There’s a little survey of sorts going around in regards to LABOR Day…although, not in the fashion the holiday was meant for, but nonetheless.  I thought I’d post along

How long were your labors?

Well, so far, I’ve had one.  Singular.  And, I forget how long the labor actually was because I was induced.  I do remember the nurses waking my husband and myself up telling him that if he planned to shower before we got going he should get on it.  I would have to look back in my journal, but I think I was feeling the contractions SOME when he got out.How did you know you were in labor?

I was hooked to machines from the get go, so that was a pretty good indicator.  And, then when I felt like I was dying, I was pretty sure that was it…or, I was dying.  I was hoping it was labor….unless of course death would be faster?  (kidding.  Well, maybe not so much in that moment.)Where did you deliver?

Hospital.  Woohoo.

Drugs?

Here’s where it gets a little interesting.  I was all about the epidural.  I’ve had one before and while I know how they work and how it feels, I was a little nervous about a needle being poked in my back, but hey.  Well…apparently the anesthesiologist ever so slightly nicked a nerve, which made my leg shoot out from under me.  I got yelled out and told to keep still.  Um, dude?  You’re the one holding the needle.  You try to hold still while I jab your nerves and let’s see what happens.  K?  When my leg jerked, the needle punctured a membrane, which essentially gave me a spinal tap with a MUCH thicker needle.  They had to do a blood patch, which ended up having one person with a needle in my back, while someone else drew from my arm because they couldn’t keep my blood from turning to jelly long enough for one person to do it all.  Fun times.  He did try again, with no luck.  I ended up with some Stadol and something else.  Took the edge off, but I felt pretty much all of it.  And, still got the migraines from the epi.  Lucky me.  I have resolved that next time…no epi.  Right after I had L, I was able to scoot myself (using my legs) off of the bed and walk myself all the way to my new room.  That’s how much my epi did NOT work.  Sorry nurse, it was NOT because I don’t take medicine well and have no pain tolerance.  I know what a working epi feels like, and that wasn’t it.

C-section?

Nope.Who delivered?

My doctor.  Although, let me tell you – with my first birth, I had random yo yos feeling me up, including trainees with eyes as big as saucers.  “Do you mind?” they asked me.  “Why not, everyone else in this hospital has!” I say gritting my teeth through a contraction.  And believe me, that was a one time deal.  I usually require at least dinner and a movie.  GAW.

Welcome back!