Birth of the Baby Bug

Still feeling a little blogged out, but remembered this question and answer version of my birth story that I posted on Facebook and thought I'd share that.

In related news, if you live in the area and are suffering the pain of recurrent miscarriages but don't know where to turn, might I suggest a seminar being offered through Duke Medical Center. It would be a quick and anonymous way to gather information and meet other families experiencing the same thing. Plus, you don't have to pay for a doctor's visit to get some questions answered. Also, be sure to check out the calendar of events over at dukehealth.org for some truly fantastic opportunities to learn about everything from pregnancy and childcare to support groups for families coping with cancer.

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1. WAS YOUR FIRST EVER PREGNANCY PLANNED? Yes, as well as the 2 additional miscarriages and finally the successful one.
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Note: The rest of the questions will be answered in regards to my pregnancy with Linus (though not my FIRST pregnancy, he was my first born).
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2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes, for over 5 years.

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Anxiety all the way and attempts at denial in the hopes that it would lessen the pain if I miscarried again. (It wouldn't have.)

4. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 29

5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? I have an uncanny ability to smell pregnancy in my pee. I knew with all but the first pregnancy that I was pregnant without ever taking a test.

6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? My husband and then the doctors. We told family when it became necessary though we were understandably hesitant and no one else until over 4 months in.

7. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes, because if it was a boy, we wouldn't have to repaint the already blue striped room.

8. DUE DATE? July 26, 2007

9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? No, I had evening sickness, sickness if I didn't eat right away, sickness if I ate something disagreeable, lots of sickness. I've puked in some of the most unusual places now including my front yard.

10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Citrus all the way. For a while it was the only thing I could eat to calm the sickness so I could then eat something else. In addition, I actually started to like the taste of milk having never been a milk drinker before.

11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? The perfume of a friend of a friend while spending an evening with a group of girlfriends. I had to leave the restaurant or I was going to spew.

12. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? Boy

13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? Not at all.

14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 12

15. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNACY? Lots that were managed. From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I had to give myself injections of blood thinners twice a day. It left a very lovely purple and black belt around my belly. There was no way I was going to be wearing a maternity bikini (not that I would anyway). I was then switched to a shorter term blood thinner as the due date drew nearer. Finally, I was induced as soon as I was full term in order to have dropped the blood thinners in just enough time to have the option of an epidural as well as not bleed out in the event of a c-section. It was all very fun.

Also, near the end of my labor, the doctor informed me that Linus's heart rate had dropped and we needed to get him out very soon. They were going to allow me about an hour to push him out and then they would consider a c-section. I pushed him out long before my hour was up. I was not taking any risks with my baby.

16. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Duke University Medical Center

17. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? I was scheduled to arrive for my induction at 6PM but was sent away as all the rooms were full and they had laborers in the hallways. I had a bit of a freak out (I hadn't eaten all day btw) since I was sure that the hours difference would mean he would be for sure born on Friday, the 13th. (My silly new momma mind thought I could go in at 6PM and have a baby before midnight... oh silly me.) I was told to return at 9PM upon which they got me settled in. I was already having regular contractions according to the monitors but not substantial ones. I was then provided with the discomfort of a Foley balloon to start my dilation and left with that all night. The following morning (July 13), they woke me up at 5AM to begin the Pitocin. I also received an epidural at the same time and spent the rest of the day relaxing and watching movies. I was encouraged to get an epidural with the Pitocin b/c I was required to be tethered to the bed by about at least 20 different monitors including these lovely compression "socks" that helped keep my circulation going as I was high risk for clotting. In order to go the bathroom (pre-epi) I had to unhook 10 different things and take many with me. I was not going to be able to walk, move, or position my way through the pain. It was not a choice situation but it is what it is. It didn't actually begin to really hurt until about an hour before I was to begin pushing. At that time, Adrian knew it was getting close as I was pretty much whaling on the pain med button. It was around this time that the doctor came in to see my progress and exclaimed, "Whoa, he's right there," and the pushing began. Linus was born at 8:41PM on July 13.

18. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My husband, of course, though I could have driven myself which would have made a better story.

19. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? My husband, the doctor (who was pretty much a spectator), and nurses. There were supposed to be all sorts of OB students but I pushed so quickly they missed out. Duke is a teaching hospital and as a teacher myself, I found it impossible to say no to their requests to allow students to observe (I know, weird) esp after all Duke had done to help me to not miscarry again.

20. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural

21. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? I had an epidural though would like to try natural IF we were to have another.

22. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 6lbs. 9oz.

23. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? July 13, 2007

24. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Linus Elliott Bartel