2nd child easier
3rd child most difficult
4th child out before doctor showed up, and my H had to hold up my legs

No pain compares with the pain of infidelity.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> the whole bottle of tums wouldn't help.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Do you like cottage cheese? The reason I ask is because one of my hippie childbirth books (from when I thought I was super woman) was so anti drugs and suggested a couple of tbsp of cottage cheese instead of antacids........I did find it did help.

BTW: Old wives tale - lot o'heartburn = hairy babies.

I thought I was gonna birth gorillas, myself. Actually suggested to dwh that we buy ds his first shaving kid B4 the birth.

OH! And they were ALL hairy little changos (monkeys), too.

My first pregnancy I also had very bad heartburn and my son was born with soooooooo much hair. Guess if it does turn out to be a girl like they think then it won't be so bad having her with alot of hair.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Loy:
<strong> For me, my second delivery was more violent in it's expediency. For 10 minutes I knew eternity. Does anyone understand that? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Oh, yeah!!

First child: 18 hours labor, tolerable pain (with drugs)
Second child: 4 hours labor (with drugs)
Third child: less than 1 hour in hard labor....most intense pain I could imagine....NOTHING like the first two....violent in it's expediency is the best way I have ever heard it put (also had drugs!)

Dear SML:

first my story <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
2 C-Sections: #1 for a herniated disc in my back (no pushing allowed, otherwise I would have completely ruined my back). I was in active labor for 5 hours before we got to the hospital and the anesthsiologist showed up...conversation I remember with my beloved H:

IP [in active labor with herniated disc]: "OUCH"

Beloved H:"Let's try that breathing...that we learned in the course"

IP [ready to kill him for getting her into this in the first place...biting her teeth and growling]:" Get lost. Go out there and get the anesthesia guy in here- RIGHT NOW." [IP can be very assertive at times <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Well, anesthesiologist came, did heavenly epidural and things were great. The C-S was a breeze...no problems at all. They gave me a long-acting morphine in that epidural, so I had absolutely no pain for 24 hours. I was up and around in no time.

#2: Repeat C-S. I decided against a trial of labor because at that time (2000) more and more studies showed VBACS to be unsafe for mother and baby. Again...no problems at all.

That was the personal experience. Now the professional side:
As a baby doctor I have seen hundreds of births. Conclusions:
-Birthing is a women's thing. Bring your mom, sister, friend or neighbor. It will be great.

-Most men have a hard time dealing with the experience. I would estimate 3% do great and support their wives wonderfully. The rest is pretty lost. IMHO a man should be at the mother's head and not looking at the action.

-Read those "hippie birthing books" with caution. I think childbirth is a natural process, BUT it definitely needs to be monitored closely. Complications have to be recognized fast and actions have to be taken.

One of the reasons many OB's don't allow the mother to eat during labor is to be able to do a C-S fast, when there is an abnormal heart beat tracing in the baby. That has saved many babies.

Usually everything goes very well, SML. You'll have experienced nurses and doctors around you. It will be a great happy experience. I wish I could be there to greet your little girl.

Hugs,

This is fun.A nice change of topic.

For me,I had a nice easy 8 hours of epidural labor for my first so I napped,read and talked with family until the doc said "Ready".

After very light contractions at home that I barely noticed,my second daughter was born in less than one hour with me screaming at the top of my lungs by the time I was at the hospital.

Like cherished mentioned,there's no pain like that of Infidelity though.Child birth is a cake walk.

O

Today I have been feeling weird all day. My mom even called and said are you ok. She said she has been having a bad feeling about me all evening.

I have been having small contractions but they are not that close together. Lots of pressure and uncomfortable. Hoping maybe those are good signs.

I also agree nothing can compare to the pain I am feeling in my heart right now. Giving birth to my son lasted 17 hours but this pain in my heart has lasted over 9 months. <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />

SML -

It is normal to have some small contractions, I think they are called Braxton/Hicks or something like that. About 24 hours before you go into labor, you should expect to see a mucous plug pop out.

But don't worry about all of this right now.

But if you suddenly start "the nesting sydrome", WATCH OUT!!!!!!!!!!! Forget about all the doctor/specialist's.

If you suddenly have a spurt of energy, and start cleaning like crazy, I mean you wake up and get obsessed with cleaning, and think about cleaning, and start cleaning aroung the house with a toothbrush, THAT'S IT - labor is going to start within 12 hours.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Read those "hippie birthing books" with caution </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I will 2nd, 3rd and 5 bazillionth that one. Oh, and some of those videos in the lamaze classes....I'd rather poke my eyes out than watch some dude WHO HAS NO IDEA telling his wife to, "he, he, haw..." Hee, hee, haw is a very funny TV show to watch as the epi is kicking in, imo. (Hey Granpa, what's for dinner?)

The hippie books did nothing but make me BELIEVE I was super woman, then dash all my super powers to the ground with mega kryptonite as soon as the first active labor came. The best advice I got from one of those books was to take a shower...I spent 8 (yes, EIGHT) hours in active labor in the shower with Z (#1). I held that shower massage on low massage on my lower back each contraction and OMG the dif it made!

(they are, however, really funny to use as coffee table books when people you don't want to stick around drop by - I'm evil....I know it)

Hope this is your week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SML - One item of advice I wish I was told:

Trust the instincts God gave you regarding your baby. I know this is #2, but if I'd known.....oy! I was told to RELIGIOUSLY feed #2 every 3 hours, 15 min. a side on each breast. My boy cried till he was 4 months old and I began feeding on demand. When in doubt, ask God. He will tell you what to do - they say the kids don't come with instruction books - they do - they're written on your heart.

Anyone else like to offer our pg ladies advice? One of my FAV things from one of my showers was tidbits of advice from "experienced" moms. I've still got the slips of paper.......(sniff)

Love to you all pg mommies!

Thanks for all the input everyone. I am hoping this is the week. I got my next doc appointment tomorrow. I am crossing my fingers that there is progress. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Sounds like after the first baby most babies after that come faster and faster. Hope not to fast though. Want to be able to make it to the hospital. This is my last week of work. If the baby doesn't come this week I plan on relaxing next week and enjoying my last few nights of peaceful sleep. Course my three year old still comes over to my bed at 2 or 3 in the morning so it's not that peaceful I guess.

Just don't know how to break him of that habit. Course I am not sure if I want to either. I love having him snuggle next to me. He is growing so fast I will miss it when he grows out of it. <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />