Emily's Birth of Paul

This birth story was used by permission from Emily's blog at:

Design Her Momma

http://designhermomma.com/

Paul, you were born on a cold and windy night…

(those were the words jokingly spoken by Michael, as he quickly rounded the corner, driving us to the hospital)

The story of how Paul came into the world:

2:00 pm: My due date was the 10th, and I had a routine 40 week doctors appointment schedule for the afternoon of the 12th. Since I was 2 days post due date, we had an ultrasound to check my fluid levels, and take some quick measurements of the baby, just to make sure his little living space was still a comfortable and habitable place to be. The ultrasound went fine, and they estimated the baby to be around 8 pounds.

3:00 pm: I met with my doctor. We decided that we wouldn’t schedule an induction, but would wait it out another week, hoping that I would go into labor on my own. She checked my cervix, which was disappointingly only dilated to 1.

3:30 pm: After meeting with the doctor, since I was mildly contracting on my own, she ordered a non-stress test, just to make sure that the baby wasn’t in any distress as my body contracted. I completed the test, waited to be unhooked from the machine, and expected to be sent on my way.

That’s not what happened.

Instead of the NST technician coming back into the room to unhook me, it was my doctor. She said I had a “suspicious” contraction that sent my sons heart rate dipping dangerously. She wanted to make sure everything was “ok” so she was sending us up to Labor & Delivery for a more extensive test. She also told Michael and I (thank God Michael was there with me this whole time), that if the test proved that the baby was in distress, I would be induce immediately.

I.FREAKED.OUT.

4:00 pm: When we got to Labor & Delivery, they administered the non-stress test with a little more gusto than they did in the doctors office. I was shocked when they told me they would be hooking me up to a very low dose of pitocin, to trick my body into thinking it was in labor. They needed to do this so I would have a few “good” contractions so they could accurately watch how the baby was reacting. In the back of my mind, even though I didn’t verbally express myself, I knew this was the beginning of the end.

The contractions started coming hard and fast, and oh boy, they were good. On my pain scale, I would rate them at around a “5″, meaning I could not talk through them, and would have to carefully concentrate. At one point, I realized I was glazed over and staring at The Simpsons on TV. That’s how I knew I had entered my own world of preparing for labor. I hate that show.

6:30 pm: The baby and I “pass” the NST, and we are told we can head on home. Since I was contracting pretty hard through the whole test, and I’ve been known to have pretty fast labors, I asked the doctor if she could check me before I left. I didn’t want to leave the hospital if I had made a significant cervical change in a short amount of time. Getting home only to have the baby on the kitchen floor wasn’t something I was interested in experiencing.

Disappointingly, after all that hard contracting, I was only dilated now to a 2. The nurse said that pitocin has a pretty short half life, and the medication should easily be out of my system within the hour, meaning, contractions would stop completely.

7:00 pm: We get home, and the contractions are nowhere near stopping. In fact, they’re getting harder and faster by the minute. I decided I need to eat something, get my mind of the pain, and relax. I take a bath and eat some pizza rolls. I know, nice dinner choice.

8:30 pm: Contractions are painful and coming every 3.5 minutes. We call a OB doctor friend of ours and ask him for a bit of advice. He says that the pitocin should definitely be out of my system by now, and that if I’m still contracting, it’s likely the “real deal”.

 We both get really nervous, and decide that we should get stuff together and head to the hospital. My very dear friend Katie comes over to sleep on our sofa, as we have already tucked the kids in bed for the night.

I call my trusty doula, Charity.

I call Casey my photographer and friend extraordinaire.

We load up and head to the hospital.

9:30 pm: We make it to the hospital and am ushered back into the same room I emerged from only 2 hours prior. I’m given another cervical check, and yes, within the past two hours, I’ve dilated from a 2 to a 5 -1/2. I’m encouraged by the quick progress, as a long unmediated birth is what my literal nightmares are made out of.

We’re taken down the hall to and admitted into Room 4208, the same room as where I birthed Nola. (we think)

10 pm: The contractions are pretty intense, and I’m exclusively managing them by standing up and leaning against the wall for support. I take deep breaths, hum (or more like moan) through the pain until it releases it’s grip. The main thing I concentrate on during contractions is staying relaxed, primarily in the hips legs, and ladyparts area, as I know that “clenching up” will only slow the process and make dilation take even longer.

11 pm: This is where my recollection starts to get fuzzy, as the pain really becomes intense. I continue in a pattern of extremely painful contractions, coming around every 5-6 minutes. When I’m not contracting, I’m perfectly fine, almost forgetting I’m even in labor.

Having been in labor since around 4pm, I had a ridiculous mental goal of having the baby before midnight. Because really, who wants to have a baby on Friday the 13th? Not this girl.

But of course, the baby and my body had their own agenda.

12 midnight: I’m checked by a nurse and I’m dilated to 7-1/2, which is not very encouraging, having only dilated 2 centimeter over the course of almost 3 hard hours. With this news, my doula and I hit the halls for a leisurely midnight stroll. We circle the floor a few times, even detouring to the nursery for a few minutes to look at all the new babies for a bit of inspiration.

1:00 am: The contractions become increasingly unbearable, yet ironically slow down to 6-8 minutes apart. Between the contractions, all I feel like doing is giving up, crawling into the bed and falling fast asleep. I’m tired, and I can tell everyone in the room is getting fatigued as well.

I try contracting on a birthing ball, which I completely hate. Sitting down, even on a ball, feels insanely restrictive and horrible.

I get on my knees and lean on the back of the bed. I love this position, as I can collapse onto the mattress and rest between contractions. The contractions are intense, and I’m starting to feel defeated as I know delivery is still quite a ways off.

2:00 am: The nurse comes in to check me again. I’m still at a 7.5 centimeter, even after intense laboring over the course of the last 2 hours. It’s a crushing blow, as I feel like all that work was for nothing. The doctor decides that now would be a good time to break my water. I’m scared, but I agree.

I’m scared because in the back of my mind, I know that once my water breaks, there is a real chance that I’ll want to start pushing immediately.

My intuition was spot on.

The doctor breaks my water, I stand up to work through another contraction, and instantly know this baby is coming. Like coming NOW.

In a “bossygirl” voice I forgot I even had, I let everyone in the room know about the developing situation. I’m typically a pretty polite gal, but at that point in my game, all pleasantries had left the building.

I manage to get myself back in bed. (because that’s the way they like you to deliver the baby at my hospital, which I think is kinda dumb)

The room is busy getting everything ready for delivery.

I tell them primal scream at everyone that I’m pushing. Because really, whether or not I wanted to, my body was pushing.

