A reflection

For some reason I can't get over thinking about this last labor and delivery. Something just didn't seem very "natural" to me about any of it. I'm not sure what I was expecting... but something better than lying down on a bed enduring contraction after contraction.

Each labor was entirely different: I was induced with James one week early. Madison came two days late on her own. My water broke with Jack. Three different experiences, all ending in the same birth process. IV. Epidural. Lay in bed. Wait. Push. Baby.

I guess my struggle was with the IV. Is it really necessary? I spent two weeks in absolute pain after Jack because my feet got so swollen I could have sworn the skin was going to burst open. It just didn't seem right. The epidural is absolute bliss. I'm not going to lie. But after Madison I had an excruciating spinal headache for WEEKS. This happens because spinal fluid leaks from the injection site.

Then I watched a documentary on America's birthing process. I couldn't help but feel the same way Ricky Lake did. I felt cheated out of the experience. Let me preface by saying I tried to go "natural" with James - but when you're induced that doesn't really happen. Pitocin makes the contractions longer and more painful. I was doomed to fail. Because of that awful experience I decided that with Madison I wanted to sign up for the epidural straight away. By the time we reached the hospital I was pretty much ready for delivery. I had done most of the labor part at home. Because my water broke with Jack it was a whole new ball game. I had no idea what to expect. But laying on a bed waiting for contractions to get stronger was uncomfortable. My hips hurt. All I could think of was, "I want to walk around, I want my back rubbed, I want to curl in a ball...."

Back to the documentary - most countries use midwives for the entire process, from pregnancy all the way through to delivery. It looked so natural. Painful - yes. But not unbearably so. The film mentioned how American women fear the pain of childbirth. Yes, I'm guilty. Who wants to feel pain when you can have an epidural?

I could go on and on how I feel now about the whole process. But IF I were to have another child, I would not want to be confined to a bed (a birthing center is appealing or even at home) and even though I love my OB to death, I would most likely prefer to go to a midwife. If I was to give any advice to a soon to be mother, it would be to do some research, think about the kind of experience you want to have, and don't fear the pain of childbirth itself.   

And for dessert, here is a picture of my baby Jack. Michael looks at him and says, "You're going to want to have another one." With this cute little face, who wouldn't?

**p.s. the documentary is called "The Business of Being Born."

There was James and then there was Jack

Meet the newest addition to the west family:

JACKSON HUNT WEST
Born Friday, July 29th, 2011 at 9:34am
9lbs, 1 oz
21" long

I woke up early Friday morning feeling really tight in my back and had some contractions that wouldn't let me fall completely asleep. I slithered off the bed and waddled my way to the bathroom thinking maybe it was just a full bladder. When all of a sudden after I was done I felt a warm gush. "My water just broke? This sucks," I thought. As I got up it was more like a whoosh and then I thought, "Yeah, this really sucks."

See, I was determined to do a lot at work on Friday and do some final wrapping up. I said to Michael right before bed, watch the baby is going to come tomorrow. Sure enough.

I had a bunch of things going through my head, like how long do I have before I need to get to the hospital? do I need to rush there or do I have a few hours to take a shower, dilly dally, etc? What do I wear since every move there's a gush of water? What do I pack? I should have had a bag ready. I don't have anything ready. And soon it turned to panic and I ended up leaving the #1 thing you should take: a toothbrush.

We got to the hospital and my contractions were steady and tolerable. We arrived and I was at 4 cm. Waiting in triage was the worst. It seemed to take forever and after 3 or so hours my bum was numb and hurting and I was over the contractions. I wanted my epidural!

Finally we were wheeled over to our room and I got my epidural and I was at 8cm only 4hrs after my water broke. An hour later I was feeling more pressure and when the Dr. came in she said I was almost ready to push. What? This was happening all so fast! I was really going to have a baby? It was that easy?

Sure enough, they set everything up. 2 mins of pushing and out came a 9 pound baby. A WHAT? It was so easy. There is just no way. WAY.

Baby Jack came out smoothly and easily. Cried for about 2 seconds and was in the hands of his mama.

Nothing much to report. I thought for sure I would cry. But it all seemed so surreal. Even though he was #3 it was like it was happening to someone else. It was a really good experience. Maybe last experiences are the best?

Our first week home has been really good. It's been a very busy one with family here. Jack is a transient. He sleeps wherever there is a spot available - which is hard to find right now. There's little stress for me to nurse because I can't keep up with his appetite so we supplement. I'm just afraid he won't nurse as long as the other two. I'm loving being home with all my babies and spending time with them during the day to make snowmen, pandas, hamburger, and snakes out of play dough, reading them lots of bed time stories, getting chores done during the day, getting started on small projects, organizing, coloring, being here at nap time to put the kids to bed and seeing them when they wake up. 6 weeks is going to go by so fast! Jack is such a sweet little boy. James loves his brother so much. He is a big helper to feed him, hold him, etc. They are going to be such great friends!

I'm so happy our little family is complete. Guess it's time to start looking for that minivan!

P.s. Madison knows there's a baby but she's not "into it" right now. She's taking it okay. There's really not much interaction between them at this point. She's a little self-absorbed.