voting is now closed on round 4, here are the final results:


The Birth of Maiya Susan
27% (52 votes)
The Birth of Isla Elizabeth
5% (10 votes)
The Birth of Bryton ALexandria
7% (14 votes)
The Birth of Liam Patrick
12% (23 votes)
The Birth of Drake
1% (2 votes)
The Birth of Evan
2% (4 votes)
The Birth of Benjamin Alexander & Gavin Taylor
9% (17 votes)
The Birth of Amiyah Michelle
11% (20 votes)
The Birth of Colin Kenneth
23% (44 votes)
The Birth of Chase David
2% (4 votes)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Birth of Maiya Susan by: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member444796

I was due December 20th 2008. I was nervous, anxious, and felt like i had no clue what motherhood was going to be like, so i was like every other pregnant chick in the world. I took extra precautions to keep my daughter safe. I went off all my medications for my bipolar, i didn't eat sushi, i read every pregnancy and breastfeeding book out there, i cooked my meat to well done, i didn't eat lunch meat, no feta cheese, i planned on letting my baby "cook" for as long as she needed to... no trying to evict her early becausei was uncomfortableshe was waaaayyyy more important.

So when my due date came and went, i felt like everything was wrong in the world. I was so miserable, i had sank into a deep depression because i couldn't sleep due to my insomnia, i would cry every day. I had the worst heartburn, i used to wake up choking because of the reflux. I had HORRIBLE puppps that itched all day long. My daughter had cracked one of my ribs by either being to big or kicking me. I was a mess. But i still mustered up some strength to go on. My dr kept tempting my with induction. But i kept saying no, i was going to let her come out on her own.

Finally I had reached the longest my dr would let me go, 41.5 weeks. And it was time to get her out. I was so disappointed, because i knew inductions come with epidurals, and it wasn't common to be able to have one naturally. But i was hopeful. Soon all the pain i was going through would be worth it. It was new years eve. I excitedly packed up all of my stuff, the baby's stuff dreaming of what it would be like when i finally saw her, held her, and breastfed her. I brought my nursing pads, my lanolin, and nursing pillow. I couldn't wait. The worst thing on my mind was my digital camera breaking, I thought it was the end of the world. We had to buy some disposables. I was so nervous to be late when we drove to the hospital, there was an incredible nervous energy in the car... we were going to be parents!!!!!

I got to the hospital, go checked in, got sent to my room, and changed. And we started my induction with prostin, a cervical insert. They would put it in and i had to lay down for an hour then i could walk around. I got some pretty steady contractions from it. From there the next 40 hours were a blur. I know I got some more prostin, pitocin, and it was pretty freaking painful. Sleepless nights and long days. And zero progression.... none. This was NOT how this was supposed to go. Isn't it supposed to be hard pregnancy easy labor? I felt myself losing all hope and i KNEW this wasn't going to work. I wanted so bad to ask for a c section because i knew my body/baby wasn't going to cooperate. But i didn't voice my concerned, i didn't step up on that or anything while i was there. I let them do what they wanted to do. Women came and went with their babies. Women came after me and left with their babies. The hospital had the first baby of the new yeat!!! It was exciting. The nurse told me not to worry, that i wouldn't be walking out the door without a baby.

i was so tired

40 hours after i got there it was morning, the dr's and the nurses came into my room to talk to me. They told my that they couldn't let me go any further. That this would be considered a "failed induction" that an induction isn't labor, its just an attempt at labor. I braced myself for them ti tell me i was getting a c section, and was relieved. But then they dropped the bomb... that they were sending me home, and i was to return in 3 days. I cried and cried.. the nurse told me to calm down, that i needed to grow up. The did a ultrasound and it appeared my baby was slightly transverseBut they were going to send me home anyways and induce me again.

I went home heartbroken, i laid in bed and sobbed. I cried the whole three days. I didn't want to go back to that placeBut when the time came i packed my bags half heatedly .....again. And we drove to the hospital.... again. I got checked in..... again. Got hooked up...... again. And had zero hope, i knew this wasn't going to work.

My second induction was more painful then the first. After 10 hours i made it to 3cm. They broke my water and I didn't hear the Dr... but my SO heard her say "does this look like mec to you" but he didnt know what it ment. My Dr had found meconium and didn't tell me. I went for a couple more hours then i got to a point where i was in so much pain, i was ready to kill myself. I thought that logically that would be the only way to make the pain go away...and i was only at 3cm. I got some iv pain meds, then the epi. I felt like an epic failure, I couldn't do it. The induction dragged on...

20 hours later

The dr came in and checked me, i was at 9!!!!!! In less then 3 hours i would be pushing. I for the first time saw a light. I was going to meet my baby. My mom had just gotten into town and got to the hospital. My mom was going to be there to see my baby be born!!!

then all the sudden i couldn't hear her heart. It had been beating loudly for the last 30 hours, then nothing. I pressed the nurse button over and over. But they were already running into the room, they smacked my belly around and tapped her head. It started again, but was really slow. It eventually came back again. The dr came in and told me that i was going to need to have a c section, that it was best for my baby. My mom and Matt were terrified, so i kept my cool to help calm them down. But i wanted to cry. Matt was seriously scared and stressing out.

I got wheeled into the OR it was freezing in there. They got me all doped up. And after my reminding them i had an anterior placenta (stupid dr's forgot i had to get another ultrasound) I was having a major anxiety attack, and the anesthesiologist was getting upset so he told me he was going to knock me out after she came out. I heard the surgeon ask my dr "how bug did you estimate her to be" and my dr said nothing. Because he had ignored my plea's to check how big she was, and that she was so big it felt like she was tearing my skin open.

Maiya Susan was born
16 days overdue
10lbs 2oz
21.5 inches


and i got to see her for the first time. And she was a stranger, i didn't recognize her at all. It was a shock to me. I remember thinking "wow she doesn't look like i pictured"


They knocked me out and I woke up again in the recovery room. I was in a good mood because soon I was going to hold my baby. I got all fixed up and wheeled into my room. An hour passed, and another, and another.... soon it had been 5 hours from delivery and still no baby. But I was a good patient and didnt ask. I was afraid to be a pain. Finally they wheeled her in. And got to hold her for the first time.

I tried to breastfeed her and she refused to latch (I later found out they had fed her formula) I got to spend about 20 minutes with her. There was family everywhere and i didn't really get any special time. They came in and told me that they needed to check her out. And took her from me again. And hours passed and she didn't come back. They finally wheeled her in and told me that they had found an elevated white blood cell count, which could be indicative of an infection. And that she had hypoxia, there was not enough oxygen getting to her brain. They they needed to take her to the nicu for at least 48 hours. Everything was going wrong, i was in shock, and before i could say anything they wheeled her away. I was devastated, not only would she not latch but now i dont even get her for 48 hours. I wanted to tell them no, bring my baby back i want her to be with me, i dont care if she is sick. I sobbed and sobbed and couldnt imagine feeling more heartbroken. It felt like they had wheeled my heart away in that cart

I was finally able to visit her in the nicu, and it was horrible to see her like that.

It was the worst pain in the world, seeing her like that. The first time I tried to breastfed her in the NICU she ripped the IV out of her head and i was covered in blood. I couldn't say anything I just cried.

Over the next few days i pumped and pumped because she still refused to latch, well she did once but they fed her formula again without my permission and i had to keep pumping. I still didn't feel a bond with her. And felt like i had to ask for permission to hold my daughter... all the joy was sucked from finally having her. It came to be that she was going to be released with me but she was going to be on oxygen.

We brought her home, but things didn't get better. She still was not latching, i was in horrible pain and still was devastated about my experience, and I still felt no bond with her.... My labor and delivery was my worst nightmare and there was no end in sight.