I remember the feeling of being completely out of control, looking at my doula, and telling her “I can’t do this”.

I remember a nurse saying in all the commotion and excitement “his head is out, look down at your baby!”

2:38 am: One in one more mini-push, Paul was born.

Michael cut the cord. And cried. (he always cries)

I held him for a few minutes until the nurses took him to the warmer to get a better look at him.

Paul had come through the birth canal so fast that he had a fair amount of fluid in his lungs, so I wasn’t able to nurse him right away.

But within just a short few moments, we were back together.

This is the story on how Paul was born.

************************************

*All these amazing birth photos were taken by Casey, who stayed by my side through the whole night. Seriously, she has magic talent to make anyone look pretty darn great, even while giving birth in the middle of the night. Crazy eyes and primal screams to boot. I owe her a lifetime of favors.

 Check out more of Emily's Awesomeness at:

http://designhermomma.com/

Tags: Design her momma, designher momma, birth story, birth, birth stories on demand, birth stories with pictures, positive birth stories, natural birth stories, natural hospital birth stories, birth photography, labor photos, doula

Kirsty's Birth of Caleb

Kirsty's Birth of Caleb

This is my the birth story of my son, Caleb . Born on 22nd may 2011.

   So i guess it really all started way before my son was due to be born, we were actually only 14 weeks pregnant when things started to kick off. Id been getting on and off pains and tightenings for a while, so i decided it was time to get myself checked out. So we went to the hospital, where doctors comfirmed it was infact braxton hicks contractions. I was slightly shocked that they'd started so ealry, but i was assured that everything was fine with me and the baby.

    These tightenings continued for most of my pregnancy. At just 16 weeks pregnant, me and my husband were sat downstairs at the laptop laughing about the things our daughter had been upto that day. So im scrolling down my facebook page, and i suddenly felt a pop, and then my trousers were soaked. Now i know what you're thinking, that doesnt sound good. So off to the hospital we went again. After an hour in triage and a lovely internal, they told me that my hind waters had broken, but not to be alarmed as they replenish themselves. Though becasue of this and the tightenings i might not make it past 24 weeks.
    
     Me and my husband spent everyday after that just hoping and praying for the best. 24 weeks arrived, and it felt like a huge milestone to us. Even if our baby did decide to come now, atleast we'd know it would still have a chance at life atleast. There was some hope there for us to cling on to. 
The pains continued, and i also started to suffer from SPD. I was in a lot of pain and looking after a 1yr old toddler at the same time. It wasnt easy, but i knew that i was doing this for my baby, and that everyday i was in pain, was another day added to our baby's life, and our hope. 

At 26 weeks we went for a 4D scan to see our little boy. Wow, this was one of the best experiences of my life, seeing his face and knowing he was still curled up safe inside me. It made me feel proud of my body, it was doing such an amazing job, And my little boy was too. At just 26 weeks he was already weighing in at 2lb 8oz! He was a fighter from the start. 

Weeks past, and we were still hanging on. WE got to 38 weeks!!! How amazing is that!!! i was taking pictures of my bump everyday, i was so inlove with my little boy. And my daughter loved her little brother too, she would come running over and kiss my belly and stroke it. I knew now my baby was ok, and we were going to meet this little miracle so soon.

At 38+2 i had a routine appointment the antinatel clinic. When we got there, they looked through my notes, and noticed i was still getting the tightenings, and id been in the hospital twice in the space of 4 weeks for demished fetal movement. They could tell my little boy wasn't liking it in thier anymore, so they offered me a sweep. I was seen by the head of the maternity department that day, and she told me:-
"He's obviously a very healthy little, or should i say big, baby from looking at your notes. What i can see is a very worried, and very sencible mum, who knows something isnt right, so i think we will try and help things along a little" 

I had a sweep there and then, and was told i was 3cm dilated, and that my baby could be born in the next few days. I was also sent for a growth scan that day too, where the sonagrapher said the same. The babies head was so far into my pelvis, she couldnt see it on the screen, and said id have my baby very soon.

I walked out of the hospital that day with the biggest smile on my face. 
   We waited 24 hours, no contractions..................and 48 hours, no contractions. The sweep didnt work.

   I saw my midwife at 39+4 where she gave me a second sweep, and i was still at 3cm dilated, It was a little frustrating knowing that all the walking and crazy bouncing on my ball didnt help, but i didnt mind, It meant i got to enjoy my pregnancy still. The second sweep didnt work either, so by this time, i am getting a little bothered.

40+1. Yep, i was in the overdue club!!! ahhhh, on one hand, it was lovely, on the other, all these signs and warnings, and now its time he doesnt want to know???  Turns out that night our little monkey decided to give us a scare again, and go silent for the third time! Back to the hospital. An hour on the monitor, his movements picked up, but his heart rate was looking unhappy. Not worryingly, but he was deffinatly fed up of all the tightenings. They told me to come back in tomorrow morning for an induction.
So again, i left the hospital feeling great, knowing i would meet my baby in the next 2 days atleast! And i went to bed feeling relaxed for once, but it didnt last long. 

4AM, i woke to contractions every 7 minutes, finally, is it happening??? seemed so. I called my parents and told them it was time, and they came round to watch our daughter for us. I called the triage and told them i was having contractions every 7 minutes and was due to be induced today. they told me to stay there until they got down to 5 minutes, and then to call back. A couple of contractions later, and i had to call back, I was told to make my way in. This was 6am. By time we got to the hospital i was having 4 minute contractions, and i was at 5cm dilated!!!! woop woop!! 

Then everything ground to a hault!

Nothing at all was happening, i was bouncing, i was walking up and down stairs, i even tried just relaxing, but nope. It had decided to give up on me.I would get the odd couple of contractions every hour, so the nurses put this down to practise labour. Even though i was at 5cm dilated, i wasnt progressing, and nothing was happing with my contractions. Great!! As i was so far dilated, they told me they were just going to break my waters. I was due to be induced today anyway, so why not. 

At 4pm we were escorted down to a labour room, this is it, its going to happen!!! The midwife made me feel so comfortable (except for stabbing a canular into my hand of course) I had my cd playing, and then at 4:25pm she broke my water. She told me to get up off the bed and walk around for a little bit. At the time my water was broken, it was as though i hadnt even been having contractions. nothing was happing.

But then it started!!

The midwife left to get the essentials, and bang, contractions and wanting to push straight away, my baby had had enough now, and he wasnt holding back, i was on my knees on the floor doing everything not to push, but i couldnt help it, my body was doing it anyway. The nurse came in, saw me on the floor and ran over, i shouted, im pushing, She got me up on the bed, and my sons head was out! Then one push later his body followed!! 

