how'd your Labor go? c-section?

Rachel - posted on 02/01/2009

I think birthing in England is much different from the US from wht I have read... I had a home birth, just entenox (gas n air) no tearing or anything. I was watching Sally Jesse Raphael actually til 30 mins before my daughter was delivered lol

Cristy - posted on 02/01/2009

I had a scheduled c-section 5 days before my due date. I was developing pre-eclampsia, had low fluid, Miles was sunny side up, and he was measuring HUGE. I went in got my epidural, and in 20 minutes or so he was out weighing in at 9 and half pounds. I did fine with everything, and actually was able to move my legs the entire time. I was up walking within 24 hours. I felt like superwoman compared to all the other poor women that were suffering after their c-sections. I think I just have a ridiculous pain tolerance.

Kelli - posted on 01/31/2009

i was sitting at a friends house at 2pm on my due date eating a ham, cheese and tomato toastie. half way through i felt a dribble i was sitting on my knees as at that point i could not sit he was pushing on my cervix. i went to the toilet thinkin i was going to wee and it just wouldnt stop i then started contractions and had a shower while waiting for my partner. he then took me to the hospital at 6pm and thats when labour really kicked in, i had my mum and luke (partner) eating thai food while i was in pain and hungry nice huh. we were waiting for lukes mum to get there as she was sitting by her 5 yr old grand daughters side saying goodbye as she had battled with cancer for her short 5 years.i kept askin to check my cervix and the midwife told me no no you will go all night its your first baby i told her the baby was coming tonight well she didnt believe me and went home. when my new midwife came in at 9:15pm she checked my cervix oh shit she said we are having a baby tonight i was 7 cms dilated. mum arrived and lukes dad was going to drive 2 hrs home then come back i refused and he pulled up a recliner and tried to snooze. i was in full blown labour in the shower my waters broke and i got on my hands and knees in the bathroom and gave birth to a 6lb 8 oun healthy boy. i had no drugs and no interventions it was very text book until the midwife had to stitch me up, 14 stitches and 3 hours later it was over. he was born at 11:40pm 19th april 08. at 6am i still had no sleep i just layed and watched him, he then woke up choking and turning slightly blue. the midwife who the night before thought id still be in labour that morning said he was fine. the doc came to do a check up and whisked him straight to the special care nursery. he had some delayed breathing difficulties and muccus but 9 months on and he is extremely healthy and loving life.

Michelle - posted on 01/30/2009

This was my second pregnany and 6 days early my contrations started. Once my back labor began we headed to the hospital. An hour later I had an epidural. 2 hours later I was at a 10 and ready to push. It was a party in the delivery room, one push and he was out with his daddy delivering him. It was actually FUN! But contrast this to my first pregnancy: 28 hours of labor, 2 hours of pushing.... ALL of my friends second labors have been WAY easier. Maybe that will give you hope.

Melissa - posted on 01/30/2009

I had light labor pains all day, I think I was in denial. I went food shopping, did some laundry, and made rice crispy treats. Shortly after I realized that I was in real labor so I went to lay down because at lamaze they say to wait until your water breaks or your contractions are 5 minutes apart to call the doctor. I layed down for 10 minutes watching Gone in 60 seconds (movie) and my water broke, and the baby had pooped inside(it was green liquid). I called my husband and the doctor. I went to the hospital at 8pm. I waited to have the epi until the pain was unbearable which was 7cm. At 12am they gave me the epi, I fell asleep and they woke me up at 2:30 to push. I couldn't feel my legs or anything because of the epi. I pushed for 40 mintues. My daughter was born at 3:09 am. I did tear though and they cut me! So afterwards I was in soooo much pain!! It took 4 months for the tear to heal. I don't think it will ever be the same down there.

Kristen - posted on 01/30/2009

Mine was 3 hours from start to finish.  I arrived at the hospital at almost 9 pm and my son was born at 11:50 pm on the 26th.  I was 3 cm when I arived and within the 20min the nurse was gone to talk to the Dr. about admitting me dialated to 8cm.  I was all natrual since it all happend so fast I was not able to take any meds not that I wanted to any how.  My water broke on it's own just a few min before I started to push.  Pushing lasted for 5 min and I only had to push Twice!  This is my 2nd april child, my first born was born April 11, 2005.  I labored for 8 hours and took 20 min to push him out and again all natural.  It is true what the say, the more you have the easier/shorter it takes and is to have them.  Well at least for me. 

Bethany - posted on 01/29/2009

Hansi, that is terrible. I know saying sorry doesn't lessen the pain in any way, but I truly am. Just imagining losing a child like that... I started tearing up just reading your post, and told my husband (who also knows the dangers of Cytotec) about your experience, and he's upset about it as well. I so fervently want women to be made aware of the dangers of certain drugs used on us. So many of us are clueless because the medical world keeps us that way.

Pamela - posted on 01/29/2009

Bethany,

Thank you for your post involving Cytotec. You are right Cytotec is not FDA approved. It is such a dangerous medication when used during pregnancy and labor induction. All women should read your warning and listen to your words!

I know, I was given Cytotec to induce my labor. My son, Andrew, had to be revived at delivery and it took over 25 minutes. Andrew was brain dead and died in my arms 7 days later. Only months later when trying to figure out what went wrong, did I find out that Cytotec was used on me and what its effects can be. I still to this day (almost 4 yearslater) feel so betrayed by the doctor and whole medical staff at the fact they KNEW what was happening to me and Andrew and never told us. They knew, the what, why and how and NEVER said a word, then in depositions for our lawsuit continued to LIE and cover their tracks.

Please read the words carefully and do your own research on Cytotec (generic name is Misoprostol) and do not allow this medication to be used on you ar anyone you care about.

Hansi

Amanda - posted on 01/20/2009

I was sent to the hospital from my doctor's office because my blood pressure was 110/190 and I had a little protein in my urine. They monitored me at the hospital for a couple of hours and my blood pressure would not go down. They started my pitocin at 2:00 pm and I was dilated to a two. They broke my water at 10:30 pm and I had my epidural by 11:00 pm. I was finally dilated to a 10 and started pushing at 2:00 pm the following day and pushed for an hour before they realized that my epidural had fallen out. I then had to sit still for them to insert another epidural. My doctor's told me that they have never had to put in a second epidural because the first one fell out. They let me sleep for an hour after that, so that I could get my strength up. I started pushing again at 4:00 pm and I delivered my daughter at exactly 7:00 pm. I thought that my pain was over. My placenta would not come out because it was stuck to my uterine wall. I went through another hour of pushing just to get my placenta out. Then my epidural wore off right when she started to stitch me up from my episotomy.

Lara - posted on 01/18/2009

i wanted to have a naturally birth but at 29 weeks my daughter turned upside down and never turned back. 4 weeks before i was due i went into hospital were they tried to turn her but it didn't work so i had a planned c-section a week before she was due,it went really well and all the doctors and midwifes were lovely i want more children and would like to experience labor but would aways do what is best for baby.

Jill - posted on 01/08/2009

I woke up on my husband's 30th birthday and started having 'Braxton Hicks' that came on every 7-9 minutes. I still went to my cousin's bridal shower that day (only my sister knew I was having contractions). When I got home at 6pm I conceded that I was in labour and by 6:30pm it was definitely BACK labour. My husband spent the next 24 hours rubbing my back as I refused to have an epidural. I went to the hospital at 5cm. My midwife finally convinced me that all I needed was the epi to relax me enough to let her turn her head. I went to 6-7cm in an hour and a half while I napped with the epidural, woke up and chatted then threw up (as I was in transition) then was checked and ready to go! I pushed for about an hour - no tears or episiotomy and she was born with a perfectly round head at 8:29pm - 36 hours from my first contraction. I cannot sing the praises of a midwife enough! She was patient and encouraging and kind and although I didn't go drug-free, her experience as a midwife told me to have an epidural to relax me and it worked. She said if I didn't, I more than likely would have needed a c-section.

6 months after my daughter was born I had back labour all over again while trying to pass kidney stones!!! My childbirth was easier than that!

Christine - posted on 01/08/2009

My girl Cheyenne was born by natural birth and I went in about 6PM with adominal pain and turned out it was her comen out I did not know I was pregnet because I had no signs also my water did not break so I had to have the doctor break it Cheyenne was born with no pain killers because when I went in I was almost 8 centimeters Dilated she was born at about 10pm on April 30th and was at full term and healthy as can be.