I was coming to face the fact that I didn't love my baby. I liked looking at pictures of her, and sending them to my friends and family... but when i held her I felt nothing. I wanted to love her, i wanted to feel this rush of emotion that everyone else was feeling when i held her but that never happened. I felt like I failed at everything, and that it couldn't possible get any better.

Well she did finally latch after all the pumping. And through co-bathing, breastfeeding, baby-wearing, and co-sleeping i started to grow a bond with her. We got so in tune with each other and we now have an amazing bond. I couldn't ask for a batter daughter. After 6 months of nursing with a nipple shield, we can finally breastfeed without it. Everything is perfect.

But there is still a shadow in my life from the horrible experience with my delivery. It has been hard for my to grieve and let go of my experience. I think a lot about what i would do if i could do it again, and i think i have come up with some things. I would have spoken up, about EVERYTHING, i wouldn't have been a passenger in my own labor. I would have questioned more things with her nicu experience. I would have stood up and demanded a c section after my first induction. The one thing all of the things i would do had in common is control. I had zero control in any aspect of my labor. And that is something you can't let happen. So please, speak up, question everything, be a bitch. Because that can be a difference between a nightmare like mine, and a labor that just didn't go according to plan.

Also no matter how horrible your labor is, and no matter how disappointed you are. There will be a happy ending, and no matter what happenedit is worth it.
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The Birth of Isla Elizabeth by: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member301115

My husband Jay and I had our second baby girl Isla Elizabeth on November 13th at 11:40 PM. She weighed 7lb 4oz and was 21 inches long.

Once labor actually started it was only about 4 hours start to finish !

For those unfamiliar with her name, it is pronounced EYE-la, (like Island, the S is silent) and is of Scottish origin. Her middle name is after my auntie.

Things started off slowly this time, I had about 24 hours of pre-labor contractions... not super painful or anything but not effective and never closer than about 6 minutes apart. They were bad enough that I couldnt sleep through them and they came every 6-8 minutes all night long! I spent the night in and out of bed, bouncing on my birthing ball and talking on the phone with my midwife.

By morning the contractions had kind of petered out and were coming more like every 10-15 minutes but they were still pretty pinchy and painful. I could not help but feel like her head was not in the right position, and was just jamming ineffectively into my pelvic bones.

I had a midwife appointment at 1:00 PM and was encouraged to find that all those obnoxious contractions were actually doing something after all, I was 3cm dilated and 90% effaced! (the day before I was only 2cm and 40%) They stripped my membranes again and sent me on my way, reassuring me that when things did finally decide to kick into gear it would most likely go very quickly. We went to Fred Meyer for some groceries, and on the way out the door I had a really nice strong contraction that I had to breathe through. We grabbed our last minute provisions and headed home for our home birth!


We put in a movie and I laid on the couch and we waited for things to pick up. Jay tried to cheer me up, and he told me he was betting we'd have a baby before midnight. I thought to myself, "yeah... right." I wasn't even in labor yet, and midnight was only 7 hours away!

I called my mom and had her come over around 6:00 because I was starting to get uncomfortable and discouraged, feeling like this would never happen!It has been my experience that just when you resign yourself to the fact that your baby is NOT on it's way, it mysteriously decides to come out! I think I will try to be determined of this fact much earlier with thenext baby. *giggle*

I was in the bathtub whenmy mom arrived, and Jay was sitting next to me writing down my contractions on a peice of paper. They were still pretty irregular, but were coming between 5 and 7 minutes apart.They were still rather pinchy and just did not feel effective to me. They had a strange quality to them, and I still wondered if Isla's head was in the proper position. We discussed it and decided that I should get out of the tub, that maybe the warm water was slowing things down.

My mom suggested that we go find something to distract ourselves, so we sent Jay to Walmart to buy a game of Scrabble so we could keep our mind off of things and wait for the hard contractions!


I was still downstairs in our family room, and my mom had gone upstairs when my cellphone rang in the pocket of my bathrobe. It was Jay, and he wanted to talk to my mom. Unbeknownst to me, he was going to tell her to call the midwife and see if they would come check on me. He thought I would be encouraged if they were there. I didnt want to call yet, because I was still thinking it might be a false alarm.


I jogged up the stairs to give the phone to my mom, and I felt the baby shift in my pelvis. The next contraction when I got to the top of the stairs immediately felt different. Like labor. No longer pinchy, and I recognized the feeling from Addison'd birth. YAY! She had finally tucked her chin, and we were ready to rock and roll! I was much encouraged at that point, and we called the midwife to come check on me in a little while. I was just reading the other day, techniques to get a baby to tuck it's head for a better delivery position. One of the suggestions was walking up the stairs! I am so glad Jay called when he did.

Labor
Almost immediately, about 7:30 PM my contractions started to come closer together. I think Peggy and Jackie (my midwives) showed up sometime around 8:00 and we started getting stuff set up for the birth.


Peggy checked me once things were set up and found I was 5cm dilated! I was surprised because my contractions were not nearly as intense as my labor with Addison, and they didnt last very long... only about a minute each. I just did my best to relax through them and allow them to do their job. They were still mild enough I never needed to make any noise through them, just breathing was enough. I was totally alert, and still my normal self between contractions.

They felt much better when I walked through them, so I stayed upright through the whole thing, just pacing and walking and taking breaks between them to play my Scrabble turn! Which I won, by the way!


My sister Rosanna and Jay's mom and my two year old daughter Addison (Jay's mom had taken her for the afternoon so I could try to get some rest) showed up around 9:00 pm.and we all got to talking and laughing. I was surprised that I was still up and around and talking during contractions even during active labor!


I got kind of tired of walking around 10:00 and got into the shower, and spent each contractions rotating my hips in circles to help the baby move down better.


While I was in the shower, Jay came into the bathroom and peeked around the shower curtain at me. "We're going to have a baby!" he said, huge grin on his face. He was so darn cute, I couldn't resist. So I kissed him. And I kissed him. And kissed him some more. Just the two of us, laboring for our baby in our own bathroom, all alone. It was very intimate, and arousing, and the warmth in my belly helped SO much to releive thecontractions!

I stayed there for maybe 20 minutes and then I didnt want to waste any more hot water so I got out and walked around some more while they got the birthing tub filled the rest of the way up and at a good temperature. I grabbed my makeup bag, and went into the bathroom and applied some concealer, and bronzer, and brushed my hair. My mom laughed at me! She said she'd never seen anybody worried about their looks at that point of labor.

When the tub was ready I climbed in and felt SO much releif as I could totally float in any position I wanted to without putting pressure on anything. It made relaxing during contractions so much easier and I really felt like we were making progress, but the warm water slowed my contractions way down again to about five minutes apart! At this point, my grandma showed up so she could see the birth and she joined thefamily upstairs waiting.
I declined to be checked again for a while, because my contractions were still relatively mild, and now spaced far enough apart I was worried that I would still be at 5, and I didnt want to be discouraged.

After another few contractions, my curiosity got the better of me. I thought it would be good to know, so I could change activities if I wasn't progressing.
Jackie checked me again and determined I was 6 cm, stretchable to 7 and there was a protruding bag of water that was keeping her head from really applying as well as it could have been. So we discussed it and decided to break my water. That immediately made my next contraction much stronger, and I remembered that "birth is imminent" feeling from last time, the one that you cant help but moan... ok moo like a cow through! I found that again, keeping mind over matter and willing myself to relax through the contraction, welcome the sensation, allow it to be there and do it's work was the hard part of labor.
I remember at one point at the peak of a contraction saying Open open open open open... over and over again. It was important somehow to tell my body I WANTED to open.