At 4:41pm, on the 22nd may 2011 my little boy was born weighing 8lb 10oz, 61cm long, and a head circumfrence of 40cm.

 

Jury's Birth of Jurian

July 21st 2010 at exactly 6:05am I had my first cramp but didn't think much of it as my due date was July 30th. But around 9am it started to get a lil more intense. I called my husband and told him that I'm getting some contractions. Then called my mom and my BFF since high school who is my Doula. AT 10:30am Angie my Doula arrived I was handling the pain well and trying to keep myself calm. Listening to a playlist my husband made for me for when 'the day' arrives. About an half hour later my mom came together with my cousin who was on vacation and pending on my delivery. 

Around 3pm my contractions were every 3 to five minutes but they weren't intense enough. Angie was great massaging my lower back and giving me some tips as well. By 4pm I was getting sleepy so I went on my bed and fell asleep during contractions.

By 5pm the house was full mom, dad, hubby, my cousin, Angie and my mother in law. My dad brought me some mashed potatoes because I haven't eaten a thing that day. But after two bites it was back out.

The contractions were getting really intense I couldn't even talk through them anymore or as a matter a fact hear anyone talk during a contraction. I wanted complete silence so I can focus on riding the waves of these 'happy pains' as I called them.

AT 7pm Angie called my midwife for me and she said I could start heading out to the hospital. So I took a shower and washed my hair. And of we went to the hospital.

When we arrived they had a nurse outside ready to wheel me in. They monitored my contractions for about 30 minutes and I was in a lot of pain that I wanted to rip those straps right off of me. My husband turned and asked me if I wanted epidural seeing that I was in so much pain and the contractions were only measuring halfway. But that was part of my birth plan NO epidural. I wanted a natural birth.

At 8:05pm my water broke and it was clear thank goodness. The nurses checked me and I was 5cm dilated I felt a lil dissapointed thinking I was probably around 7cm already.

An hour and a half later they checked me again and I was 9cm.

In the delivery room with me were my mom my hubby my doula my midwife and 2 nurses. I got some juice to get some energy. really getting annoyed by the straps monitoring the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. I did my best to stay as calm as possible between contractions. My husband was amazing he was a natural birthing coach.

I started pushing at 11pm getting anxious because my husbands birthday is in an hour and we would prefer that our son would have his own birthday. But at exactly 11:37pm Jurian Caelen Archel was born 7lb and measuring 52cm in length.

Daddy held his son for the first time at 12:05am Best Birthday Gift Ever.

Tags: natural birth, birth, midwife, doula, birth stories on demand, birth stories,positive birth stories, birthing stories,

Nickole's Birth of Elizabeth Lucille

Elizabeth's birth story

January 9th 2012 

 
I went into labor around 3:30am.. We co-sleep with our two year old and I woke up to the bed being wet-- her diaper had leaked! So I cleaned her up, changed her diaper, put a towel over the wet spot (LOL) and laid back down. That's about when I felt the first contraction. I laid there for probably an hour trying to make sure it was really contractions. Once I became too uncomfortable to lay there anymore or too excited whichever I got up and come and sat on the couch in the living room and of course got online. I was using a web page a friend sent to me to time the contractions... they were very irregular. But were all 10 minutes or under. I woke my husband up about 2 minutes before his alarm went off for work and told him he better stay home today because I was in labor. I sent a message to my doula/support person/dear friend Ericka (sunflowermommy) to let her know I was pretty sure I was in labor, but that my contractions were not regular ect. She replied back that she was going into work and to keep her updated... she also told me to go back to sleep--- that didn't happen! I got in the shower instead--- I had to make sure that I was clean!! LOL 

As the day went on my contractions went from being any where from 5-10 minutes apart to about 5-8 minutes apart... so I called the Midwifes office and the nurse told me to wait til they were 3 to 5 minutes apart. After I got off the phone with her my contractions stopped. I took this time to eat some food and have Josh paint my toenails... I also applied make up at some point--lmao!! 

I got on facebook and went to this page called birth stories on demand and asked for advice about what was happening.. They were stopping and I would only have one if I changed positions. The common advice was to get on my hands and knees. So I went to the bedroom and did just that. They returned and were coming about 3-5mins apart. To be honest, they were uncomfortable but I was not in pain at all! I got dressed, made sure I had all my stuff and that DD1 had all hers. Had Josh load the car and call his parents to meet us at the hospital to get DD1. I called Ericka to let her know to leave work-- it was a 30 minute drive to her house from her work and another 30 minutes to the hospital. 

Then we start loading ourselves in the car...I think it was around 2 something, closer to 3... that was about the time it got painful... sitting in that seat up right in a cramped car was the LAST thing I wanted to do! As we are driving down the interstate I'm squeezing my husband hand and mumbling under my breath something about being in this stupid damn car and that I should had the baby at home. lol 
When we arrived at the hospital in indiana-- about a 20 minute drive they were coming pretty hard and painful, but I was still feeling pretty good (once I was able to stand up) and kept telling Josh that we didn't know if they were going to keep me, that I could just be a 3 or 4 or something.. I kept saying don't get too excited! LOL 

 
After leaving Maddie with her grandparents and going to registration I was about to lose my mind.. I could not wait to get into the tub -- thinking that would ease the pain.. They were getting stronger and longer... When the lady (the aid) finally come with the wheel chair that I HAD to sit in (UGH) they were extremely painful. I assumed it was because I had to sit in the dang chair. 
She told me not to have the baby on the way up to L&D-- I laughed on the inside thinking "yeah right, I'm not that close". 

So she wheel me up stairs to L&D and took me straight to my room. Told me to pee in a cup and put on a gown-- so I did. Then she had me lay back on the bed to hook me up to the monitors for the heartbeat and contractions-- this is about the time I thought I was going to die! She left the room and I kept telling my husband over and over again that I cannot lay down, that I needed to get up. But I just laid there. I told my husband to call Ericka to let her know that she needed to head to hospital because they were getting worse and that even though they hadn't checked me yet I was sure by this point they were going to keep me. 

The nurse came in to check me. I told her that I need to get up and couldn't lay there and she said "Well let's get you up and unhooked"--- that's when I knew that this nurse was going to be wonderful! So I sat up and she checked me and I was a----- 8!!! I started crying! Mostly because I was in so much pain and knew the baby would be here soon and knew there was no way that I could back out of having the natural birth I wanted... that I was in fact going to have this baby and feel the whole thing!

