September 1, 2023

Labor Day: Remembering Labor

My friend Kathy coincidentally gave birth 3 years ago on Labor Day and I always found that to be quite fitting, considering how laborious the nature of birthing is. As part of Rocks in My Dryer's link-up for Labor Day, I'm sharing my labor story. {That's me and SoJo on the left, not my friend}

How long was your labor? 21 hours

How did you know you were in labor? I started having contractions at 2:30 in the afternoon I was scheduled for an induction (it was scheduled for 7pm). Of course this happened right as I was trying to lie down for a nap to "rest up" for labor that evening. My son was 11 days overdue, which is why the induction was scheduled.

Where did you deliver? Hospital.

Drugs? Hell yeah!! I wanted to try natural delivery but was not counting out an epidural. I thought that my years of meditation and mindfulness training would get me through the pain but my god!! My mother warned me, but I was not prepared for contraction on top of contraction with less than a minute to rest in between. And this was when I was only a few centimeters dilated. After a few hours, I begged for that needle. I could barely breathe through those contractions.

C-section? Unfortunately, yes. After my 12th hour of hard labor, things weren't progressing. Those idiots at the hospital insisted that I still do the induction, despite arriving at the hospital in labor. They would have sent me home if I had refused the pitocin because I was only 4 cm dilated, and it's not like I live next door to the hospital. Knowing what I know now, I should have went home and gritted through those really close together contractions. But I thought that when they got so close together that it was a sign that delivery was near.

Plus my son looked big on my ultrasounds and ended up weighing 9lbs 5oz and having a pretty big head, shoulders, and hip circumference.

Who delivered? Doctor Miss Cold Fish. Our insurance was accepted at a practice with like 8 doctors, so each time I had a pre-natal visit I'd meet a different doctor. Of course the doctor I disliked the most delivered my son. She was very dry and didn't have the best bedside manner, but she delivered my son safely. That day, like in many hospitals, there were a bunch of c-sections so I had to wait in line for one. That cracked me up (probably was the drugs too). She had done 2 or 3 already and my husband prayed that I didn't hear her say during the surgery that her arm was cramping up (I didn't hear that, thankfully). Needless to say, I wasn't happy with my birthing experience and would have done some things differently if I could go back again (midwife). But I didn't feel depressed or cheated like some people feel. Honestly, I was just glad to have it over with as I was terrified of labor and delivery throughout my entire pregnancy and since I was a little girl (my mom had 5 kids, so I thought about that a lot)

Stop on over to add your story and check out some of the other posts. It's fascinating reading!

5 comments:

  1. Liked hearing your story,I did this too ! Have a great day !

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  2. Loved your first line about the drugs, lol. I never even almost planned to go drug free. It makes me laugh even now (when we are sooooo done having babies) to think of my pansy-girly-no pain tolerance-self going drug free. Ha! I need tylenol for papercuts. Stay Blessed! ~Whitney

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  3. LOL, I went in to the hospital demanding drugs with my first labor. It certainly makes it easier! :)

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  4. I did this too and loved reading yours! I'm sorry you didn't like your doctor, but everyone coming out of the OR safely is the goal, as you said.

    I saw your last post about losing your hair. I find this so strange, because with both of my pregnancies I didn't notice any extra hair or more beautiful hair at all! I didn't lose any after Love Bug, but we'll have to see about Dragonfly.

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  5. You know what I have been thinking about this today.

    My 26 hour, 10 lbs first baby, forceps, 3 1/2 hours of pushing almost c section baby. I cannot honestly remember hardly any of it.

    My about 15 minute so flippin easy (well for labor) only 1 and a half round of pushing second baby 9lbs I can remember almost every detail.

    Funny what your mind lets you forget :)

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