Birthing a baby

[4x4mike]

My wife and I are expecting our first baby, like soon. No hospital wi-fi here, we're doing a home birth. I figure I can get a post in or 2 before the midwives get here. Once they get here I'm sure they'll make me turn the computer off. We haven't told them to come over yet but they know of the situation. Currently my wife's water has broken and she has contractions every 6 or so minutes (I have to go in about a minute). The contractions last for about 30 seconds but she says they're not bad which is good, I think. So far everything looks good but my knowledge about this stuff is a little slim :wrenchin:.

Anyways, have a good night, I'll be up with the wife, cat and bulletin board.

[slosurfer]

Awesome! Good luck, definately sounds like you could use some Patron. :laugh: Leave the computer on and give us updates. :thumbup:

[paddlenbike]

Best wishes for you, Marin and the soon-to-be!

[Seanz0rz]

best wishes! hopefully she has a quick labor so you can get back to working on that rack canopy!

congrats man! im really looking forward to having kids of my own someday!

[Scooter25]

Wow, home birth. That rocks. :clap: Just don't pass out.

[CJM]

GL and HF doing it!

Congrats!

[4x4mike]

Thanks guys. The contractions are farther apart than they were about 2 hours ago. She's hungry so I'm going to try to get her to eat. Right now she's wrapped up in her book so we're mellowing out.




Leave the computer on and give us updates. :thumbup:


Update: Wife requests a toasted plain bagel with peanut butter. I broke into the pepsi, I think I'll need the caffeine.

[Obi..]

Congrats and God Bless!!

[4x4mike]

Alright. Contractions are longer and a little more painful. Midwives might be coming soon so I may have to bail. You all should be getting ready for bed anyways.

[slosurfer]

:thumbup: Midwives rock!!! Leave the computer on and let one of them give updates to us. :laugh:

[4x4mike]

I'll see. They are kind of old school hippy ladies although they love their techy gadgets. From the Nikon D300, Mac computer, i phone, bluetooth, etc.

I guess I would have to alter this thread just in case they come on.

[slosurfer]

:laugh: Yeah, we had midwives for both ours. :thumbup: If you get the chance, have them give you a quick science lesson on the placenta complete with closeups. Once of the coolest things I've ever seen. :D

[paddlenbike]

Placenta...there's a word I never expected to see on ultimateyota.

[slosurfer]

:lol: I've got an awesome pic of one too! :laugh:

[Seanz0rz]

my ex's mother is a midwife, that was normal dinner talk at her house. hahaha. for me its like hearing journal bearing.

[4x4mike]

:laugh: Yeah, we had midwives for both ours. :thumbup: If you get the chance, have them give you a quick science lesson on the placenta complete with closeups. Once of the coolest things I've ever seen. :D


Oh we've already been through that, a couple of times. One of the MW is a photograher so there are some pictures. We have also taken their birthing classes which are quite informative. My wife wants to bury the placenta in the backyard. I guess it's good luck and all. I told her fine but if I wake up in the middle of the night in a few nights and find raccoons digging it up I get to shoot them.

[Seanz0rz]

:pics:

[4x4mike]

Oooff. I'll try to snap one. I don't think she'll like it though. Do you want a pic of the placenta also? :drool:

[slosurfer]

:laugh: Yeah, we had midwives for both ours. :thumbup: If you get the chance, have them give you a quick science lesson on the placenta complete with closeups. Once of the coolest things I've ever seen. :D


Oh we've already been through that, a couple of times. One of the MW is a photograher so there are some pictures. We have also taken their birthing classes which are quite informative. My wife wants to bury the placenta in the backyard. I guess it's good luck and all. I told her fine but if I wake up in the middle of the night in a few nights and find raccoons digging it up I get to shoot them.


No, I meant a lesson with your little one's actual placenta while they are turning it inside out and explaining everything. It really is so cool. Looks like a big veiny tritip

[paddlenbike]

:yikes:

[reggie 00]

Good luck.
Welcome to interesting times.


Ok who wants to bet on the delivery time??


i got 0345, 14 Mar

[slosurfer]

0238 Mar 14

[4x4mike]

No, I meant a lesson with your little one's actual placenta while they are turning it inside out and explaining everything. It really is so cool. Looks like a big veiny tritip

Not so much dude. Actually knowing my MW's they'd probably do it to just for me. I better get the shovel out of the shed now. That way when they get here they'll see it and know what to do. I'll just be an innocent bystander, well as much as I can be.

Here's the only one I can snap off. She's asleep for now.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/DSC06946.jpg

[slosurfer]

:laugh: You're so dead when she finds out you posted that. :laugh:

Shouldn't she be on a big tarp, your carpet is going to get screwed. :hillbill:

[kmcc78240]

0602 March 14

[4x4mike]

Can you see the tarp?

