Labor Day
I have a nice long post cooking about the joy and wonderment that is my son taking a dump in his toy box in an attempt to exact revenge on me. I’m sure everyone is waiting with baited breath to hear that one. But tonight I’d rather sit on my duff and eat raw cookie dough bake cookies. So in honor of Labor Day, here’s a survey from Sarah at Ordinary Days about the most intense and incredible of labors – the one that precedes birth.
How long were your labors?
#1 – I was induced (just a word of advice, AVOID AT ALL COSTS), and loaded up on a stellar epidural, so I don’t really know. Induction began around 9 o’clock at night and at 7am I was four centimeters dilated and asking for the epidural. So I’d say real active labor began around then I guess. He was born around 2:30pm, so 7-8 hours?
#2 – I had my first contraction at 5am and he was born at 4:30pm. Active labor was probably four or five hours.
#3 – With this little girl, I was in complete denial through most of my labor. Contractions began around 7pm but I didn’t believe it was the real thing until I was hit with a monster contraction at 2:30am. I consider my actual labor to be only two hours.
How did you know you were in labor?
#1 – Kind of hard to miss that labor has started when they’re jump-starting it for you.
#2 – My contractions were consistent and I had lots of bloody show. I was also a week overdue, so there wasn’t much denying it.
#3 – I don’t think I was convinced this time until I had the urge to push. My labor was easy and I couldn’t believe it was real until the very end.
Where did you deliver?
#1 – Hospital. And a pretty undesirable one.
#2 and #3 – At home with a midwife.
Drugs?
Epidural with #1, nothing but adrenaline with #2 and #3. After the birth I took Lortab for a couple weeks to deal with the horrible tearing I had with #1. But nothing but Tylenol for the afterpains the last two times. Recovery is a BREEZE when you don’t tear.
C-Section?
Never even discussed.
Who delivered?
#1 – OB that I randomly chose because he was closest to my house.
#2 – My midwife caught.
#3 – Daddy caught!
Feel free to share links to your labor and birth stories. I’m a total birth junkie – can’t get enough. Happy “Labor” Day!
How long were your labors?
Hard to tell, to be honest. I was induced very late on the 11th of June and had her 11am June 12th. No pain (with the exception of the pain I was already in) and no hard labor.
How did you know you were in labor?
Well… I was induced. So that is pretty much the answer. However, I never had regular contractions, so I’m surprised how fast everything went.
Where did you deliver?
Franklin Square Hospital
Drugs?
I had a epidural. I was also already on morphine for my kidneys.
C-Section?
Nope.
Who delivered?
My OB, Dr. DuRussel. I’m so glad I changed doctors, even if it was at 30 weeks.
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I totally agree recovery is easier without the drugs. My second recovery was a breeze. My first I couldn’t walk for a week.
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