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My name is Chris and my first daughter, Adrienne, was born in 1983 when I was 19 yrs old. I was married, worked on the Post Partum floor and overall had a wonderful first time birth experience. She weighed 8 lbs 8 oz, was 3 weeks late and Pitocin induced without pain meds. Back then, al-natural was the method the medical profession preferred. I had a very hard and long labor but a pain free (she was sitting on my nerve) delivery. I had an episiotomy and we were able to bond and relax at the hospital for 4 days. 11 yrs later in 1994 with a WONDERFUL new husband and the maturity that comes with age, I found out I was pregnant!! We were elated. I was working, but knew I would be able to stay home once this baby was born. This pregnancy was completely different from the start. My husband knew I was pregnant before I did! My period wasn't even due yet and he went to the store and bought a pregnancy test. I made him go back and get another one when the test showed a slight positive. Second test-definitely positive!! The morning sickness started (I had NONE with the 1st), I was exhausted and started showing at just 2 months but with no weight gain. At 14 weeks, the doctor decided to do an US just to make sure we weren't having twins. Results: just one healthy baby and we were due to deliver 10-6-94. We were hoping for a boy since we had 2 girls between the two of us. We just knew this was our "Blake". Fast forward to week 32. I was huge but had only gained 20 lbs to this point. We spent 1 week moving into a bigger home. My ankles were beginning to swell, my back ached and due to my size, we were hoping for an early delivery. We had another US and found out that "Blake" was a "Victoria". We were disappointed for about 2 seconds. The US showed she was still right on time and perfectly healthy. Week 36-I begged the doctor to induce me. I am a tall woman (5'9") but very thin. My entire belly was baby and this was the only place I had gained any weight. I was miserable. My BP was a little high. I couldn't wear shoes or even slippers and work was unbearable. The doctor put me on early maternity leave. Thank God! I averaged about 3 hrs of sleep a night and spent many hours in our hot tub (temp lowered to 99 degrees) to help with the leg cramps and backaches. Week 41-My total weight gain was 27 lbs. I woke up on 10-13-94 at 4AM with a wet bed and knew my water had broken. (WRONG!) I went to the bathroom and noticed some blood, and started having mild contractions. I sent the girls off to school, took a shower, did some last minute stuff around the house and arrived at the hospital at 10AM. I was dilated to 3, slightly effaced, but the baby's head was not even engaged. They did another US to make sure she wasn't breech. I begged them not to send me home. The Doctor came in at 11AM and broke my water and started the Pitocin. Yeah!! We were finally going to have our baby! At Noon, I had 2 really hard contractions and had dilated to 4cm so they gave me an epidural. I was talking on the phone at 1:30PM and the nurse (who was wonderful) came in to check me. I was 10cm and it was time to push. WOW!! I had no idea!! Epidurals are wonderful!! My husband and I knew Victoria was going to be a big baby. We were joking with the nurses about her size and the biggest guess came in at 9 ½ lbs. (I cringed.) I guessed 22 ½ inches long. Boy were we in for a few surprises. I pushed, and pushed, and pushed, and pushed. Finally after 1 1/2 hours, the Doctor performed an episiotomy and finally her head was born. The rest of this story is a blur for me. I am telling you what I observed from here on out from our video camera. I truly believe that God protects us in time of crisis. If I had known what was going on, I would have panicked and consequently could have lost our baby. Once her head was born, the Dr. noticed her cord was wrapped around her neck very tightly. He cut the cord and told me it was imperative to push the baby out NOW. Nothing happened so he cut me some more. I tried pushing again but to no avail. He yelled for 2 more nurses to come in and they got up onto my bed, pushed my ankles to my head and pushed the baby out for me. My husband was green and sat down in the chair to pray. (I thought he was being a wimp. He knew what was really happening.) Her shoulders were stuck (shoulder dystocia) but finally she was born at 3:22PM. She was blue, limp, and did not cry. From the time the Dr. cut the cord, until the time she finally cried was timed via the video camera at just under 5 minutes. After they worked on her for awhile, we finally heard that first little cry. The tears just flowed and the Dr. finally congratulated us on having such a big baby girl. Her apgars were 5 and 9 and she weighed in at 10 lbs 13 oz on 10-13-94. She was 22 ½ inches long just as I had predicted. The next day I was told my hemoglobin was 8 (normal is 12-15). I had a 4th degree laceration, huge episiotomy and was put on iron 2 times a day. (Could hardly wait for that first bowel movement!) My insurance demanded that I go home 24 hrs after the birth. I was allowed to stay an extra day due to the low blood count and the 4th degree laceration. (Lucky me!) We went home 46 hrs after she was born and I almost fainted just from walking into the house. But yet for a routine delivery 11yrs earlier, I was allowed to stay for 4 days. Our healthcare system makes no sense to me. I always worried about oxygen deprivation. I am thrilled to say that 2 ½ yrs later, Victoria Brianne is happy, healthy, and very, very smart. Why was I allowed to let nature take its course? Why was I allowed to go a week late when I told my Doctor that I knew my baby was so big? I have been told that if I have another child, I will probably be a gestational diabetic. I have since found a new Dr. (a woman) who has answered all of my questions and promised to do an US at 37 weeks, and then an induction if another baby would be big. This would be 4 weeks sooner than Victoria's birth. I don't know if I will risk having another child. I just don't know what the future will bring. I do know that I don't think some male physicians have any idea what women truly go through during pregnancy. I learned from my experience that they definitely don't listen to us. This Dr. was a friend of mine whom I had worked with for 7 yrs and knew for 12 yrs. I wonder how he would have handled carrying around an 11 pound bowling ball for that last 5 weeks? I hope that my story will convince women to stay in tune to their bodies. Find a physician/midwife whom you KNOW will listen to you and your wishes. I had been in the medical profession for 11 yrs and had to endure such a scary birth experience because I didn't make my Dr. listen to me. I know now that I should have changed physicians right then and there at the end. As I stated previously, my first birth experience was absolutely wonderful. I thank God everyday that He is the one who is ultimately in control and allowed me the opportunity of having a very happy and healthy baby girl.
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