I had to go out to the shed to get it because she was going through towels like a heavy weight boxer in the fight of his life. After towel 3 I told her to hold on. I went out back to the shed to get a tarp (and the shovel), a new and sealed one of course (not the new one for my canopy). She didn't see me grab it but before I brought it in I heard her say we'd have to get the carpets cleaned after this. Me: "Oh, hell no. Here sit on this." Of course I put a towel over it. It's a big tarp and in unfolding it I knocked over a lit candle on the carpet :thumbup: so I have that to clean up now.

She's down for the count now but I'm not going to push my luck to get another picture.

[kmcc78240]

Be careful and God Bless is this your first?

[4x4mike]

:laugh: You're so dead when she finds out you posted that. :laugh:

Shouldn't she be on a big tarp, your carpet is going to get screwed. :hillbill:


Oh the birth is planned to be a water birth. I haven't had the MW's come yet but when they do they bring the birthing tub, aka plastic trough, and it'll be set up in our bedroom. I have another tarp to put under that one in case things get sloshy.

[4x4mike]

Be careful and God Bless is this your first?



Thanks. Yeah it's our first. We had 2 ultrasounds but chose to not know the sex and that's killing us now. Hell we haven't even setteled on names yet.

We have had 7 or 8 friends or family have babies in the past 14 months. All have had healthy babies and all different birthing experiences. We chose home birth after some less than par experiences at the hospitals. My sister in law had a home water birth in Dec of '07 and it worked out great for her. After doing some research and interviewing we decided to do the same.

[Obi..]

:lol: I've got an awesome pic of one too! :laugh:


Chris, quit scaring the kids!! Mike how's things going?

and 3:27am's my bet.

[Seanz0rz]

ahhhhhhh im so excited for you, i almost want to stay and wait for the good news... almost!

tell your beautiful wife that everyone here at ultimateyota wishes her the absolute best!

[slosurfer]

I've heard good things about the waterbirths. Good luck tonight man!

[4x4mike]

Things are good, thanks. The wife is sleeping right now and I haven't heard or seen her move so I doubt she's having contractions. Can they just stop? She's the smart one getting sleep, we're usually in bed around 10. I'm an early riser and she's been tired for the past 9 months so we're always up to hitting the hay.

I should probably try to get some zz's. I was hungry until I read Chris' placenta thread so I think I'll wait to eat. Patron sounds good though. Maybe I'll have some JD and watch the Big Labowski, it's been sitting on the coffee table begging to be watched.

[paddlenbike]

In that case you should be having a white russian, i.e. caucasion.

http://www.thedudeiseverywhere.com/lebowski-images/DudesPyramid.png

[slosurfer]

In that case you should be having a white russian.


:spit: yes, it's sacrilege to drink anything else while watching that

[paddlenbike]

Love the title..."Life, the Big Lebowski and What-Have-You"

http://www.thedudeiseverywhere.com/wp-content/themes/lebowski/bookjacket.png

[reggie 00]

Dude.

I need to go find that book.

I call my son the Dude, cause i like that movie so much.

[paddlenbike]

One of my favorite scenes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWtesJrLSNA

[4x4mike]

Ah beautiful. I like the way the car jumps when it hits the dumpster. I'd have a white russian but I just brushed my teeth. I bet it would taste horrible.

Update: Wife still asleep. Moved from sleeping on her right side to her left side. Lifted blanket and checked; still no baby. Room smells funny so I re-lit the candle.

[4x4mike]

Good morning, it's 5:42 am my time and no baby. Marin wanted to sleep in the bed so at around midnight I moved her and she's still asleep. I crashed on the couch and just woke up. The sleep was good, let the day begin.

[slosurfer]

Glad you got some sleep. Good luck today. :thumbup:

[4x4mike]

Thanks. I laid down and got another hour so I'm stoked. The baby is still moving around and Marin noticed some 'tinge' (I'll leave it at that). I think the baby wanted to wait so we could get some sleep. The MW is coming over to do a check up and some monitoring. I'm not sure if they will stay but they want to check things out. It's breakfast and shower time.

[YotaFun]

my money is 402 pm Mar 14 :-P

Congrats, Good Luck, And Have fun dude!
Can't wait to have kids of my own :-D

[4x4mike]

Well it's 11am on Mar 14 and no baby yet. The contractions started again while I was in the garage. The baby monitor works great, we should of gotten one of these years ago. After drilling holes in PVC I installed this.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/DSC06949.jpg

It's the base for the infant carrier/car seat. Pretty easy to do.

