Betty Duffy

***

Thursday, January 17, 2013

It's my sort-of birth story

Not really, there was no story. Labor was easy. There was no drama, except the usual one about getting older and being humbled.
Posted by at

6 comments:

Jenny said...

One of the most humbling moments of childbirth is when the nurse makes you get out of bed to visit the restroom for the first time. You have your wits about you again and here you are standing naked, using the toilet, bleeding in front of a virtual stranger. I always make some comment about how glamorous the moment is. The nurses, without fail, wave off my comments and reassure me it is all no big deal. I can't imagine, but someone has to do the job and I am grateful they do.

I also have a medical history that precludes birthing at home or, at least, allowing myself to go into labor naturally. I have precipitous labor and, if allowed to go on my own, could go from zero to baby in about twenty minutes. The induced labor only lasts about an hour as it is. The pain killers or epidurals are just not worth it, so I go natural. The thing about precipitous labor is that there is no build up in endorphins or the mental ability to cope. You go from nothing to transition contractions almost immediately.

With this latest pregnancy, I have also crossed that line from my early thirties to ADVANCED MATERNAL AGE. It even sounds ominous. I find myself starting to think about labor again, not with dread exactly, but tiredness. Oh That again.

January 18, 2013 at 3:29 PM
BettyDuffy said...

Yes, that first visit to the bathroom...


I've always thought I would like to trade my long labors for a precipitous one, but I'm just becoming more and more convinced that "good" labor is very, very rare.

January 19, 2013 at 11:34 PM
Jenny said...

Oh, I definitely recommend precipitous labor as the way to go except for the first time it happens which is scary as heck.

The nurses think you are a drama-case as you writhe through transition contractions because you were only a 3 when you got to the hospital less than 30 minutes ago. You are panicking as you think that 8 hours of this agony might literally kill you. And then all of a sudden comes the urge to push and the OB isn't even at the hospital yet. Fun times.

But after you know what's coming and can mentally prepare for the crazy (and fast) onslaught, it's not that bad.

I get mine in the beginning when I spend the better part of 20 weeks with my head in the toilet.

January 21, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Colorado Catholic Mama said...

Interestingly, after my firstborn, who was born by emergency cesarean, when I had to use the bathroom, I buzzed for the nurse. And when they asked over the intercom what I wanted, I said I had to use the bathroom. They told me, "Go ahead!" So after 24 hours of labor, 2 hours of pushing, then surgery to deliver my beautiful (and thankfully, healthy!) son, I tried to get to the bathroom alone. I ended up nearly tearing open the incision, because i was very unsteady and banged my front/stomach on the bedrails, trying to get out of bed. I had a massive bruise for weeks. Would have been nice to have some assistance! Thankfully went on to have five uneventful and wonderful births (one at a birthing center with midwives). But I really did wonder about that first birth experience and the bathroom! Shorthanded, perhaps, at the hospital?!

January 25, 2013 at 10:31 AM
BettyDuffy said...

Yes, something went terribly wrong there. I think, most most hospitals require a nurse assistant on the first visit to the bathroom at least.

I'm glad you didn't tear that incision. I grit my teeth just thinking about it.

January 25, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Jenny said...

Something definitely went wrong when they told you to go by yourself. I don't think they have even let me walk unassisted for the first bathroom visit for fear of fainting due to the change in blood pressure and I have never had surgery.

Although not nearly as dire, your story reminds me of a similar situation when my oldest was born. The nurse who helped with the delivery kept coming back in to check on her and would change her diaper as necessary.

Then the shift changed. The baby needed a diaper change so we buzzed the new nurse. She came to the room and asked what we needed. We said the baby needed a diaper change. She said, with much annoyance, "so change it." It was at this point that we had to admit we didn't know how! :)

January 25, 2013 at 2:40 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)