Alex is hosting a blog carnival for everyone to tell their birth stories in honor of her younger son's 2nd birthday. And, since I started this blog when Michael was a year and a half, I realized I never told Michael's birth story. Hold onto your hats, because this is going to be a long one.
I had a very difficult pregnancy, and suffered through preeclampsia through most of it. I was on and off bed rest from about the 4th month of my pregnancy. After 38 weeks, my doctor really wanted to induce me. But, my ob won't induce unless you are dilated at least 1 centimeter, because she believes that is walking you into a c-section. (Not that there is anything wrong with a c-section, my doctor just felt your body had to be ready for an induction.)
For two weeks I went to the doctor every day. And every day I was not dilated. My due date was March 17th. (We called Michael in utero, baby shamrock, the Irish Jewish child.) On March 14th I went to the doctor and was told I was (finally!) dilated 1 centimeter and my induction was scheduled for tomorrow morning at 5:30 am. I went to work for a few hours, cleaned my office, and left around lunch time. I grabbed lunch and bought a book for the hospital and went home. I wasn't feeling great, my stomach was all knotted up, but I thought it was nerves. I mean, come on, who is really ready to be a mom?
Doug worked until after midnight. He was a tad paranoid about taking 2 weeks off. We had to be at the hospital at 5 am. Needless to say, we didn't get a lot of sleep. I woke up at 4 am in labor. Yes, the morning of my induction I was in labor. Stuff like that can only happen to me. I had this weird fear throughout my pregnancy that I would not know when I was in labor. Um, there was no mistaking it.
As we were driving to the hospital I turned to Doug and said we really need a boy's name. We only had a girls name, which should have guaranteed we were having a boy. (We didn't found out ahead of time.) We needed an m name to follow a Jewish tradition of using the first letter of a name to name after a deceased relative. He said Michael, I said fine, but I hate Mike, so he has to be Michael forever. I still don't like the name, but that is whole other post.
The hospital was of course overloaded, so I was shuttled off to an overflow room, not one of the gorgeous new birthing suites. Michael was essentially born in a storage closet. But, labor progressed quickly. At 10 am I was 3 centimeters and got the epidural. And 12 pm Doug mentioned he was going to go downstairs to grab something to eat and I said Doug, "get the nurse, I think I need to push." He got the nurse who looked at me like I was insane. But, she checked, and I was a fully dilated and ready to go. The doctor hadn't even changed his clothes yet.
I pushed for an hour, and I really think that was the hardest part. I was convinced I was pushing wrong. I mean, how come they never tell you how to do that. He was born at 1:04 pm. After announcing it's a boy the doctor said, and he has "golden retriever feet." And he still does.
But, there was one small problem, I thought he was dead. See, his heart rate dropped during labor and he was born with the cord around his neck, and when they put him on my stomach he was gray and didn't move. And for that split second, I thought he was dead. Now, looking back I realize that they would not have put him on my stomach if he was in fact dead, but I really honestly did not think he was alive. And I wouldn't touch him. The nurses must have thought I was the coldest person. And finally, the nurse took him away, cleaned him up, and he started to cry. And so did I.
And then, they handed him to me. And our eyes met. And the minute I saw him, I thought, of course, it was you, all along. And I couldn't believe how much he looked like his Dad.
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
I went into labor the morning I was scheduled to be induced – I THOUGHT I was in labor several weeks earlier but YES when it ”really” started there was no ”thinking” to it, AT ALL.
Thank you for sharing your story – I love reading the different experiences we all have with the same situation (aka GET.IT.OUT.NOWWWW!!).
I went into labor the morning I was scheduled to be induced – I THOUGHT I was in labor several weeks earlier but YES when it ”really” started there was no ”thinking” to it, AT ALL.
Thank you for sharing your story – I love reading the different experiences we all have with the same situation (aka GET.IT.OUT.NOWWWW!!).
