Pregnant after IVF 2000 Birth Stories

Girls (30) vs. Boys (28)
Singletons (30)
Twins (14 sets)
Triplets (0 sets)

sellgood
January 6, 2000

I have to apologize for taking me so long to get on the computer to tell you all this, but it has been very hectic to say the least! Some of you might recall that I had posted a few weeks ago in agony, waiting for my twins to arrive. I had a doctors appt. scheduled for January 6th. to take out my cerclage. Well, 2 days before, I was having a hard time getting around due to the stretching of my pubic bone and was walking with a crutch. My baby boy was engaged and I had a lot of pressure. On Wednesday night, I started getting a burning feeling in my groin area, but when I looked in all my pregnancy. books, I could not find this symptom any where. this burning feeling continued trough the night and by 4am I noticed pink tinge when I wiped. (sorry so graphic, this was my bloody show) I called the doctor and he stated that I should get checked at the labor and delivery, but since I was not having any true contractions, just Braxton-hicks, they would probably end up sending home. My husband and I decided at the last minute to take my bag just in case and leave it in the car. It was a good thing, when they got me hooked up to the monitors, I was having contractions 8 minutes apart and did not know it, just some tightening that I thought was BH. When I was checked to our amazement, I was 80% effaced and baby boys head was at 0 station! They removed the cerclage, and wanted to see if fluids would stop the contractions because I was 35 wks and 6 days and they wanted to wait a little longer. However, the twins had other plans and shortly after I was 100% effaced and completely thinned out. I knew I was going to have a c-section since she was breech, so I waited for the doctors to decide, and they decided that January 6th would be their b-day! The c-section was uneventful, I received my spinal and felt nothing, my husband watched the whole thing. When they pulled Ryan out and I heard his cry, I bawled so badly, I could hardly see him through my tears. Morgan is truly my miracle baby, since she was up under my ribs, and Ryan must of been getting most of the blood supply. She was so tiny, but perfect in every way. Ryan weighed 6lbs. 4oz. and Morgan weighed 3lbs. 10 1/2 oz. They were both fine and were in my room by the time I returned from recovery. All I can say is, God is good!

I have had a rough time recovering, no one told me about the gas pains that you get after a c-sections or the
swelling of the legs and feet! I am feeling much better now and I am finally getting into a schedule with the twins.

Well, I have to go, Ryan is up and ready to feed!   Best of to everyone!

Stacey

julie621
January 25, 2000

Tanis Elise Poole 4lbs 7oz & 17 1/4 inches long and Taylor Addison Poole 5lbs 8-1/2 oz & 8 3/4 inches long were born at 35w4d gestation. Both are doing well, Taylor's lungs were not mature and he has spent some time on a respirator and CPAP. There were born January 25th vaginally with Tanis coming first and easily and Taylor coming breech and pretty traumatically. I have almost healed up and only suffering from swollen legs from the toxemia (that is why I had to deliver) You can see them at http://www.angelfire.com/tn/juliepoole

Julie

jmcb
January 25, 2000 

My beautiful daughter, Makenna Nance was born on 1/24/00 by c-section after a long labor. She was two weeks early and took me by surprise. My water broke early on the morning of the 23rd and silly me, I didn't even realize it was my water breaking. I actually thought I was peeing in my pants. Talk about not believing you could actually really be pregnant after IVF! :) Anyway after a few hours it dawned on me that this could be my water breaking and I called the doctor. He advised me to go the hospital which we did and I was admitted. I wasn't having any contractions so they started Pitocin and slowly the contractions started. I made it to about 8 o'clock at night before getting the epidural but boy did that make a difference. I was only three centimeters dilated at 8 pm, after the epidural I went up to 9 centimeters by 11 pm. That's where I got stuck though. I stayed at 9 centimeters for about 4 hours no matter what we tried. I tried pushing, changing positions, sleeping, nothing worked. Anyway the Dr. advised us to think about a c-section at about three in the morning and both myself and my DH agreed. We both wanted to make sure the baby was OK and we were very anxious to meet it. Everything went really quickly after that and I can't even describe how I felt when I heard the baby crying and the nurse saying "You have a daughter". I just started crying and when my DH brought the baby over for me to see I'll never forget her face or my DH's. It was the best thing I've ever seen in my whole life.

We named her Makenna which means gift in Hawaiian because as you all understand she really is a gift from God to us. Nance is after my mom who passed away almost ten years ago.

I loved being pregnant and I love having my daughter here too. It's so nice to say my daughter!

Good luck to all!! Enjoy your pregnancies.

Love, Judy, Paul, and Makenna Nance

liz0099
February 4, 2000

On 2/4 I went in at 7:30 to have a c-section. Baby A's amniotic fluid looked low, although two non-stress tests came out fine. At 9:05 Emma Caroline was born, 5 lbs 1 oz, 17 3/4" and at 9:07 Jillian Queen was born 4 lbs 15 oz, 17 1/4". I was 37 weeks, but the pediatrician considered the girls premature because they were under 5 lbs 11 oz, and couldn't nurse or maintain their body temps. We didn't have to go to NICU, thank god!

I spent 5 days in the hospital and went home. I had help for the following three weeks. I was glad when they were gone, to be honest. It's been challenging and rigorous and I thanked God many times for not giving me triplets! Jillian showed signs of colic from the beginning--I knew she had it at 3 weeks, it peaked around 6 weeks, and it's nearly gone now. (They'll be 12 weeks on Friday). My pediatrician saved us--first, we tried a soy/lactose free formula (I pumped for three weeks, never got near enough milk, finally gave it up after crying for 2 days). Anyway, she apparently reacted to the soy. Then we went lactose free, milk based. She got better. Then we moved to the most expensive formula on the market--Nutramagin and she was a million times better. Worth every penny.

I never did any homework on formula because I was going to be mother earth and breast feed. If I had, I would have put them on Carnation Right Start from the beginning. Its proteins are cut small for easy digestion and that's really important. Nutramagin's proteins are the smallest, but it's 3x as expensive as the Carnation. Anyway, file this in the back of your mind, just in case you have to use formula or your baby gets colicky.

Enough of my dissertation on food. We mostly spend time hugging, feeding, holding, singing, talking, cuddling, and loving our babies. I'm so happy.

I know I'm getting long. It's been so wonderful to spend the last 12 weeks with these wonderful little girls. I went back to work Wednesday and I miss them terribly.

Love, Liz

btumble
February 14, 2000

Right now, Dad and baby are both sound asleep together in bed, so sweet, I'd take a picture but am afraid of waking either. I started having contractions regularly last Sat. about a half hour apart and just a little more uncomfortable than BH. Sat night, contractions got more painful and went to 10 minutes apart overnight. By 12:00 Sunday, they were close to every 5 minutes and I was really starting to get uncomfortable so we went to the hospital. Only 2 cm dilated, 90% effaced but I was truly in labor. Was given the option of walking around the hospital for an hour or two or going home. We live close, so we went home. I did manage to nap a little. We went back at 6:00 I had gone to 4 cm and 100%. Got sent to a birthing room to get ready. I decided not to wait to get an epidural....huge huge kudos to all you ladies who get through this drug free....no way that was happening for me. When the OB came in around 8:00, did an exam, water broke, 6 cm. The epidural was great, the only way I knew I was having a contractions was to watch the monitor, which I did obsessively {grin}. 2 hours later, still 6 cm so Pitocin was started, that got me to 8 cm around 1 am. Then I had a big scare, a strong contraction started and the baby's heartrate dropped. I said to DH, we're losing the baby's heartbeat. Just then the OB and a couple of nurses came flying in, rolled me over and started wiggling the baby around. After what felt like days, the heartrate came back up and stabilized. Her heart continued to show normal patterns through contractions, OB thought it was something to do with cord position. We decided to watch and wait a while to see if I dilated further and if the baby stayed fine. At 4:30 I was still only 8cm and the baby had another little episode when they rolled me to the other side so we decided not to wait but to do a c-section.

DH got suited up while I went into the OR. DH came in and they got my beautiful little girl out. It finally seemed real to me as I was lying there with the curtain up in front of me and the OB was tugging on my abdomen that it was true, I was going to have a baby. All of you who have been through IVF can relate, I'm sure, a silly part of me still didn't think it was really happening. I started crying hysterically, scared the heck out of the anesthesiologist...all I could do was squeak out 'happy, happy' when asked if I was ok.

Sydney Helen was born kicking and screaming at 5:04 am on 2/14, 6 lbs. 12 oz, 20 1/2 inches and she is just the most beautiful sweetest thing I have ever seen. She is a breastfeeding champ, latched on correctly the first time and has been going strong since. She left the hospital already back to her birth weight. Got home yesterday and still can't believe how lucky we are. I am head over heels in love with her, if it is at all possible, DH may be even more so. Thank you ladies for all your support and kind words throughout my IF journey and pregnancy. It made getting to this point immeasurably gentler. Big huge hugs to you all!!!

Kate

stacey416
February 15, 2000

I haven't been on the boards since the end of January due to bedrest and then just not being able to find the
words...

Doctors orders for bedrest at home on started on 2/1, at 26 weeks pg - that lasted for a week until I had some
bleeding, and was admitted to the maternal/fetal care unit at the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy.
The bleeding turned out to be from a minor placenta separation that was triggering small contractions.

As some of you may remember, we found out at our 21 week level II ultrasound that one of our twins had very
low amniotic fluid, most likely because of a ruptured membrane that we think happened around week 14 of
the pregnancy. (We don't know what caused the rupture.) From the level II ultrasounds that we continued to
have done every week, we knew that the baby, Baby A, was growing, but that her chances for survival after
she was born would be very low because without the fluid her lungs would not be able to develop normally. We
mourned the probable loss of her for the rest of the pregnancy but tried with all our might to focus on the
miracle & hope of the other baby, her sister, Baby B. It was so hard, not knowing what would happen with
either baby or the pregnancy, but we tried to remain as positive and hopeful as we could.

