Seems like a complicated way to give birth, what with all those different gates to go through! Hope she brought her passport! ;)
Posted on 10/24/2006 9:02:36 AM PDT by gobucks
I was awakened by my wife saying, "Wake up". I shook myself awake and walked over to the bed in the birthing room at the hospital. It was 1am, and we were alone. "I want the epidural. I can't take it any more", she said, her voice sounding faint.
We had only been at the hospital 3 hours. We were told we had only progressed half way, 5 cm. This despite the fact we had stayed at home as long as reasonable. So, it being the middle of the night of course, I, the coach, failing to execute the Husband-coached Natural Childbirth techniques I had learned, fell asleep. I was only asleep an hour, when she awakened me.
Now, with little Mr. GoBucks, who was born a year ago on June 14, the Bradley Method seemed to be working. But we got to the hospital too early, and she 'got stuck' at 7cm. The white flag was raised (after mummurs of 'dysfunctional labor' and 'c-section' were tossed out there), the epidural went in, the pit was dripped, and an hour later, our little boy arrived.
We were pretty frustrated that all our Bradley prep work didn't bear fruit, but knew we would try again. During the hours of labor leading to little Miss GoBucks, my wife handed me the Bradley book, and reminded me the key insight of 'emotional signposts' within the Bradley Method. Sure enough, we left for the hospital when it was pretty clear she couldn't talk through the labor anymore. We had the external fetal monintor strapped around her middle, and then they left us alone. No epidural, no pain killers, no IV drip. Just the beep, beep noises, and quiet. The nurses and OB had read our concise, but firm, birth plan, and were willing to let two Bradley nut cases give it a go. (Though they later confessed that such birth plans often make them a little bit quick in getting the Csection room ready.)
Anyway, what I didn't expect was that my wife would let me sleep a little bit. When she awakened me, she was beside herself, saying it hurt too much. I looked at her and saw the 'transition' signposts.
I said to her "are you sure"? And, just like the Natural Childbirth books, she moaned, "I don't know, I don't know", which means birth was imminent. I read her a couple of Bible verses we had prepared ("All things are possible..." etc).
And right after that she made some grunting noises, and muttered "I need to push". I was shocked, and called the nurse. The nurse said, "well, 6-7 cm". I wasn't pleased with that, knowing the rule of thumb is 1 cm/hour.
But, through the contractions, she kept saying she felt like she needed to push, and I called the nurse in again a few minutes later ... she said, oops, totally open!. Within a few minutes, her water bag came out first, then broke, and then her head came out, and then, with almost a yell, my wife pushed her out and the OB caught her, and I was cutting the cord that was difficult to see through my watery eyes. It was unreal. The last 3 cm was in less than an hour.
Her head was perfectly round, as if she were born w/ a CSection; she cried, then she slept. And she has been a beautiful, normal, sweet angel in the 10 days since then ... (and it seems like 10 weeks ago.).
Anyway, I wrote up several 'My Pregnant Wife' threads before regarding little boy GB last year, including a Bradley thread, so this is just a follow-up. We do live in Epidural Nation, so it is silly to think this thread will make a dent into that, but one or two readers may have not heard of a positive testimonial so this is for them.
The Bradley Method works, and if one endures all the 'upsetness' that talking about it with others is certain to produce, then, I promise, it is more than worth it.
Then, a friend of mine said, "Why? If science has developed ways to make things less painful, why would you do it any other way? There is NO other procedure during which a person would say, Oh, heck no, no pain medication for me!!!"
Kinda made me feel silly. : )
Congratulations on your new baby girl!
When I go to the dentist, the first thing I say is, "I need laughing gas, turned up high, with no filter."
Congratulations on your baby girl! Great day to be born, too!
Never had an epidural with any of ours, but I was begging for one or a C-section with the last. Of course, by the time the epidural dude arrived, my head was spinning, and I was spitting green pea soup at everyone and yelling, "Get OUT!" Or maybe it was "Get him out now!" We had a baby a few minutes later. I think I'm becoming a wimp with age.
You should do it naturally next time. ; )
Congratulations on your new baby.
Put me in the 'better living through chemistry' crowd though. For every pain we can avoid, there are about 100 we can't. :)
The white flag was raised (after mummurs of 'dysfunctional labor' and 'c-section' were tossed out there), the epidural went in, the pit was dripped, and an hour later, our little boy arrived.
When my wife was in labor for the birth of our first Bradley baby it was slow going for her and she finally gave in and said she wanted the epidural.
I knew that if I could get her to hold off a little longer she would make it so I told her I would go get the doctor and tell him. I stalled and stalled for a good hour trying to keep her mind in the game and by the time the birth happened, she had forgotten all about the epidural.
She was very grateful for my subterfuge.
Hope Mom and baby are doing well. Good job Dad!
Or fainted out of fright? :-)
Congrats and all the joys and blessings of raising those wonderful children to you and your wife! I raised 4 and it was the best most valuable time of my life.
Seems like a complicated way to give birth, what with all those different gates to go through! Hope she brought her passport! ;)
congrats on a new FReeper.....
Us grandfreeps are proud
Heartiest congratulations to you, Mrs. Gobucks and Big Brother Gobucks! And a big Freeper welcome to the lovely and talented Miss Gobucks!
BTW...Mr.VermiciousKnid's birthday is ALSO October 14. It is a good day for a birthday.
Best to you all,
Jenny
MAZEL TOV to you my friend, but .... what's the deal with all this "WE" stuff!
Uh... That doesn't come till they are about 7, 8, 9 or ten months old.
By the way, this thread is no good without pics. :-)
Congratulation!!!!!!!!!
Congrats! We need more Freepers!
Congratulations from another pair of young FReepers-to-be!!!!
We really need to see photos, though.
And when she is 17 you will be wide awake until she is safely delivered to your living room by some boy that knows he had better not be late.
Just enjoy the ride, it is the time of your life. Congratulations and many blessings on your whole family!
Anyway, my Aunt Stella one day woke up my Uncle Marty who was sleeping on the couch to inform him that it seemed like it was time for her to be giving birth soon. My Uncle replied with these famous words, "Take a cab."
Uncle Marty gave Aunt Stella a few bucks for cabfare and she took off. A few days later my Aunt returns home from the hospital and wakes Uncle Marty up on the couch again. She proudly presents the baby and proudly announces that it is a son named Gerald (my Cousin Jerry). "Great," my Uncle Marty said sleepily and quickly resumed his slumber.
My Aunt to me that story. She was pissed off at the time but later took it in stride as just part of my Uncle Marty's character. You sort of had to know Uncle Marty to understand how he could get away with that stuff.
Anyway, that is the Uncle Marty method of childbirth.
Congratulations, Mr. GB, MRs.GB, boyGB and girlBG !!!
All God's blessings on your family.
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