After she checked me she had the aid (thankfully a new one because I did not like the lady that made me sit in the wheel chair and lay in the bed!) start getting the room ready and put my hep lock IV in. I cracked a few jokes about how all the ladies who talked about how wonderful natural birth is were liars-- the nurse informed me that she has had natural home births and that I was to the point that nothing I did was going to make the pain go away. I guess I had it in my head that I wasn't going to be that far dilated and that I was going to get in the tub and all the pain was going to go away and everything would be euphoric.... well That was when I was at home.. it was too late for all that now. I still asked to get in the tub (state laws won't all you to deliver in the tub, but you can labor)... the nurse told me I could but it would probably make my baby fall right out! LOL  So she went and filled it up for me. 

I went to the bathroom, went pee and got in the tub. I asked my husband "where the hell is Ericka at", had a few contractions that hurt like Hades--- the nurse finally told me to breath slowly and I kept hearing Erickas voice in the back of my mind saying "When it starts getting really painful just relax your muscles and ride the waves"... so when I start to take in slow deep breaths and relax all those muscles it seemed to ease it a little... not much but it really did make it seem easier? 

After a couple contractions my body started to push a little so we called the nurse to let her know that I was pushing and she told me to just stay in the tub through a couple more to see what happens. Then Ericka popped into the room (scared the crap outta me to be honest! LOL). I was very relieved she was there. She gave me some Gatorade, talked to me about I don't even know what.. lol I do remember that I was laughing after my contractions and I told them that I couldn't help but laugh because it hurt so bad when I was having one but I felt fine when I wasn't. I also remember Ericka telling me after wards that I was still talking through my contractions... I don't remember that either.. To be honest I don't remember much after I go in the tub. I just remember bits of everything... 

I remember at some point saying I couldn't do it... 
I remember saying that I was pushing and that they needed to just let me stay in the tub. 

Anywho, while still in the tub and pushing my water broke, thats about the time there was NO break in between contractions and about the time the nurse finally made me get outta the tub-- no matter what I said to get her to let me stay in. They tell me that I literally ran to the bed (LOL) but I don't remember that... I do remember saying I didn't know what position to get into and the nurse said how about on your hands and knees and I practically felt like I dove on the bed onto my hands and knees. 

So I'm on the bed on my hands and knees Josh on one side of the bed and Ericka on the other.. someone or both were rubbing my head.. They both were talking to me and telling me how great I was doing --- but they weren't talking too much. I remember at some point the nurse saying "tell Alison to get in here right now" (which is my midwife)... my body was pushing and I was pushing and it truly was an amazing feeling. I didn't have pain at the beginning of pushing .. but once the baby started moving down it started to hurt.. I kept screaming or growling... maybe a little grunting.. I don't really know. I remember them telling me to stop yelling--- or at least I thought that's what they meant at the time... later Ericka told me that were trying to tell me to us that energy to push the baby down, not to stop screaming or something like that. So I'm pushing, My body's pushing the baby's coming.. I feel the Midwife poking me or something.... it hurt. Later I realized she was massaging me so that I would be less likely to tear. They told me that the baby was about to be crowning and that I was going to feel the ring a fire in a second. Then my crotch felt like it was literally on fire.. in flames!! Oh and I forgot to mention when your pushing... it feels like your butt is going to blow off.. or the whole bottom half of your body. No joke.. it's SOO much pressure. 

So anyway, she's crowning and I feel her literally turning her own body inside me and then I feel her head pop out with a push and then the rest of her came out with another... It happened REALLY fast! They were going to reach her up to me through my legs but between the sheets, my belly, and my boobs there wasn't enough room. So I straddle the cord and rolled over! They handed me my baby and I was speechless, motionless... All I could do was look at her for a couple seconds. We left the cord uncut until it stopped pulsing.. the nurses and midwife just stood around while it was still pulsing. I remember saying lots of F bombs and that I couldn't believe it happened. I also remember saying at some point that I just had a baby out of my vagina and felt the whole thing! LOL! 

Oh and As soon as the baby was out it was like sweet relief... and I really me AS SOON AS SHE WAS OUT! It was amazing! 

I had no tears. I delivered the placenta.... took some pictures of it (well Ericka did). She also took pictures throughout the labor when she had gotten then and she got a few crowing shots ect. I will love her forever for the fact that 1. she saw my completely naked 2. she took pictures of a baby coming out of my crotch and 3. she was their for the birth of my baby!! 

Anyway, the baby breast fed like a champ, she got a bath... they weighed her and my husband guess her weight spot on--- 6lbz 8.3oz.. she was 20 1/2 inches long. She was born at 4:04pm and I was only in the L&D room before for 55minutes before she was born-- although it felt like eternity! All and all it was really a positive Hospital experience with a CNM! :) 

We named her Elizabeth Lucille. 

Tags: birth, birth stories, birth stories on demand, natural birth stories, natural hospital birth stories,birth stories with pictures, birth pictures, graphic birth pictures, positive birth stories, midwife, midwife stories,doula, doula stories

Stephanie's Birth of Lumpy

Stephanie's Birth of Lumpy

This story is used by permission from Stephanie's Blog:

http://runningwithlumpy.blogspot.com/

For more information about Hypnobabies check out thei website:

http://www.Hypnobabiesblog.org

The Full Truth - Cash's Birth Story

**Warning - Contains VERY graphic details - although I'm sure Buttin could give even more graphic details** VERY LONG**

Cash Hansen Naylor's Birth Story - or at least, as best I can recall. I started writing on Tuesday, April 6th in the hospital and have slowly finished it during the last week. Happy One Week Birthday Cash!

On a side note, Cash is absolutely perfect. I'm sure from time to time, I will still call him Lumpy. He's been "Lumpy" for so long that it's difficult for me to stop thinking of him as "baby Lumpy".

Now, to the story.

Some background . . .

My goal was to have a natural childbirth utilizing Hypnobabies relaxation techniques to manage discomfort. In my mind (and from everything I had read), I was expecting my birthing time (labor) to be gradual and start slowly. In Hypnobabies they explained that birthing waves (contractions) often start about 15 minutes apart and that it's a good idea to have a project of some kind to keep busy before going to the hospital. I was expecting LOTS of time. My plan was to make cookies and brownies for my L&D nurses and to pack my bag while my birthing time was starting. I was expecting all kinds of practice time to get used to my birthing waves - again, everything I had read was that they start out slow and easy (relatively speaking) and gradually build.

My body & Cash had different plans . . .

Monday morning, Buttin and I started talking about how we really were ready to meet this kiddo. I shared my fears of being induced with Buttin, but he said - "Trust me, Lumpy will come before you need to be induced." I guess he knew better than me, the momma.

