A Childbirth Story...lol

W

wendymin72

Cathlete
Hello again! I posted this comment in the daily thread over in open discussion but since it pertains to pregnancy I figured I'd repost it here...

DH and I went to his sister's for dinner last night and afterwards DH went to spend some time with "the boys" so I was hanging with my SIL and her friend....they spent quite a while telling me about their pregnancy and childbirth experiences-OH MY!:eek: I hope my experience is not as traumatic! The way they described it, it would scare anyone! I know everyone is different though so that is what I am counting on!!!;-)

I have heard stories from both ends of the spectrum...those who make giving birth sound like pure torture and those who shrug it off like it wasn't bad at all. Ofcourse, I am hoping to fit in with the latter of the 2 categories.:p


Have a great work out!

~Wendy~
Due Date: 5/19/05

http://www.bullmarketer.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/Sports/exercise/thumb_exercise15.gif

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?WENDYMIN
 
Hey Wendy :) I appear to be shadowing you this morning! I just posted a reply to this on the Daily Check In thread in the Open Forums.

Have you ever heard of a "doula"? If so, are you going to have one? I had one for my first birth, and think that she made all the difference in the world. I can't imagine going through it all without her help; it would have been much more stressful and confusing. I will be hiring her again.

Sandra
 
Wendy, congratulations on your pregnancy -- I hope you're enjoying every minute of this wonderful time! I read once that pregnancy is the only human experience that allows us mere mortals to assist God in the creation of a miracle. :) Pretty awesome stuff.

I'm an old mom (two sons, ages 15 and almost 18), so labor and delivery for me were a very long time ago. But I had to chime in here to tell you this: Ignore everyone. There's something about a pregnant woman that makes people (a) think they have the right to put their hands on your belly and (b) feel compelled to tell you every pregnancy and childbirth scary "war story" they can dredge up. Rude rude rude! Just tune them all out, sweetie.

Childbirth is stressful and it hurts like a bear, no question about it. But it is also THE most exciting day of your life with each child, and a day filled with awe and wonder and a humongous sense of accomplishment. And you, like women since Eve, will do just great no matter how easy or tough your day might happen to be. My first son's birth was long and difficult for us both, and my second's was short and easy. I don't have particularly different memories of the two days, believe it or not. Above all else, what I remember about each day is that mind-bending moment of gazing at a little wrinkled face and squinty eyes and impossibly tiny hands and feet, and thinking "Ah! So that's what you look like, of course!" And feeling my heart nearly burst out of my chest with joy. And watching my gentle, stoic husband cry.

That's all you need to think about until May, Wendy. How joyful and indescribably magnificent it will be when you and your child have jointly done your work, and are greeting each other face to face for the first time. :)

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/spezial/spudniks/spudniklifter.gif
[font color=green]2005 Worked Out With Cathe Days:11/16/365[/b][/font color]
 
Hi Wendy,
I'm mostly a lurker here, and my baby was 2 in September, but just thought I would chime in here on a subject close to my heart. My entire life I was terrified of childbirth because of all the horror stories I'd heard (and the fact that I'm a big baby when it comes to pain). I finally actually had my miracle baby at the tender age of 39! Anyway, my labor wasn't particularly easy, but once it was over it was over and I had my beautiful angel that I had waited so long for.

Honestly after 9 long months of pregnancy, the one day of labor and delivery was nothing.

I did not have a doula but sort of wish I had, so that is probably worth at least looking into. I love my OB but he is a very conventional, male doctor. I think women trained in childbirth bring a valuable perspective.

Best of luck to you and your husband!

Dana
 
Wendy!

Oh, a little boy -- now you're making ME tear up! :) Not to take one single thing away from baby girls, who are equally wonderful. But let me tell you, raising little boys has GOT to be the most fun in the world. You are in for a wonderful ride!!!!!!!!!!

Hug that tummy for me, okay? (With your permission, of course! ;-))

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/spezial/spudniks/spudniklifter.gif
[font color=green]2005 Worked Out With Cathe Days:12/16/365[/b][/font color]
 
RE: Wendy!

Hi I'm an old mom too . My boys are 20 16 and 3 !!!! Its been a great time ! Good luck I gotta get ! Time to Wipe ! the 3 year old LOL:) :)
 
Hey Mary (Merrybaker)!

Oh honey, my hat's off to you! A 3-year-old after your older two were teens! That's really exciting but yowza, what a lifestyle change for you after all those years!

My guess, having boys roughly the same age as your older two, is that when you announced to your then-13 and 17-year-olds that you were pregnant, they were totally weirded out by the notion that you and their dad had had ... well, EEEEUUUUWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!! :) I know that's how my boys would react for sure! ;-)

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/spezial/spudniks/spudniklifter.gif
[font color=green]2005 Worked Out With Cathe Days:12/16/365[/b][/font color]
 
RE: Wendy!

Kathy-

Everybody I tell I'm having a little boy has the same type of reaction...about how wonderful they are-that they are totally different from girls, not that girls aren't wonderful too!

I just can't wait...I find myself constantly checking the calander to see how much longer I have to go! :)

Have a great work out!

~Wendy~
Due Date: 5/19/05

http://www.bullmarketer.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/Sports/exercise/thumb_exercise15.gif

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?WENDYMIN
 
Hi Wendy!

Yes, the doula's role is specifically to help the woman with labour and delivery. She remains with the woman constantly, and is trained in methods to alleviate pain and discomfort. She also acts as an intermediary between the medical staff and the parents, which is particularly important when things begin to go awry. She is an experienced and knowledgeable voice regarding the process of childbirth, and can help parents make some tough or important decisions at a very critical time, when they may not be composed or knowledgable enough to be able to fully assess the situation.

I consider it very unfair to both parents to expect Dad to be the coach and take care of Mom's needs during labour and delivery. That puts a loooooot of stress on him, and in an area that he likely knows very little about. Mom deserves a more experienced birth coach than some guy who attended a few birth classes, and has never even experienced a menstrual cramp!!

Women who have doulas with them during labour and delivery are much less likely to choose pain medications during the birth; if a non-medicated birth is something that you would like to attempt, then it is critical that you hire a doula.

My own approach wrt pain medication was that I wanted to attempt to do it without, but I wasn't going to be a martyr about it. So, I learned all I could about the birthing process, and the doula and I talked at great length, many times, about what I could expect, what scenarios were likely to present themselves, and how we could deal with them. Of course, all of the talking in the world can't replace the real experience, so I went in with the mentality that I would give it my best effort, but that was the best I could ask of myself. My birth wound up being unmedicated, and I'm very personally happy about that, but that probably wouldn't have been the case if I'd just let the medical staff run my birth, instead of taking a proactive role by hiring a doula and planning ahead.

I am not an anti-medication activist by any means. If a woman feels like she needs it, then by all means don't let her suffer.

Cheers!
Sandra
 
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