Transition
I started getting emotional at that point and just wanted to cry as I though of transition... I was assuming it would still be at LEAST an hour or so of the real intense labor before she would be born and I was a little overwhelmed thinking about it. I had no idea how far along I really was! I flipped over and rested over the edge of the tub on my knees. The contractions were still spaced way far apart and I had three of the really intense ones before I started to feel pushy right at the end of the contraction! I only had three hard contractions before I started to push. Three hard contractions, my whole entire labor! I could NOT beleive it! I turned back over so she could get under my pubic bone easier and I felt her head slide down into my birth canal! I felt with my hand, and sure enough, there was her head, just inside theopening.


Jay went and got Addison from upstairs and let everybody know things were getting close. They came down and stood on the stairs so they could see the birth without being in the way.

The birth
With the next contraction I HAD to push and could feel her little head bulging out of me! It burned a lot and I was worried that I still had a cervical lip, but Jackie felt and told me it was ok to push, I wasn't gonna tear anything. So I did. The plan was for me to catch her myself so I was kind of in a squatting position as her head was born with the next contraction. I was guarding my perineum and could tell just how much to push as I birthed her head into my hands! I felt around her neck and could feel a cord so I had Jackie feel... it was wrapped twice! Then there was a four minute break between contractions... I was just sitting there chatting away with a baby head between my legs! Addison was on the stairs watching her sister be born and she was soooo excited! She was singing songs and talking excitedly "There is her head! She is coming out!! She is big enough, Grandma!"


We were starting to look at the clock because obviously, Isla was underwater and it seemed like her shoulders were not going to rotate on their own. But we couldnt be sure until I had a contraction. I could feel her little face and her chubby cheeks with my hands!We started stimulating my nipples, Jay on one side and Peggy on the other to get the next contraction to hurry up and Jackie and I helped her shoulders turn. Finally the contraction started and I pushed again.

Because the cord was too tight to slip over her head, we had to summersault her out of there and unwrap them on the way up! It was interesting for sure! So I didnt really get to catch her all the way myself, but I was not dissapointed.We did what we had to do to get her out safely. Out she popped, at 11:40 PM! Jay was right, she was born before midnight!

She started crying immediately when she got to the surface and was pink and wiggly. All in all it was only 35 minutes from the time we broke my water (6-7cm) until she was born at 11:40 PM! Addison was with her grandma on the stairs watching her sister be born and her little face was priceless as she saw hersister come out! SO adorable! She ran down the stairs once the baby was out, and peered over the edge of the tub to see her.


She did great, she wasnt afraid at all. Also watching the birth was my Grandma, mom, Jay's mom and Rosanna who was taking video. My little brother who is 14 was here too, but he stayed upstairs until everything was cleaned up. (who can blame him?)

We spent the next 15 minutes or so floating around in the tub. Isla was so alert, just looking around her and kicking her feet and waving her arms around. She was listening to everybody's voices and trying to figure out who was who, following people faces. She really was trying to find her sister's voice. She could hear her but not see her over the edge of the tub and it was obvious she was looking around for her. Its amazing how much newborns know when you just sit and watch them! Once my placenta came we cut the cord and let Jay take her so I could get out of the tub. She got her newborn exam and came back to me to nurse. She latched on immediately like a pro! She nursed and nursed and nursed and nursed which was a good thing because my uterus was having a hard time staying clamped down and I was losing a little more blood than normal. But as soon as we got it to really clamp down it stopped and I was totally fine.

It took about three hours for the midwives and everybody to get everything cleaned up and all the checks done. I was happy to report I did not tear at all! I had wondered if maybe I had a few little nicks because it burned a little more than I expected when I pushed her out, and then we had to kind of pull her shoulders out which could have caused a tear, but I was good to go!That definitely makes recovery much easier. I am very thankful for no stitches down there! I got a shower, the tub got emptied by my husband and everything was
buttoned down for the night. Jay put Addison to bed, the extended family went home and we got all tucked in for bed. The midwives left us about 3:00 am and we went to sleep! It was pretty much perfect! I couldnt have asked for anything better! She is a great nurser, latched on right away with no problem, and is alert and curious. She looks completely different from Addison at this point, she is definitely her own little person! It will be fun to see what she looks like in a few weeks! It appears she will have blue eyes like her sister, they are definitely brighter than your average newborn gray!

Some thoughts
In hindsight, I think it was probably the cords around her neck that kept real labor at bay for so long, she probably had a very hard time tucking her head properly to get in position. Even as her head came out and I was feeling the little fontanelles, I think she was coming out with her head straight on, as the fontanelle I was feeling was very large... the major soft spot on the top of her head, not the little triangle of bones on the crown that you usually feel when their chin is tucked properly. And in the day after her birth, you could see redness on her face, as though she scraped it along as she was born. But it all worked out and she was still born very quickly, regardless! I am very happy with the way things went and I feel very blessed to have had a super easy labor and another beautiful baby girl! My home birth was amazing in every way, it was everything I hoped it would be. I am looking forward to doing it again next time!
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The Birth of Bryton Alexandria by:http://members.baby-gaga.com/member506579

It all began when I was sitting in my room on my computer when I had an overwhelming feeling that I needed to try to get pregnant NOW! I couldn't not deny it. I even called my husband in and he too felt it, so we decided that night we would start trying.

Because I had that strong feeling, I thought that things would happen pretty fast. But Bryton had other things planned for me. Months went by and hundreds of dollars on pregnancy and ovulation tests and nothing. Then in June of 2008 I had a miscarriage, it was very hard on me. At this point we had been trying for 5 months. But I kept my head up and knew it would happen one day.

Then on October 11th I felt I should go buy a test. I went to the store stood in the aisle for about 5 minutes just staring at the test not wanting to get it because I was afraid that it would tell me we failed again. I finally picked it up and hurried home. I took the test with out telling my husband I had even gotten one. When I saw the pee mark slowly making its way up the stick I was so anxious. Then I saw something I did think I would ever see. The - was slowly becoming a +. I started screaming and crying with excitement!! I scared the living crap out my son and my husband. I fell to the floor with joy.

I had my first ultrasound at 7 weeks because of bleeding. To see that little jelly bean on the screen and to hear her little heat beating, my heart instantly feel in love. After that everything went smoothly until about 15 weeks when I started having regular contractions and I was ordered to take it easy.

I was in and out of the hospital for preterm labor and had to have my labor stopped 4 different times until they put me on full bed rest and tributaline pills to take regularly. At 30 weeks I was already dilated to a 1 and 70% effaced. My son came early at 35 weeks 4 days, so I was trying to get my self mentally prepared for another NICU baby, even though I desperately didn't want one.

35 weeks came and past and no baby yet, I was so happy about that. I was 4cm and 80% effaced at that time. I stayed 4cm for another week and half.

I went into Labor and Delivery at 36 weeks 5 days with pretty strong regular contractions coming every 2 minutes. I wasn't progressing so they sent me home after watching me for 2 hours.

I had a doctor appointment the next day, my midwife checked me again and I was 5cm with a bulging bag. Since I lived 45 minutes away from the hospital and I do all natural childbirth I was scared of when to come in, my sons birth was only 4 hours. I went home and took a sleeping pill to try to get some sleep before she came, because I knew it was going to be soon.

The next day around noon I started timing my contractions, they weren't strong at all, but since I was 5cm with a bulging bag yesterday at my appointment I thought I would be safe. They were coming 7-10 min apart and an hour later they were 4-7 min part so I thought it was time to go.

We got everything in the car and got to the hospital around 3pm. They checked me and I was a good 6. So they admitted me and I was in my room a little before 4. My sister (doula), my mom and my dad arrived at 4:30. Still my contractions weren't anything to even mention. As soon as everyone got to the hospital we decided it was time to break my water. That was done at 4:48 p.m. Right when my midwife was done, I got up to go to the bathroom and I could feel a contraction coming. It was a little more intense but still not bad. I decided to get on my birthing ball and as soon as I sat down the first strong contraction hit me. I had my head phones in listening to my music and breathing deeply. I was totally relaxed handling it. I had 2 more strong contractions till I felt like I needed to push.

