Ask The Pros
Pregnancy Photos
Pregnancy Calendar
Birth Plans
Birth Stories
Bookstore
Boy or Girl
Cesareans
Chat Room
Complications
Doulas
Educators
Episiotomy
FAQs
Feeding Baby
Fertility
Finding a Class
Health
Interactive
Labor
Message Board
Monitoring
Newborns
Newsletter
Postcards
Postpartum
Pregnancy
Reviews/Awards
Search
VBAC
Week by Week
Who We Are

Lucas' Birth

September 17, 1996    7:41 p.m.    7 pounds, 7 ounces     20.5 inches 

     In December 1995, I was starting to get worried about not
getting pregnant yet.  My husband, Paul, and I both had unfounded
fears that we couldn't conceive.  A few days after New Year's, 1996, I
decided to do a home pregnancy test, as my period was a few days late.
 It was positive, and I burst out crying-I was so relieved.  Paul said
"It's okay, honey, we can try again."  I said "No, look!"
     The pregnancy was healthy but not very easy for me.  The first
five months I had morning sickness all day long.  I could only eat the
blandest foods.  I couldn't stand meat, dairy products, or anything
spicy or greasy.  At my first ultrasound at 16 weeks, we were thrilled
to see the baby's image.  At one point, it stretched its legs straight
out across the sac.  They found that the placenta was low-lying, but
by 24 weeks at the next ultrasound, it had moved up out of the way. 
Finally I felt the baby's movements.  Each time it took my breath
away.  It was amazing to know that there was a little life developing
inside of me, and I prayed constantly that the baby would be healthy
and whole and come safely to us.   
     When I was finally able to eat fairly normally again, I began
quickly putting on weight.  I didn't eat junk, but was hypoglycemic
and had to eat every two hours during the day.  I put on a total of 42
pounds during the pregnancy.  By the last two months, I was feeling
very heavy and uncomfortable.  My legs and ankles began to swell,
sometimes so badly it hurt to stand.  This was the worst thing about
the pregnancy. I was due Sept. 13 and thankfully, the summer was not
very hot.
     The baby was in breech position until about 34 weeks, when it
turned over.  From then on I knew that it was usually facing toward my
right side, from the position of its feet and buttocks.  I thought the
baby was gentle; it never kicked me very hard.  It seemed to like to
just stretch out against my belly, so I was easily able to feel the
outline of its feet.  I loved trying to feel its feet, and would push
gently against the heel until it would move its foot away.   
     I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions quite often.  They
were painless, but my stomach would tighten and get very hard.  Paul
starting doing perineal massage for me about 2-3 times a week in hopes
that I wouldn't need an episiotomy.  We both went to childbirth
classes, which helped very much to prepare us.  I had worried about
what would be done to me based on hospital policy and was able to have
my fears relieved.  The hospital was very progressive.  It had
birthing suites where we and the baby would stay the whole time.  They
did not shave, give enemas or do anything else I did not want.  They
did have to use the monitors occasionally, but I could do whatever I
wanted during the rest of the labor.
     At 37 weeks, my OB said it was ok to have the baby anytime.  The
baby had dropped, the head was beginning to get low, I was ripening,
about 25-50% effaced and 1 cm dilated.  I had already lost my mucus
plug.  The doctor said he didn't think I would go another week.   We
were very excited, because we couldn't wait to meet this new little
person, to see what it looked like and hold it in our arms.  We
prepared everything, cleaned the house, packed the bags, finished the
baby's room.  Paul took me for bumpy truck rides, and I started
walking 2-3 times a day trying to bring the labor on.  A week later, I
was almost ripe, 50% effaced and 2-3 cm dilated.  We felt sure it
would be anytime.  My poor husband (who is very hyperactive and must
always be doing something) wanted to be around in case I did go into
labor.  I felt like I was leading him on many wild goose chases
because some days my BH's would become regular every 15 minutes for
about 2 hours and we would think it might be time.  During the last
three weeks he woodworked to occupy his time and built us a
nightstand, a laundry sorting center, a bird feeder and an ark with
little wooden animals for the baby to play with.
     I was still working full-time, and my co-workers were beginning to
drive me nuts.  Every half hour they would ask me if I was getting any
pains.  The people who had bet I would deliver early were losing.  Two
weeks later, on my Friday due date, I was still 3 cm and still no
baby. The doctor joked that I should go for a mountain bike ride, so
the next day we did.  I was very careful but tried to hit every bump! 
Those three weeks had felt longer than the entire pregnancy, and we
thought the baby would never come.
     I went to the doctor again on Monday, Sept. 16th.  Now the
baby's head was very low, I was completely ripened, 100% effaced and 3
cm.  The doctor stretched my cervix and stripped my membranes again. 
Then I had a non-stress test.  After having had Braxton-Hicks for two
months and very frequently for the past few days, I didn't have a
single one the whole hour I was monitored!  The baby's heartbeat was
very strong and regular though.  My induction date was set for
Thursday morning.
     That evening I felt very crampy and bled a little as I had after the
last membrane stripping.  I was a feeling a little down because I had
wanted to experience everything as naturally as possible through
delivery, but now I was willing to be induced because I wanted to have
this baby VERY BADLY.
     I woke at 1:30 am and couldn't go back to sleep (as usual
lately).  After a while I realized I was having seemingly regular
contractions, no different from the BH's.  Paul woke at 4:30 and
wanted to go for a walk to see if they would continue.  We walked with
the dog for an hour in the pouring rain.  Paul timed the contractions
about every 4 minutes, lasting 30 seconds.  We returned home and
called the hospital and were told we could stay at home until my water
broke, the contractions became much more painful, or they lasted about
60 seconds.  We went back to bed to rest for a while, then walked
again around 9:30 am.  The contractions were now every 3 1/2 minutes
lasting 45 seconds.  I was very unsure that I was in labor because the
contractions didn't really hurt.  At noon I got into the bathtub to
relax and napped a little.  Around 2 pm the contractions were 3
minutes apart lasting almost 60 seconds.  We finally decided to go to
the hospital to be checked.  Just in case it was real labor we got
everything together and packed the car with our bags and the carseat.
     The nurses at the hospital had been waiting anxiously for me
after my call that morning.  They monitored me and announced I was in
labor.  I started feeling excitedly nervous--what I had waited for so
long was finally happening.  My OB came in at 3:30 pm.  I was 5 cm
dilated! He promptly broke my water.  I was admitted, changed, and
given an IV with something in it for my hypoglycemia.  The nurses said
I was an easy patient, as I was still smiling and joking.  Then it
started to get painful.  Paul said I stopped talking to him and just
stared at muted cartoons on the TV, but that was how I stayed focused
and completely relaxed during contractions.  I never yelled or made
much noise, except I moaned softly at the start of the contractions,
then just breathed slowly and deeply through them.  I started feeling
cold, which seemed unusual, and had to have blankets wrapped around
me.
     I had been totally against getting an epidural, but my friend who
had just had a baby said to gauge the amount of pain that I felt I
could handle against the time remaining until delivery.  At 5:00 I
asked to be checked so I could decide if I wanted the epidural.  I was
6 cm, only 1 cm in 1 1/2 hours.  The nurse said the average was one cm
per hour.   I decided to get into the shower to try to ease some of
the pain.  I did not have any back labor, but the pain in front was
enough.  I deliberated about the epidural on the toilet while I waited
for Paul to help me into the shower.  My position on the toilet made
the pain even worse and I opted for the epidural, as I refused to be
given any narcotics.  I felt like I would just be punishing myself to
endure the pain for what I thought would be about four more hours when
I could have relief that wouldn't harm my baby.  I leaned against Paul
in a very hot shower for an hour while we waited for the
anesthesiologist.  The shower helped me to bear the pain much better,
and I was sorry to get out for the epidural. 
     It took about 40 minutes to get the epidural in and start feeling
the medicine, but it only took on my left side.  I still had full
feeling on the right side, but I didn't mind.  Half of the pain was
much easier to bear.  At this point I became very cold, and was
shivering violently.  All I wanted was to be warm.  I was finally
covered in heated blankets and became very comfortable.  I had only
been under the epidural for about 10 minutes when my OB came in and
checked me--9 cm!  I had been off in another world, with my eyes
closed and still breathing through the contractions.  I felt very
surprised and could hardly believe that what I had waited for so long
was about to happen.   It was now almost 7 pm. The nurses started
breaking down the bed and preparing the room for the delivery.  The
nurse who had taught our childbirth class and who we had specifically
asked to be there with us arrived, just in time. 
     I never got the 'urge' to push, but the doctor had me start
pushing.  Paul was holding my right leg and the special nurse my left.
 I would hold my breath and push until I thought my eyes would pop out
and then have to exhale and start again.  They said my face was
turning blue.  I would repeat this 3 or 4 times during the
contractions until I had to stop and rest and BREATHE.  I couldn't
feel anything because of the late epidural except, thankfully, for one
spot inside where I could focus to push.  They said they saw the head
right away, I felt that I just couldn't push hard enough to get it
out.  I know Paul must have been frustrated because the head would
start to crown during a push, then go back in. I felt I wasn't pushing
well enough, but the doctor kept encouraging me, which was a good
thing.  I was about to tell him to just cut an episiotomy and get that
baby out!  In between contractions he was massaging and stretching my
perineum to try to avoid an episiotomy.  Finally, the head started to
crown.  They said they could see black hair around the doctors hand! 
The doctor was able to hook his fingers under the baby's chin and help
to pull him out, which unfortunately I didn't feel either.  I just
heard Paul yell and I opened my eyes to see the baby pop out with a
spurt of amniotic fluid all over his dad!  It was a boy!  He was born
at 7:41 pm, after only four hours of painful contractions and 36
minutes of pushing.  The first thing I looked for was the placement of
the umbilical cord; it was around his stomach.  Then I saw he was very
grey, but he started screaming right away.  I had this overwhelming
feeling of disbelief- I just pushed this thing out of my body?!  This
was MY baby?!  They placed him on my bare chest and he promptly peed
on me.  Paul was exhilarated, but I now felt kind of matter-of-fact. 
This was my baby and I was trying to keep ahold of his slippery little
body and comfort his crying.  Paul cut the cord, they swabbed the baby
dry and covered him with blankets while I still held him.  I barely
noticed the placenta being delivered but heard the doctor say it was
healthy and that I had no episiotomy or tear, just a little skid mark.
 The doctor asked the baby's name; it took 3 attempts to get Paul's
attention (he was practically dancing around the room!) He said "Lucas
Anthony Kinder."  After a few minutes they took him and weighed and
measured him (7 lbs., 7 oz., 20.5 inches long), put the stuff in his
eyes, swaddled him and laid him under the warmer while I was cleaned
up.  He was given back to us and we took pictures with the doctor and
nurse.
     The doctor congratulated us, gave me a kiss on the head and
left and the room quieted down.  We were alone to look, touch and
marvel at our beautiful baby boy.  He had a full head of dark brown
hair and was just perfect.  He was very alert and stared at us with
greyish-brown eyes.  Paul kept thanking me for giving him a beautiful
son.  I thanked him for being so wonderfully supportive and for being
there for me every second.  He said he wouldn't have missed it for
anything in the world.  I nursed Lucas within the first hour, after
trying three different holds to help him latch on.  We made our phone
calls; most of our friends and all of our family were long distance. 
We had our visitors and I was finally brought food--I was starving!
     I was finally allowed to get out of bed about 3 am.  The hospital
normally administers a dose of pitocin after delivery to avoid
bleeding, but I had needed three doses.  I had felt fine and never
realized anything was wrong but I guess I was bleeding more than they
liked.  I was helped to the bathroom and cleaned up.  Paul bathed
Lucas, diapered and dressed him (he had been nude until then).  I lied
with Lucas the rest of the night, reveling in the feeling of his
newborn body next to mine.     