Back to the hospital bedrest. After 8 days of being monitored and trying to keep the babies in as long as we
could, I went into labor that could not be stopped by a 3rd round of magnesium on the evening of February
14th. It all went quickly from there. By 3:45am on February 15, at exactly 28 weeks gestation, both of our
beautiful daughters arrived via vaginal delivery. Isabel Noa came first and was 2 lbs 4 oz and 13-1/2" long.
Olivia Eden was delivered feet-first and was 2 lbs 1 oz and 14-1/4". Two teams of neonatal doctors, nurses
and respiration therapists were there to take care of them immediately after they were born. Right after
Daddy cut Isabel's cord, they were both cleaned up, examined, and brought over to Mommy's bedside for a
quick first look, they were taken upstairs to NICU. The delivery went smoothly and we allowed ourselves to
feel the excitement of that, but we knew that our concern about their early arrival was warranted.

Both babies were considered critical but Isabel was sicker and was put on heavier medications to make the
respirator more tolerable. Olivia was intubated as well and it was heartbreaking to see them hooked up to so
many monitors and just so tiny. Isabel, our sweet baby, fought so hard but just had too many things stacked up
against her. We lost her after about 36 hours. The low amniotic fluid meant that even with steroid injections
given to me before they were born, her lungs just didn't have a chance to develop. We will take her with us in
our hearts and memories for the rest of our lives. We miss her so much and cry for her every night.

At the other extreme end of our emotionally bi-polar existence, is our precious Olivia, 4 weeks old tomorrow.
She is doing well in NICU and will stay there most likely until around her original due date, May 9. She is
known by the nurses as feisty and she has a good loud cry. She has a lot of hair, a red heart-shaped
birthmark between her shoulder blades, a perfect little face and lovely long fingers. We think she is as cute as
a button and is the light of our lives. She's receiving my breast milk through a feeding tube and is slowly
gaining weight - she's up to 2 lb 7 oz now. It sounds cliché, but approaching this by taking one day at a time is
helpful to me and we are surviving this only because she is doing well and gives us the hope we need. We
also have incredible love from our family and friends - you really find the goodness, the true goodness, in
people when you are in a crisis. Ever need to see this goodness, visit a NICU unit and see what the nurses do
for little premature and/or sick babies. Wow.

Anyway, I know there's a lot packed into this post, but there's just no way to shorten the story. Some of you
have sent emails, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart - as does my husband. I love this group and I'm
amazed by the strength I draw from you and for the friendship I've found here. Thank you.

Our best to all of you & your families,

Stacey, JJ and Olivia

janosh's surrogate Lori
February 24, 2000

After 4 weeks in the hospital Lori (my gestational. surrogate) was taken of the magnesium on Thursday morning. Her
contractions started to get regular and painful by the evening. At 8:00 pm they moved her to L&D and when
we got there around 9:30 pm they gave her an epidural and broke her water. After that everything went so
quickly, I still can't believe it. The Doc checked her again at 11:30 and said, ok that's it we've got to move to
the OR quickly. I hugged her one more time and off they went into the OR. Her DH went with her, they only
allow one person in the OR. DH and I waited in her room and before we knew it the nurse came in to tell us
they were both born before midnight. Alec was born at 11:45 pm and Alena just made it 3 min. before 12:00
(both were born vaginally). 15 min. later our little miracles were wheeled out of the OR and I held Alec for the
first time! It felt so strange in the beginning, I couldn't believe that they are our children, but after a little while
we couldn't imagine our lives without them! The neonatologist said he would try to put them into the regular
nursery since their breathing seemed to be o.k., but early the next morning they had to move them to the NICU
for observation. Now Alec who weighed 4 lbs 12 oz is doing great, he is feeding o.k. and will be moved into a
crib in a couple of days. He just has to gain a little and remain his temperature so that we can take him home.
I hope it will be by this weekend. Alena has a little more trouble although she was the chubby one (6lbs 12oz).
She does not know how to suck well, so she is still fed through a tube most of the time. Also her calcium level
was very low and they are doing some tests on her to find out why. She is under the billilights since yesterday
for jaundice. It is so hard to leave them there after each visit, I just want to hug them all the time and take them
home. The NICU is such a horrible place for the first days of their lives.

Lori is doing great. She left the hospital at 10:00 am the morning after the delivery, can you believe it?? She
is so strong and so wonderful! She sent me an email yesterday to thank us for letting her be our surrogate and
she even offered to baby-sit for them! She already visited them in the NICU a couple of times. I love and
admire her so much, she gave us the most wonderful gift of life! There is no way we can every thank her
enough, she will be in our hearts forever. After what we have been through it feels so wonderful to be able to
cry out of happiness instead of sadness.

Thank you all so much for your support and friendship during the last 2 years, I don't know what I would have
done without you! I will keep you posted on their progress and on their little sibling.

Love, Bettina

mesplay
March 6, 2000

Just a very quick note to say hello from a new proud new Mom. I mostly lurk, but have tried to keep track of
several cycle buddies here.

Anyway, I'm proud to announce that my IVF twins -- Nathaniel "Nate" and Natalie -- were born March 6
weighing 6 lbs 5 oz. and 6 lbs 10 oz., respectively. They were taken c/s because both were breech. UGH!
Thankfully DH is taking two weeks off work to help me get "adjusted." HA!

It's been great reading all your posts during my pregnancy. I'm looking forward to chatting with you all on the IVF
Playgroup board. See you there!

Take care, Marnie

katie1961
March 12, 2000

My darling daughter was born on her due date March 12 and she is just so adorable and precious and beautiful. Her name is Miranda Kathryn and she weighed in at 7 lb 15 oz and was 54 cm long. I cannot believe that she started her life as a frozen embryo. She is my precious miracle. I was in labor for 24 hours before an emergency caesarean was needed. She had the cord wrapped around her little body twice and couldn't come into this world the normal way.

Love Katie XX

mermaid
March 22, 2000

Our beautiful twins were born March 22, 2000! The scheduled C-section was not soon enough at 37 ½ weeks
as I was pretty miserable with the back problems. Alex was born first at 8:04AM at 7 lbs, 2 oz.; Rachel at
8:05AM at 5 lbs, 1 ½ oz. I couldn’t believe my little short body could have held 12 ½ lbs of baby!

Glen was absolutely wonderful. He was all over the operating room and the nursery videotaping the twins
debut. He was a hoot! The doctors still talk about him and the video is precious. Both twins were feet first. He
said Alex (Mr. Big Head) got stuck on the way out and his cry inside me was muffled! I wish that was on
videotape! Dainty Rachel was next and is so pretty and petite. They received an 8 and a 9 Apgar score
although Alex was rushed off for a moment of more oxygen. Both received 9’s at the five minute Apgar.

The hospital was so wonderful! They had lots of babies being born that day…in fact the nursery expanded into
a classroom that week. Because of my previous bad experience for a back surgery, the hospital gave us the
Suite at only the private room rate! We were ecstatic and I think the hospital and staff are first rate now!

Alexander really looks like Glen which is what I had hoped. Both have his huge blue eyes. Rachel Marcena
looks like my mother, her namesake! They have the same cute chin! She has strawberry blonde hair and I’m
hoping it changes to honey blonde like mine.

Alex was a true mer-baby! Glen said they squeezed water over his head and he loved it! However, he hated
the bath I just gave him today.

They don't sleep really well at night, but they are so perfect and so happy. We're just on cloud nine after five
years and four miscarriages. They truly are our little miracles. God has really blessed us.

You can see them yourself! http://www.webnursery.com Choose Medical Center of Plano and choose
3/22/00. If it requires a password, use Harn.

It is so spectacular to finally be a Mother! I’m in awe! Best wishes to all of you!

Cynthia

ready4babies
March 24, 2000

Madeline Elizabeth was born Friday, March 24 at 6:30 pm. She weighed 7 lbs 10 oz, was 20.5 inches long,
and is adorable! My water broke shortly after 11 pm on Thursday night (3/23). We ended up going to the
hospital around 1am Friday morning. Labor was longer and harder (all back labor) than expected, but there
were no complications and it was all-natural, drug-free, no interventions which is what I wanted. The doula was
a great help to both DH & me. We were completely exhausted having been up from 5:30 am Thursday
morning until late Friday night. It was wonderful having the baby room-in with us at the hospital. I think DH was
the only husband/father that stayed at the hospital and it was wonderful having him there. Madeline was
always with one or both of us. We came home from the hospital on Sunday (3/26). You can see Madeline's
picture on the hospital website http://www.uhs.net/ohbaby/wilson/index.asp?mode=zoom&id=2352

When her head emerged, the doctor said, "Chubby cheeks! Look at those chubby cheeks." I'm fairly sure he
was talking about her face and not my butt! LOL.

-Anna

shanesmom95
March 27, 2000

was going in on Monday morning to be induced 3/27 And at 12:15am Monday morning My water broke and
by 7:22am Bailey was here She was 9 lbs 4 oz and 21 1/2 in long. big girl for being 2 1/2 weeks early that's
why I was being induced we knew she was real big. we went home on wed and had to go back in the hospital
on Friday she had jaundice and she was not eating and I could not get her to wake up and if I did she did not
stay awake. She was under the lights for 2 days and now her level is way down. She has to go see the DR
tomorrow and have another level drawn to make sure it is ok. her poor little feet I feel so bad. But I am glad
she is home and ok. I cant believe she is here.

Dawn

kerriaus
April 4, 2000

Hi Everyone, Fist I want to apologize for being MIA, I was just too uncomfortable at the end of the PG to sit at
my computer for very long. Congratulations to all the Newbies on the board you have something totally
amazing to look forward to in a few months!!!!!!

Well due to me have Gestational Diabetes, that wasn't keeping under control even though I was having 4
insulin shots a day and the fact that my BP was going high my Doctor decided that I should be induced at 37
1/2 weeks.

So I was admitted to Hospital at 3pm Mon 3.4.2000, had the Gel placed on my cervix at 4pm and again at
10pm. My 1am I was having mild contractions which I relieved my walking, at 3am the Midwife advised me to
go back to bed and try and get some sleep so I dozed for an hour waking every 5 minutes with each contraction, by
4.30am the pain was getting too bad so I woke Rick up (I had let him get some sleep up until then, aren't I nice!).