I told my midwife I needed to push so I got up to get on the bed and another contraction hit me, I wasn't even fully on the bed when she checked me to see; I was 8cm. I could feel Bryton's head come down with her fingers and as soon as she pulled them out I told them "SHE IS CROWNING". They didn't believe me, I wasn't even fully on the bed yet. So I said, "No really she is coming!!!" I spread my legs and her head was out, I didn't even push, and the rest of her body followed. It was so fast!

I felt amazing after she was out. Natural birthing is totally the way to go for me. Doing Hypnosis threw labor helps my body relax and help it do what it is made to do. I am a strong believer in natural birthing. I wouldn't have it any other way.

From the time my water broke till the time I had her was only 25 min with 4 contractions. I had a second degree tear from her coming so fast. My midwife Jana didn't even have both gloves on. No one was ready for how fast she came. I did it all natural with out any drugs or IV. It was awesome.

She has to stay in the nursery that night because how fast she came, she was kind of traumatized, they just wanted to keep an eye on her. Her glucose levels were a little low so she needed some sugar water to get them up. They checked her levels every time she ate and lowed the dose when her levels were stable. We both got released after a 2 day stay. She is so beautiful!!!!
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The Birth of Liam Patrick by: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member476097

I'm writing what I can remember and allowing my husband Stephen to fill in the gaps that my brain has left empty.

April 14th
morning~Stephen decided to stay home demanding "it would be the last day of just us."~ how right he was. I went about my business bossing him around as I did my daily chores. Stephen made a delicious sandwich for lunch but than something odd happened, my tongue started to swell. My tongue puffed up enough I sent Stephen to the drugstore for some Benadryl. When he returned we decide to call my midwife. The midwife on duty suggested we venture to Denver, this was not a problem because we had an appointment later that afternoon. I slept in a anti-histamine induced haze all the way up.

1pm~Upon arrival to the hospital they hooked me up to a fetal heart monitor, contraction monitor and blood pressure cuff. My blood pressure was not good. They spent an hour or so watching my blood pressure rise and fall but always staying in the 'danger zone.' It was than that the midwife decided we were having a baby that day. So the admitted us and cozied us into a nice labor room.

3pm~To get things 'moving' they placed a small 'pill' on my cervix. We hunkered down for the long haul. My parents arrive.

6:45pm~ We are sent for a 15 min walk.

7pm~ We return and the contractions kick in. Lordy ouch...

7:30pm~ My water breaks. The contractions really kick in...OUCH!

Somewhere in here I get an epidural. I had no choice, due to my blood pressure they required it. Due to a slight curve in my back they had topoke my spine 7 times.Now I didn't see the needle but the size of Stephen's eyes when he saw it spoke volumes.

After the epi it all becomes a blur.

April 15th

sometime in the early am~ the midwife and nurse wake me and shift me. Liam's heartrate had slowed. They start pitocin to speed up the process but they stop it very quickly because Liam's heartrate drops from 120's to 70. I am terrified, I know what is going on despite people around me trying to remain calm.

We continue the game of shifting me than Liam's heartrate reacting until I am 10 cm dilated.

10am~time to push!I am excited and ready to meet my son...I want him out and healthy.

10:15am~ We discover if I push for longer than a few minutes Liam's heartrate plummets. The fear in my heart returns I start praying and leave the decisions up to the medical staff, Stephen and my mother.

Wepush on and off for about 5hours.They than bring in a doctor to consult... I really don't recall much after this.

I know they started prepping me for a c section.
I know I looked up from pushing and there was about 15 medical staff looking worried.
I know my mom was sobbing uncontrollable sobs.
I know Stephen disappeared for a few minutes.
I know that they told me one final push and than...
the most beautiful cry. I heard that cry and time stood still I watched them cut something and rush my baby away. I was distraught I couldn't touch him see him but I heard him cry and that made it ok. I was sobbing. I wanted my baby. I kept looking at my mother, crying and demanding my son. I felt dizzy and...I don't have any clear memories till the next morning when I was in a different room with my baby.

The majority of the details I will leave to Stephen because all my info is pieced together from the doctors, my mother, Stephen and my cousin. Liam had his cord wrapped twice around his neck was literally bunging in the birth canal. I ended up having to stay in the hospital 6 days. I needed a blood transfusion and a whole list of meds.

now for the rest of the story...stephen's story

Tuesday felt weird- No other way to describe it. We were one full day past the due date and had an appointment that afternoon. I decided not to go in, to spend that last day alone with Jenna. Hunch? Maybe- Probably more of a guess.

I made Jenna lunch and her mouth swelled up- bad. I mean hell, even I can't mess up a sandwich, so something seemed way off. I went down to Walgreens to pick up benedryl and brought it home. It started to reduce the swelling, but the hives were in her throat and on her tongue. I called labor and delivery, told them what was up and they told me to bring her in. So off we went- Jenna freshly drugged and out of it and me trying not to look nearly as nervous as I was.

We got to the hospital and lucked out that Jessica, who had done about 90% of our visits was working. After examining Jenna, we found out that she was not any further dilated than last Thursday. The issue became blood pressure- At one point, it even hit 160/105. They weren't letting her go home in that condition. After blood work and a urine analysis, it was discovered that Jenna was preeclamptic. Our happy go lucky third trimester just turned high risk. We weren't going home, it was time to have a baby.

Jenna was given an induction pill and we hung out. After a quick walk and some lunch, her water broke and the real contractions started. Because of her elevated blood pressure, she was quickly given an epidural which took the nurse almost 20 minutes to put in. Barely no impact on the blood pressure- So we waited- and talked- and waited- and joked- and waited---

The contractions were not as intense as they wanted, but were getting the job done. Jenna quickly went from 6cm to 9cm and just stopped. It took a few hours longer, but she did finally hit 10cm. Go time- Because of Jenna's hips, we had to be careful. Pam took one leg, I took the other and we got ready for the process. But there was a problem---

Something was up with the cord. Though the providers tried to joke it off, you could see the concern on their faces. Every time we put Jenna on her side, the heart rate plummeted. OK- on her back- the most uncomfortable position possible- and time to push- Push for a few minutes. Heart rate down- stop. Push a few minutes- rate down- stop. OK- we've got a problem-

We would later find out Liam's cord was wrapped twice around his neck. When Jenna began to push, it would cut off his blood supply slowing his heart rate. On top of that, Mommy's blood pressure was still through the roof.

A lot of the rest of this Jenna doesn't remember- I'm not super comfortable talking about it, because I really don't think it's a part of the process she should remember. She asked me to blog about it, so I'm going to under protest.

Doctor came in- broke down the situation a bit. Baby's wrapped up in the cord. Usually in this scenario, it's time for a c-section. But there's a problem- No matter what they've given Jenna thus far, even the epidural, her blood pressure hasn't gone down. A c-sect, though it would save the baby, would have a higher than normal mortality risk for Jenna. After some discussion, he decided that we would take one last attempt of removing him vaginally with the aid of forceps. Jenna gave a head nod, so we agreed. If the forceps were unsuccessful, an emergency c-section would be performed.

So here comes the clown car- Literally in moments, the room was filled with doctors. One head count said 15, but I don't remember exactly. Roles changed quickly- The midwife who was on at the time, Nikki, quickly became a bystander subordinating herself to the charge nurse on duty. The chief of residents for the OB wing came in to perform the procedure.

The procedure in theory was simple- push- and this device that literally looks like a pair of salad spoons would assist with the delivery. Simple enough- everyone was in position, and Jenna was told to push again during the contractions. Seeing Liam come out was amazing--- first the head, and next push, you could hear the cry of a beautiful baby boy. His cord was cut right away by the doctor, since it was cutting off his air supply, but I was given a ceremonial type cut immediately after. I looked at Jenna, who said "happy anniversary" and then crashed on the pillow.