My mother suggested I go get my hair cut (and maybe that would encourage Lumpy to come), so I did that on Monday afternoon. I felt completely normal all day. I was a little less hungry than usual, but I still ate my McDonald's chicken strip lunch (this had become a common healthy meal during the last month or so of pregnancy). I was feeling quite a few more Braxton Hicks contractions than usual, but nothing uncomfortable & Lumpy was moving around like crazy. I left work around 4:15 to run a couple of errands.

Our friend Mick was helping with some computer issues, so Buttin stayed at work a littler later than usual - till about 6:15. Buttin and I had already decided we're going to try all kinds of natural induction methods that night in an attempt to get things moving (keep in mind, we had been doing most of these things the previous week too).

When I got home, I listened to my "Come Out Baby" Hypnobabies CD. Then, I ordered some spicy Mexican food from Chuy's. I ordered the spiciest sauce they had to put on my quesadillas. Buttin got home, we had sex and then I went to pick up my food. When I got home (around 6:45) I ate half of my dinner making sure to use a TON of green chili sauce. (I don't usually eat spicy things, so this meal was a little uncomfortable to eat). Almost immediately, I started to feel icky in my stomach region. I thought for sure my digestive system was rebelling against the spicy food. Around 7:15, we head out for a walk. During our short walk, there are about four or five times where I had to stop, bend over and kind of brace myself because of (what I think is) gas pain. When we get back home, I go to the bathroom (diarrhea) twice in about five minutes. I'm thinking to myself - well, clearing of the digestive system is a sign of early labor, but this happened right after I ate spicy food, so certainly, this is just a result of me eating.

Around 8:00, I tell Buttin my stomach isn't feeling so good and I'm going to lay down on the couch. About 10 minutes later I ask him to bring me my ipod - I figure I can use my Hypnobabies tracks to help me deal with this gas discomfort, but just as practice. About 20 minutes later, I decided that JUST IN CASE this is my birthing time, I'll go take a shower. I spent a little time laying down on the bathtub floor just letting the water run over me. At this point, it felt like a very strong tightening in my lower abdomen and I needed to pass gas. Also, the tightening was happening rather frequently - not the 15 or so minutes apart, like I had planned, so I had pretty much told myself there's NO WAY this was labor.

I got out of the shower around 9:00 and went to the couch, wearing only my bathrobe. I asked Buttin to bring me the computer and go to the contraction timer website. I thought, just for giggles - let's time these GAS PAINS. The first and second ones were less than 4 minutes apart and both lasted for about 45 seconds. I honestly thought - see, this proves I'm not in my birthing time - if it was labor - they'd be about 15 minutes apart. I time them for the next half hour and they range from 3 - 6 minutes apart and last from about 45 seconds to one minute. At about 9:45 I decided to go put on some clothes and lay in bed. I didn't even make it to the "put on clothes" part and just collapsed in bed.

Buttin came to bed a few minutes later and asked (not for the first time), "Do you think it's time?" I finally gave in and asked him to call Doula. When I got on the phone, I couldn't talk through the "gas pains", so Buttin talked for me. She said it was probably my birthing time and to let her know what we decided to do. We decided to call the doctor's office. Again, it was difficult for me to talk to the on-call nurse, so Buttin had to do the talking for me. The on-call nurse said it sounded like labor and to head to the hospital. We called Doula back and told her we were headed to the hospital but that she was in NO WAY obligated to meet us there (remember, I'm not in my birthing time - this is something else) until we confirm this is go time!

This is where my "plan" of not packing till my early birthing time kind of backfired. Buttin had to scramble around the house finding random things to put in my bag. Thankfully, I received an awesome - hospital survival bag at Lumpy's shower, so I pretty much told Buttin to throw that bag into my duffle bag along with some clothes (I completely forgot those fabulous luxuries like a tooth brush and hair brush). I was in quite of bit of discomfort (translate: pain), and I was still thinking this must be appendicitis or very bad gas, but just in case I had Buttin take a picture of me before we walked out the door (I have no idea how I managed this smile).


We got in the truck and I was listening to my Hypnobabies tracks, trying DESPERATELY to relax. I started to think, it's a good thing this isn't my birthing time, because I'm not really doing this Hypnobabies thing very well. We made it down the street when I realized we had forgotten pillows, we head back to the house. I honestly do not remember the five minute drive to the hospital - Buttin says I was absolutely quiet, just listening to my Hypnobabies tracks (maybe - it was working).

When we pulled up to the hospital, it looks deserted. There is no one at the check-in desk, and Buttin has to walk a couple flights of stairs before he finds two security guards watching the last couple minutes of the Duke/Butler NCAA Championship game. Let's just say, the security guards didn't run that quickly to my aid - I think I interrupted their game watching.

When I got to L & D, the first nurse I met, Patty (and she stayed with us the entire time) took me into a triage room. She asked me to pee in a cup and I remember bringing the cup out to Buttin and telling him that I didn't know how to pee in it. It was like a cup with two plastic syringes and I wasn't sure what they wanted me to do, plus I had no urge to pee. After an unsuccessful attempt to pee in the strange cup, I put on the hospital gown and laid on the bed. Patty hooked me up to the monitors and started to ask me a series of basic questions like - how much did you weigh at your first appointment - how much did you weigh at your last appointment - did you use alcohol or drugs during your pregnancy- the only thing I can think is - don't you have my chart? (As it turned out, even though my doctor's office is actually INSIDE the hospital, they had not transferred my information to the labor & delivery department yet, so they didn't even know if I had prenatal care). My doula arrived while I'm being questioned - Buttin was doing his best to help answer the questions when I had a birthing wave. At some point, the questions were over (for now) and I started to get VERY warm. Doula and Buttin put cold wash cloths on my neck and back. I started using my Hypnobabies "Peace" cue and that's all I'm saying. Buttin was trying to tickle my back to help me relax, but at this point I do not want to be touched - except by the cold wash cloths. While I'm laying there, a male hospital technician comes into the room and calls me another name - apparently another patient is listed on that room number. It takes a couple of people telling this guy - it doesn't matter the name on the form, I am "Stephanie Naylor" NOT "Blah Blah Blah". While this guy is in the room, I can feel myself trying to cover up my tooshie - I only say this because I started out being rather modest, but that was quickly thrown out the window. After this guy leaves another nurse comes in and I heard her talking to Patty - she mentions that Dr. So-And-So has been called - Dr. So and So is not my doctor! I guess I knew there was always a risk that Dr. Elephant would not deliver Lumpy, but it didn't hit me until this point and at this point, I really didn't care. I had Buttin, I had Doula and I had a very nice nurse, Patty. After about ten minutes on the monitors, Patty said that I was having real birthing waves and that they were 2 - 3 minutes apart (again, I was supposed to get to the hospital when they were 4 - 5 minutes apart and that was supposed to occur after I had made brownies and packed my bag). She then checked my cervix (during a birthing wave - and it hurt like hell) and I was 4 cm dilated. I must admit I was a little disappointed that I was only at 4 cm - I was in some real discomfort and I had 6 cm to go. At this point, I'm admitted to the hospital - it's 11:30 PM. Buttin now started calling the family members on the "short list" to let them know that I was in the hospital and my birthing time had begun.