Angela - posted on 01/07/2009

I had 2 completely different experiences with my 2 children. My 1st was born in the hospital after being induced at 12 am b/c I was a week overdue and my blood pressure had skyrocketed probably b/c I was soooo nervous. At 7 am I was started on pit and got an epidural and my water broke. The epidural was not a good experience. I delivered our daughter at 5:02 pm so 17 hours of labor including 2 hours of pushing. With my 2nd I chose to have at home with a midwife. I was 1 week early. My water broke at 7pm started feeling contractions at 11pm. My midwife got here at 4:30 am and I was given antibiotics b/c I tested positive for strep B. I wasnt dilated all the way when my body said to push, so I had one miserable hour of holding back pushes (worst part of laboring). I labored in the water for many hours and between contractions I was slept b/c I was exhausted. Then after 40 minutes of pushing our son was born at 12:03 pm. I will be having anymore we have at home b/c it was a much better experience.  I actually had 2 midwives and 2 students here with me and they took care of me, it was great.  I had no tearing with either, they were 7lb 12oz and 7lb and 6oz.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2009

This was my fourth labor and delivery and I was determined to do a v-bac since my first 2 were vaginal births over 9lb.  My doctors were very supportive, but said I had to go into labor on my own, they would not induce.  I told them not to worry.  Several days before my due date and the day after my last appt I woke up having contractions.  I wanted to make sure it was the real deal, so I sent my husband to work knowing that I may have to call him to come home ( my mom was with me all day)  I labored at home for about 5 hours before I called the doctor.  Even though it was my fourth baby, labor still lasted 14 hours.  At the hospital I labored as long as I felt I could handle before the epidural.  Once i got the epidural, we watched a movie and chatted.  Near the end, I could feel my epidural wearing off a little and suddenly I felt my water break.  As soon as my water broke I went from 7 cm to fully dilated.  I succesfuly delivered my 9lb 1 oz baby girl by v-bac, but suffered a grade 4 episiotomy/tear that took over an hour to repair (I had 2 grade 3 episiotomies with my first 2 babies).  That was probably the worst part.  But the recovery was the easiest of all my babies.  Especially the c-section with my third.  That was the worst.  Now I am pregnant with a surprise 5th baby and hoping for another v-bac.

Beth - posted on 01/06/2009

Baby #1, Faith, i was in labor for 4hours...my epid. didn't work so i felt everything. I about died. Faith got stuck and my heart rate dropped dangerously low and she was delivered with forceps since they where to afraid to put me asleep and there wasn't time to do another epidural. baby#2,Ryan, My DH and i were about to do some Xmas shopping when the contactions started.( he was 3wks early)could not get any dr on the phone..they where having problems with the on call line from the weekend.so i went straight to the doctors office and was 5cm..6hrs later with a good epid. Ryan was here. Baby#3, Brent, my water broke and 30 min later he was here( 5 1/2 weeks early). Luckly I had been having really bad cramps so i was already at the hosptial the night before for observation And Baby #4, Dylan,tried to come at 19 wks. I was in and out of the hospital and on bedrest for 3 months 2weeks and 4 days. we made it to 36 weeks. I was in natural labor for 4hrs. pushed for 15 min. it went great. the only thing that stinks is all of my boys were early and had to go to the NICU. I didn't get to hold them until they where a few hours old...and Dylan was on O2 for a week so he was a week old before I got to hold him..But we can't have anymore children. Not only is it not safe for me to have another but my DH was "fixed"..sounds like he is a dog or something...the same day I had Dylan. It was so funny watching him waddle in to L&D along with me. But three children here with us and one in heaven I love everything about my family.

Elesha - posted on 01/06/2009

That epi from the c-section made me shake really bad too! kinda scary! Thanks Everyone for all your stories!

Sarah - posted on 01/02/2009

Mine went really well-- started to get light contractions 9pm, checked in at the hospital at 12 am--- at 5 am started actual labour-- and had my daughter AT 9:22 AM---NO EPI.. NO DRUGS--- ALL NATURAL... had only small tearing (4-5 stitches)-- nurses and doctor were great.
I have actually read a lot about doctors often do unnecessary c-sections-- and have heard good and bad labour and delivery stories.
Sorry yours was a bad experience.