People in the room were shocked. Through everything, baby was fine, strong and active. I went over to give him his first bath, and while getting him dressed received a tap on the shoulder from the anesthesiologist. "She's lost a lot of blood, she's gone into shock".

A quick peek at the blood pressure monitor put things into reality quickly- 34/12. Jenna had crashed, and for a period of time, they were losing her on the table. I wish I could better describe the feeling- holding in your arms this new life- someone you've been waiting for almost a year while watching his mother; the love of your life, bleeding on the table.

To say that the medical team at UCH was amazing would be an understatement. Jenna received well over 100 stitches, and suffered from second degree tears. After about 10 minutes, they finally let me give Liam to her- I had to take him back for a bit while they finished, but he and Jenna had their first contact.

I've always admired Jenna (which is part of the reason we ended up with a baby. But to say I see her in the same light now would be incorrect. I got to see her strength, her heart and her commitment. Even after almost losing her life in delivery, the only thing she wanted was the opportunity to bond with our new addition. Watching her at home is just as much fun- They sleep cuddled together, watch deer and in some ways have clicked me out.

There's always more to type, but I'll save that for another time. I'm tired, happy but tired. On April 15th, my world got a new center- Liam Patrick Gavin- and I became one of the lucky ones... The ones who are in love with their hero.
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The Birth of Drake by: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member436357

t was December 25, 2008 at 2:34 a.m. when I heard the most rewarding sound a new mom could possibly hear after carrying her baby in her womb for40weeks – the sound of his first breath at birth.

Labor began on the morning of December 24, 2008. I had not been having any signs of actual labor during the days leading up to that morning. My 40 week appointment was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. After being examined by the doctor, she told us that I was still 2 cm. dilated and almost 100% effaced, the same I had been three weeks earlier. We were SO frustrated to hear that we had not made any progress at all. The last few weeks of my pregnancy were absolutely miserable and we could not bear the thought of waiting any longer for our baby boy! The doctor told us that she recommended induction if he had not come by the following Monday.

We no sooner got in the car to go home and I began to feel some very intense contractions. I didn't think any of the first few because I just figured the doctor stirred things up during the exam. By the time we got home, the contractions were so bad that I was fighting back tears. I hadn't begun timing them at that point. Not feeling well, I decided to lie down in bed. After the next few strong contractions, I decided to start timing them and realized that they were about 3 minutes apart. At this point they were so painful that I couldn't hold back – I cried like a baby. Dana gathered our bags, called Labor & Delivery and off to the hospital we were.

By the time we got to the hospital, it was nearly 11:00 a.m. The contractions were now two minutes apart, but not progressing in intensity. At 2:00 p.m., the nurse came in and told us that we would be admitted – and weren't going to leave without a baby in our arms. We were shocked and EXCITED. The contractions continued on and on and on, but when I was examined at around 5:30 p.m., I was only 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Because I was not making progress as quickly as the doctor would have liked, the decision was made to send us home. I was given medication for the pain and told go home and wait it out. We were frustrated, but at that point, ready to go home. It had been a LONG day and I was starving, I hadn't eaten yet that day! Dana ordered us my favorite pizza and on the way home, I started feeling increasingly nauseated. I couldn't even hold my head up! He practically carried me up stairs and put me in bed with a slice of RT Hawiian. I managed to get one slice down before it hit me – a contraction that was a disabling pain unlike nothing I had ever experienced. They came one right after another, at one point getting as close as 30 seconds apart. Needless to say, we were back at the hospital less than one hour after being discharged.

At that point I was examined and in that hour and a half or so time period, I had gone from 3 cm dilated to 7 cm dilated! I was given the epidural about 45 minutes later. The epidural was absolutely MAGICAL. I fell asleep shortly after getting it and woke back up at about 12:30 a.m. At about 1:30 a.m. I was examined and had reached 10 cm.! I started pushing just before 2:00 a.m. and Drake was born at 2:34 a.m.

When he was born, he was placed on my chest. We locked eyes for the first time and I was so overwhelmed with pure euphoria that all I could do was bawl my eyes out. I had waited for him for so long, and there he was, finally in my arms. I talked to him and told him how much I love him over and over again. Everything around me disappeared – we must have been locked in each other's eyes for at least 10 minutes. He was so perfect.


He weighed 6 lbs. and 14 oz. and was 19 ½ inches long. His Apgar scores were close to perfect. His skin was perfect and free of any imperfections and his hair was light and soft. He has mommy's eyes and lips and daddy's nose, ears and feet.

I can't even begin to describe how much I adore him and love being his mama. He has been an angel of a baby so far. I can't wait to watch him grow from a baby to a boy to a man. Until then, I will enjoy and cherish every moment that I have with my beautiful little baby.

He's just a tiny baby boy, but he came in to the world like a thief in the night and has stolen my heart and it's his to keep. He will always and forever be the precious object of his mama's adoration.

My pregnancy and Drake's birth have been the most profound experience of my life.
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The Birth of Evan by: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member499049

Our baby was due March 6, 2009, and we were counting down the days to our first baby shower on January 17th. January 19th I found out I'd developed severe pre-eclampsia. January 20th I had a regularly-scheduled ultrasound that showed our baby had developed IUGR due to the PE and was smaller than he should have been even though he'd always measured perfectly on time before. My fluid levels were low, and on top of everything else, my baby was breech. I was admitted to the hospital three times throughout my pregnancy between the 19th and when I delivered. I was put on strict bed rest and even though I was in my senior year of college, I had to quit going to class. I wasn't even allowed to stand up for a shower. Despite my efforts of doing all I could to keep my blood pressure down, at my next weekly visit the amount of protein in my urine had risen. They ordered a urine culture to be done. Protein levels have to be under 140 - mine were over 2700. I was placed back in the hospital and told I would deliver that day (January 27). My husband and I were worried out of our mind. Before we went to the hospital my husband had to install the car seat. We NEVER imagined we would meet our baby in January!

We arrived and they hooked me up to a million different IVs and started me on magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures. My doctor came in and surprised us all by announcing I would be transported to the hospital 40 miles away to deliver because of how small my baby was and the complexity of the situation. They gave me a steroid shot for my baby's lungs and had another ultrasound done - still breech. After more blood work was done, my doctor decided to transport me to Hermann Memorial Hospital in downtown Houston (about 100 miles away!). I had to ride in an ambulance by myself the entire trip while my husband and mom followed. I got car sick in the ride over - it was all just such a mess. Once hospitalized at Hermann my new team of doctors decided to allow me to remain pregnant for a few more weeks; however, on the morning of January 29th, my blood pressure began creeping up again. At 6 am it had rose to 178/101, and I also happened to be 4 centimeters dilated. After the nurse took the BP and checked me, my room flooded with doctors and nurses. That was that - I would be forced to deliver. They had to give me an epidural 3 times (which I was completely against!) to try and externally turn the baby from the breech position. Five doctors strained and tried to turn the baby for an hour, but it was ultimately unsuccessful. I cried and cried - a c-section was my worst nightmare next to having a premature baby and an epidural. Here I was having it ALL. I was whisked away to have an emergency c-section. An hour later at 10:18 am, our beautiful little boy Evan was born into the world. I'd just made it to 34 weeks, and Evan was smaller than I ever dreamed of him being, but 1000 times more beautiful. He was estimated to have to remain in the NICU until his due date.