By 5am my waters broke, I was taken down to the birth suites at about 5.30am, my Doctor checked me at
about 6.15am and thought I probably had 4-6 hours to go, at this stage pain was pretty intense so I asked for
some pain relief, this really did nothing so by 7.15am I asked for an Epidural but when the anesthetist (sp?) got
there it was too late I needed to push!

I was allowed to start pushing at 8am and our beautiful little CHLOE ELIZABETH was born at 8.18am
weighing 7lb 14ozs has blond hair and at this stage blue eyes and is just the most adorable little angel.

I am home now, but unfortunately my little angel doesn't like working for her food yet so she has to stay in
hospital to be tube feed. However she is gaining weight and did breast feed for 20mins this morning which I
am very happy about!

Sorry this got so long, thank you to those who read this far, I am just a very proud Mummy!!!!!

Kerri, Rick & Chloe born 4th April 2000.

fosters_x7
April 4, 2000

I went in for my 39w appointment on 4/4. Doc was checking things out and I was gearing up to beg for an
induction because I had been so uncomfortable with BH for two weeks, back and groin pain, swelling, etc.
Well after I got dressed she tells me that she wants me to arrive in L&D the next morning to have my waters
broke. I didn't even ask!! Then she goes no I think we should start you on the cervical pill tonight so arrange to
check in by 9pm. Even better I am thinking cause I have time to go home, clean up and take care of my two
boys when they get home from school. So I am floating out the door (as much as possible) and the nurse calls
me and says the doctor wants to speak to you again. Oops I was afraid she was changing her mind... she
then tells me that she just noticed my new BP reading (high as usual) and wants me to go to L&D
immediately!!! So got there an hour later, started that pill and progressed but real slow. Pitocin was started
about five hours later, got an epidural and finally at 9:49pm, Caitlin Renee made her entrance. Unfortunately she is
a big girl so I had to be cut but well worth it. She was 8lbs and 21in and nursed immediately. Apgars 9/9. BF
has been rough but we both finally got the hang of it last night and now she's feeding great. After two sons, I
finally have my little girl and feel so complete.

Good luck to everyone.

Frankie

lisapass
April 23, 2000

Hi, girls. I've been majorly AWOL lately due to many trips to L&D and various overnight stays to try to hold off my labor. Went in Saturday morning, April 22nd, with more contractions that were becoming more intense. They were still trying to hold off my labor by keeping me on the Terbutaline to try to get me to 36 weeks. They took out my cerclage, and I went to 3 cm. Had contractions all Saturday, but cervix wasn't changing. Finally got some pain meds Saturday night to help me sleep a little. Sunday morning, cervix was at 4 cm -- the slowest labor in history! Then finally Sunday afternoon Baby A's water broke, and they had to let me deliver. Got my epidural and some Pitocin, and labor progressed.

Had my boys on Easter Sunday at 35w3d. Both were head down, so we had a vaginal delivery. Nicholas came first at 5 lbs. 14 oz., and Patrick came second at 6 lbs. 3 oz. Nicholas spent 4 days in NICU due to a glucose problem, but other than that he was perfect. Patrick had a very traumatic delivery -- the cord was wrapped twice around his neck and he was born not breathing. Very scary for us, because I knew that something was wrong when they whisked him away and he wasn't crying -- I never got to see him. They had to intubate him, and put him on the ventilator for the first night, but then he was able to breathe on his own the next morning. He spent 7 days in the NICU with some breathing difficulties. He's home now, but will be on an apnea monitor for 3 to 6 months, since he has had some episodes of falling heart rates.

Both boys are doing well now, and they don't expect Patrick to have any long term effects from his birth -- they did a brain scan which revealed no bleeding on the brain from the lack of oxygen. Both are breastfeeding (quite a challenge), and the pediatrician said they looked great. We're just extremely relieved that everyone is home now! After a scary start, we can enjoy each other!

Lisa

orsela1
April 23, 2000

My darling little son Itay Jacob was born on the 04/23/00 18:33 after a long , painful and traumatic labor (vacuum and forceps). He weighed 2.96 Kg. We are now home trying to adjust to each other.

I will send in the full story , and Itay's pictures soon...

I would like to thank you all for the love and support I got during these long and stressful 9 months, I hope to read good news of you all.

Love,  Revital

les36

janete1
May 3, 2000

Shortly after I posted my messages, my WATER BROKE.....Just like that. Totally out of the blue. No warning. As a matter of fact Monday, May 1, we were putting together the crib, and realized that we were missing a crucial bolt (one that holds the frame together) and I was just going to call the company to send us another one. Well, as I'm looking for the number in all the instructions, I started to leak, lots of fluid. It was 8:45 am and the doctor's office doesn't open until 9:00 and DH is at work. So I decided to take a shower...I refuse to go to the hospital with hairy legs, and I wasn't really having contractions...just mild stuff, several minutes apart.

I called the doctor who of course said that I had to go to the hospital. And of course my doctor isn't back from her vacation until May 4, so I have an on-call one.

So the short version of the events is that I was in labor for 32 hours, and on Pitocin for about 24 of those hours, and wound up with a C-section.

IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH AND AT ALL WORRIED ABOUT YOUR LABOR, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO READ THIS PART......

So after I took my shower I called my DH at work. He raced home, and we went to the hospital. Unfortunately, the OB on-call was rather conservative and wanted me to wait to see if the contractions would start on their own. We arrived at the hospital at 10:00am May 2, and finally, when the next OB started call, Pitocin was started, at 6:00 pm May 2.

So, finally at about 1am, I thought I would need some meds and was checked. I was about 4cm dilated and 90% effaced, so it seemed like things were moving along, and they gave me some Stadol. At about 5am (if I recall correctly) I got more Stadol, and I was dilated enough to have an epidural (which they knew I wanted from the beginning). As many of you know, even though I am a nurse, I absolutely hate needles...to the point that I've actually passed out. So it is really something to know that I actually let the anesthesiologist try 3 times to get the epidural in before he quit. It actually was in but only worked on half my body. He said that it was because the medicine had to flow towards my right side and if I laid on my right, the pain would go away.

For an hour I endured absolutely horrific pain, until I became hysterical, which, of course, prompted my husband to become hysterical. It wasn't until 6:30 am that another anesthesiologist came in and replaced the epidural...after telling us that he might not be able to get one in because the other anesthesiologist thought my spinal bones were too close together. It went in very easily, and I actually slept for about an hour.

Then I had contractions for the next few hours at about 2 minutes apart and I finally was dilated to 10. Except when the OB checked me, I was only at 9 and I never progressed any further. So at 1 pm the OB said that she'd only give me until 3:00 to progress, then I would have to have a C-section because I'd been "ruptured" for so long. I was really ready to get this over with by then, so I don't know what made me agree to try for a couple of more hours...except that the epidural was really doing the trick...and I needed my DH to accept the fact that we were going to the OR. He was really upset because he thought he wasn't going to be able to go with me. But I, and the nurses explained that he'd be right there with me and actually be able to film it.

So at 3:00 I became a blubbering fool as I told the OB and nurses that I had had enough and it was time to get this over with. They thought I was upset about the C-section, when in fact I was just tired of being in labor. And, of course, they couldn't get me right to OR, I didn't go until 6pm...making DH even more angry.

OK. HORRIBLE DETAILS ARE OVER.....

So at 636 pm, May 3, KATHERINE (KATIE) ELEANOR arrived via C-section. During the whole ordeal she was never in distress and had Apgar scores of 8 and 9...even though she scared me by not crying immediately. But that is her personality. She rarely cries.

We are now home after spending three more days in the hospital. No one told me, but when they use Pitocin, and if you have a C-section they use it to help prevent bleeding, you wind up swelling up like a balloon. I've been whining about my puffiness for the last few months, but that was nothing compared to what I experienced in the hospital. I was swollen up to my waist and my legs were twice their size. I think I weighed less when I went into the hospital.

So now, a week later, I still have some pain, and some swelling (not bad, though). But Katie has made our lives complete. She is absolutely perfect. DH is home this week and next, because I can't drive, and he won't let me do anything. It's been absolutely wonderful. When I get pictures, I will be posting them.

Janete and Katie, 1 week old

teachnh
May 3, 2000

Wednesday morning (May 3) at 7am, I went into the hospital. At 8am, we began the Oxytocin to induce labor. The contractions came and I actually thought they weren't too bad. I thought that until they broke my water at 3:15pm. Those contractions were much more intense! I was 2 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced. This is actually pretty good considering I came in that morning with no effacement and very little dilation. I got the epidural at 5 (it wasn't completed until 6) in the evening. The guy who did my epidural had to try three times!!!!! It killed! I have a curvature of my spine. It is like a hook, so he kept saying, "I'm doing this blind." I actually had to stop and ask him if this was going to be safe. He said "Oh yeah, safe, but I'm doing it blind." Real reassuring. At this point I was 4-5 centimeters dilated. By 7:30, I was 8-9 centimeters and we began pushing at 8. Both babies that morning had presented head down, so we were going to push both out. By 10:15 Twin A was crowning but I was beginning to become physically fatigued. So Dr. Bianco got out the suction and Kyle was born at 10:26 (5lb 1oz- 18 inches). He was white with the cord wrapped around his neck twice. So he was whisked away to the nursery. I was so upset, but at the same time contractions were coming on again so I had to focus on Baby B. The next thing I knew was I am feeling the most intense pain in my entire life! I was screaming so loud that my mother was cringing down the hall way. I didn't know what was going on. I was shaking so bad that my DH had his head on my cheek to try and keep me still. This is what happened. Baby A on its way out pushed Baby B into a transverse position. So in order to get him, the doctor reached up in (yes with both hands, elbow deep- sorry so graphic) and grabbed him. It was called a manual extraction delivery. All I can say is, it really hurt!!!!! Baby B, Josh, was born 4 minutes after his brother and he was able to be on my chest(5 lb 13 oz- 19 inches). DH got to cut his cord. It was funny when he did it, it hadn't been clamped properly and blood squirted everywhere. It was on the ceiling, all over the doctors face. The one placenta was delivered with the help of the Oxytocin. I had three bags of it over the day and was I swollen! I only required a couple of stitches and made it without an episiotomy.

Now two weeks later we are all doing very well at home resting. I just today found a few minutes to come and type their birth story.

Good Luck to everyone!

