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Week by Week

Three Births

Hi, my name is Jacki Crawford, and I would like to share the stories of my daughters' births, and the plans my husband and I have for this one, which is due in May.

My first baby, Candice Marie, was accidentally born at home at just 26 weeks. She was born alive, but her lungs weren't mature and she only lived for three short minutes. Her life, short though it was, has made me a better person. Our other two daughters believe she is their personnal guardian angel, and I tend to agree with them.

Three years later, I became pregnant again. I was terrified, and thrilled.

I did everything to ensure this baby's health, and on Sept. 2nd, 1988, I was blessed with a second daughter, Elizabeth Anne(Beth). I was twelve days past my due date, and HUGE. I started labor the day before, while at the grocery store stocking up so I wouldn't have to go for a while and could enjoy my baby when he/she decided to arrive. I had two cart loads and had just started checking out when I felt the first contraction. The poor clerk was afraid I would just squat down and have the baby then and there, but I knew I had plenty of time before things would get serious, so I insisted she finish.

I went home, put away all of my groceries, did the dishes, swept the kitchen and ate a bowl of soup before I called my doctor. He said to come to the hospital when I was ready. So I left for the hospital at about 6:00pm, so that I wouldn't have to ride in the car when I was in active labor. I checked in and wandered around until about 11:30, when I decided I was tired. I laid down and fell asleep until about 2:45am, when I awoke, at the end of transition. I really didn't feel so different than before, except my lower back hurt something horrible. I was given a shot of Demoral to ease the pain, and it helped. Nothing much happened until 5:00am when the monitor started beeping and my doctor informed me that the baby was in distress and we had to get her out. Her head was in position, but she was "sunny-side up", and not engaged, so I had no urge to push when I bore down the first time. In one push, she was engaged and crowning, I took a breath or two, and pushed again, bearing down for all I was worth, and her head was delivered. At that, my doctor told me to not push, as the cord was around her neck twice, and tight. He loosened and looped it over her head, which was facing me, and then said to go for it when I was ready. I pushed with the next urge, and she slid out into Dr. Cahn's hands, and he handed her up to me. Her apgar was 9, and she was fine.

I later discovered that the lithotomy position for a delivery with the baby in the position she was in can actually cause the monitor to read a problem where none actually exists. Had I been squating or kneeling, the problem would have been alleved, and her heartbeat may not have dropped.

My experience was a little scary, but not bad. The fact that I was with a doctor who I knew and trusted made it less of a crisis than it might have been.

Daughter #3, however, was a terrifying delivery. Not because of any problems, but because she came in a big hurry. I was at home, doing my usual morning routine. Beth was at my friend Diane's house, as I had been having false labor offand on for a week, and it was certain that it wouldn't be long until I was really in labor. At noon I decided to take a break and sat down on the sofa. I felt a squirt, and thinking I had to go to the bathroom, I tried. Nothing. So I went back to the sofa, and again, squirt. I knew then that my water was leaking. I called my Mom and my friend Kathy, and prepared to go to the hospital. I called my OB, who I didn't really know or like(I was living in a different city from where Beth was born.), and he said to head for the hospital. I did as I was told, and arrived at about 1:30pm. I was placed in a wheelchair, told not to eat or drink anything, and confined to my room. My water was broke, but I wasn't in labor at all. I was informed that if I didn't go into labor before morning, I would be induced.

Thankfully, at about 5:30pm I entered early labor. Unfortunately, at that time a woman I have come to know as the "Warthog nurse b--ch from H-ll" came on duty. Her first order of business was to tell me I was making too much noise. I was having strong contractions, and to work through them I was making a noise rather like an inflated bagpipe which someone was slowly deflating. But I wasn't being offensive and her remark set me on edge. So began the problems.

Shortly later, she remarked that her guess was that I was giving birth to a child weighing about 9lbs. I tensed up so tight you could have strummed my nerves like guitar strings. I was still in early labor, not having gone through transition yet, and no more than about 3cms dialated and not yet effacing. Everything slowed down and I didn't make any progress at all until 9:30pm, which was when I was checked, and still no further along. At about that time everything kicked into high gear. In 15 minutes I fully dialated to 10cms and was 100% effaced. I wanted to push. But, my OB wasn't there. They hadn't believed me when I said I was going to give birth NOW. So, they called in the resident on duty, who hadn't yet caught a baby, and made me hold off through several urges to push.

Finally, I just started pushing whether they liked it or not. Three pushes later, Genevieve Marie came into the world, at 10:02pm on July 17, 1991. My OB arrived about a minute later. As my Mom and Kathy left the room, Kathy made the remark "That is the SMALLEST 9lb baby I have ever seen." She weighed 5lbs6oz. and was tiny. Perfect, with an apgar of 9.

My unpleasant experience with Gen's birth, and the extreamly fast deliveries I have had, made me look for alternatives when I found out recently that I was again expecting. Homebirth was automatically in my mind, and after looking into the legal aspects, I decided to go for it. My husband was interested in waterbirth, and the midwife we have chosen is experienced in home waterbirth. So that is our plan. If we run into any difficulties, I live where I have access to my favorite doctor, and he fully supports my decision to birth at home. I look forward to this baby's birth with a great deal of excitement and anticipation. We are hoping to have a son, but another daughter would be perfect too.

So, until May, when either Brian Kenneth or Norma Kathleen will be joining our family, fare thee well and may God bless you with all you deserve.

Jacki