I went into labor the morning I was scheduled to be induced – I THOUGHT I was in labor several weeks earlier but YES when it ”really” started there was no ”thinking” to it, AT ALL.
Thank you for sharing your story – I love reading the different experiences we all have with the same situation (aka GET.IT.OUT.NOWWWW!!).
I went into labor the morning I was scheduled to be induced – I THOUGHT I was in labor several weeks earlier but YES when it ”really” started there was no ”thinking” to it, AT ALL.
Thank you for sharing your story – I love reading the different experiences we all have with the same situation (aka GET.IT.OUT.NOWWWW!!).
Aww, I love birth stories, and that one had its share of drama for sure!
Aww, I love birth stories, and that one had its share of drama for sure!
Aww, I love birth stories, and that one had its share of drama for sure!
Aww, I love birth stories, and that one had its share of drama for sure!
I love the ending..Made me teary too…. I think it’s so interesting how each woman can have a completely different birth story. I hear ya on the pregnancy thing though, I had Pre-E with Isabella… But it doesn’t automatically mean it will happen again because it didnt for me.
I love the ending..Made me teary too…. I think it’s so interesting how each woman can have a completely different birth story. I hear ya on the pregnancy thing though, I had Pre-E with Isabella… But it doesn’t automatically mean it will happen again because it didnt for me.
I love the ending..Made me teary too…. I think it’s so interesting how each woman can have a completely different birth story. I hear ya on the pregnancy thing though, I had Pre-E with Isabella… But it doesn’t automatically mean it will happen again because it didnt for me.
I love the ending..Made me teary too…. I think it’s so interesting how each woman can have a completely different birth story. I hear ya on the pregnancy thing though, I had Pre-E with Isabella… But it doesn’t automatically mean it will happen again because it didnt for me.
Oh that’s a fantastic story. I’m partial to Michael and Mike but sometimes you just don’t love a name.
You have no idea how many fights my Mike and I have had over boy’s names.
Oh that’s a fantastic story. I’m partial to Michael and Mike but sometimes you just don’t love a name.
You have no idea how many fights my Mike and I have had over boy’s names.
Oh that’s a fantastic story. I’m partial to Michael and Mike but sometimes you just don’t love a name.
You have no idea how many fights my Mike and I have had over boy’s names.
Oh that’s a fantastic story. I’m partial to Michael and Mike but sometimes you just don’t love a name.
You have no idea how many fights my Mike and I have had over boy’s names.
What a cute little baby!
What are golden retriever feet?
What a cute little baby!
What are golden retriever feet?
What a cute little baby!
What are golden retriever feet?
What a cute little baby!
What are golden retriever feet?
You b@#$h for making me cry after 2 cocktails. So THATs the pic I’ve been looking at all year, you staring into your son’s eyes for the very first time.
SOB.
You b@#$h for making me cry after 2 cocktails. So THATs the pic I’ve been looking at all year, you staring into your son’s eyes for the very first time.
SOB.
You b@#$h for making me cry after 2 cocktails. So THATs the pic I’ve been looking at all year, you staring into your son’s eyes for the very first time.
SOB.
You b@#$h for making me cry after 2 cocktails. So THATs the pic I’ve been looking at all year, you staring into your son’s eyes for the very first time.
SOB.
I love that picture!
I am amazed that you felt the urge to push even though you had the epidural. I had one too, but had to be told it was time to push.
That’s so sad you thought he was dead. I don’t think you should worry the others in the delivery room thought you were a cold mother, though — I think every mother must react differently. It’s a very emotional, hormonal time.
Old college classmates of mine have used the term “leprecohens” to describe Irish/Jewish children, hee hee!
I love that picture!
I am amazed that you felt the urge to push even though you had the epidural. I had one too, but had to be told it was time to push.
That’s so sad you thought he was dead. I don’t think you should worry the others in the delivery room thought you were a cold mother, though — I think every mother must react differently. It’s a very emotional, hormonal time.
