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Main Page Site Index Getting Pregnant Pregnancy Parenting Pregnancy and Parenting Journals Fertility Nutrition Pregnant Moms Morning Sickness Women's Health Child Health	Dayton Mitchell's Birth StoryBy Ann My name is Ann LeClercq. My daughter, Dayton, was born April 28, 1997, at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. I went into labor on April 24, 1997. I thought my water bag began leaking, so I called my dr. My husband was on his way to an appointment 2 hours from home, so I called him on my cell phone. I contracted and contracted all day, and never started dilating. I also made the nearly fatal mistake of not eating or drinking during this time. We were trying for a home birth, so the doc sent a nurse to stay with us over night. Nothing happened except a terrific backache that had me sleeping in the tub overnight (also a mistake). On April 25, the doc ordered some monitoring to see if I really was in labor (the answer was yes). He reassured me that there are no real time frames for labor, especially first births which could last 3, even 4 days). I went home to wait, still contracting, and still not eating, and sat in the tub til I couldn't take it anymore. My husband, Brian, slept sitting up with me on our couch, holding a heating pad to my back. On April 26, a nurse came to check me again. Imagine what she had to say when she found out I hadn't eaten in 2 days! We immediately started a regimen of alternating Gatorade and Ensure every hour. Guess what? Things got moving - really moving! I went from 2 cm to 4cm in an hour and a half! BUT, it was late at night by that point, and a different nurse advised me to get some rest (I should have stayed up and kept up the nourishment). Sunday, April 27, came, and at 9 a.m. I was still at 4 cm. The doc ordered me to the hospital. I cried all the way there. I felt so defeated. Let me add here that we are very blessed to go to Christian doctors who prayed with us about every decision that we made at the hospital. At 8 p.m. I was finally at 7 cm. but at 10 p.m. I was still there. The doc put me on a glucose IV and pitocin. He also put in an internal monitor, which made it impossible for me to push in any position except flat on my back - not fun if you have a posterior baby! He also ordered Stadol, to help me rest a bit while the computer worked the pitocin levels up to where they shoud be. By midnight I was at 9 cm, and 1 am, 10 cm! YEAH! I had insisted all along if they could just get me to where I could push, everthing would be ok. At 4:45 am, on April 28, Dayton Mitchell arrived, weighing 9 lbs, 12 oz. She was 22 1/2" long, and was born with her eyes open. Brian's face was the first face she saw. I write this story to tell women that even in labor, you body is your responsibilty. By not taking care of myself, I put my life and my baby's life at risk. I am pregnant with #2, and my husband is already stocking up on gatorade! We are going to try a home water birth this time, and already have made posters to remind of a nourishment schedule. God's blessings as you start this grand adventure! Ann LeClercq Search the Birth Stories Match All Terms Any Term and show results in Standard Form in Compact Form Hint! Enclose phrases in quotes. For example "home birth" [ Return to Section Seventeen Birth Stories Index ]