Beth

mitch209
May 13, 2000

Mia made her grand entrance (and I mean grand) into our lives on May 13, 2000 at 3:20pm. She weighed in at 7lbs 13oz and was 20 inches long. She is the love of our lives.

On Friday my doctor decided to induce. We went to the hospital at 7pm to get everything started. Well we got all settled into our room and ended up playing the waiting game because everyone in Michigan went into labor that night with the big storm. While waiting to get checked, my water broke on its own. (Mia obviously got tired of waiting) It's amazing how fast you can get someone to check you when that happens. Well anyway, this happened around midnight. Finally at 4am they found a room for us on the Land D floor. I wasn't progressing on my own very well (still only 2cm) so they started Pitocin at 7am. This really intensified the contractions and I received an epidural (thank goodness) at 1pm. Well after that the baby's heart rate started dropping during my contractions. DH was really nervous because he could see it on the monitors. Our nurse basically stayed with us watching them for an hour. They finally decided to put internal monitors in. Even with these the heartrate kept going down. So at 3pm my doctor checked me. He said if I was at a 10 we would need to push, otherwise we needed to do a c-section. Well I was only a 6. He said he thought there was something wrong with the cord. They rushed us into the delivery room and Mia was born 20 minutes later. It was such a rush the I was shaking like a leaf. I cried my eyes out when I heard her cry and heard my husband say "IT'S A GIRL." HONEY YOU GOT YOUR GIRL. The doctor told us that every time I had a contraction that her head was pinching the cord against my pelvic bone. Thank goodness for the c-section. The rest is history. We're all at home and recovering nicely. I am so in love with her, I cant stop looking at her.

Please visit her page on our website:   http://my.treeway.com/marcandkari

Thanks to everyone. Best wishes to all and healthy pregnancies and deliveries, Kari and Mia

sasha.25
May 27, 2000

On Friday, May 26, 2000 I posted that I was 40 weeks. And my due date was the next day, May 27, 2000. I kept on asking many women at work if they felt any different before labor. I didn’t have any nesting instinct, my Braxton Hicks were about 10 minutes apart each evening, but nothing progressed anywhere. The only thing I can think of- I was knitting like crazy, just knitting for 3 days in a row, something like a blanket. After full day at work (kindergarten!!!) we sometimes went for long walks, but there was no sign of labor. I was hoping so much that it would start that week-end, as I was tired of working and it felt like my stomach couldn’t grow any bigger. Well, now, when I think about that Friday I can tell when my labor really started. I was sitting in the morning, thinking, that I ate something wrong. Or I was just hungry, so we went out for lunch. Then I went to school, came home at 5 and we had supper. After that I took a warm bath (not hot !!!), for the first time during the pregnancy, as I was concerned that the warm water might hurt the baby. By 9 PM my BH were 6 minutes apart for about 3 hours, my DH was quite concerned, saying that if it doesn’t stop, we are going to the hospital. Well, my doctor said to come only if my contractions are unbearable or if my water breaks. I knew, that we would be sent back home anyway. And, of course, I didn’t even think my labor started. There was a good movie on TV, but something was telling me to go to bed and get some sleep. Well, at 2.20 am I woke up as my water broke. I didn’t have any on my bed (oh, and that evening we put some plastic on the mattress!!!), it just felt like something popped inside. You wouldn’t believe my joy!!! What a feeling, that I was in labor after all the waiting. And it was like in the movies, I jumped out of bed repeating that my water broke a couple of times. DH jumped too (poor DH had about an hour of sleep only, after watching that movie). I never thought it would be that way- I thought my contractions would start, I would lay in bed, watching them progress, letting my DH have his last hours of sleep… I ran into the bathroom, hoping that my water really broke. Believe me- here I was sitting on a pot for about 10 minutes and couldn’t get up as it was just pouring out of me. I used 2 bath towels (the ones I could find hanging there). When I finally got out- DH was standing all dressed with the bag in his hand, he looked rather scared. But I was just so happy. The only concern I had- my doctor was not available on Saturdays. But it was my due date, so I couldn’t catch two rabbits at the same time (Russian proverb). Of course, I phoned my Mum, letting her know that we were heading away. It felt so good driving to that hospital in the middle of the night, walking into the emergency room and actually saying that my water had broke. In the hospital it was the normal routine- monitors, questions. My contractions were already in high 80s. (the nurse said that they don’t go any higher than 100). I have always had bad menstrual cramps, so bad, that we had to go to the emergency, because I would just faint with all the pain. Well, labor was much more easier. It was the same pain, but instead of being constant, you get a break every 3-5 minutes. We walked, I took a shower, the pain was manageable. It got more intense when I was about 4 cm., so we were sent to the Jacuzzi tub. And it really worked. I spent the next 5-7 hours there and progressed to 7 cm. After that the nurses said I had to get out and get some Pitocin as it was getting too long. Well, at 7 PM they started Pitocin and I really can’t remember much. I agreed to take some laughing gas, because it was just too much to lay flat on my back through each contraction. They had to monitor me while on Pitocin, so walking or tub were out of the question. I don’t think the gas helped with the pain, but it helped psychologically, that I had at least something.. for my pain, and it made me light-headed. As DH later said- he felt that I was ready to push for quite a while, but the doctor wasn’t in (yes, I was lucky, my doctor was the doctor on call for some reason that Saturday) yet. All I remember is –pain in my back. Then they said- you are ready to push and it took me a couple of pushes to do it right. I was trying to push the baby with my stomach muscles, but you have to do it as if you have a bowel movement- I didn’t realize that. One hour into pushing the Doctor said that I wouldn’t be able to push the baby on my own, as the head was too big. As if I didn’t know that!!! My 34-week US showed that the baby was measuring 37 weeks! So the doctor did an episiotomy. I am sure it went very close to my bum, as I can still feel it. Our son, Alexander was born at 11 PM (21 hours after my water broke), cord twice around his neck, but his cord was twice as long, so it really saved him from many troubles. My DH was watching his HB all the time, that never went down. Thanks goodness. I was hysterical- crying, I couldn’t believe I had a son. He was 8 pounds 13 ounces, 21 and a half inches long.

All the IVF waiting feels like only a moment. He is laying on my knees right now while I am typing. And as my DH said- he had his Mummy trained. I can’t stand him crying, so I'm constantly picking him up. I tried today to let him cry for 45 minutes and then started crying myself and ran into his room. Oh well. With all the changes, particularly hormonal, I feel somewhat depressed - each time I look at him my heart is so overwhelmed that I cry many times a day. Hope it’s going to stop soon. And, I never thought I would say this, but I miss being pg, SO- ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF YOUR PREGNANCY. Hope every one of us, going through infertility is going to enjoy a little miracle. It truly feels like it. Love, Sasha.

danielle_13
June 4, 2000

We went in Friday June 2nd at 7:30am to be induced. They did 2 doses of Cervadil (which took 24 hours) and I was dilated to a 1-2 so they broke my water and started Pitocin then gave me a break from the Pitocin sat night for 3 hours so I could sleep. Then started the Pitocin again at midnight and by 10am my contractions were very uncomfortable so I asked for my epidural and that made it much easier. I was still only dilated to a 3 and at 1:00pm they decided I wasn't going to progress fast enough with my water already broken they decided to do a c-section. I was very upset but, wanted to get it over with. My little girl was born Sunday June 4th at 1:33pm. She was 8lbs. 4oz. and 191/2 inches long. She is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. She has lots of dark brown hair, blue eyes, and dimples. She also has a really cool birth mark on her side. She's a great baby and only gets up twice a night. I wish all of you luck with the births of your babies!! Love, Danielle

stacy_o
June 12, 2000

John Bradley Oosterink made his arrival into this world on Monday June 12th at 8:24 am. He was a scheduled C-section and everything went just as planned...for a while anyway. He weighed in at 7 pounds 3.5 ounces and was 19.25 inches long. A head full of dark hair and big blue eyes. I think he's QUITE handsome.

Pics to be found at http://www.graphxone.com/jbo.htm

We had a little breathing issue that set in about two hours after he was born. I know I'll butcher the spelling of this but it's called "transient tachypnea in the neonate" or TTN. Bradley's respiratory rate was too high, due to not getting all the fluid out of his lungs, the way he would have should he have been delivered vaginally. The fluid reabsorbs, or gets expelled, but until then, the doctors have to watch over them very carefully. Rapid breathing usually equals rapid heartrate and that will exhaust a newborn, causing other issues. He spent 36 hours in an "oxytent". He looked like the baby in the bubble...and his mother was a NERVOUS wreck. I couldn't hold him, kiss him, nothing...just touch him as he laid there. Mind you it DID cause me to get my butt out of bed pretty quickly. I was standing at his side by 12 noon the day he was born (OUCH). The pediatricians debated more than once to airlift him to Children's Hospital in Washington DC, and at hour 36, when the last deadline was looming, and it looked like he'd be transferred, he just turned the corner and was FINE. It was like a switch was thrown. His respiratory rate came down, no more oxytent....he was nursing and he's been a champ ever since! Not even jaundiced, can you believe THAT?

So now he's a little sucking, peeing and pooping machine, and I am totally in love with him. Completely and irrevocably in love. Thank you all for the support and I'll continue to be around waiting on all of you to get to the playgroup. I couldn't have had a nicer group of women to celebrate with.

Much much MUCH love Stacy and Bradley 6/12/2000

lisaeng
June 27, 2000

Well, it is a long story, but I will try to make it brief. Some of you may remember our journey. At 25 weeks, we found that our twin son had died, then at 29 weeks, I was put on bedrest for poor placental circulation with our remaining twin.

On Tuesday, June 27, I was 30 5/7 wks and doing okay. The baby's kicking wasn't the same as usual, so I checked her heart rate. I am a labor and delivery nurse, so I cheated and had a doppler to check fetal heart rate at home. It was fast, then started to slow down (a deceleration) while I listened, then did it again. Very slow this time. I screamed at my DH to come on, we're going to the hospital, only 20 minutes away. We got there, got put on the monitor and she was doing it again. After a couple of minutes she straightened up and everything looked beautiful. I was bawling, my DH was terrified, and everyone was trying to reassure us the baby was okay. I could look at the fetal heart rate and know that, but all my knowledge and training flew out the window. After a couple hours of ultrasound with all the University of Colorado big guns, they said, okay, her placenta is just wearing out, no amniotic fluid left, she needs to come out.