Those NICU days were the worst days of our lives. Evan got down to 3 lbs and 9 ounces at one point, and he had IVs and feeding tubes through his nose. He improved leaps and bounds and surprised everyone, though - he was home only SEVEN days later at a healthy 4lbs 3 ounces! I didn't leave the hospital once without my baby, and the feeling of actually leaving with him in my arms was a gift I could never describe in words. He is truly our miracle.
I look back on the situation and my pregnancy, and I see just how much I initially took my baby’s health and my own for granted. You never know what’s going to happen, you really don’t. I had hopes of wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans home from the hospital when what I should have been hoping for was being discharged from the hospital with my baby in my arms. I had elaborate plans of laboring at home for as long as I could, using birthing tubs in the hospital to ease the pain, and delivering my baby without IV or epidural naturally.But what I know now looking back is that first and foremost, the health of both mother and baby are what is most important, andnodreams of the perfect labor experience should come before that. Things happen… and amongst the hundred pricks and sticks of needles, scaples, and stitches, as long as you both come outalive, each labor is aperfect miracle.

Today Evan is 6 months old and happy and healthy in every way. You'd never guess he was a preemie. He is exclusively breastfed and occasionally a co-sleeper. He also happens to be the most beautiful baby in the world. My husband and I are looking forward to trying to conceive baby number two after I graduate college this December, and we’re praying for a complication-free pregnancy and a full term baby harder than I’ve ever prayed for anything in my life. C-section or vaginal birth, no epidural or five... bringing a healthy baby into this world and having my own life at the end of the day is all I and every other woman should hope for.

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The Birth of Benjamin Alexander & Gavin Taylorby: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member265606

It’s not all that easy being pregnant with twins; especially twin boys who in the world of twins have the highest mortality rate. But some how I had managed a fairly safe healthy 40 weeks and 1 day of being doubly “knocked up” and was ready to be done. Thanks to my 25 ultra sounds in the last 25 weeks of my twincubator sentence we were able to know that my baby “A”, or Ben as we affectionately call him now, was nearly 2 pounds smaller than baby “B” , or Gavin. This made us certain that I would be having a c-section, and after having had my amnio done at 37 weeks 4 days we knew we were waiting to do it.

My obgyn was a smart man who had delivered many a twins and I still remember what he said. “Well Mrs. Coker you are now 38 weeks and we are playing it safe by letting your womb-mates stay put until you go into labor or until your 40 weeks, I’m sure you will go into labor first.” So I was due Sunday, January 27th and just encase I made it that long we set up my c-section date for Monday, January 28th. Some how, and I blame my boys for this, I made it to that day.

I was scared beyond life. It was my first surgery, and I was not sure what was going to happen. I knew we would have a room full and I knew the labor and delivery nurses would do their best to keep my calm because well they had 20 weeks of seeing me to get to know me. They liked me and they were as excited and scared as me. I got into my room and had my i v put in. I got to see my family and at 2:45 they came in and told me it was time to go to my o.r. I had to leave my husband and do the parts I was most afraid of alone.

I was wheeled into a what looked like supply closet. People kept coming in and getting stuff and asking me questions all the while I was trying to wrap my head around the coming events. I made it into the frigid o.r. and got into the table. God love my nurse she could tell I was beyond the realm of fear and she was there to help me. She hugged me while I was getting my spinal and she repeated everything I said because I had 14 lbs of baby alone keeping me from breathing while they attempted to get my spinal right.

Finally after having another nurse pull me farther forward it was done. I sat up and the nurses helped me lay down. My legs fell to the side. It was like I was a Barbie and some one made me bend my legs backward, but hey I didn’t feel it. It was a blur from here. All I could pay attention to was the fact that I felt like I was taking shallow fast breaths even though the nurses assured me I was breathing deep and slow.

Finally my knight in blue scrubs walked in and sat by my head. Things were able to slow down and my babies would be here in a matter of slice pull and cut. Would they be healthy? Would they be able to breath on their own? Would he be wheeled away from me in a hurry and sent to be on machines in a nicu? Everything that could go wrong was a big possibility and I could do nothing about it but lie on a table and wait to find out.

“And we got the sex of this one right.” My son made it into the world. Why was he not crying? Finally the scream came out! He was breathing and he was out. Where was he and could I see him? Could Dave? What did he look like? I had to…..

“Whaaaaaaa” and there was my other baby; “2 for 2”; and he was my other son. My boys. My twins. They were healthy happy and beautiful. They were cleaned up and brought to me I was able to kiss and say hi to them. Our neonatal Pedi came and looked at them. His response was music to my ears.

“Why was I needed here? They are perfect.” He told me this in his joking way.

Benjamin Alexander was born at 3:35 pm on Monday January 28th weighing 5 ponds 15 ounces and had an apgar of 8. Gavin Taylor followed his not much older brother at 3:36pm weighing in at 7 pounds 5 and a half ounces with an apgar of 9. Life was perfect.

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The Birth of Amiyah Michelle by: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member458999

"You gonna get an epi??"
"Hell yeah! I ain't trying to feel nothing."
"Who you gonna have in the room??"
"Nobody. I did this pregnancy by myself, I can have my baby by myself too."

As I began to relax from my exciting baby shower, I went to the restroom to take a bath. I began to sit down to start taking off my socks, when a really bad pain starting forming in my stomach. I got up and leaned over in the sink to see if I could stretch it out. It went away for aboutfive minutes, and then the pain came back. This time it was worse than before. I immediately screamed for my mom. My body had become strickened to where I could barely move. I screamed it seemed for aboutten minutes. Thinking that she couldnt hear me, I tried to move my stiff and pain ridden body towards the doorway. I screamed again and she rushed to my side. She asked me what was wrong, but I coudnt speak. She saw me grabbing onto the door way, chipping off the paint. She looked at me in horror and called the ambulance.

The paramedics came and asked me a whole lot of questions, to where I could only mumble out "yes," "no," and "a girl." They rushed me down the stairs on a gurney and into the ambulance. They gave me morphine for my pain.Thirtyfiveminutes later I was at the hospital. They wheeled me up to my room, got me hooked up, and then proceeded to check me. "Oh boy," I heard my nurse say, "She isfour cm dilated, 80% effaced. We need to call her doctor." Needless to say, I went from 0-4 cm in one hour! I stayed there all night for them to monitor my progress. My labor had stalled and they sent me home. I immediately went across the street to Popeyes Chicken and bought the spiciest of food they had. My total came up to $22. I ate it all inthirty minutes.

Two nights later, the contractions came again. Squating down when I had a contraction, I felt a slight trickle down my leg. "My water just broke." I thought in my head. I called my mom and they took me to the hospital. They used the little test strip and said it wasnt my water, but I was continuously contracting. I stayed another night and my contractions where coming, but I wasnt progressing.So they sent me home another time. That same day Ilooked up way to induce labor naturally. "Pineapples," "Castor Oil," "Red Raspberry Leaf Tea,"and "Balsamic Vingerette," is what I kept reading. So I went to Whole Foods Market and bought my inducing labor dinner. Later on that night I had baked chicken with a salad with balsamic vingerette, abowl of pineapples on the side,while drinking red raspberry leaf tea. Yum! A couple hours later, I started contracting but this time I said that I wouldnt go in unless the contractions began to become unbearable again.

Two days later I had my doctors' appointment. He began to measure my belly and said "We need toget you an ultrasound now." Come to find out I wasthirty sevenweeks, measuringthirty twoweeks. They noticed that I had low fluid in my belly and that the previous day my water did start to break. I got sent to the hospital at noon. At noon they hooked me up to pitocin drip. I contracted on one side of my body the whole time. Forseven hours I had to endure contractions on that one side, but strangly enough I felt little to no pain. 8:30 p.m. came and they broke my water. I immediately felt contractions. I screamed for the epidural. They kept telling me the doctor was doing a c-section and would be here quickly. He never came. I used my mom as my point of focus. I was losing it for the intense pain. I was cussing everyone out that came in the room and throwing my phone at the wall. I tried sitting up but it made it hurt ten times worse so I flung myself back on the bed. I had one leg on my moms shoulder, the other leg onthe iv machine trying to find some type of relief from the pain and make me a little bit more comfortable. "Marlena. It's pain with a purpose," she kept repeating to me. "Pain with a purpose. Pain with a purpose. Pain with a purpose," that's all I thought of the rest of the way.