Ps..there is an awesome group on here called "Informed Choice- Birth and Beyond"--- I highly recommend joining it if you have or are planning to have children.

Marion - posted on 01/01/2009

I would love to know what labor feels like. My little guy was born exactly one month early. I went to my doc for a routine prenatal exam and my blood pressure was 180/90 (a major sign of pre-eclampsia). I went to the hospital for monitoring and there it was discovered that Jack's heart rate was dropping to the 60s for a few seconds every couple of hours. I was given steroid shots to develop his lungs that night and he was born at 8:02 the next morning via c-section. I had been scared of the c-section, but I have to say recovery was very easy. I had very little pain and was feeling fine within two weeks of delivery. I'm pregnant again and hope to VBAC this time. I hope I get to experience labor, but understand if a c-section is necessary to save my baby's life. I'm so glad I was working with a doctor instead of a midwife - I hate to think what would have happened to my little guy if I had continued to carry him while he was in distress!

Holli - posted on 01/01/2009

My labor was difficult. It lasted about 2 1/2 months. I was in the hospital six times and on bed rest for about a month before I had my baby six weeks early. The sixth time I was in the hospital I was dialated to 4 and they were going to send me home. I refused and started walking the halls until the contractions were on top of eachother and I could barely walk. Then an hour later I had my little girl. Luckily she was fine she was 5lbs 13ounces and 19 inches long (my first was 10lbs).

Emilie - posted on 01/01/2009

My labor was terrible! I woke up on the 13th at 5 am when my husband was getting ready from work, and realized that my water broke. I was going through a mid-wife so we had discussed what to do. There was nothing else going on, no contractions or anything so I went back to bed. At 8 am I got up for the day and realized I was still trickling. So I called the mid-wife. She told me to take a shower and eat a little bit and go for a walk and see if I could get contractions to start. Contractions started about an hour later and were less then 2 mins apart. My mid-wife told me to come to the hospital when I started getting panicky. I got to the hospital around 4 pm. I was only dialated to 2. We also found that my water had a leak in it and had not fully broken. So we walked the floor for 2 hours to see where we got to. In the 2 hours we dialated to 5. Mid-wife decided to start petocin but the baby's heartrate kept dropping. At 4 am I was only dialated to 7 and had been stuck there for a few hours. I decided I wanted an epi at this point. Then we had to start talking c-section. At 8 am there was still no change so off for c-section it was. 27 hours later, out was our baby girl. Talking to the OB the next day, she told me I could have tried for a week and there was no way our 9 lb baby would have fit. Shew! I would do it all over again tomorrow though...as I am sure most of you would too!

Bethany - posted on 12/28/2008

Elesha, I watched the trailer to the "business of being born." And that looks like a very good, informative video. Childbirth in a US hospital is so much more dangerous than in most other developed countries! A home birth with a midwife is so much safer (in the VAST majority of cases). I must say, I am SO happy I took a Bradley childbirth class and got educated before the birth of my first daughter. It is because of that I had an AMAZING birth experience.

The week before my daughter was born, I had early labor contractions every day, all day, that got stronger and stronger until about 5am when they'd stop, then start all over again a few hours later. The day before my "due date," my husband and I induced naturally, and my active labor started around 11pm. We went to bed, knowing that, if it was real labor, I wouldn't sleep through having a baby and we'd need all the sleep we could get! At 1am I woke up to go to the bathroom, and my water broke into the toilet. I called my midwife, told her what was going on, and asked if we could wait a while to go to the hospital. She said we should probably get in there fairly soon. So, my husband slowly loaded the car and we got to the hospital at 2am.

My labor nurse asked if they could put an IV start just in case, and I let her since I wasn't going to do anything else normal. :) Then she asked me to rate (1-10) how painful my contractions were. I said, "maybe a 5. They're not bad." Nurse looked at me, the monitor, then me again and said, "those are REALLY strong! But I can't tell you're having one unless I look at the chart." :) Then I took a bath in the jetted tub for a while, with my husband right there talking to me and rubbing my back between contractions. I kept telling myself I should get up and walk to speed up labor, but I really didn't want to, so I got out of the tub and lay down the bed, breathing through contractions. I was having the signs of transition (the 10-45min part of labor right before pushing) by the time I got out of the tub, but thought I couldn't possibly be there yet! Then, a little after 5am I said, "I think I need to push now." The midwife had just arrived, so I got up and pushed, and my beautiful Natalie Grace was born at 5:47am, April 9 (her due date), au naturale!