I get off the bed to walk to my labor & delivery room and I saw there was quite a bit of blood on the bed and when I stood up, blood was pouring onto my feet. The only thought I can remember having is, I can't wait to wash my feet - By the time I can wash my feet, I will have met my baby. I think this was the first time Buttin started to realize that this wasn't going to be a clean process, although he certainly doesn't let on - I only know this because of our conversations after Lumpy was born.

The time was around 11:30 PM. I don't remember the short walk to my L&D room - I was listening to my Hypnobabies tracks and I think I was experiencing some hypno-amnesia (which is very common in Hypnobabies). The L&D room was actually very large and peaceful (it's exactly as I remember from the tour) and they put me at the end of the hall, in a corner (thankfully for the other patients).

Patty taped my birth plan to the front table for all nurses to read and I can tell they've read my birth plan when another nurse says to me, "We're going to put you on the monitors for 15 minutes, but then we'll take it off so you can move around." This made me very happy and all the nurses were wonderfully sweet. Another nurse (or maybe she was a technician) came in and started putting on all my hospital tags (I think I had about fifteen tags - no joke) and she asked, "is this information correct?". It's not - they've spelled my name incorrectly (Nayler instead of Naylor). She asked how to correctly spell it, I spelled it - she said OK, so it's "NAYLLER". NO! N-A-Y-L-O-R. Ok, so it's "NAYLLOR". Oh, seriously - I almost wanted to laugh (but I'm feeling a little too much from my birthing waves), THANK GOD my last name still isn't POKORNY because that would have taken forever. I don't think I sounded frustrated with her - but I remember being slightly annoyed that I've been going to the doctor for eight months now, they have a copy of my insurance card and they still can't manage to spell my name correctly. My annoyance may have had more to do with my discomfort (at this point, I can no longer classify it as "discomfort", it's graduated to full on PAIN) than this poor woman's inability to spell (or maybe I was just difficult to understand - I'm willing to admit that this was a possibility).

Buttin made his four phone calls (my mom, his mom, my dad & my uncle) and I asked him what everyone has said - my mom and dad were on their way, his mom was going to wait and leave (she had an 8 hour drive) at 5 AM - although we know her and Nana won't get any sleep, Buttin left a message for my dad and when Buttin called to tell my uncle (woke him up), my uncle thought he was calling to brag about his NCAA tournament win (with Duke's win Buttin had won the office bracket).

Patty came in and said, "OK, we're going to put in your saline lock." I asked her if she could wait for a break in my birthing waves - at this point, they were coming very quickly and they were very intense. I'm also kind of scared of IV needles (they're big and not fun), so I was in no hurry to go from the pain of a birthing wave to the pain of an IV needle. Essentially, I waspmoving around too much during my birthing waves to stick in the needle. I kept saying, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry" for moving around too much and keeping Patty from doing her job. I keep apologizing to Patty, but it's no longer Patty, a new nurse is trying to do my saline lock and Patty is doing some other stuff. At this point, every nurse in the room is "Patty" to me and all of them were too sweet to even try to correct me.

From about 11:45PM - 12:45 PM, things get increasingly intense - we'll call this hour, the baby hour. Eventually, they got the saline lock in my wrist and I didn't feel a thing - not one tiny prick. This was either Hypnobabies (I actually had a "don't fear needles" track) or because the other pain was so painful - it would be like feeling someone pinch you while suffering from a massive, bleeding head injury. I think some one could have poked me with 15 needles and I wouldn't have felt a thing.

As soon as my saline lock was in place, Patty asked me a few more questions and had me sign some consent forms. I really think this process would be a ton more efficient, if they had you sign consent forms ahead of time. I have no idea what forms I signed (for all I know I signed away my parental rights) and I have no idea what kind of signature I wrote - it was probably very messy. I'm guessing that they usually get women to sign these forms earlier in the birthing time process, but I thought it was rather unfair that I had to sign them while in so much discomfort. Eventually, they had Buttin finish some of the forms. That was probably a good decision on their part.

Side note - what birthing waves felt like to me: An extremely, extremely intense lower abdominal cramp that builds and builds and builds and just when you think you might pass out in pain, it starts to subside. Of course the subsiding isn't much of a relief, when the birthing waves come right on top of each other.

During the baby hour, I'm pretty much just screaming the word "PEACE". Buttin later tells me this is the most un-peaceful usage of the word peace - EVER. My body is writhing in pain non-stop. Buttin, Doula and all the nurses are very encouraging and I keep apologizing saying - "I'm so sorry Darlene (Doula), I'm a hypnobabies failure. I can't get it to stop, I can't make it stop. Why can't I make it stop?" I also say things very dramatic like, "I can't do this - I'll just stay pregnant forever." I then apologized for being so dramatic. I remember apologizing for all my yelling of the word Peace and yelling other stuff too. There are many times that I'm on the verge of tears, but it was too intense to cry. By the end of the baby hour, I looked at a nurse (not Patty) with blonde hair and asked her - is there ANYTHING you can give me to take the edge off, I don't want an epidural, but I'd take morphine, Tylenol, baby asprin, marajuana - anything! Doula steped in and said very calmly, "Stephanie, why don't we get you up and go into the shower. Birthing waves are more intense while laying down and standing up might help relieve some of the discomfort." I reluctantly agree to go into the shower.

Around 12:50, I step in the shower (there's a little seat with a hole in it for me to sit on) and sit. After about 5 seconds, it felt like a balloon popped and there was a bloody, watery mess EVERYWHERE. I said, "my water broke". Buttin later tells me that he expected "water breaking" to be simple clear liquid and was not expecting all the blood and goo. I don't think this was the worst part for him, but it was pretty close. About 5 seconds after my water broke, my body convulsed and I experienced what I can only describe as the most intense desire to push. I can't control the urge - it's biological and I scream, "I have to push." I heard all the nurses scramble saying, "Push? She wants to push? Get her back out here." I'm in and out of the shower in less than 30 seconds. When I'm back on the bed, the urge (to call it an urge doesn't express the intensity, but it's the only word that comes to mind) to push only grew. The nurses all tell me to wait, that I need to be checked. The nurse with blonde hair checked me and I'm at 9 cm. I had gone from 4 - 9 cm in about an hour (the baby hour).

