| Heather's birth I was 22 when I had my 2nd baby. I had decided I wanted this birth to be in a hospital where I would have a LDR and not have to move from place to place at delivery time. I had insurance this time as well so this was an option I had not had the first time. I chose a women OB from the approved insurers list. (BIG MISTAKE) The Dr. I had wanted was not taking new OB patients at the time. I was due October 17th 1988, and on October 9th at 9:00a.m. I went to the hospital with contractions which I thought were labor. They hooked me up and called the Dr. to examine me. She said the babys head was still not engaged (or she would break my water) and I was not in labor (at least not enough to admit me). She ( without telling or asking consent) stripped my membranes! It hurt. Then sent us home. I started having contractions about an hour later at 1:00p.m., and was bleeding from what she had done earlier. We finally headed back to the hospital about 5:30p.m. They admitted me and took me to a traditional labor room. I told them I wanted a LDR and they said Dr.------ doesnt like to use them. I said I dont care! I came to this hospital so I could have a LDR! They moved me right away. This was my first realization I was going to clash badly with this Dr. and was going to have to fight for what I wanted. The next issue was about the enema she had ordered for me. I tried to refuse it but the nurse said Dr.s orders I dont know why now but I submitted because I felt too powerless at that point to refuse! The Dr. came in later to check me and I think I was about 3 or 4 cm and babys head was still not engaged. She told me she had ordered an epidural for me. I said I didnt want one. She said Ill leave in the order for if/when you change your mind. She really wanted me to have that epidural! I was told by my wonderful labor nurse( who by the way loved to help natural childbirth moms)that this Dr. didnt like to have moms who went natural. Im thinking, why in the world am I just now figuring this out?! Anyway, I was then hooked up to the monitor, pitocin(why I dont know!!!!) and my water was broken. I was breathing and working really hard through those contractions and the pitocin was making it harder. I kept telling the nurse to turn it down. The Dr. had told the nurse to call her when I was complete. That happened about 9:45p.m., whioch was about 4 hours after being admitted. The hardest part was NOT pushing while everyone scrambled around and the nurse was finally gloving up to catch the baby when Dr----- FINALLY got there! I was again given an episiotomy against my wishes and the baby slipped out. We had thought the baby would be a boy and bald (both me and my first daughter were). We were surprised on two counts! IT WAS A GIRL and she had LOTS of hair! She was born at 10:25p.m. on October 9, 1988. She was at least placed immediately on the thigh where I could touch and see her, unlike my first who I didnt see for 8 hrs. after her birth. She was very tiny and looked just like her daddy. We were very happy! She weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz. and was 18-1/2 long. I had decided early in the pregnancy I would breastfeed this time. My sister-in-law did and I figured I could go to her for advise if I had any trouble. I didnt feel I had any support or encouragement to breastfeed the first time and I later regretted that. Anyway, I nursed her easily within an hour of birth and had no trouble with it. I nursed her for about 9 months, and shortly thereafter found out we were expecting our third. |