Minutes went by and I felt like I had to poop. We called the nurse and she told me to poop with all my might!Then they checked me. I was 9 1/2 cm! She yelled for the doctor and he was putting on his gown as I began to push, not eventwo minutes later. I didthree pushes and she was out! I blacked out for aboutfive minutes after I pushed her out because I was just soo exhausted and pushed with all my might. February 13th, 2009 at 9:50 p.m. Amiyah Michelle Askew was born! 5 lbs. 13 oz. 18 inches long!Two hours andten minutes from myeighteenth birthday! Strangely enough it began to rain when she was born. Amiyah means night rain in Japanese.

They cleaned her off and put her to my breast and she began to nurse immediately. She remained there through the after birth and when they where stitching me up. I had 3rd degree tears inside my vagina. I look back constantly at my labor and glad it went the way it did. I couldn't have had it any better. Now almost every friday thethirteeth is a wonderful reminder of that special night!
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The Birth of Colin Kenneth by: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member11189

It had been the longest 41 1/2 weeks in the history of the universe, or at least that's how it felt as I sat in the cab at 5am on the way to the hospital, looking out the window as the street lights turned the heavily falling snow into a dimly glowing blur. It looked surreal, fitting for the journey I was making. For most of my life I'd never expected to have children, hadn't even wanted children. And here I was, sleepily making my way to the hospital, a peculiar combination of excited and terrified.

We arrived, and found our way to the labor and delivery wing. We dispensed with the preliminaries in short order; we'd already preregistered the day before.

I was brought to the delivery room; it was fairly nice as far as I can figure, I haven't spent much time scouting hospital maternity wings. There was a single bed in the middle of the room, and I very nearly needed help climbing up as it was very tall, and I am not very tall. This would, of course, lead to some blush inducing moments as the day went on. There was a couch, just large enough for an average sized adult human male to sleep on, if he wished to contort his body or leave a limb or three hanging over the side. My attention was drawn mainly to the large, black, flat screen television that had been wheeled into the room and was currently waiting quietly in the corner for me to bring it to artificially lit, pixelated life.

I was given a gown, a cross hatched design of pale turquoise -- flattering to no one -- and told to change, as the doctor would be arriving shortly to start the induction process. I was given some privacy to change, the last I'd receive for many hours, and did my best to make myself comfortable, as well I could with backside bared to the only moderately warm room.

The doctor arrived, and I arranged myself as modestly as I could upon the bed while he eschewed the traditional dinner and candy and went straight for the goods; I was checked for dilation. To my great chagrin, I was still at zero centimeters. The doctor told me that he was reasonably certain that I'd end up needing a c-section, but he was going to give the induction a chance to work, first. I hoped, oh I hoped, that I wouldn't need a c-section. That was, I have to say, near the top of my list of fears -- even worse than the fear of pushing a human being out of me.

The induction began in what I am told is routine fashion; some gel to ripen my cervix, and a crochet hook in a place I'd never expected a crochet hook to go. This seemed to be to no avail, initially, and my stomach knotted as I was told that I'd be sent home to wait until there was some progress. The prospect of heading home was nearly unbearable at that point, I'd already waited my body to do something -- anything -- for nine days beyond my due date, and I'd nearly reached my limit at its mulishness.

And then, I felt a gush down my legs that left my gown clinging in spots. My husband dodged out into the hallway to fetch the nurse, to confirm that yes, this was my bag rupturing. Joyously, I was informed that I'd now be staying at the hospital -- I actually quite dislike hospitals, but at that moment it was far preferable to a trip back home in a near blizzard -- and I settled in to await the arrival of my son.

Well, the day passed. Slowly. Spent mainly on my back, watching dvds, trying to nap, gushing more liquid than it seemed humanly possible for my body to contain, hobbling to the bathroom across the hall at a rate of what must have surely been ninety-seven times per hour. I was given a second dose of the ripening agent, the doctor no more making an attempt to be courtly than the first time, and it should not surprise to find that I was, still, at zero centimeters.

The snow continued to rage down as the hours ticked away, and my husband did not relish a trip back out into it for the evening. There was no place for him to sleep, honestly, in the labor room -- a child perhaps, a small one at that, may have fit -- but as it seemed that my body was determined to be obstinate, I was moved to another room for the night so that I could attempt some sleep that was, if not comfortable, at least somewhere in the relative neighborhood thereof. It was a day surgery room, and being night, it was expectedly empty, so my husband had the opportunity to spend the night, getting possibly even less sleep than I got -- which is fairly impressive as I'd finally started to experience some mild contractions around three in the morning.

After a few hours of patched together slumber, the doctor arrived. I was certain this time he'd get his act together and at least offer me a hastily plucked flower from a plant in the lobby, but, no. Just more latex gloves and invasion of what was once my personal space. Can you guess what I'm about to reveal? Indeed, close on twenty four hours and still at zero centimeters. My son, clearly, was enjoying his free room and board too much and was going to fight to the bitter end. An administering of oxytocin, and we were off to the races. If you've ever been artificially induced, you'll understand the situation I quickly found myself in. Contractions that had seemed painful just scant moments before seemed now wistfully pleasant and I found myself missing them, and wondering how much worse things were going to get before they were over. So, never one to be shy, I asked the nurse, and she replied "If you can still talk, it's going to get a lot worse." This remark played a major role in my subsequent decision to have an epidural, a decision I did not regret -- even though it ended up to be the most painful part of the entire experience.

Ah, let me recount for you what occurred when the anesthetist arrived. She was middle aged, I'd guess about 50, but I'm notoriously bad at guessing such things, so I don't presume to think I'm actually correct on that score. She had long, dark hair, done up in a bun, and a pinched face that held a sour frown as she entered, step heavy, complaining about her busy day. Normally, I'd feel somewhat bad about inconveniencing this woman with my pain as I clearly was, but just at that moment, I didn't really give a load of dingo's kidneys even if her house was on fire. As gently as I suspect it was possible for this woman to manage, she bent me over so she could set to, and I struggled as best I could to maintain the position as increasingly painful and frequent contractions grabbed me from the inside and tried their best to turn me inside out. Well, as they say, I guess my best wasn't good enough, as she repeatedly informed me, in increasing levels of vexation, as she rooted around, for many, many minutes, with what was surely a Ford Explorer or something of similar physical size, inside my spine. I suspect if my husband had not been so busy focusing his energy on soothing my tears and helping me stay calm and still, he would have had a few choice words for the woman. Mercifully, she eventually managed to get it in, and hurriedly left the room -- which I swear brightened considerably the moment she passed through the opening, as though her presence had literally darkened not only the mood but the air -- followed, to our amusement, by the nurse who had her own choice words for the anesthetist.

The epidural kicked in quickly, and the transition seemed nearly blissful. I began beaming, as I snuggled back against the pillow, my body relaxed and growing heavy with the absence of tension. Shortly, though, I grew cold. Very cold. My body shivered involuntarily, and a wave of intense nausea swept over me. I could not, unfortunately, control my desire to vomit. My blood pressure had dropped, significantly it seemed, to worrisome levels. The nurse gave me a mask, for oxygen, and a shot of ephedrine, which didn't bring my pressure up as quickly as it should have. They administered a second shot, and started discussing having my husband leave the room, which did nothing to help either of us relax and not be frightened. The second shot seemed to work better and my blood pressure stabilized after a time, my husband's knuckles faded from white to his normal pinky-white, and I relaxed again. The contractions continued to escalate in intensity, and the epidural slowly faded in strength, until I was considering asking for a boost.