I truly believe that the reason for my good birth experience was because I took that class and realized that it's not as scary as we in America make it sound. I learned to relax, and which unnecessary meds to avoid (haha all of them!). In fact, even my midwife tried to get me to take Cytotec after giving birth since I declined pitocin. She said it was just a little pill she'd stick up my behind to make my uterus contract down. Thankfully, I had already done my homework and knew that cytotec is not FDA approved for that use, and has caused death in many mothers and babies. The manufacturer even sent a notice to medical providers telling them not to use it on pregnant women, laboring women, or babies. Not saying we would have died, but if it's not absolutely necessary for the health of mom or baby, why do it?!

Karen - posted on 12/27/2008

I never went into labor. If I had gone into labor early, I would probably have had my son naturally, but he didn't want to come out. :) I ended up having a scheduled section on my due date because he was a big baby - I had gestational diabetes. I think it was pretty much textbook. I was terrified of the section - I really wanted to deliver vaginally, but in the end it turned out all right. I'm hoping that my next baby will be a couple pounds smaller so I can do VBAC.

Sara - posted on 12/10/2008

Mine wasn't near as bad as I had imagined it. Tuesday night I started contracting, not bad, but it was obvious that's what it was. By Wed. afternoon I thought things were pretty bad, and after walking around the mall for what seemed like forever, we went to the hospital. Unfortunately, nothing had changed since my Monday appt (1 cm dilated, and not effaced at all). I was sent home. About midnight that night I was trying to go to sleep, and just as I would dose off, a contraction would start, waking me up, and last just long enough to be annoying. All night long this happened. Thursday evening we went back to the hospital, they checked me out, and yeah, I was 4 cm dilated and 30% effaced! I got to stay there. After about 5 hours of contractions, my dr. broke my water, and because I'm such a big chicken, I requested an epidural immediately, though I realize now I could have waited longer. This seemed to slow my contractions too much, because they could no longer track them, so they gave me pitocin. 3 hours later I felt like it was time, the dr. came in, and 1 1/2 hours later, my baby Keagan joined the world. He was 2 1/2 hours late from his due date. 2:32 am Friday April 11.

April - posted on 12/10/2008

The easiest one ever. I had a scheduled C-Section, no problems and it was wonderful. (Which made up for my first born, where I had pre-clampcia, 12+ hours of labor with pitocin and then emergency C-Section).

Ange - posted on 12/10/2008

I dont think my labor was that bad considering it was my first.. the mifwives said it was actually quite quick.. My waters broke at about 10am on the 1st of april.. after going to the hospital for a check up they said i was only 3cms dilated and to go home and come back in the next morning if i hadnt had any problems before that and they would induce contractions.. BUT I couldnt go home because our house was being sprayed for termites and we had to be outta the house for 9 hours or something so we went and saw a movie.. lol I had to change my pad in my undies like every half hour for the whole day.. Just so badly wanted to go home.. when we could finally get home i was having little stabs of pain in my back at about 9pm.. i didnt really think much of it but I called the hospital just in case.. the midwife on the phone said it looks like thing maybe starting but they could also fizzel out and to try and get some sleep and to take some panadol.. well the pain did NOT fizzel out.. at about 11pm I was in agony.. my babies father called the hospital and said we were coming in RIGHT NOW lol.. the trip to the hospital felt like it took 20 years rather than 20mins haha.. i got there and i was only 3 cms dilated.. i had an epidural about 40mins later because I had a really bad back labor.. the midwives said there is no way anyone could have gone thru this labor without an epidural because of the babies position against my spine.. about 20mins after the epidural was in i was 8cms dilated and totally feeling it lol.. I think they turned the epidural off so I didnt lose the urge to push.. then about an hour later all of a sudden I said 'I think I need to push' so after 20-30mins of pushing Kiara Scarlett was born.. the midwives were amazed that for my first baby I was pushing for only half an hour..!

Jennifer - posted on 12/03/2008

A good first experience.