So 3 hours after we got there I was getting my spinal, and then a c-section. Julia Rose was born at 4:26 p.m. She coughed a little, then started squawking and crying. My DH, a very quiet guy, just turned into this pile of mush. He got to trim her cord and carry her over to me. She is tiny, 2 lbs. 9 oz., but has not required any oxygen yet. She has a nasogastric tube and they feed her formula and breast milk through it. She lost weight initially but is back to her birth weight plus more. Looks like she will be in the NICU for 4-6 weeks or so.

I recovered fine from the section, went home, got readmitted with high fevers, chills and a uterine infection. I spent 4 more days there, but got to come home today.

We did get to see our son, Hayden, after the delivery and hold him. His cord was attached at the very edge of his placenta and he had gotten poor blood supply. The doctors said it was too hard for him to survive.

Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to share the story with all of you. We are so thankful that our baby girl is okay, even though she is going to be in the hospital for a while.

Lisa

texas2
July 3, 2000

OH MY GOSH you guys, I'm madly, hopelessly, and shamelessly in love with my radiant, charming, brilliant son! So let's see....I woke up the morning of 7/3 to find myself wetting the bed...but it was my water breaking. Well, the grand plan was to labor at home until the pains got uncomfortable, however, within a span of three hours I not only found myself NOT having contractions but getting a nice elevated blood pressure that bought me an earlier-than-anticipated trip to the hospital where we learned that I was sporting the beginnings of a UTI that was the likely cause of my water breaking (i.e. baby knew of the infection and decided to bail out of his warm digs).

Because I wasn't having contractions nor was I dilated, they started Pitocin about 10:00 a.m. I coasted easily until about 2:00 p.m. when the contractions started getting painful. At that point, I was only dilated to a 2 when I got my epidural (and subsequently proposed marriage to the anesthesiologist). ;-) Let's just say induced-induced contractions -- YOWZA!!!!

At 5:00 p.m. (almost 12 hours into the game) I was dilated to "a conservative 3" and DH, the nurse and I started debating the very real possibility that our son would be a firecracker baby. Surprise, surprise, surprise -- just 1.5 hrs. later I was found to have gone from a 3 to a 10 and we were ready to push push push. WOO HOO!!!! The rest is a beautiful picture complete with a few tears knowing my PG was nearing an end and a few more tears of excitement knowing what was just around the corner. I pushed 8 times and shazam, our beautiful angel, Gabriel (Gabe), arrived weighing 8.5 lbs. and 22.5 in. long. Oh girls, he's just the most amazing creature I've ever met. OH OH OH, and one of the neatest things was DH got to deliver him -- yep, the OB told him to glove up and assume the position right after his head came out. DH was on cloud 9 when he pulled him out and held him for the first time...it's a picture I'll never forget for as long as I live.

This new journey has been just fascinating. I marvel at the little miracle at my breast, at his eyes, his hair (lots of it), his feet, his hands...and I'm so very thankful that he chose US for his parents. What a blessing.....

Time for bed my friends...the boy will be calling for his boob in just a few hours.

Cherishing the miracles we're all experiencing, Tex

utexx
July 3, 2000

Dear friends, After a long infertility story and a high-risk pregnancy, my son Daniel Klaus Martin (two middle names) was born via scheduled c-section at 37 weeks on July 3, 2000. We are doing great! The c-section was scheduled because of risk of uterine rupture (because of prior myomectomy). The baby was also breech and very large. 8 pounds 15 ounces at birth. The surgeon did an amnio first to determine lung maturity. His lungs turned out mature and they proceeded to c-section. I got to watch with a mirror! That was totally amazing to watch him come out of there! The surgical team was set up to deal with major blood loss on my part (risk factors for placenta problems), but luckily it didn't happen. The first few days were completely sleepless because of nursing difficulties and various worries related to low blood sugar, fast breathing and persistent jaundice. We are doing fine now and I am enjoying every minute with my little miracle. He has dark blue eyes, brown hair, and the sweetest smile.

Ute and Daniel (formerly known as "bunny boy") 5 fertility surgeries, 2 ectopics, 3 IVF

cinema
July 5, 2000

I'll post my birth story at a later date but here are the stats. I delivered on July 5 via a scheduled c-sec (babes were 37 weeks). Our daughter, NYAH (like Mya with an "N") ZAKIA was born at 9:38am, 4 lbs. 6 oz., 17 inches. Her brother CHAD JAMAL came one minute later at 9:39 (it was actually a few seconds later), 5 lbs. 3 oz., 18 inches. Apgars for Nyah were 7 and 9. Chad's were 6 and 9. Both babies are healthy and got to go home with us. And of course, they're the most beautiful and handsome children on the face of the earth, but I could be a little biased!! :-)

Okay, I've used my allotted computer time. On to the showers!!! WELCOME to all the newbies and CONGRATS to all the new moms. Maybe one day in the distant future I'll get to catch up with everyone.

Cinema

cathmba
July 28, 2000

I finally gave birth to what I think is the most beautiful little boy in the entire world. Jack Robert was born on July 28th, at 12:25 a.m. He weighed 7 lbs 10 oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. He now weighs 8 lbs 2 oz and is 20 3/4 inches long.

I went to my ob appt on Tuesday (25th) and found that my BP was 154/110, I had gained 12 wks in 2 wks and was in dire straits. After that little measurement I was immediately sent to the hospital and admitted. I was allowed to use the bathroom only and had to lay on my left side. I was to do a 24 hour urine analysis to scan for proteins. (eclampsia) So we did that and on Thursday morning the lab results were in I had enough protein in my urine to have the ob go ahead and induce my labor. My dh was so concerned about me he looked panicked. At 2:00 p.m. I was started on Pitocin. I was given a shot of morphine to calm me down, apparently my heart rate was very high, my BP was high and I needed to relax. I was borderline c-section. So for about 2 hours the contractions were coming and going and I really felt nothing at all. At 6:30 p.m. my water broke, by 9:30 p.m. I had my epidural and by 10:10 I wanted to push. I had the best time pushing because my ob and I played tug of war with a sheet. I think that is why I had a great delivery. My legs were on either side of this bar and I had to sit up and pull the knot towards me which in turn made me push. It was very cool and kept my mind off what was really going on. I had no episiotomy, my request, my ob just did the massage and I did all the work. My dh got to deliver Jack's head and shoulders. I developed eclampsia and I can say that I was scared to death that I would never see my baby. I feel fine now but still scared.

We are so happy that everything went as well as it did and are so proud of a cute little boy. He is up every 2-3 hours around the clock and eats like a real trooper. My BP is still high and I am being monitored very closely. I have to go every couple of days for checks but my dh is going back to work on Monday and I am going to be here all by myself and my dh is going to take my BP in the morning and after work to get some readings and we have to call them in to the office for the ob to decide what to do next. My SIL lives 5 minutes from us so if I need someone really quick I can call her.

Well just wanted to share the news with my fellow IVFers. Don't worry it is worth the wait. I can say I wish I did not wish it over so soon. I miss my belly but I also love my little guy and the reward for all my struggling and heartache finally paid off.

Cathy and Jack

rainbow00
August 19, 2000

Last time I posted, I was going to be induced on Aug 23rd. My baby had different plans...

After my appt on Thurs the 17th, I felt crampy. All day Friday, I felt blah and just plain tired. I was put on bed rest a few days before, so staying in bed was not a problem. Friday night I could not sleep. I finally fell asleep about 2 am but woke up at 6. I thought I was feeling a few mild contractions. I decided to take a shower. My husband woke up and asked me what I was doing. I said that I needed to shower to relax so I could go back to sleep. After the shower I ate breakfast. I'm typically not a morning person so this was very strange. I noticed the contractions did not stop so I timed them. They were about 15-20 minutes apart and not very long.

About 9am, I woke my husband up and told him that he should put the last coat of paint on the baby's room since I didn't think this baby was going to wait till Thursday. He got up and asked me when I thought the baby was going to arrive. I said TODAY. He was surprised and asked "Really?".

We had to go to Home Depot to get some more stuff for the baby's room. So, we walked around there and got home about 11. I supervised my husband while he was working on the shelving in the baby's room closet. About noon, I went to lie down. I timed the contractions and they were 7-8 minutes apart and lasting about 40 seconds. At 1pm, I went to tell my husband to shower because I was calling the doctor and going in to the hospital to be checked.

We got to the hospital about 2 and hooked up to the monitors. Not all of my contractions were being recorded because they didn't have the monitor in the right place. Also, I was having LOTS of back pain (not fun at all when having to stay in bed for the monitoring!). I was checked and I was 4cm and 90% effaced (a little progress over the 3cm at last appt). The contractions were consistent enough that they got me a room. Got to the room about 3, hooked up to the monitors and did some paperwork. About 4:30, decided I wanted to take a Jacuzzi bath. As I getting ready for the bath, my water broke. They checked me and the fluid was clear, but they wanted to monitors on again for a few minutes. Baby was fine, so I went into the tub. About 5:30, I was back in bed and dealing with more pain. The back pressure/pain was getting unbearable. I told my husband that I thought I needed some pain medicine. He went and got the nurse. Good thing because I started getting faster, more intense contractions and I couldn't keep up. I was in panic mode as the nurse was trying to give me a shot of Nubain. After the shot about two minutes later, I felt like I could breathe again but the back pain was horrible. Not too clear on the timing of the rest of this because of the Nubain. The nurse checked me again about 15 minutes later and I was at 8cm. The nurse then went about setting up the room. At about 6:15, the nurse checked me again and I was at 10cm with a little lip left. She told me to push once. The doctor was then called. My contractions were very regular, about 2-3 minutes apart and lasting 60-90 seconds. I pushed some more. Nothing prepared me for the hard work that pushing is! I was getting tired and just wanted the back pain to go away. (I found out later that baby was posterior but turned on the way out) Another nurse came on duty at 7, so I had two nurses helping. My husband, Wade, was WONDERFUL during the whole process. He was the one voice that I could tune in and he was very supportive. He held my neck and one leg, a nurse held the other leg. The doctor arrived and I was still pushing. I really wanted a break, but the contractions just kept coming and I couldn't ignore the urge to push. The doctor decided to use the vacuum. After some more pushing and the vacuum help, my beautiful baby BOY arrived at 7:41pm on August 19, 2000! He looked wonderful and was very alert, he didn't cry very much because he preferred to look around. I was surprised after having 2 girl dreams after the 20 week ultrasound. However, I had a boy dream after we first found out so I should have gone with the first instinct. :-)

After being worried that I would have a big baby, my precious baby boy was 7 pounds 12 ounces and 20 inches long. A small baby for my family. I delivered at 37 weeks, 5 days, so he would have been 9+ pounds at 40 weeks. We named him Brandt. It is the maiden name of my DH's mother.

