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Morgann's Birth

My name is Leslie & my husband is Louie. Our 1st daughter Chelsea Elizabeth was born on 1-20-90 at 3:11 am , 9lb. 5oz. after a pretty textbook labor ( 10 hrs. from 1st contractions to birth,no drugs, episiotomy). She was delivered by the wonderful Dr. Dirk Carlson & came out with alot of black hair SCREAMING ! so we expected the same for our 2nd child. HA!

We had to have an amnio due to (false) high AFP test results, so we knew we were having a girl YEAH! At about 7 mos. I started to get uncomfortable! I could'nt sleep on my back (couldnt breathe well) on my sides (legs went to sleep) so the only comfortable place was the recliner. My pelvis ached & the baby seemed to press on everything, so at my 34 wk. appt. I told Dr. Dirk & said I'm serious, this baby is huge! He took me seriously & did an ultrasound which showed she was 8lb. 13oz. and still 4 wks to go!! I told him to get her out before she gets even bigger, PLEASE! He did a test for lung maturity & when it showed all was OK, he scheduled me to be induced 2 wks early.

On Sun. Oct. 6th at 5pm we went to the hospital for Dr. Dirk to put in prostaglandin gel to give me contractions & try to get my cervix ripe & ready. They would monitor me for 2 hrs., then the contractions would probably stop & I would come back at 7:00 the next morning & get things going. The contractions came on fast & HARD! This helped me decide I wanted an epidural this time! The contractions slowed down & they let me get up to pee, & I felt much better. They let us go home with instructions to get lots of sleep to be ready for tomorrow.

Our daughter Chelsea was staying at my Moms house & the plan was to call them tomorrow when things got going & they would be there for the birth , along with my friend Carmen. By the time we got home the contractions had stopped, but within an hour they started again. We figured it was "just the prostaglandin gel", so I took a nice long bath & the contractions slowed again. As soon as I got on dry land they started again, but we said "just the gel". Louie went upstairs to bed & I settled into the recliner. The contractions were about 3 min. apart but werent progressing..."hummm, darn gel". When I dozed off a contraction would wake me. Then Louie would yell " you OK down there?" so both of us didnt get that good nites sleep!!

Finally at 5am I decided maybe we should get to the hosp. a little early & find out what was going on, so I took a shower then went to go pee &...POP...my water broke! I yelled for Louie to get showered & dressed cause we gotta go !

We got to the hosp. at 6:30 & found I was only dialated to 4 after all that!! I immediately asked for my epidural & Dr. Dirk. I started feeling a mild urge to push & when the nurse checked I was at 7 already. Louie quickly called Mom & Chelsea & then Carmen to get here now! Luckilt they live about 5 min. from the hosp. They started trying to get the epidural going while I was having HUGE contractions & HUGE urges to push, but they said "hold still & blow it off", HA! that was THE worst !!!! I tried to blow but finally I'd say s**t & push a little...I couldnt stop! They were saying "its OK dont push, hes almost got the epidural in" I felt pressure & yelled "the babys coming NOW"

Louie said "wheres your Mom & Carmen, I cant do this alone". They pulled the needle out, flipped me over & yep the baby was coming. Dr. Dirk came in & then Carmen got there in time to see the babys head crowning. Dr. Dirk said push but I could feel the head was not gonna fit so he gave me an episiotmy (the worst part for Carmen). After a few more pushes , nothing, so Louie & the nurse each grabbed my legs & held them back for me & finally her head was out!! Dr. Dirk suctioned her & then I gave a small push & felt her warm body slide out & woosh the rest of the water came out.

I was smiling from the relief of having all that baby & water out, then they put her on my belly & my smile got even bigger from the joy of seeing my baby. Just then Mom & Chelsea got there. Then they weighed Morgann & said "wow, 9lb. 15oz. 23 in" I said I TOLD you all I was uncomfortable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As they cleaned her up we realized we had got to the hosp. at 6:30 am & she was born at 7:45am , WOW!

She was ready to nurse but her glucose was low so they had to take her & give her fomula & retest her, so I didnt get to nurse her till later. Dr. Dirk, the nurses & the anesthisiologist all agreed that she had one of the largest cords, placenta & amount of fluid theyd seen. I felt SO justafied for complaining & bringing her early.

Morgann has lots of black hair just like her big sister, she is 4 mos old & nursing wonderfully, which is an experience I highly recommend if you can make it past the first couple weeks when it isnt any fun,

Thanks for letting me share! You can e-mail me at.. ItsMeLes@aol.com.

Leslie