Another quick side note: I had always wondered (before having Cash) -if I would I recognize the desire to push, would I know when the time was right? I think any mother could tell you that the desire to push is more obvious than the desire to breathe. It's so strong that looking back, I feel silly about questioning whether or not I would know when to push.

The nurses told me I have to wait to push or I could tear. I'm thinking - you don't understand, I can't NOT push. The only job my body has at this moment is to get this baby out. For about five minutes the nurses have me concentrate on taking small little breaths and blowing in short bursts, like trying to blow out one candle. Buttin holds his finger up for me to blow on. I remember thinking - This is the stupidest thing in the entire world. Even my toe muscles are working to get this baby out and you want me to blow out a candle!!!

Thankfully, after 5 minutes they checked me again and I was at 10 cm. They told me I could push whenever it felt right. It's strange because when you reach the 9 - 10 cm mark, birthing waves go from intense cramps to a huge desire to push convulsion. Pushing birthing waves are much less painful than baby hour birthing waves, but they feel even more intense.

The first couple of times I push, I was literally screaming at the top of my lungs. (Then, while I have a break - I apologize for yelling so loudly). My doula (and nurses) encouraged me to use my gut instead of my high-pitched vocal cords to yell. I remember my Hypnobabies training and try to screaming using "Ahhh", opening my mouth wide. Every time I push, my back arches (it actually feels good) and I scream. In addition to the screaming, I also keep saying - "This feels like a huge poo." Yup, I kept describing the feeling of having my first child as "taking a poo". Buttin told me that it took some energy on his part not to laugh when I would say "poo", his thinking was that if there were ever a time for me to use stronger language it would be now. After about 10 minutes of pushing, they started giving me an oxygen mask over my mouth in between the birthing waves. I really don't want anything on me, but they tell me, "It's not for you, it's for the baby."

I should mention that somewhere during the baby hour, I lost all sense of modesty. I was hot and clothes or blankets of any kind on me, felt horrible. I remember one nurse coming in and putting a cover on me and one of the other nurses (the blonde one, who was my second favorite after Patty) threw the cover off of me and said, "She doesn't want that on her." After about 20 minutes of pushing, I look at Patty and I ask her, "When is this going to be over? Is the baby coming? How much longer?" I thought certainly I've pushed about five babies out by now. She told me that she can see that baby's hair and that I just need to push the baby down a little more before I push it out. This is the first time I feel relief and I actually smile at the news that my baby will be born soon. I wasvstill feeling very warm and I was also starting to get very tired. Had I not been so uncomfortable, I think I could have gone to sleep.

I didn't really hear anything that the nurses were saying to each other, but apparently they've already said that the Doctor (who is not Dr. Elephant) was in the break room (or wherever it is that doctors hang out) and that she was not to be called until the baby was crowning. Eventually, Cash was crowning and they paged the doctor

The doctor arrived sometime around 1:30 AM. I call this doctor, Dr. Bitch. She doesn't even introduce herself to me or to Buttin. The nurses put the little doctor cape on Dr. Bitch and then she just stands at the end of the bed, with her hands on her hips, staring at my who-ha. She didn't say anything - nothing encouraging, nothing positing - NADA. I remember trying to make eye contact with her, but she didn't reciprocate and she didn't ever smile. Meanwhile, all the nurses, my Doula and Buttin were calmly encouraging me and telling me that I was doing an excellent job. At about 1:45, Dr. Bitch looked at me and very matter of factly said "The baby's heart rate is dropping during contractions - you need to push the baby out now." I remember thinking - why didn't you say something about the baby's heart rate earlier? Do you think I could trouble you to actually get your hands down there and help? The nurses then put my legs up in the stirrup things and very helpfully instructed me on the best way to curl around the baby and push. Wow - this is actually helpful information, thank you. After my first push where I really beared down with my entire body, all the nurses and even Dr. Bitch said "Good." I could tell the difference between this push and all the others, but I just wished that someone would have told me this was what they wanted me to do earlier. This is my first child and biologically, as much as my body knew what to do - I'm was open to suggestions on how to get things done more efficiently. I beared down for the second time and I can hear Patty say, "here comes your baby." I remember her asking me if I wanted the mirrors and I think I said something like, "oh hell no." I look down during the second push and I can see the baby's head and quickly thereafter his entire body. It's 1:52 AM. As soon as his body is out, I feel instant relief, absolutely no pain or discomfot - as though nothing had had happened.

The first thing (honestly) I noticed about the baby was his penis. I looked at Cash and said, "You're a boy!" I looked at Buttin and said, "the baby has a penis." (I had sworn during my entire pregnancy that the baby was a girl) and the nurses laughed. They immediately put Cash on my chest and the second thing I noticed was that he was not as gooey or gross as I expected. He was actually rather clean (when compared to all the other mess I made). The third thing I noticed was that he cried almost immediately. Dr. Bitch may have already suctioned him when his head first came out, but I didn't see it and I loved hearing him cry.

At this point (when he's about 30 seconds old), there was a ton of commotion - there were a couple nurses doing things to Cash (I asked and his Apgar score was 8 at 1 minute and 9 at 5 minutes) and several other nurses paying attention to me.

Immediately after Cash was born, I started to shiver. I've heard this is common, but it was so strange to go from being so hot to shivering within a matter of minutes. Buttin and I were playing with Cash while everyone around us is paying attention to my who-ha area or to Cash. I don't remember what Buttin and I were talking about (although, I think I kept saying things like - "you're a boy" and "I thought you were a girl") or if Cash was crying - I only remember being so happy. I remember talking to Cash.

At some point, they took him away from me to get weighed and measured - 6 lbs, 15 oz and 20 inches long. They brought him back to my chest, but told me that his temperature was a little low.

Dr. Bitch, her assistant and a nurse were paying close attention to me - gently massaging my stomach. Dr. Bitch said (kind of to me and kind of to the air around her), "here comes the placenta". I didn't really feel a thing. I did feel the stomach massage (and to call it a massage makes it sound like something good, but it's really not relaxing in any way) and it made me feel like I had to pee. Patty asked me if I'd like to see the placenta - are you kidding me? I have this perfect little child in my arms and you'd like me to take my attention away from him and look at my placenta - no thank you. I told her, "no thank you". I honestly didn't see one thing that happened down their the entire time. Buttin said it was like a horror movie. Throughout my birthing time Buttin's face was about 5 inches from mine, but he said he still couldn't help but see some stuff he'd like to soon forget.