The wife says she's hungry and wants to get out of the house. I'm a little leary of doing that but I guess we don't have to go far.

[Obi..]

;) Take her over to Folsom Lake Toyota and do a test-drive in the AWD Venza...(*Family Car Time)

:rofl: Ummm, sir, you do plan on buying this vehicle, riiiggghhhttt!! ;)

[DHC6twinotter]

I kinda like the Venza.


Mike, praying for you all! Maybe I missed it, but what's the name of the kid?

[Obi..]

I kinda like the Venza...Maybe I missed it, but what's the name of the kid?

"Venza" IF IT'S A GIRL? :clap: Kind-of like naming your daughter "Porsche". :D

[4x4mike]

We're waiting to determine the sex. As such we've had a hard time choosing names. I think when we need to we'll pick something. We just woke up from a good nap. Good thing is that we didn't know how tired we were. Bad thing is that the cramps are back and a little painful. We're making some pancakes right now, she's craving them, and will probably plop down in front of the tv.

On our outing we got some Chipotle and made a stop at Target so that was good. Target sells booze now so I'm stocked with some beer and goodies now. I can't get the pictures off my phone for some reason but I'll post up a good one later.

[slosurfer]

have fun :D Isn't that cool that target has beer and stuff now.

[4x4mike]

have fun :D Isn't that cool that target has beer and stuff now.


I guess, it was a little expensive. As a result I just grabbed some Bud Light. Here is my helper. She grabbed it from the cashier just wanting to help but I thought it was funny, a lady with a baby head poking out walking out of Target with a suitcase of beer.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/MISC/Photo0088.jpg

551pm and still nothing. She's getting an little anxious so I think we're going to call the MW. I presume they'll be here around 7. Like last night I think that'll be it for posting until they leave.

[slosurfer]

Reminds me of a scene in Dazed and Confused - "Make sure you eat a grean thing everyday..." :laugh:

[Obi..]

Up late so I thought I'd bump this knowing you two are either sleeping or working really at things right now, so I'll simply close this post with...


SHOW ME(US) THE BABY!!??

[4x4mike]

Holy heck and a half. I'm running on fumes here so please bare with me. Friday afternoon my wife let me know her water broke, awesome. She started having contractions and she was getting rid of her fluid. This went into the night and we ended up getting so tired we fell asleep. We woke up around 6 to more contractions but not so intense. We did a couple of errands but had to return home around noon. Saturday afternoon my wife had headaches and overall not so good feelings. She is one MF'n tough SOB and you can tell her I said that. We both decided on the homebirth but I told her that if she ever thought we had to go in we'll go and if that's what she want's we'll do it. Around 8 I was sent to the store to get some Castor oil. I guess this is something that makes you crap but in turn your body produces a hormone that can induce labor. Well it did but not for more than 4 hours. We were trying to make my wife as comfortable as possible but in turn that was making her too relaxed and he contractions would subside. We didn't find this out until later. We went for a walk after the MW's pumped her full of herbs. Every 2-3 houses she would have a drop to her knees contraction. We made it home and the MW's checked her out. She was at about a 3 which is next to nothing after that long after the water breaking. I guess there is 'water' in 2 different sacks and they can mean different things.

Anyways at about 10pm last night I called her sister and mom. They are great support for everyone there. At about midnight last night they filled the birthing tub and Marin got in. I was told I had to also which was something I told myself I could do without. My wife was going through hell and I kind of put it out there so in the tub I went. It was warm so that was nice. Problem was that I was falling asleep while she was going all buck wild. I slammed a Pepsi and ate some food then went back in the ring. At about 1 I was telling the MW's we had to go in to the hospital. My wife did not want to go but if she said yes we'd go. Long story short about 10 hours after I would have thrown in the towel, gone home and cried like a girl my wife gave birth to our little girl. It was such an amazing experience. I can't even describe it, I was putty and so proud of my wife. There were so many times that I thought we'd turn in our chips but she busted her ass. When that baby came out I was speechless were as she was totally amazed. Like she had forgot what had been in her stomach for the past 9 months.

Not official but we have chosen the name Magdalena Josephine (not sure on the spellings except for the last name). She's 7 pounds 15 ounces, and 21 3/4" long. Birth time was 10:43 Mar 15. The MW's were awesome and I was wrong to change my trust in them. They took such good care of us and didn't leave until about 2pm. They made sure the baby was clean, checked over, healthy, dressed and latched on. The little one went to town on the milk locker that has been under construction for the past 9 months. Right now the 2 of them are sound asleep and I am thoroughly stoked.

I hope some of this made sense. Here are some pictures. I can explain them later.

Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers.