On Monday (21st), we got to go home. However, by Wednesday, Brandt was very jaundice and getting lethargic. So, after going to get some blood drawn, we found out his bilirubin level was dangerously high (27.7 and the doctors said that anything over 20 needs to be treated). So, he was admitted to the Children's Hospital in case a NICU was needed. A level that high, he might have needed a blood transfer. After a scary first night when they had to run tests to determine that the jaundice was not caused by problems with his liver or blood incompatibility, his level went down to 20. He did not need a blood transfer and after 4 days of photo therapy, we got to go home again on Sunday when his level was down to 13. This mommy was an emotional wreck! I could only hold him for feedings because he needed to be under the photo therapy lights as much as possible. So, I had a good case of baby blues. My poor DH, he was dealing with a sick baby and a hormonal, emotional wife. On Tuesday (29th), we had to check his bilirubin level again. It was back to 16 so we the doctor let us use a photo therapy light at home (called a Wallaby blanket). Last Friday was Brandt's two week check-up. He had gained a pound and grew an inch! His bilirubin level was also down to 13 again. The doctor said it might take up to two months to be completely normal. They don't know why his level got so high, but it was probably a combination of things: being born early (immature liver), having a big bruise from the vacuum extraction (more hemoglobin that the liver needs to break down) and being breastfed (there's a theory that there's a hormone in the milk that needs to be broken down by the liver so takes up some of the liver function). A frightening first week, but he is doing really well.

Tomorrow my baby will be 3 weeks old! Time certainly does fly. He's growing so fast. He is amazing. I love to just watch him and cuddle him while he sleeps. It is very hard to describe how much I love him and how much he means to us. Our dream did come true.

If you read this entire thing, thank you. :-) Happy, healthy pregnancy wishes to all! Enjoy your babies!

-Dawn and Brandt born 8/19/00 (EDD 9/4/00)

carolinebaby
September 18, 2000

I haven't posted in quite awhile so I'll catch everyone up. I had an u/s at 35 weeks which showed the girls were doing just fine, but one of their cords was very low in my uterus, resting practically on my cervix. Because both babies were breech at that point and the OB said she'd do a c-section at 38 weeks, we bumped it up to 37 weeks to prevent me from going into labor naturally and running the risk of delivering the cord first before I could get to the hospital for a c-section. So, on Monday, September 18, at 9:13 a.m., Caroline was born with lots of screaming (she still cries like that) weighing 7 lb., 2 1/4 oz. and 20 1/2" long. Her sister Elizabeth arrived one minute later at 9:14 a.m., weighing 7 lb. 11 oz., and 19 1/4" long. I still can't believe how big these babies were - must have been the steak I ate every night! Their APGAR scores were 8 and 9 - amazing since the OB warned us that c-section babies can be a little sluggish and tend to have lower scores. I had a spinal block and it was the way to go - I highly recommend it.

Okay, now here's where things took a downward turn for Mommy - because my uterus was so stretched and fatigued from carrying twins, it did not contract like it was supposed to and I suffered from a postpartum hemorrhage. The OB ordered the nurses to "mash" my uterus (massage it) every half hour during the day, and I was given lots of Pitocin in an effort to pass the clot in my uterus. However, by early evening and lots of blood loss later (I was almost at the point where I required a transfusion and am still severely anemic three weeks later) the OB, as a last resort, stuck her hand and arm up in my uterus to try to scoop the clot out. I have never felt such excruciating pain, and needless to say, will not be using that OB as my gynecologist in the future. When that didn't work, she performed a D&C under general anesthesia at 6:00 p.m. The next few days were a blur - I received what seemed like tons of pain meds, methargin to cause my uterus to contract, and antibiotics by i.v. I was not well at all. I finally got to go home four days later and am just now getting some energy back.

I love my babies and couldn't be happier. DH has been wonderful and my Mom has been staying with us to help. Elizabeth nursed right away but Caroline still needs work with her latch-on, so she is receiving breast milk by bottle. Both are also receiving formula by direction of the pediatrician, which is fine with me. I just could not keep up with total breastfeeding since I was so sick.

That's it for now - you will all be thrilled when you finally hold your babies in your arms.

Tracey with Caroline and Elizabeth, three weeks old.

tiffanyx
September 26, 2000

It's the weirdest thing, but through my pregnancy I felt very superstitious - I didn't buy any clothes for the baby, even though I walked into shops intending to; I closed up my office months earlier than I needed to (I thought); and I dreamt that I had a premature baby. But nothing prepared me for the moment on Friday 22 September when I got out of our new car (bought an hour previous!) and felt a sickening and familiar rush of fluid. I was 26w2d pregnant. I drove home, rang the hospital, rang DH (who didn't answer his mobile until the 8th time I rang!!!) and then drove myself into hospital. They didn't say much; asked if I'd had pains, etc. Eventually why is everything SO SLOW in hospitals!?) I was put in the antenatal ward with an IV antibiotic, and was given a steroid injection for the baby's lungs. They said if I didn't get sick, they'd just keep me in there until I went into labor. To cut a long and boring story short, four days later I was still in hospital and had just been told I could probably go home that weekend; then later that morning I started to feel hot and fluey and what seemed like five seconds later I was in the delivery suite, being prepped for another induction (I had one with DS, and thought I might avoid one this time!). I warned DH that if the baby was having trouble they might whip me in for an emergency c-section, but instead we had an uneventful 1.5hr labor and I only had to push twice. When the baby was born DH said 'it's a girl', which was a surprise because we had expected another boy, but I didn't get any of the rush of excitement, because I was so worried that she might not
live. They whisked her off into a corner of the room and two doctors and three nurses worked on her - she had to be resuscitated (APGARS 4 and 6 - DS was 9 and 9) and have immediately intubation to help her breathe, and we
didn't even get to see her. I thought she wasn't going to make it, but finally they stopped and said 'she weighs 1030gm' and at that point I figured she would pull through. Believe it or not, 1030gm is a good weight for a baby of less than 27 weeks gestation! She went straight to the NICU, and we didn't get to see her for another two and a half hours. When we finally went in, I was scared to look at her. She was covered in tubes and monitors and drips and had shades over her eyes because she had photo therapy lights for jaundice: she looked nothing like her brother Holden did when he was born, but I could still see that there was a baby there - very tiny and very fragile, but definitely my little girl. It's now three and a half weeks since she was born, and Phoebe is doing well. She's on full feeds of breast milk (expressed), has no drips, weighs over 1.5kg and is only on low-flow oxygen. We hope she'll be home for Christmas.

Tiffany

reneebutler
September 26, 2000

Can you believe it?! We still can't. Jackson "Jack" Valentine Butler arrived at 7:27 am on Monday, Sept. 26th at 32 weeks gestation, he weighs 4 lbs 6 oz and is 18.5 inches long.

WOW! What a surprise! He has blondish-brown hair and blue eyes. He will be in the NICU for a while, to make sure his lungs continue to develop well and he gets bigger.

On Monday night I went to lie down for bed at 11 pm and doze off watching Mon. night Football, and BAM, my water breaks out of nowhere. No cramps, no contractions, nothing. I call DH into the bedroom and said "look between my legs, is the sheet wet?" He says... "OK, we need to call an ambulance, there is water everywhere." We were so panicked, all I thought was, I'm only 32 weeks, oh no.... Getting ready for the hospital and ambulance in 5 min. was like a scene from the Three Stooges. DH was putting my right sneaker on my left foot, we couldn't remember the number for an ambulance, so we called information (hello, 911 is hard to remember?!). The ambulance arrived at 11:30 and my contractions started in earnest. We got to labor and delivery, the u/s showed baby was head down; they gave me an epidural and magnesium at the same time -- they didn't think they could stop the labor, it was coming fast. I got to 10 cm by about 5 am, at 5:10 I started pushing -- all back labor, and my epidural started wearing off... I got on all fours and the pushing got easier, I was more focused. The nurse pushed against my tailbone which helped and said "the head is there, you have a blondie, let's push this baby out." I honestly didn't think I could do it, my DH helped so much with icechips and fanning me. My dr. walked in at 7 am and said "remember I told you during your appt. on Thurs. that if we had to have this baby today, we'd be OK because you have plenty of baby in there?" (did he have a sense of something to come or what?!)... and with those words, we knew we were OK and it was TIME! Three pushes later, out comes the baby, he had to catch him like a football, he was pink and cried and looked right at us! The NICU people were right there, his Apgars were 9 and 9, they wrapped him up after Tim cut the chord, seeing my DH hold his son was the proudest and best moment of my life, besides my wedding day! Then the nurse and Tim brought him to me, I held him and kissed his forehead and said I love you Jack! and they took him away. I looked at DH and said, "I can't believe someone just had a baby!" I still couldn't believe that in 8 short hours, I went from being pg to having a son, the most memorable time in my life. We went from panic to joy, the kind of joy I just can't describe. WOW.

Jack is doing well. He'll be in NICU for a while getting strong. He is a love, he blows bubbles (which is a good sign meaning his lungs have a certain enzyme in there which allows him to make bubbles) he loves when we stroke his little arms and legs, he loves to lay with his hand tucked up behind his head like his Daddy, and he just is precious. He makes us so happy, we are just so thankful to God that he is such a good weight for being so early and that he is doing so well. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts so that he continues to grow and do well with his breathing.

