Tori Trampler

I have spent the entire day reading all of the various birth experiences
and decided I wanted to share mine as well.  Hopefully through reading
other's experiences, we can all learn and make various decisions about
future births.  Here is my story:

My 2nd husband and I were eagerly anticipating the birth of our first
child together.  We had been married for 2yrs and had an 11yr old
daughter from my first marriage (divorce) and a 4 yr old daughter from
my husband's first marriage (death).  We had our first ultrasound at 16
weeks and were unable to discover the sex of our baby.  However, she or
he was perfectly healthy and right on schedule.  We were due October 6,
1994.  I just knew he was a boy.  My entire pregnancy was different from
my first.  This time, I had morning sickness, heart burn, I started
showing at 2 months.  I was getting bigger quicker, but without gaining
any weight.  At every appointment, I was told to eat, eat, eat.  I had
leg cramps, my back hurt, my feet were so swollen, I couldn't wear shoes
to work.  At 7 months, the ultrasound confirmed it.  We were having
another GIRL!  After a few seconds of disappointment, we were ecstatic.
All I could think of were the dresses and bows.  I was getting bigger
and bigger but not gaining that much weight.  I had only gained a total
of 28 lbs (at term) and only showed in my tummy, but I was huge.  I told
Dr B. that I knew this was a BIG baby.  He just measured and smiled. I
had known this man for 12 yrs and had worked with him on our hospital's
maternity ward.  The last 6 weeks of my pregnancy, I was miserable.  I
averaged an hour of sleep a night, and had the same ritual for 6 weeks.
Try to sleep in the rocking chair, jump in the hot tub (lowered to 99
degrees), sleep in rocking chair for an hour and repeat all night long.
I had to quit my job earlier than anticipated because of my swollen feet
and my BP was a little high.  I was ready for this baby to be born.  My
first child was 3 weeks late and I was induced and used no medication. 
This time, I anticipated going into labor on my own and having an
epidural.  Now it was time to just wait.

   My due date came and went and we were scheduled for an induction on
Friday, October 14, 1994.  At 4:00AM on Thursday, October 13th I awoke
to a wet bed.  I got up and went to the bathroom only to discover that I
had bled about a tsp.  I was in labor!!  I got the kids off to school,
took a shower, did some last minute stuff around the house and with the
contractions being about 5 minutes apart, we were off to the hospital at
10AM.  On arrival to the hospital, I was checked and told that I was in
early, early labor and my water was intact.  Our baby's head had not
even descended yet, and I was only dilated to 2cm. I begged them not to
send me home.  Dr. B. came in and ruptered my membranes, had them start
me on Pitocin, and told me he would be back later to check on me.  We
were finally having our baby!!  At 11AM, I had 2 very hard contractions
and was dilated to 4cm.  Time for the epidural.  It was wonderful.  I
could feel nothing and talked to family and friends on the phone to tell
them of our impending arrival.  At Noon I was dilated to 7cm.  This was
going so much quicker than my first.  Dr. B. checked on me quite
frequently and at 1:30PM I was ready to push.  I only knew this because
the nurses said I was dilated to 10cm.  I pushed, and pushed, and
pushed, and pushed.  Finally her head was delivered only to find that
the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.  Dr. B cut the cord and
told me how imperative it was to push this baby out now.  I was
oblivious to what was going on and even with my 10 yrs of experience, I
had no idea what was going on.  I believe God makes us oblivious to
problems.  If I had known what was truly happening,  I would have been
crazy with fear.  I pushed as hard as I could but to no avail.  My
husband told me he had to sit down and was a funny shade of green.  I
wondered why, since he had been through childbirth before.  They called
for 2 more nurses and proceeded to get up on my bed and push this baby
out themselves.  I was given an episiotomy and learned later that he had
to cut me again.  I had a 4th degree laceration.  With the help of the
nurses, she finally came out.  She was limp, blue and there was no
crying.  My husband prayed and I just waited.  It was 3:22PM and
Victoria Brianne was born.  Finally 4 minutes later, we heard the most
beautiful cry I have ever heard in my life.  I only knew this after
watching the videotape of the birth.  This is when I truly knew what
actually was happening and how fortunate we were.  She had shoulder
dysplasia and weighed in at 10lbs 13oz.  The date was 10/13/94.  I am
tall but very thin.  She was huge.  Her apgars were 5 and 9 and other
than her sleeping the first week of her life away, she was happy and
healthy.  However, it was 30 minutes before we were able to hold her
because they had to work on her so long. I always wondered in the back
of my mind if she was depleted too long of oxygen.  I am happy to report
that today she is 2 yrs old and so very smart.  I have learned so much
from this experience.  As much as I love Dr. B, if we decide to have
another child, I will choose another OB.  I told him so many times that
I knew she was going to be big.  Why was I allowed to wait until nature
was ready?  Will my next baby weigh 15 lbs? Diabetes runs rampid in my
family and I am concerned that if I do get pregnant again, I could be a
gestational diabetic.  I have found a wonderful female OB and have
consulted with her about a future pregnancy.  She will do an US at 37
weeks and if the baby is of normal size, she would induce me.  This
would be 4 weeks earlier than Tori was. At 37 weeks, Tori was probably
already well over 9 lbs.  I truly believe that men just don't understand
(as well as women OBs) women's individual needs.  I wonder how he would
have felt carrying around an 11 pound bowling ball in his womb?

Any comments?

Christine Trampler