     Although I didn't like being pregnant much, I did enjoy the
wonder of it very much.  It was amazing to know that my body knew just
what to do to take my baby from a couple of cells to a perfect living,
breathing person.  Lucas' birth was a wonderful experience.  I can
truthfully say I loved it.  I was very pleased with my doctor's lack
of artificial intrusion.  I regretted having gotten the epidural, but
I had no idea I would dilate so soon.  I felt could have done it
naturally and should have asked to have been checked again just before
the epidural.  I thought the labor was very easy; the first 13 out of
17 hours were not painful or troublesome.  I also regret not feeling
the birth, but hopefully next time I will have a whole experience.  I
am very much looking forward to doing this again in a few years,
hopefully with the same doctor and hospital.
     The first two weeks after his birth I had the 'baby blues.'  I often
cried and felt very lost as if I didn't know what my place was in the
world.  Then I realized I was still me, and now I was blessed with
being the mother to this beautiful baby boy.   Lucas is now ten weeks
old, and he is just wonderful.  He smiles at us and has started
laughing.  He has grown to 13 lbs., 10 oz., and 24 inches long solely
on breastmilk, I am proud to say.  Breastfeeding has been very
rewarding.  It has helped foster a bond between us that is shared by
no one else for now.  I hope to continue until he is at least a year
old.

     To everyone expecting a child, Best Wishes.  Try to see
childbirth not as a scary, painful procedure, but as the beautiful
experience of bringing a new life into the world.

Diana-proud mother to Lucas Anthony 9/17/96