I'm sorry about the above...I suck at figuring out how things work on his message board. I wanted to say I totally agree it depends on the person. I really wanted to labor with no pain meds, and it was doable up to a certain point for me (sucked big time but doable)...but I had a long labor and once I got to "transition" and was at about 8cm I just could not stand it anymore. The pain seriously scared me. Anyway my midwife ended up suggesting an epi even though I had said I wasn't doing that, bc she was worried I was getting to tired out and too tense and things weren't progressing. I was so relieved to have one....but then it made me shake horribly and soon after, my son's heart rate went down and I had to have a c section. I'm in such a dilemma now about this next baby...bc I believe the epi led to shaking that I hated and to his heart rate dropping, it makes me want to try to avoid it this time. But because I know my own pain tolerance now and what that was like...I'm scared to forgo the epi. Sorry to ramble, I guess my point is it really depends on the person and I hate it when people make it sounds like labor is "easy" for everyone or not that bad
It will be me and DH in the delivery room this time for sure. I am not sure if anyone else will be there. My mom was there with DS and I actually really appreciated her being there simply because she would support my neck when I was curling up to push. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it was helpful enough that I may want her there this time around!
No real birthplan here. Meds if I decide I need them, or not if I don't...get baby out safely.
Thinking a lot about the epi/no epi thing can cause us a lot of unnecessary stress. I had said that I wanted to try to go without epidural with DS. Once I got to the hospital at 8 cm, though, I would've taken it. They told me it was too late, and honestly, I was terrified of what was coming. Right after birth, I was glad that I didn't get it. It was such a roller coaster. This time, I'm not stressing about it; whatever happens, happens.
Re: Delivery Room Details
Amberdoll84 when my sister gave birth my step dad was in the room, though it was more out of necessity (my mom is handicapped and needs to be watched, and my sister wanted my mom there). He kept his distance, was quiet, and stayed out of "the view". The most he saw was blood on her thigh when the baby came out. I know he was very honored and happy to be there, as his other 3 kids live out of state and he wasn't able to see the birth of those grandkids. If you don't mind it and are having your mom there, and especially because it is his first grandkid, I can only imagine your dad would be very happy and excited.
Is anyone else taking the classes? They have classes at our hospital, a whole day of them and a tour. Its $45 a couple. Not that I'm not paying quite enough to deliver there.
My OB gave me a "birth plan" packet to fill out and it's just guidelines on what I'd like to happen. I'm trying for a natural birth this time, no pitocin or epidural. However...I had a terrible time with my son the last couple of months I was pregnant. I had sudden shooting pains that would go down my leg and my leg would give out, so if it ends up like that again I'll go ahead with another induction. My hospital does kangaroo care for an hour after birth, unless something is wrong, and I think it really makes a difference. My youngest dd is very attached to me and I think that's why.
My biggest piece of advice to any FTMs is to go with the flow, but also stand up for yourself! Or someone that will in case you're too tired. Do not get bullied into something that you don't want. It infuriates me when a doctor or nurse tries to put their schedule or ease of job above what the mom wants.
Holy crap, that was a book, sorry! Lol
Couple of questions:
1. Do you all have experience with hospitals letting children under 12 in. I went to visit a friend over the summer and the hospital would not let any visitors under 12 in the maternity ward who were not children of the parents. I know I will have to ask my hospital but I didn't know if that was common. (I don't have children but I do have nephews).
2. Does anyone have experience talking to their OB's about delayed cord clamping, skin to skin time? Clearly I will have to ask mine, but I didn't know if this was something that most OB's were into, or if it was something that was more respected by midwives and birthing centers?
2. My OB is very encouraging of delayed cord clamping and 2 hours kangaroo care (skin to skin) is normal hospital procedure where I'm delivering (as long as there aren't complications). I don't live in a remotely crunchy part of the country either.
After getting into recovery my cousin and SIL we're there and I was able to do skin-to-skin which was great, they kept an eye on me as I fell asleep holding my son in that position. They we're all so respectful and helpful, nobody minded leaving when we needed to breastfeed and if nurses came in they would step out.
At this point in time, the type of delivery is still undetermined but the same set of rules apply. Regardless of the type of birth, they will all attend and will want to be there for the new individual we are bringing into the world for everyone to love. We're hoping for another speedy delivery/recovery with this one. This baby will be showered with so much love and support
I would just contact your hospital and ask what their policy is.
My labor with DS was only 3 hrs, so with this one I feel like I'll need to run in order to get there in time! haha
As far as visitors I had an onslaught of people a couple hrs after birth which was totally overwhelming... at least they brought good food, but this time I might wait until I'm back home, not sure yet.
I ended up being sent to hospital for induction 9/14 around 1pm. As soon as that word got out, BIL hopped on a train and proceeded to hang out in our room and then camp out at the hospital. DD was born at 5:50 am on 9/15. Totally stressed me out knowing that someone was there and waiting. Then of course, he was invited into the room soon after birth because he had been there all night.
My mom also immediately hopped on a flight and came to the hospital, where she stayed for the duration of my labor/delivery. We knew she would be coming to help post-birth but I wasn't anticipating that she would be in the room for the birth. Once she was there, I didn't have the heart to kick her out.
Moral of the story: have these conversations even if you think you don't have to.
Also- I was induced with cervadil, suffered horrible back labor while trying to go pain med free, then got an epidurals which was amazing, I was given some pitocin along the way, and successfully had a vaginal birth. Baby was delivered by a wonderful Resident. (just putting some things in a positive light that have been covered in the thread so far)
With my first, I was was a BR then induced. I did great until they broke my water around 5cm (I thnk). Then the pain went from 'ok, I got this' to 'omg, I am dying'. The epidural was a blessing. I then dilated quickly (2-3 hours). Baby got stuck. My OB had both her hands in my vagina. Up to her forearm. She pushed, twisted, turned, danced, sang.... everything. Nothing. We bolus my epidural and let me sit (this is called laboring down btw). Nada. I still was pushing from the pressure. Yet my body was slowing down even while on high dose Pit.
4 hours of pushing, a C/S was called.
Baby's head was wedged under my public bone. They needed a 2nd team to help get her out. She was under 6 1/2 pounds. Baby had some birth trauma.
I am not a candidate for a VBAC. I am completely ok with that. I was waiting for some crap from my mom. She tool the opposite direction. She was utterly amazed by how hard I and the team worked. She was a 'unofficial ' doula for her military girlfriends. She said she has never seen anything like that and was proud of everything I did and endured.
When I got pregnant the 2nd time, she made sure that I was not going to attempt labor again. She said that having a natural birth does not make me better, stronger or a hero. But that doing the best for me and my child does. That being operated on is proof that I will do anything for my children, and that she is not sure that she could have done that.
I am so proud and happy to have her support.
My in laws all had easy natural births and never said a damn thing. MIL and SIL knows the story and are amazed that I am doing this a 3rdtime.
I have had two natural hospital births so most of my birth plan is just figuring out logistics. My second birth I delivered within an hour of getting to the hospital. This time DH might be at work so I will need to have someone available to drive me and somewhere for the kids to go or someone to stay here with them. Also having DH make it to the hospital on time.
The first few hours/days I want to focus on bonding with baby and have as few distractions as possible - and hospitals are stressful enough as is.
Inlaws will be watching my boys and will bring them to visit newbie probably the day after in the hospital.
No birth plan other than desiring limited interventions. First baby had to be induced and I had a epidural and 3.5 hours of pushing. Second kid I went into labor naturally but then stalled at the hospital so we did pitocin again. My contractions didn't hurt until my water broke but I waited too long to get the epi so I went pain med free. Only 15 minutes of pushing. I'm praying labor and delivery is a lot more like my second experience than my first. Goal will be epidural free again this time, but we will see.
This time we will NOT have my sister or any of my grandparents in the room. If it weren't for the lengthy story I'd write it all out. Lol
Birth plan = give me the drugs, epi is your friend lol, and birth a healthy baby. We are expecting baby boy #2 so we have additional things to discuss again with my OB before its go time.
We do plan on having a birth photographer! I wish I would've gotten photos of my labor / post delivery because I honestly felt like a champ after the whole ordeal lol
No real birthplan here. Meds if I decide I need them, or not if I don't...get baby out safely.
Thinking a lot about the epi/no epi thing can cause us a lot of unnecessary stress. I had said that I wanted to try to go without epidural with DS. Once I got to the hospital at 8 cm, though, I would've taken it. They told me it was too late, and honestly, I was terrified of what was coming. Right after birth, I was glad that I didn't get it. It was such a roller coaster. This time, I'm not stressing about it; whatever happens, happens.