(Warning - very, very gross part happening soon)

A couple minutes after the placenta was delivered, Dr. Bitch told me she was going to sew me up but first she was going to give me a few shots. I remember asking how badly I tore because I didn't really feel any tearing (there was plenty of other stuff to feel). She said it wasn't that bad - a 2nd degree tear, but I had a unique injury. Apparently, sometime (don't know when) before my birthing time, I had developed a hematoma (sac of blood) in my right labia and during my birthing time, it ruptured. Wow, that must have been pleasant to watch. The injury was not severe, but I guess it qualified me as "interesting" - during my hospital stay, I had a couple nursing students ask if they could come look at it. I was like a little freak show.

So, Dr. Bitch gave me the who-ha numbing shots. It does not feel horrible, but it doesn't feel good either. She started to sew me up - I can kind of feel it, but I'm too smitten with Cash to really care. She then does a stitch and I must have kind of jumped because she said "you might feel these, it's very difficult to numb this area." Thanks for the warning, doctor. She gave me a couple more shots and then returned to stitching, but I kind of cringed a little at each of the remaining stitches.

After Dr. Bitch finishes she gets up, says "So-and-So will finish cleaning you up, but you should heal quickly." That's it, that's all I got from the doctor. She never once said, "Nice to meet you." or "You did a good job." or anything that remotely qualified as nice or sympathetic.

Patty and So-an-So finished cleaning me up - they were both very gentle and nice and had sweet things to say to me.

At this point, another nurse comes in and tells me my mom and dad were there and was it OK if they came into the room. I think it's around 2:45 in the morning now - Cash was almost an hour old.

When my mom and dad came into the room, they love on Cash and take a few pictures.

Here is a picture of me. Wasn't it awesome that I got my hair done earlier in the day? (Actually, I think that's what prompted Cash to come out.) You can totally tell - right? I've had several friends recently have children and they post their "after" picture on Facebook - they all look so beautiful and rested, not at all like my "after" - where I look like a sweaty, exhausted mugging victim.

My doula, Buttin and I started to tell my parents the story of Cash's birth. While I'm telling the story, I look at Buttin and Doula and asked them if Dr. Bitch really was a bitch or if was just my perception of what was happening. Turns out, by all accounts (not just one from a woman in pain) she was a BITCH. I make a mental note to tell Dr. Elephant about my displeasure.

Here is our first family picture:


I had intended to breastfeed Cash as soon as possible, but when they take Cash's temperature again it's not rising so they take him to the nursery. I make Buttin go with Cash.

At about 3:00 in the morning my Doula said goodbye. Again, I apologized to her for being a Hypnobabies flunky, but she was sweet and told me I did a great job.

My mom and dad stayed in the room with me. My dad tried to go to the nursery with Buttin and Cash, but it was in another building and for security purposes, they don't make it easy (unless you're the mommy or daddy) to get from one building to the other.

Eventually, Patty came back in the room and said that it was time - I had to pee before they would transfer me to my postpartum room. I guess if your bladder is too full, your uterus won't contract and this can lead to increased bleeding. My parents leave the room.

I didn't really have much to drink (and had nothing to eat) during my birthing time, but at some point, I was given some IV fluids. I vaguely remember Patty telling me they were going to do so, but I don't remember the reason or when. They also had to give me some Pitocin to stop my bleeding after Cash was born.

Patty helped me to the bathroom where I sat on the toilet for about 15 minutes, not doing a thing. My bladder was shy for the first time in my life and I hadn't peed one time since being in the hospital (remember - I couldn't pee in the complicated cup when I first enter the triage room) so they had to make sure I could pee before transferring me.

Patty came back into the room and asked if I've made any progress. I hadn't. Patty said she was going to take my parents to my postpartum room, but that if I didn't eventually pee - she'd have to give me a catheter to empty out my bladder. She said it in a very sweet, non-threatening way, but I knew she was serious. When she got back from walking my parents over to the other room, I still hadn't peed. I told her to go ahead with the catheter. I was nervous about it because I was not sure what it would feel like with all my injuries. Patty was extremely gentle. At one point, Buttin tried to come back into the room, but I told him he may want to stay outside for this part. He quickly walked back out of the room.

When Patty was finished (she emptied about 900 ml from my bladder) she helped me back to the bathroom where she prepared the most complex adult diaper EVER. It was a pair of gauze panties with two ginormous (I don't think they sell this size in the stores) maxi pads, plus one huge cold pack and a spattering of tucks pads (it looked like a pepperoni pizza of tucks pads). I then got into to the wheel chair and she wheeled me over to my postpartum room.

Patty introduced me to Josephine, my postpartum nurse. I gave Patty a huge hug and said goodbye. To me, it is kind of bizarre to go through such a huge life-altering and defining moment with someone and then, they're just gone. I can barely remember what she looks like - I wish I had taken a picture of her.

Patty and the other nurses were fantastic. Buttin and Doula were fantastic. I was a little dramatic, but a little fantastic too. And even though, Dr. Bitch was a horrible bitch - Cash and I made it through safely and that's what is most important.

Epilogue . . .

Cash and I were in the hospital till Wednesday (the 7th) afternoon. All the nurses were wonderful and the food wasn't even THAT bad (plus, Buttin brought me chocolate shakes). We had lots of friends and family visit us in the hospital and I was thankful for their company.

Dr. Elephant came to see me (once on Tuesday and once on Wednesday) and I told him about Dr. Bitch and how I was very disappointed with her bedside manner. I don't honestly expect him to do anything with my feedback, but I thought it was important to tell him. He told me he appreciated my thoughts and found it refreshing because most women prefer women doctors. I told him that I have always preferred male OBGYNs because they tend to be more gentle. Again, I think it's strange that I spent all this preparation time with Dr. Elephant only to have him not be there and absolutely no preparation time with my nurse, Patty, to have her their the entire time.

Cash, Buttin and I are settling into life at home very well (in case you haven't seen all the cute pictures from previous days). Cash is an absolute joy and I love being his mother.

WOW, CONGRATULATIONS IF YOU MADE IT TO THE END OF THIS POST WITHOUT AT LEAST TWO NAPS.

Enjoy more of Stephanie's writing about Lumpy here:

http://runningwithlumpy.blogspot.com/

Enjoy more amazing birth stories and information here on the Hypnobabies blog:

http://www.Hypnobabiesblog.org

tags: natural birth, birth, birth stories on demand, running with lumpy, birth stories with pictures, hypnobabies, hypnobabies birth stories, positive birth stories