The doctor came back at just after noon, to see if there had been any progression. And, there was. One centimeter. It had been twenty eight hours since the start of the induction, twenty eight hours since my water had broken, and all I had to show for it was one centimeter of dilation. I was, I think understandably, deflated and felt as though my body was failing me. It had come to the worst of my fears; the doctor called the OR and informed me that in fifteen minutes someone would come to wheel me away. He left, and the nurse prepared me, and did her best to soothe me, telling me that she'd too had a c-section and that she actually preferred it to her vaginal birth. I've no way to know if she was telling the truth, or just humoring me -- it didn't really matter to me either way; it was my body being cut open shortly, not hers. Still, I appreciated the effort. My husband was taken away to change into operating room appropriate attire -- only slightly more attractive than the patient's regalia -- and I looked forward to seeing him again shortly.

Then, after what paradoxically seemed a second and an hour, it was showtime. I was in the operating room, greeted by a gaggle of men and women in the same chic operating wear. The doctor gave me a rundown of what would be happening, and commenced with the procedure. About five minutes into the operation, my husband was escorted in, and he sat at my side, holding my hand. He told me, later, that as he walked through the door he saw the incision, and I think he nearly vomited, himself. I was told I might feel some tugging, but I was really not prepared for what I felt. It was not quite pain, but close, and I was acutely aware of things being pulled and shifted around, and it was, I can say with honesty, the strangest thing I've ever experienced in my life.

And then, I heard it. The first cry from my newborn son. It was among the most beautiful things I've heard thus far in my life. They held him up, and I gazed up at his tiny little body, his eyes closed tight, fists balled, flailing, crying for the only home he'd ever known. He looked so raw, his feet were purple and chapped from lack of amniotic fluid, but as any mother will tell you, still indescribably perfect. Then, gone from my sight, to be cleaned, measured, weighed. I looked at my husband and I saw my own awe mirrored in his eyes. The surgeons continued on, but I barely noticed, still entranced by the sight I'd just had, a life I'd created and nurtured with my own body, there before my eyes. It seemed so surreal, all I'd gone through over the pregnancy, culminated in this single act. It was over; I'd survived, we'd all survived, grown stronger and closer through our journey to this one moment.

My son, clean and wrapped, placed in my husband's waiting arms. I must now admit, the main objection I had had to a c-section was that I wanted to be the first to hold my son in my arms. I'd done the work, I wanted that reward. I wanted to be selfish, have that moment to myself, but the look, the look of pure radiant joy that was filmy with unshed tears I saw in his eyes the moment he held our son, made me realize it didn't matter. I'll carry that look with me always. We gazed at him, Colin Kenneth, our little piece of ourselves, all of nineteen inches and eight pounds, nearly hairless, eyes the dark blue of a twilight sky. He had a face shaped face, peeking out from his swaddling, and I couldn't tear my gaze away. It had been the longest 41 1/2 weeks in the history of the universe, twenty nine hours of failed labor, and at 1:02pm on January 16th, 2007, it was also the best.
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The Birth of Chase David by: http://members.baby-gaga.com/member521062

like to share my birth story because I feel it could give comfort to woman who may be afraid of the labor process. My labor went very smoothly and I wouldnt change a thing.

My baby boy, Chase, now two months old was breech up until 37 weeks gestation. A caesarian section had been scheduled for the 19th of May, when I would be exactly 38 weeks pregnant. Just 2 days before the 19th my Gynae did a last scan to ensure he hadnt turned and voila, he had turned. The caesar was cancelled and the wait continued. Eventually I was told I should be induced on my due date because of the size of my baby, to reduce the risk of needing a caesar should labor be delayed and his size too big for a natural birth.

I went into hospital at 8pm on the 1st of June, ready to be the first induced the following morning. However, by 10pm I started getting painful, irregular contractions. Through out the night they got stronger and stronger and more regular. I couldnt believe I had gone into labor naturally, just in time to miss the induction! I was up all night pacing the maternity ward and chatting to nurses, showering and bathing to ease the pain and texting my family at home. I got no sleep, lying down made the pain worse and being in an alien environment didnt help matters either.

At 4am a nurse came through and did an internal, I was 3 cm dilated. She gave me an enema, and I had another bath after that for the pain. At 5am I was admitted to the labor ward and the baby's heartbeat along with my contractions was further monitored. I paced the room in that revolting skimpy hospital gown until I was blue in the face and my boyfriend arrived looking just as disheveled as I was. He followed me around the room like a duckling until the anaethetist arrived to administer the epidural. In some ways I wish I didnt get the epidural because it made me feel insecure, not being able to move and feeling slightly nauseos and giddy. However, I probably would have begged for the epidural had I not had it.

Eventually I managed to get some sleep and my boyfriend, Johnathan, went to the hospital cafe to see my parents. From then I went between sleep and awake until a nurse came in just before 2pm to do another internal. She told us I was 9 and a half centimetres dilated. Johnathan looked up from his mobile games and I thought his jaw was going to hit the floor.

The nurse took me off my epidural and called in my Gynaecologist to deliver my baby. The epi wore off faster than I expected and although I couldnt feel the contractions while I pushed, I could feel my baby coming through the birth canal, and this was slightly painful, but amazing.

After about 15 minutes of pushing my son was born into the world and holding him in my arms for the first time was the most breathtaking experience I have ever endured. He was still covered in vernix and struggeled to get his eyes open, so I parted them gently and he gazed up at Johnathan and I.

Whenever I see pregnant woman or hear of someone going in to have their baby, I wish that I could rewind and do it all over again.
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wow all the votes already and its only been posted for 7 minutes?

Quoting stalked by a MORON:“ wow all the votes already and its only been posted for 7 minutes?”

in theory...

*spread hands thoughtfully*

they could've read all of these before in the original thread, eh?

Quoting stalked by a MORON:“ wow all the votes already and its only been posted for 7 minutes?”

I've read the stories multiple times so I just need to skim over them to remember which story it is.

I have awesome memory for stuff like this.  

Quoting Slytherins Heiress:“ I've read the stories multiple times so I just need to skim over them to remember which story it is. I have awesome memory for stuff like this.  ”

do you have some spare that you could share w/ me?

all i've got is a sense of humor about my growing senility.

Quoting Mara:“ do you have some spare that you could share w/ me? all i've got is a sense of humor about my growing senility.”

I'm selfish with my memory. Its the last bit of my mind that has been left intact.

Quoting Slytherins Heiress:“ I'm selfish with my memory. Its the last bit of my mind that has been left intact.”

*nods understandingly & grimaces a little resentfully*

i understand... well, if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.

Quoting Slytherins Heiress:“ I've read the stories multiple times so I just need to skim over them to remember which story it is. I have awesome memory for stuff like this.  ”

share the love please! i swear its just a downward spiral in my memory ever since having a baby. either that, or i really am getting older.;)

i do remember quite a few of them from the original contest but theres always a few new ones that are plopped in there that i missed or can't recall...sigh

i voted for colin bc the story is impeccably written, and draws you in  

I voted for myself..... for obvious reasons but I HATE that this is in a poll form!!
I wanted so badly to vote for Liam Patrick, as well as Maiya Susan.
Boo. lol
They are all wonderful though!

i voted for Maiya Susan because it was the most compelling, but the colin one was my favourite, it wasntas long and tedious as some others were and I love that she said that her boyfriend followed her around like a duckling. hahaha

I voted for Colin's story.....I loved the humor infused in the telling....as well as Colin's face shaped face.
lol

Quoting Satan:“ I voted for Colin's story.....I loved the humor infused in the telling....as well as Colin's face shaped face. lol”

hehehehe.

I stole that from a book I'm reading. I literally laughed out loud when I got to that line in the book.

C.

Quoting Satan:“ I voted for Colin's story.....I loved the humor infused in the telling....as well as Colin's face shaped face. lol”

i was wondering about that...

like, if it was on purpose or an accident.

Quoting Mara:“ i was wondering about that... like, if it was on purpose or an accident.”

It's a nod to Robert Heinlein.

C.