I was two weeks early....just finished raking leaves and was going to take a nap. I was putting my leg into my pj bottoms and boom, my water broke. (3:30 p.m.)



I went to hospital at 4:00 because I had tested positive for Group B step.



At 7:00 finally checked by the doctor (I was having contractions but mild and no pain...felt like Braxton hicks) 2 cms



8:00 p.m. doctor says to put me on Pitocin because I wasn't having strong contractions.....he wanted to start me on the antibiotics and have baby before 24 hours was up.



10:30 first real contraction where I had to stop mid-conversation and breathe.



11:30 Holy cow, getting fast and furious - nurse checked me and said I was 2 1/2 cm.....ONLY?



(20 mins. later @ 11:50 I scream.....I'm pooping......and feel and strong urge to push. Nurse checks and sure enough, fully dialated at 10cm's. She says I had "forewaters" and extra bit of water sac that needed to be broken.



11:55 doctor comes in and breaks the sac of water.......



12:29 Emma is born. 3 small stitches......

Monique - posted on 12/03/2008

My first baby came 3weeks early so when i only had a tiny amount of water i didnt know what was happening (turned out it was my hind waters that broke first) but i went to hospital and they did an internal I was 2cm so i just killed time in the shower until i felt all of a sudden pain in my back, then pressed for midwife to come back to me. She came back and said it had only been 3 hrs but she did an internal and he was crowning! 3 hrs pushing and my first baby boy was born nearly 3 wks early but 8pound 5oz! So 6 hour labour all up, no drugs, no gas, no stitches.



#2 baby was induced by drip 2 weeks early, pain was intense from start to finish, had pethidine at 5 cm. Luckily only took 6hrs to go from nothing to 10cm, only 4 pushes - 2mins and out came my 2nd baby boy. He was 2 wks early but 9pound1oz, had 2 stitches.



#3 baby boy #3 was induced 2 weeks early again but only by the midwife breaking my waters, labour started then but again like my first i was in the shower just rocking side to side, breathing. About 7 hrs later standing up in labour in the shower i felt the urge to squat, as i did that out came the top of his head! No midwifes were with me so i stood back up and put my hand between my lags to stop him from falling head first on the floor. A midwife came in and threw a pillow between my legs and said ok move your hand, when i did that he just dropped but the midwife caught him falling head first towards the pillow! Out came my third beautiful boy, early again but 8pound 15oz and no drugs or stitches.

Melanie - posted on 12/01/2008

My labor was not great. Nothing happened according to plan. I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible. Right off the bat my water broke so they suggested I come in. They put me on bedrest and put me on the monitors to see if anything would happen. 7 hours later I was barely 1 cm so they started pitocin. 7 hours after that I was still barely 1 cm and not getting into a good pattern. I had planned on having a med-free labor but at that point I was ready for an epidural (didn't get one until the spinal in the OR). The baby's heart rate was dropping into the 70s and 80s at the start of each contraction. Being a nurse I knew that meant cord compression. Because it was looking to be a very long labor and my water had broken 14 hours ago they did a C-section. The recovery was AWFUL.

Angela - posted on 11/30/2008

I was at work on 4/16 when I got a call from my doctor's office around 3:30 pm. I was starting to develop preeclampsia. They sent me to the hospital for monitoring. I got to the hospital at 4 pm. After an hour or so of being monitored, my doctor decided that I needed to have a c-section that same night. My son was born less than 6 hours from that original phone call and was 3 weeks early. I had no idea that my husband was only going to be allowed in the operating room until my son was born which was about 8 minutes into the surgery. Then he went to the nursery with my son and I was there by myself. My body would not stop shaking from the epidural and my teeth were chattering the entire time. I had the warm blankets wrapped all over the upper half of my body including around my head. I must have been quite a sight:) I remember just watching the clock and praying that I would be going to the recovery room soon. The next few days in the hospital were absolutely chaotic! Besides the normal stream of nurses and obgyn doctors that come in to check on you, I had a parade of staff coming in out of my room. My blood pressure wouldn't go back to normal so they made me take an EKG test and had a cardiologist come in to see me every day. Then because I only have 1 kidney, the doctors were concerned about me so I had to have a catscan done. The catscan picked up my lungs on the film and there was a tiny shadow on the one so then a pulmonary specialist was sent to me room. I was anemic after the sugery and I felt like passing out all the time too. All this and trying to breast feed for the first time. It was very overwhelming! I was so happy when I could finally go home with my husband and my adorable brand baby! It seemed impossible at the time but all of those memories mellowed out as soon as I was at home holding my baby in my arms and staring at his beautiful face.

