Labor Day

How long were your labors?

I started having irregular contractions Friday morning.  Around 11:30 that night they started to become more regular and harder.  I started pushing around 9 am and delivered at 11:40 am.  So I was going for about 24 hours, but the hard part was really 12 hours.

How did you know you were in labor?

I didn’t, for a while.  But when I couldn’t sit down or lie down I was pretty sure that’s what was going on.

Where did you deliver?

At a hospital, but the “maternity ward” is really a Birthing Center.  Where the smart people are.  Our Lamaze teacher said many times, “When you start to want to be where someone knows what they are doing, it is time to go to the hospital.”

Drugs?

Yup.  Well, sort of.  I didn’t have an epidural, but the transition contractions were killing me and I had narcotics to help me rest and ease through that part.  I would totally do it that way again.

C-section?

Nope.  He was heads down for the last 4 months.

Who delivered?

I delivered, but I had a midwife who was there to catch the baby.  I saw three midwives through my pregnancy and I got just what I needed in delivery, the sweet, funny one to get me through the early stages (3 am -7 am) and the no nonsense one in the pushing part (I don’t remember a few hours in there).  I barely remember my first two nurses, but the two that were there for the delivery were terrific!  My husband was there with me the whole time, holding my hand, rubbing my back and holding my leg when I had no strength left.  My mom arrived just after 6 followed by my MIL and then my dad.  My sister arrived at 11, just in time for the “good stuff”.  I didn’t think I would want them all there, but in the end it was great.

My little guy

I found this meme on Rocks in My Dryer and I am so glad I could participate, finally, in one about my baby.

It’s time

I recently told my friend, Best Lady*, about this blog. I don’t know if she has stopped bye yet, but she said she would. She was also a little annoyed I hadn’t told her about it yet. Hi hon!

She told us tonight she is going to have an important conversation with her boyfriend, Mr. Director.

They have been together, two years I think. He was in a relationship when they met, but it was ending. It has been good and it has been stormy. He has a temper and is very high strung. He often thinks he knows more than he does, is smarter than he is, and is always right. He’s not really a blowhard or know-it-all, but it can be very difficult to be around him. She is starting to realize that this relationship isn’t going to go where she wants. She has given a lot to him, and doesn’t always get in return. A few of us have noticed the tension lately (since fall) and she hasn’t seemed happy.

There is so much more to this story than I can write here, but I am so concerned about how this is all going to end up. I am waiting to see what she needs. I think the hardest part is how to keep his friendship. She is worried about him too. He has grown very close to her family and most of his friends were hers first. She doesn’t want to take anything from him, but she can’t sacrifice herself anymore (do you hear that?).

Best of luck BL. We are both behind you. You stood up for us, and we will stand up for you.

*When we got married my closest friend was getting divorced, so she was neither maid nor matron. So I decided if T could have a Best Man, I would have a Best Lady.