Old college classmates of mine have used the term “leprecohens” to describe Irish/Jewish children, hee hee!
I love that picture!
I am amazed that you felt the urge to push even though you had the epidural. I had one too, but had to be told it was time to push.
That’s so sad you thought he was dead. I don’t think you should worry the others in the delivery room thought you were a cold mother, though — I think every mother must react differently. It’s a very emotional, hormonal time.
Old college classmates of mine have used the term “leprecohens” to describe Irish/Jewish children, hee hee!
I love that picture!
I am amazed that you felt the urge to push even though you had the epidural. I had one too, but had to be told it was time to push.
That’s so sad you thought he was dead. I don’t think you should worry the others in the delivery room thought you were a cold mother, though — I think every mother must react differently. It’s a very emotional, hormonal time.
Old college classmates of mine have used the term “leprecohens” to describe Irish/Jewish children, hee hee!
Awww! I love reading birth stories! I didn’t know Michael was born on 3/16. I think he’s a year older than Nicky, but Nicky was born on 3/17/16.
I think it’s so cool when moms go into labor on their own right before their scheduled induction. It’s like the baby said, “Uh uh! I’m coming out on my own!”
Awww! I love reading birth stories! I didn’t know Michael was born on 3/16. I think he’s a year older than Nicky, but Nicky was born on 3/17/16.
I think it’s so cool when moms go into labor on their own right before their scheduled induction. It’s like the baby said, “Uh uh! I’m coming out on my own!”
Awww! I love reading birth stories! I didn’t know Michael was born on 3/16. I think he’s a year older than Nicky, but Nicky was born on 3/17/16.
I think it’s so cool when moms go into labor on their own right before their scheduled induction. It’s like the baby said, “Uh uh! I’m coming out on my own!”
Awww! I love reading birth stories! I didn’t know Michael was born on 3/16. I think he’s a year older than Nicky, but Nicky was born on 3/17/16.
I think it’s so cool when moms go into labor on their own right before their scheduled induction. It’s like the baby said, “Uh uh! I’m coming out on my own!”
I went into labor two days before I was schedule to be induced. What a great picture!
I went into labor two days before I was schedule to be induced. What a great picture!
I went into labor two days before I was schedule to be induced. What a great picture!
I went into labor two days before I was schedule to be induced. What a great picture!
i just started crying because you thought he was dead and for a moment i believed you and forgot, well duh obviously he isn’t
i just started crying because you thought he was dead and for a moment i believed you and forgot, well duh obviously he isn’t
i just started crying because you thought he was dead and for a moment i believed you and forgot, well duh obviously he isn’t
i just started crying because you thought he was dead and for a moment i believed you and forgot, well duh obviously he isn’t
also what the fuck are golden retriever feet?
also what the fuck are golden retriever feet?
also what the fuck are golden retriever feet?
also what the fuck are golden retriever feet?
I had a VBAC, and had been induced the first time, so wasn’t sure I’d know when to go to the hospital…there’s no mistaking it, for sure! I, too, went into labor just after midnight on the morning I was scheduled to be induced…I think it’s that our bodies can finally relax because there’s an end in sight?
I had a VBAC, and had been induced the first time, so wasn’t sure I’d know when to go to the hospital…there’s no mistaking it, for sure! I, too, went into labor just after midnight on the morning I was scheduled to be induced…I think it’s that our bodies can finally relax because there’s an end in sight?
I had a VBAC, and had been induced the first time, so wasn’t sure I’d know when to go to the hospital…there’s no mistaking it, for sure! I, too, went into labor just after midnight on the morning I was scheduled to be induced…I think it’s that our bodies can finally relax because there’s an end in sight?
I had a VBAC, and had been induced the first time, so wasn’t sure I’d know when to go to the hospital…there’s no mistaking it, for sure! I, too, went into labor just after midnight on the morning I was scheduled to be induced…I think it’s that our bodies can finally relax because there’s an end in sight?