Shalini - posted on 11/27/2008

on the 3 april at 10am i went for an ultra sound cause i was late and i never dialated so when i went to talk to the doc i had to stay at the hospital for an emergency c-section which was at 9pm i was so scared sitting in the hospital for that long ...

Ashleigh - posted on 11/27/2008

My labour was horrible. If anyone knows what back labour is, then they know what I mean. I was in labour for about 2 and a half days, but it was only minor. I was determined to go all natural. On April 4th at around 8:00pm I woke up and was in hard labour...I then had my wonderful son on April 5th at 3:39am! I didn't tear at all, and the after birth was a peice of cake! I had midwives and for my next ones I will most definetly have them again! Way better and more personable than doctors!

Brandi - posted on 11/26/2008

Labor was awesome! I used a midwife at the Shared Care program and was planning on a water birth. I labored at home (930-1130ish) until my doula arrived and then we headed to the birth centre. I was 10 cm's! 2 hours in the tub. Failed to progress and was 3 weeks early so I delivered "on land" an hour later. It was perfect. Before I had even passed the placenta I looked at my husband and said, "That wasn't so bad. I'd do that again!"

If you're interested in "The Business of Being Born" you may also want to check out "Gentle Birth Choices" also at the library.

Helen - posted on 11/26/2008

I had planned to go natural, but my son was 2.5weeks late which freaked the doctors out. I was scared into an induction. I did my research and requested a reduced dosage (thank goodness b/c the amt they prescribed normally is 5x more than the FDA approved amt) which was "only" 2x more than the FDA recommended amount. They used pitocin. My contractions were "hard labor" contractions and lasted for 6-8hours...It was very rough. In fact the easiest contractions came when I was on the table delivering and the pitocin had worn off, and I was double peaking. Up to that point my contractions came every 2min, for 1 min.

I DID watch the movie " the business of being born" BEFORE I had my son, and it was enlightening and helped me prepare for the hospital experience. So, I did not take any medications in order to avoid the sick cycle to a c-section (induction--> epidural--> low blood pressure--> slowed labor--> c-section).

Thank goodness! My son was a healthy @ 9lbs 2oz. Besides the pressure from the Docs after I was 42.5wks, and the piotocin, I loved the pregnancy, and even being overdue was no problem.

Melissa - posted on 11/26/2008

On April 4th at 11:15pm, I was doing laundry and watching Seinfeld when my water broke! So we headed to the hospital. My contractions started an hour later and were coming on strong! I was progressing so fast that there was no time for any meds.
(I planned to go all natural but was wanting an epi once I got to 8 cm! But it was too late!) Marley was born at 2:19am after 20 minutes of pushing.
She was born 3.5 weeks early!

Amy - posted on 11/26/2008

i was not dialated at all at 6:30

Amy - posted on 11/26/2008

i was scheldualed for a c-section for 4-15, on the 14th i woke up with cramps at 3:30am (thought i had to go to the bathroom) sat on the toilet a couple times then going back to bed. i finally figured out that i was going into labor, so different then my first. we went to the hospital and i was dialated at all this was around 6:30. meanwhile my husbands back was really hurting he couldn't even walk. so being i wasn't dialated and the c-section room wasn't avaliable yet. the hospital gave him a chropactors number that was up the street and they put him in for an ER visit at 9:30. at 9:45 they came in to check me and i was 9 centermeters. HOLY SHIT we have to get this baby out. get the room ready we don't have much time! now everyones running around like crazy and wheres my husband still not here. i had to call and tell them to hurry up b/c its gonna be any minute. plus by now i was having hard painful labor pains. finally at 10:36am my Jayda Lynn was born! she came in weighing 8lbs 13oz. it would have been so much better if i could've waited one more day for the schedualed one! oh yeah and my husband did make it back in time!

Elesha - posted on 11/22/2008

http://www.movieweb.com/video/V08A7ozAGH...

View the trailer here!