You need to peruse some baby forums.
But, what the heck.
To preface - gave birth at old hospital because it was closest, and only one with NICU (which is only reason anyone would go there - doesn't have the private rooms and suites, etc. that all hospitals do these days). I was also a miserable, miserable pregnant woman (sick/throwing up for most of 9 months, long undiagnosed anemia - had an idiot doctor, and was in "labor" for 3 months, I swear. Last 3 months - always contraction - just never enough for bedrest/disability. Of course doctor was idiot - I should have been on disability - I just called in sick for weeks instead since doc thought I was a whiner. I am so not a whiner, so frustrating).
I share all that because I had a super easy labor. But I feel I paid otherwise!
My baby was a week overdue and I had been fighting doctor over unecessary induction. So, went in for stress test at 41 weeks. Unfortunately, baby was in distress, so they sent us to the L&D. Wasn't critical (like c-section or anything).
Anyway, the only labor room big enough for delivery was becoming available when I arrived, and so they sent us to eat some dinner while they readied the room. (Score!). It was about 5:00 and we had a really nice meal in the cafeteria. They told me I wouldn't be allowed to eat, once admitted.
I got hooked up to the pitocin around 5:30, and dh ran home to get some things for me. Figured it would be HOURS. An all nighter, right?
They broke my water at some point (don't remember when) and I didn't really feel much of anything until about 7:00. Around when dh returned. From 7-8 I labored rather intensely. I was pretty set on no drugs, but open to the possibility. I mean, you just don't know what to expect the first time. (or any time). I remember telling my dh that there was no way in hell I could labor like that for 12 hours. I felt bad for whimping out so early, but I was whimping out. I told him I could hang on, but I was pretty sure I Was going to end up with the drugs!
Around 8 the contractions subsided, and I felt a lot of pressure. I don't think I said anything for a while, because the whole thing was absurd. Must be wishful thinking. Finally, I asked dh to get the nurse. Nurse checked me and very calmy said, "Let me get the doctor." She played it well. I didn't think much of it, but doctor came in and said I was ready to deliver. Um, what???? At that point almost a half hour had passesd, from first being fully dilated (looking back) and my body decided if I wasn't going to push out the baby, it would do it by itself. The nurses and doctors rushed around prepping and told me not to push. (Um, yeah right????????). I am a pretty non-assertive person, but someone asked if they could wheel me to delivery, and I said something like, "Hell no!" They really wanted to go to the delivery room - probably more tools/supplies. I was just yelling "NO!!!!!!!! Bayb's coming NOW!!!!"
Funny enough, my "doesn't take no for an answer" MIL had arrived at our house and started calling the room. I remember at some point saying, "Can't someone turn that phone off????" IT was like ringing the whole time I gave birth. Funny now, but SO ANNOYING then.
For all that, baby's heart rate dropped a bit at the end and they got out the forceps. They gave me one last chance to push him out, and by some miracle he popped out. I was so well rested and alert (no drugs) that the birthing part was easy. Your body just floods with endorphins. Resisting to push did not feel good - pushing felt awesome.
In the end I remember thinking, "That's it?" I think also your body kind of prepares you for no sleep the first week or so. I was so high on adrenaline and endorphins for like a week. Though I had help and baby slept okay, I could not literally sleep for a week. IT was crazy. But yes - it was the most azaming experience of my life - that is for sure. I've never experienced anything like the high of giving birth.
Nurses insisted I leave baby in nursery so I could rest. I couldn't sleep at all, of course. I regret I gave in. I feel guilty I left him in the nursery his first few hours of life. They also pushed all sorts of heavy duty prescription pain meds on me, which was so unecessary. I stood my ground the second time. Take away the drugs, and just give me my baby!!!
Oh, back to the phone. When my mom arrived from out of town, MIL told her how she was worried and no one was answering. PAtient confidentiality - hospital staff wouldn't tell her a thing. So my mom calls, and we answe the phone. I don't think she believed when we said baby was there. I had thought our parents were insane to rush up (2-hour drive) when I Was first induced, but in the end, was glad they all got to see the baby before all my visitors were kicked out for the night!
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My second wasn't so easy. I labored about 8 hours. When I went to L&D they didn't think I was in labor. I was super cautious because I had gone so FAST the first time. But on the flip side, we needed to arrange care for my oldest son. I was so worried we wouldn't get to the hospital in time, or dh would miss the birth because we had no baby sitter, or something.
In the end, they just admitted me because baby seemed in distress. (IT was 2 weeks early, but I knew I Was in labor - I just knew). I don't know if they expected to induce me or what (because at first they did not agree I Was in labor), but I was clearly in labor, soon enough. Labored all night - was not fun. Though was a much slower progression than the first time. Nurse insisted if I wanted to go natural I had to do all these exercises. I wish I hadn't of listened. Around 5am I collapsed in exhaustion after nurse told me I was only at 5 or 6 cm. I was getting to my wit's end at that point. No sooner than I completely relaxed, I felt the baby coming. We called him back in and I said, "I know you just checked me a minute ago - but the baby is coming." MEanwhile, we told everyone who would listen how fast I went the first time and no one cared.
Baby was indeed coming, and no one was prepared. I was lucky to score one of only 2 birthing suites in the facility. There was a hustle/bustle of panic, and we were pretty convinced a nurse was going to deliver our baby - doctor was nowhere - hadn't even met him. That whole part was a little deja vu. I think doctor walked in just in time to catch baby. His head ended up being in the 100th percentile (100!!!!) and it was a much more painful delivery (I tore like crazy).
With both kids, I didn't really have to push at all (maybe 1 or 2 tries). IT was more like they both were coming whether we were ready or not!
I am pretty petite, and some of my more petite friends have given birth to even bigger babies. Mine were 8 & 9 pounds. IT is funny to me how much baby that little people can squeeze out sometime. No c-section for me - big head and all. The human body is amazing.
The second time was quite a chore compared to the first, but I remember telling my spouse a few hours later that I Would give birth all over again, the same day, if I had to. So worth it!