We love him more than words can say, he is my dream come true, and it is the best feeling in the world to know he's here and safe. He came the day before his Daddy's birthday, how perfectly fitting that this man whom I love more than anything got such a present this year. We are both just so in love with our little miracle, he makes my heart just feel like it's going to bust! I now know why I'm here on this earth, to be Jack's Mom and raise my family. DH and I just feel so blessed... And infertility DOES make you more resilient and appreciative of it all. We are just in a state of wonderment when we look at Jack. Thank you God!

Want to know something else? I could have never gotten through it all without you. Even in the hospital, I said to myself, I can't wait to tell the girls on the board. I can't believe I was the first, I thought for sure Jeanie your twins would come before buddy and Jessica's daughter and Kaye's son. I guess my little Jack wanted to add just a little more drama, not that we needed any more drama. I wish you all, and everyone on the board, the most healthy and wonderful babies. They are a precious gift, I'm so in love. I'll be lurking, especially more when I'm home from the hospital. I love you all!

Renee Mom to Jack 9/26/00!

lborden
September 27, 2000

I haven't posted in quite awhile, but I made a lot of friends here early on. I delivered two healthy baby boys on September 27, 2000, Luke William Bradford was 5lbs 13ozs 18 1/2" long, and Mark Wallace was 6lbs 3ozs 18 3/4" long!!! I was 36 wks and 4 days along, when I went in for a C-section. One baby didn't want to come out, and so we had to take him out. =) Life has changed completely!!!!! I haven't slept in three weeks, but I wouldn't change a minute. We got pregnant with adopted frozen embryos on the first try after six years of trying everything else. So good luck everyone, everything you go through is definitely worth it!!!

Luci (35) DH (54)

1shel
November 1, 2000

I stopped posting shortly after I became pregnant because I was very sick for many months and then the computer was moved downstairs.

A quick refresher on my story (I also posted as ms.parker for a very short while...)

I have two DD's from a previous marriage ages 8 and 6. My husband had adopted them, but had no biological children of his own. So we started to try for a baby and the biological factor was the major issue for us.

I did IVF/ICSI in March 2000 after being told even as late as the night of retrieval that there was very little chance of success. They found zero sperm in our TESA specimen and zero live sperm in our frozen sample and there was virtually no chance of success with "dead" sperm. Well, we decided to try with the "dead" sperm anyway so they continued to incubate them as though they were healthy and normal sperm. Lo and behold, the next day, to everyone's amazement, there were enough live sperm to fertilize all ten of my eggs!!!!! Seven fertilized, four were transferred, and we were blessed with two heartbeats a short time later. (The other three did not make it to freezing stage, so this was definitely our one and only chance.)

Well, like I said, my babies were born on November 1st, two beautiful healthy boys. I was sick pretty much from day one, and had all of the minor problems of pregnancy (my pg's with both dd's were wonderful! so I was caught very much off guard.) I was put on "light activity" at around 31 wks, went into premature labor at 34 wks and was put on bedrest. Premature labor again at 35 weeks. My dr was able to stop labor each time and said "next Wednesday you will be 36 weeks, and while 37 would be better, I won't stop it at 36." Well, my little peanuts were good babies, and I didn't have any more Premature labor, but on the following Wednesday, at 36 wks, they came!

The leading twin was feet first so I had to have a c-section, but they were both healthy and didn't need any special monitoring so they were waiting for me in the recovery room! They each weighed only a few ounces under 6 pounds- very good sizes for twins!

They are now 4 1/2 weeks old and Jarod weighs about 10 pounds and Brandon weighs about 7 (he had a little trouble at first with losing alot of weight and not gaining it back, but he's doing great now.)

My eyes still tear up when I think about how lucky I am to have them- they are very very special little boys.

So, anyway, that's my story. I'm glad to be back online- I really did miss this bb!!!

Michelle

lysand2
November 11, 2000

We got to the hospital at 8:00 a.m. as instructed for pre-op and boy was the full moon having an effect! Women who were in early labor and/or pre-op like me were actually given beds in the hallway with screens! Meanwhile actively laboring mommies were in the LDR rooms and were moved soon after delivery into ordinary rooms so they could continue cycling waiting women in to the labor rooms. Needless to say, it was an interesting dance! I was hooked onto a monitor in my "penthouse suite" while waiting for pre-op and the nurses discovered I was actually beginning labor -- can you believe it?? However, although the contractions were hard and long (I knew I wasn't imagining them!!), I wasn't progressing -- apparently a fairly clear indication that there wasn't going to be enough room for my little one to descend, so we were relieved to know we had made the right decision.

Meanwhile a poor lady in the room next to me was having an awful time trying to push her baby out and each time the door opened, dh and I heard just how hard it was. His face got red (oh the language, poor thing!!) and he felt even better about us skipping this part of the "natural" method and tried to humorously make me feel more resigned about missing labor. Well, to try and shorten this, I walked myself into the OR while wheeling my monitor, wheeled around for one more trip to the bathroom (a hilarious sight I'm sure with a nurse following me to disentangle cords) and practically ran over my dr. who said "did I miss it??". All these jokers! At 10:05 the spinal was administered -- what a weird feeling! Last time, it was such a rush due to the emergency and I had no time to feel anything but panic, but I was aware of every sensation, and loss thereof this time. There was some dizziness accompanied by a quick but strong feeling of nausea which passed and in about 7 minutes I was completely numb from the ribcage down. At 10:31, my precious little angel Lauren Julia Marie was taken out and started to cry immediately. Because I couldn't see a thing (due to drapes), I had cleared it with the dr. that dh could tape the whole procedure so I could watch it later. At the time though I was just itching to hold her -- her little voice was so sweet!! She weighed exactly 8 lbs, which for little 5' 1" me was a bigon', and was 19 inches. Lots of black hair and steel blue eyes. A pure bundle of heaven -- it was so overwhelming. I could hear dh talking to her and telling her how much we loved her as I bawled right along with her. She scored 9 on her Apgar and was bundled up and finally given to me to hold. Oh the unbelievable feelings!!!!

After a short stint in the recovery room, I was wheeled to my room (a real one, fortunately!) and was able to hold and nurse my angel who figured it out in no time flat!! I was in love and it just keeps growing! I'm crying as I write this 'cause now I'm coming to the prayer part. After 2 days of undiluted joy despite the pain of recovery, I was informed that she had failed her hearing screening. It's a new procedure that the hospital started doing about 6 months ago. No big deal, they said, nineteen out of twenty babies fail it and go on to pass the definitive test (given at a different hospital). Why such a high rate of false positives? Because in cases where there is a hearing impairment, early detection is critical, so worth worrying 19 moms needlessly to catch the one who needs intervention. Ok, I'm cool with that. Yesterday, my pediatrician called to tell me that because of her polydactylly (extra digit which was excised with no problem in the nursery within a 1/2 hr of delivery), the fact that she was born with a lot of hair on her little body (lanugo, I thought as did the pediatrician initially and which he still thinks it might be), the fact that her limbs are on the short side (I'm 5'1" for goodness sake -- what did they expect a basketball player?) and now the hearing screening failure, he was worried that we could possibly be looking at a syndrome of some sort. Not my angel, please God!! I'm waiting to hear when my hearing test is -- hopefully this week or at most next, because if her hearing is ok, his worry will decrease measurably (not to mention mine!).

I'm probably not being very articulate in relating all of this but I need prayers so very badly! I'm alternating between feelings of extreme joy and hellish fear (as you can probably tell from the change in tone) and all of bound up in the most incredible feelings of love for this angel that dh and I "forced" into the world!

I'm done for now -- please, please send prayers our way.

Lydia and her angel Lauren

mbhca
November 12, 2000

I'm sneaking in a little computer time - don't know how much I'll get so here goes! Got upstairs Sunday night to settle in and watch TV and at about 5 till 9 I felt a HUGE "kick" to the cervix. Then I realized I heard the kick, too. It was like a balloon popping - my water.

The doc said to head to the hospital but not to run any lights or anything. I had my first contraction at 9:15 in the car. We got to the hospital at 9:25. I was in agony and knew I was the world's biggest whimp because I was in so much pain, almost crying, and I had only had 5 contractions. I was in the labor room by 9:40, getting strapped in to the monitors and signing forms, all the while gripping the railing of the bed and thinking I was going to be ripped in half. At 9:55 my OB came in for the exam - I was begging her to hurry so I could get some pain medication. She inserted a finger or two - immediately took them out and said "this baby is coming - it's time to push. When you feel your next contraction take a deep breath and let it out and then take another one, tuck your chin down and push!" People came flying in the room - I've got IV tubing hanging from my wrist and am wearing my bra. He was born at 10:07pm. 7 lb. 11 oz. and a living doll. We are totally in love with him.

Now I know what natural childbirth feels like. It hurts. An episiotomy was not an option either - I have a few stitches in 2 spots. OB called them "skid marks".

ALL WORTH IT!!!! What a little sweetheart - we are just in awe. I fell in love with DS all over again, too, remembering him at this age. I'll write more later - he's crying for mommy. I have been crying for two days because I love everyone and everything and the world is such a beautiful place now that my little baby Stu is in it.

Hugs and Kisses girls........more later.

Kaye

jessnjeff
November 20, 2000

On Sunday we went to the hospital as planned at 5:00pm to get my cervadil placed on my cervix. Well, this procedure is more painful than a regular internal. Then I had to lay flat for 2 hours. I walked in having contractions but nothing exciting, I was still only a fingertip dilated.

When I woke up at 5:30 am to use the bathroom, my cervadil came out along with my mucous plug. Contractions were about 2-4 minutes apart.

At 7:00am my water broke on its own and we were on our way! I was measuring at about 2 cm dilated then.

Contractions got very painful and at 8:00am the Ob came and said I was about 4 cm and that I could have my epidural! Yippie! I was pain free from that moment on! That was a beautiful thing and I HIGHLY recommend it! At 12:00pm, I was checked again and was 8-9cm. Yes, we dilated very fast! Checked again at 12:20pm and I was complete and fully effaced!

We started pushing and after the first set of pushes (3 with each contraction) her heartrate went down. Ob said okay we'll push one more time and had the nurse hurry off to set up for a c-section. We tried pushing again and the baby responded fine. So we tried one more time and her heartrate shot through the roof! That's when the Ob said off you go to have a C-section.

