My OB Said What?!?

One of my favorite blogs/sites to visit is My OB Said What?!?
It's a collection of the charming (or maybe not-so-charming) things that medical professionals say to pregnant or laboring women. It boggles the mind sometimes.

I submitted some of my eyebrow raising stories a while ago, and today they were posted.

You can check them out here and here.
Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 9:30 AM

Contractions began at 3:30 AM on Simchas Torah, 10-15 minutes apart. All night long I rode the contractions out on my hands and knees, and it was pretty manageable. I called Marcy (my midwife) at 7:00, and told her this is likely it. I was planning to get into the shower for some relief, and she told me to call her after the shower. After the shower the contractions jumped from every 10 minutes to every 3! I called her to tell her to come, and by the time she arrived, contractions were coming every couple of minutes. When Marcy came, she called my doula, Elanna Posner, to come right away.

Gedalya was still asleep, but Zusha was up. At first Zusha was helping me through the contractions by assuming the hands and knees position together with me. When he saw me on the phone (On Yom Tov) he got curious and demanded to know what is happening and who that was. I told him, and he right away figured out that it's time for the baby to come! When the pain got worse, Hillel took Zusha to another room with him. He couldn't take both boys out as planned because we didn't want to wake Gedalya just for that.

I wasn't taking labor like a big girl I was kinda kvetching and whining through the contractions. Saying things like, "I need a break" or "I want to take a raincheck for tomorrow, this is more than enough for now!" I was going to say that people who take epidurals are geniouses and please, just give me a c-section and get this over with, but I restrained myself.
At which point Marcy asked, "Honey, are you ready to push?"
I said, "NO!" because I was afraid of tearing badly like last time.
A few contractions later, she encouraged me to get checked. I reluctantly agreed- and I was fully dilated! Then I began to panic, because I did NOT want to push!

I cried to Marcy and Elanna, 'I KNEW it! I knew I was ready to push! I just was too scared to!" (And indeed, I probably went through 20 minutes of contractions while feeling like I can already push.)
I was whimpering that I'm so scared to do this, I'm terrified of tearing. The midwife and doula both assured me that I will not tear, encouraged me along, and after a few pushes my water broke all over the place! The pain of pushing was nothing like I remembered. It was awful! It relieved the contraction pain, but it was really much worse than contractions. But a few pushes later, at 9:30 AM, the baby was out!
They put her straight on my chest, and all I could do was repeat, "Who are you? Who are you? Do I know you?" Then I looked, and she was a girl. :)

I lost a lot of blood. The doula thought it was another baby when after the baby I gave one more push and a huge volume of blood came out.

As soon as they wiped up the baby and swaddled her, they brought her out to Hillel and the boys.
She weighed 9lbs 12 oz and I didn't even tear, B"H. It makes such a huge difference in healing!

I almost passed out a few times and had to be given smelling salts. I couldn't stand up for 24 hours, and now I can walk, but bent over so that my head isn't so high up.

So that is that! The big brothers are thrilled! Zusha keeps saying, "It's a maidele, just like I said it would be!" They love holding her and petting her, and checking to make sure I'm taking proper care of her.

(Home birth is the awesomest thing. You would NOT be able to get me into a car at that point in my life! )

Baby's first photo :) 10 hours old:

March 30, 2006 9:19 am

Thursday morning. 4:00 am. I woke up, but I didn't know why so I went back to sleep. 10 minutes later the same thing happened. After a few times, I wondered why I feel so uncomfortable. Can it be contractions? Nah. So I slept in 5 minute intervals until 6:30 am, when I went to take a shower. Then I was pretty sure it's contractions. The shower relieved my contractions so much! Then I woke my husband and told him not to go to work.
My son woke up, and I took care of him- dressed, fed, etc, while my husband was getting ready. He asked me if he can go to shul. I totally thought that I won't be going into the hospital until afternoon, but I still didn't want to be alone. But I ended up letting him go, since it was Rosh Chodesh, and he wanted to daven with a minyan.
So I was home alone with Zusha, and in order not to scare him, I jumped through my contractions instead of screaming. He thought it was hilarious!!

I called my mother and mother in law, who yelled at me to call a car. I told them it's not so bad, and that I'll wait for my husband to come to take Zushala. They told me I'm nuts, and after a few more contractions, I agreed. But as I tried calling a car service, I started feeling a constant pressure and pain. It was very strong, and I just lied down on the floor. Zusha came over and said, "SHHHH." When the pressure got worse, I started crying, because I realized that the baby is coming NOW!!!

So I got up, called a car, grabbed Zushala and dragged him to a neighbor. Finally I was on the way to the hospital.

Meanwhile, I was on the phone with my mother and mother in law, telling them where Zushala is and the combination to my apartment...

I came to labor & delivery and politely asked to be excused from questioning, but I ended up having to answer them on the exam table.
Well, my doctor told me it's 10 cm, and they rushed me to a room. They said that I should push on the next contraction.

That's when my husband called that he's on the way home from shul, and asked how I am. I screamed at him, "I'm having a baby, can we talk later?"

One contraction, which included 3 pushes, and the baby was out.

I didn't know what hit me! I felt so good! Was it really over? I was preparing myself for a day of laboring, so I saved my energy. And I was feeling SOOO good! So before the doctor even started sewing me up or anything, I called my husband-who just came home. Then it hit me what would happen if I had waited for him to come home...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My precious baby boy was born on March 30, 2006 at 9:19 am.
7 lb 7 oz and 21 1/2 inches long. He looks like my husband. Zushala adores him!

The Prince is here!

Meshulem Zusha has arrived, and he let everyone know it! He is the boss. He is the prince. No, he is the KING! Let O, you loyal subjects dance around this child!

He is the beautiful baby Zusil,
My baby's not a Busil.

After 26 hours of labor, Zusha arrived at 5:31 AM on a Monday.

One Motzei Shabbos, about a week after my due date, I went to sleep late. About an hour or two later, I woke up. My water has broken!
I woke up Hillel, called Dr. Mann, and began to get ready. I noticed in the mirror that my stomach looked much smaller with all the water gone. I also felt all the movements of my baby more- to the point of hurting.

I came to the hospital and checked in. Since I wasn't having contractions, they tried to induce me with Cervadil. I didn't want it, but they insisted, and I didn't know I had the right to refuse.
A little while later, the Cervadil fell out. I told the nurses, but they didn't listen. When the contractions stopped, they got nervous and gave me full blown Pitocin. That's when things went downhill.
The contractions were so awful. I had no break in between at all. And the worst part was that I wasn't able to move around. I was confined to bed!
I got two doses of Demerol to help relieve the pain. It was taking me an awfully long time to dilate.

At one point Dr. Mann wanted to check me again. I didn't want to because I was sure I wouldn't be dilated any more than the last check. The last time she checked, I was 3 cm. So when she announced, "You're full!" I thought I heard, "You're four!"
But then I realized that I was actually ready to get that baby out! I couldn't believe it. The pushing was so lovely sompared to the contraction pain. After 5 or 6 pushes, Zusha Baby entered this world!

I was so relieved and happy. I kept repeating, "I have a son! I have a little boy!"
I was too weak to hold or nurse him right away. After a few hours of sleep, we were both ready for cuddles and num nums. And that's the story of my big boy!