5 babies!

Birth Stories
by M.B.

My first pregnancy with JM went really well - I gained 45 pounds and I loved being pregnant! I was young and 3,000 miles away from my family, so I didn't get much guidance. The pregnancy was uneventful- I was happy and healthy. Unfortunately, my father in law died very suddenly when I was 8 mos. pregnant. We hadn't gone through any Lamaze yet and never did - so when my water broke a month later, (on Super Bowl Sunday) I was not prepared. I thought I could handle it but I was desperate for an epidural. Unfortunately, they gave it to me when I was 8 cm. and just beginning transition so it really made it difficult to push. I ended up pushing for 2 1/2 hrs. and was given an episiotomy from hole to hole! There was a mirror available so I got to watch the whole birth. It was amazing! JM weighed 8lbs. 1oz. The recovery was slow because of the many stitches and nursing was quite challenging, but overall it was a good experience.

My second pregnancy was just as good if not, better, because I knew what to expect and I was much more aware of my body. I truly loved being pregnant! The only issue that bothered me was pain at the tip of my pelvis. It felt like a constant bruising - I found out it was caused by friction where the pelvis bones meet. They separate briefly in order for the baby to pass through. I was trying to be more active during this pregnancy, but with activity, came the pelvic pain. Ann was born in a naval hospital about 40 minutes away so I was nervous about getting there in time. My experience at the naval hospital was quite different from the first hospital. First of all, I had a male nurse. I have to say, he was fabulous! He was very supportive and caring. Unfortunately, I was not in a private room so I was a bit self conscious during and after labor. I didn't have any drugs. I felt very much in control during labor. I only pushed for about half an hour and no episiotomy! Ann weighed 8 lbs. The down side to being in this facility was that I had to walk down and get my baby in the nursery when I wanted to nurse. She did not sleep with me in the ward. I even had a group of corpsman (navy medics) observe while the doctor put a catheter in me because I had trouble urinating! There is no such thing as humility during childbirth. Ann was a very healthy, alert baby who loved to nurse!

Pregnancy number three - again, I loved being pregnant! It was a little more challenging having two little ones to take care of but overall, I felt great. I remember rollerblading while pushing Ann in the stroller as I took JM to preschool. I had lots of energy and felt really good for the duration of the pregnancy. I was very nervous towards the end about leaving the other two children when I went to the hospital. I ended up being 11 days past my due date (middle of July in Southern California!) I had a neighbor who was signed up to watch them when it was time to go, but she was not available at the time of delivery. So, I had to take them to a day care center where no one knew them. I was sobbing as we dropped them off! I delivered at a private hospital but unfortunately, my doctor was not available to deliver my baby. His partner (I met once) delivered John without a hitch. Again, I had no meds and the pushing was bearable - no episiotomy either. John weighed 7lbs 15oz. I learned later that I burst quite a few blood vessels in my face and neck during pushing - it looked like I had the measles! My skin eventually returned to normal. John was a healthy, very calm baby. Another good nurser! One thing that got more painful after each pregnancy was when the uterus would contract to get back to its original size. Each time I nursed it would trigger the uterus to contract......It felt like labor all over again! My mother had warned me of this (she had 8 kids)! I literally had to breathe through the pain, so nursing was not always fun.

My fourth pregnancy was also uneventful......I felt good most of the time aside from the bruising pelvic pain. I really took care of myself, was active and busy with the other children. On the day of a scheduled appointment at the end of my pregnancy, I began labor very early in the morning. We waited to see the doctor for appt. and when seen, he informed me I was already 6 centimeters. We quickly walked over to the adjoining hospital. I was settled in minutes, and ended up pushing very briefly before my doctor barely made it in to deliver my daughter, Emily. She weighed 7lbs. 14oz. She was an enthusiastic nurser and sweet as can be! Again, the afterbirth contractions were quite painful but temporary. I geared up for life at home with 4 children under the age of 5........I didn't want to leave the hospital!

After a divorce and remarriage, I wanted to have another child with my new husband. I had a tubal ligation after my last baby, so I went back in for a tubal reversal. After a 4 hour operation, there was a 60% chance that I'd get pregnant. Well, they didn't call me "Fertile Myrtle" for nothing......I conceived right away but suffered a miscarriage. Thankfully, my next pregnancy was successful. I was 38 and felt a difference physically with this pregnancy but I was very healthy. I had taken up yoga prior to getting pregnant and continued all through the pregnancy. I was very active and really took care of myself. I felt great most of the time. When labor began I continued to go about my business, carpooling, helping with homework etc. I labored all though the night, put the kids on the bus and went to the hospital around 8:00 a.m. We walked the halls of Labor & Delivery, pausing for contractions, I rocked in a chair for a while too (that was soothing). I eventually asked for something for the pain but I can't remember if they even gave me anything. I pushed for about 1/2 an hour. I thought I was in good shape but the pushing took a lot out of me - I was exhausted in the end. Hope was my biggest baby at 9lbs. 2 oz. No episiotomy - I was thrilled! I bounced back pretty well - although I did suffer from postpartum depression for about 6 months. It was tough. She was a very stubborn nurser, I was very frustrated having to pump often - she only nursed for 3 weeks.

......And life goes on. My oldest daughter, Ann married in October and is now expecting! She is an extremely nurturing woman with a wealth of information. The thought of watching my daughter become a mother warms my heart!