Jeff was so great during the whole labor part. He was just wonderful. Unfortunately, he couldn't handle the surgery and didn't come in with me for the c-section. My mom had walked in 5 minutes before they took me to the OR, so she came with me. She said it was so neat to watch her granddaughter be born! At 12:45pm Monday 11/20/00, our daughter Makayla Marie was born!

Makayla weighed in at 8lbs, 5 ounces. She's 21 inches long and is beautiful!!!! When the nurses saw her being pulled out of me, they both turned and said we never would have been able to push her out. Plus her cord was wrapped around her ankle and she wouldn't have come out anyway!

We came home on Thanksgiving and just adore our baby! It took us a while to get here and we are so happy with the choices we made!

She has a beautiful head of dark hair like her daddy. We'll see if it stays that way!

Had our first sleepless night last night and don't even care. It was just so great to hold her in our arms. I can't believe how in love with her we are!

May all of you be so blessed!

Love

Jessica and Makayla

cheriva
November 28, 2000

Hi ladies, Some of you may remember me from the IVF board from last winter/spring. My DH and I were attempting our 4th IVF when I became pregnant on my own! This was a miracle for us as my tubes are totally blocked and we had been TTC for 5 yrs. I had started the down regulating with synarel and after 2 weeks and poor response I was switched to Lupron. Two more weeks of poor response led them to do a Beta test and low and behold we were pregnant. It never occurred to us to use BC as we had never needed it in the past ;-) I gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl (8lbs 10oz 22in) on Nov. 28/00. We are thrilled and are enjoying our new roles as parents. She really is the light or our lives! I have lurked here since I found out I was pregnant sharing in your stories along the way. I didn't post because it wasn't actually an IVF pregnancy and I didn't know if I really belonged here however there really wasn't a better board for me. We had done 3.5 IVF's so I felt close to the IVF board as well as this one. I just thought I would update incase you did remember us and to let you know that miracles do happen. Cheriva mom to Olivia (TTC 5 yrs, Stage 4 Endo, clomid, IUI, 3 IVF, 1 FET)

hop2it1
December 5, 2000

Isabella Claire arrived December 5th at 8:32 pm, weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and measuring 19 1/2 inches long.

To my surprise, labor started the evening of December 4th. I was absolutely convinced that I would be induced on the 12th, and basically spent the first few hours of labor in complete denial. My contractions started about 6 minutes apart and quickly went to 5 minutes apart, lasting about 30-40 seconds. I let DH drift off to sleep that night, and just told him that I felt a little strange, but didn't really let on that I thought I might be in labor. The contractions started getting closer and closer and I began to record them at about 3 AM. By 6 AM they were 2-3 minutes apart. I started to panic that I had waited to long, and woke up DH and told him that I was calling our OB. She said I could wait until either the contractions got stronger, or they lasted longer (a minute or more). I started to calmly clean the house and finish some last minute packing.

I lost my mucous plug at about 8:30 and told DH I wanted to get to the hospital. The contractions were now 2 minutes apart. The nurse checked me, and hooked me up to the monitors. She confirmed my contractions, but to my disappointment, found that I was only dilated a fingertip. She said the Doctor would most likely send me home. 2 minutes after she left the room, my water broke and things really started to move. I was admitted to the hospital and placed in a birthing suite. The contractions were now very strong, and very painful, lasting over a minute and spaced 1-2 minutes apart. It was a loooooong 3 hours before I finally got the epidural. I was able to relax after the epidural and was checked at about 2:00-2:30. I was now at 5 cms, things seemed to be progressing well, but the baby still had not dropped. I was checked again at 5:00 and nothing had changed. The OB said she would check again at 7:00 and if nothing had changed, she would strongly recommend a c-section.

She came back at 7:15 and nothing had changed. The OB felt that the baby was not going to come down because of it's positioning, and that while the baby was not in distress it was "not happy" (heart rate fluctuations, etc.). DH and I were very leery about jumping to a c-section so quickly. However, after much discussion and some more tests, we finally agreed to the c-section at about 8:00. The OB told us that she was basically going to force it, had we not decided on our own. I was extremely disappointed to not be able to deliver naturally, but of course, wanted what was best for the baby. I went into surgery at about 8:10 and our precious miracle was born at 8:32 pm. DH was able to film everything once the baby was delivered. So despite the fact that I spent 3 hours in recovery in a drug induced state, I was able to see everything that happened from the birth on.

As many of you might remember, I was convinced we were having a boy. I never really considered the possibility of a girl. When I heard "It's a girl!!!" tears of joy started to flow uncontrollably. We had no preference on sex, but after so much medical intervention, and the lacking element of surprise associated with IVF, it was the best kind of surprise I ever could have hoped for. My life completely was completely changed forever in a split second. Those first cries are the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard in my life. It's totally indescribable. No matter how much people prepare you for how great it is, you just don't know what they're talking about until you experience it first-hand.

DH and I are soooo in love with our little "Bella". It's already so hard to imagine what life was like without her. She's perfect in every way possible and the pain of IF and IVF is a distant memory. All of it was SOOOO worth the reward at the end.

Thank you to all of you for your never ending support, especially in those early tentative days when I did nothing but worry. I plan on sticking around here for awhile before moving over to the playgroup. Best wishes and healthy pregnancies to all.

Love, Suzanne, mom to Isabella Claire, Born 12/5/00 after 2nd IVF/ICSI cycle

freiburg
December 12, 2000

He was born at 2:04am on December 12 (lucky day!!). He is one week old today and truly is a precious dream. DH and I are both madly sickly in love with him.

OK now for the gory details. Last weekend I posted that over Sat. and Sun nights every time I lay down and tried to sleep I had horrendous lower back pains about every 10 min. Did not feel contractions or anything up front - just the back pain. Whenever I got up to move around or sit up they were fewer and farther between.

We spent Sunday waiting for the pains to become more frequent and intense (like according to every book in the world!!). Never happened they were all over the place.

Monday am we went to the dr to see what was going on. she checked me and said that I was ready but not dilated yet so I would be going into labor in the next few days. she gave me some sleeping pills to take the edge off the pain so I could get some rest for the big event (I had been up for 2 days at this point - couldn't lie down!!).

I went home, took the pills, and promptly went into labor Monday afternoon sometime!! DH came home from work and we spent the evening in the bathroom, me in the tub - DH running hot shower on my back it hurt SO MUCH!!! I still couldn't even tell if it was contractions since it was all lower back - nothing up front very strange. We timed the pains and they were all over the place - 2 min, 5 min, 7 min, 12 min, etc.... very frustrating.

About 10:30pm we could not deal with it anymore (I was pretty delirious by this time) and decided to head to the hospital - thinking I would be 3 or 4 cm, would get an epidural and labor through the night. My memory of arriving at the hospital is crawling in on my hands and knees and when the idiot at admission asked if I was in labor I almost killed him and yelled "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?" LOL

Anyway - got checked in, put in a birthing room and the nurse checked me at about 11 or 11:30 pm. She said "Oh, you are at 8cm, lets get the Dr. in here and get going!!"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DH and I just looked at each other, couldn't believe I was at 8!!! We were practically high fiving though, since that meant we were near delivery! No time for drugs, I was too late but THANK GOODNESS FOR THE GAS I don't think the mask left my face!! I was totally distressed when I got there and breathing the gas through contractions at least calmed me down so I could handle it and listen to instructions.

I started to push about 1am and it was very difficult. It was a tight squeeze for that little baby!! My water FINALLY broke and we saw that he had pooped - looking at the monitor they felt he was in some distress and it was important to get him out.

I could feel him RIGHT THERE but could not push him out - tried all kinds of positions, found the best was on my side with one leg thrown over DH's shoulder *how's that for a mental image*. I asked the Dr. to cut me and she did. she also used a vacuum to assist and the insertion of that was the most painful part and the part where I screamed.

So between pushing and pulling Eric was born at 2:04am and was in distress - he had swallowed poop (but had not inhaled it). when just his head was out I had to stop pushing so they could pump him stomach. then he was whisked away - after I had a brief look at him - for oxygen and to stabilize. We found out later he did not breath on his own for 2 minutes. SCARY.

They brought him back to me at about 4:30 for a few minutes and to try (unsuccessfully) to feed him. Then they took him back to the nursery and transferred me to my room. I guess I lost a lot of blood too so they wanted us both to rest.

At about 8:30 we went down to the nursery, watched him have his first bath then we took him back to my room!! After a difficult birth he was FINE and was thriving. He was 8lb 8oz when he was born and 21 inches long.

Thank good ness we went to the hospital when we did - they kept telling us "5 minutes apart, 1 minute long" and I couldn't even tell when I was having a contraction never mind how long they were. Apparently this is called "back labor" and take it from me it SUCKS!!! Seems to open the cervix rather quickly though!!!

We brought Eric home on Dec. 14 and have been loving him since. He is a great baby - very content and sleeps anywhere from 2-5 hours at a time so we are actually getting some rest. He is peeing and pooping and putting on weight so breastfeeding is working. It is weird though - I can't tell how much he is eating since I can't measure it!!

His birth story gets more harried - took him to the Dr. yesterday and upon examining him she exclaimed that she thinks she broke his collar bone during delivery and we had to take the poor little guy for an x-ray. Obviously it is not bothering him and it is one of those things that happens and heals on its own although it broke our hearts to hear it!!

My wazoo is still quite sore and my lower back still has a lot of pain and the Dr. told me it would take a couple of weeks to recover. I am so deliriously happy though I could care less!! Doing exercises to strengthen up again.

I miss the board!! I have lurked quickly a couple of times but this is the first chance I've had to sit and post!!

Giz - where are you need an update!! I think of you everyday and what a great Christmas you are going to have. (((hugs)))

Sorry to be so long winded. I didn't even get to all the grossities - like when I was in the tub I lost my plug and made DH put it in a glass so I could see it!! Then after delivery I asked to see the placenta so the Dr. held it up and gave me a little lesson on its functions. LOL Post delivery delirium I guess.

D mom to Eric Sebastian born Dec. 12, 2000