Mike

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_000.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_0008.jpg



http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_0021.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_0033.jpg

Placenta in a bag.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_0039.jpg

She looks like my Mom.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_0045.jpg

Little bruised up
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_0047.jpg

7lb, 15oz
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_0050.jpg

Man our bedding is making a fashion statement grouped together.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March 15/DSC_0051.jpg

[Obi..]

I take back the cheer about myself from yesterdays posts in Chris's thread...


Its "You guys who ROCK!!". :D Congrats!

[Seanz0rz]

congrats! i owe you a beer next time i see you! your wife and baby girl are absolutely beautiful! what an amazing experience. so happy for you all!

now get some sleep! youll need it!

[slosurfer]

Congrats!!!! She's beautiful! :thumbup: If you haven't been told yet, when she's asleep, you'd better try to sleep. :laugh:

[YotaFun]

Congrats Man!!!
She's Adorable!!

Now go out on a fun wheelin trip to celebrate!

[4runnerchevy]

Nicely done. Congrats to the best thing on earth :thumbup:

[paddlenbike]

Wow, truely awesome. I can't congratulate you two enough.

[4x4mike]

If you haven't been told yet, when she's asleep, you'd better try to sleep.
You mean instead of hanging out on the board? I'm just having trouble sleeping. Maybe when I'm old.

[CJM]

CONGRATS!!

btw my grandma is named magdalena :)

[habanero]

Ohhh, those feet! :love:

[reggie 00]

Congratulations!

Since you had a little girl you might be needing to visit the other forum i frequent:
calguns.net

Again congratulations to you both.

Is there anything you guys need? i might have some stuff floating around that you could use.
Let us know.

Reggie

[fustercluck]

I suppose it's too late to change her name to Germillatude...


Congrats to you both. She's a beautiful young lady. Now go buy a shotgun.

[Seanz0rz]

I suppose it's too late to change her name to Germillatude...


Congrats to you both. She's a beautiful young lady. Now go buy a shotgun.


eh, you got about 12 years till you'll really need it. till then a crowbar should suffice...

[DHC6twinotter]

Wow...awesome! Congrats!

[RobG]

Congratulations and Enjoy!!! They grow up very fast.

[slosurfer]

If you haven't been told yet, when she's asleep, you'd better try to sleep.
You mean instead of hanging out on the board? I'm just having trouble sleeping. Maybe when I'm old.


LOL, now is when you start to feel old. Next time I see you, your hair is going to look like Ken's. :D

[Bob98SR5]

mike,

congrats to you guys on your first child! can't wait to see her!

bob

[Good Times]

m&m,

congrats guys! :drink:

[paddlenbike]

LOL, now is when you start to feel old. Next time I see you, your hair is going to look like Ken's. :D


Hey! There's a separate thread for that issue! :D

He used to be an early-riser. Now it looks like he's cramming in sleep when he can.

[4x4mike]

Thanks guys. If you read the gray hair thread you'll see I already have some, it started when I finished school and got married. The baby slept so well last night. I've been told too well. We were told to wake her every 2-3 hours so she could eat. Marin was so tired and I was getting the baby to sleep so she didn't eat. Marin woke me up and I asked her what time it was and she said 630, whoops. She was stoked that she got some rest and was able to eat and take a shower. Hell I slept too because Maggie was out. Now she's being fussy about eating. Well all she wants to do is sleep and not eat. The MW's are coming over again for another exam and they are going to help us out. All in all everything is perfect, my mom even came over and is doing laundry :thumbup:

[YotaGirl]

Congratulations you two! She is beautiful!!

Oh and don't worry too much about the feedings. As long as she is gaining weight, I say let her eat when she wants. My daughter was the same way, by the third night she was sleeping 6 hours between her last feeding for the night and her first for the morning.

[4x4mike]

Thanks for the advice. I think the MW's want her to eat so she'll gain weight. She's not a tiny baby so I think she'll be fine. It just worries my wife because they say to feed every 2-3 hours and she'll only want it every 5-6. In the mean time she sleep like crazy with bits of waking to check things and people out. She's a great little baby and couldn't have asked for more.

Pics of the day.

A little pissed she had to pose for a picture.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March%2015/DSC_0053.jpg

My two ladies. I think this one is going on my desk at work.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March%2015/DSC_0059.jpg

The only way to get her to think she may want to eat is to wake her up. The only way we've found is to set her on her back on something hard. She's catching on it doesn't work as well now. Now she stiffness up, gives an FU kind of closed eyes look and stays asleep which is funny to look at. You can she the stain she has on her onesie already. I had to fess up to that one. I was holding her while eating and typing on the computer. The food that fell on her hand licked right off but no so much the cottoney little baby leg.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/March%2015/DSC_0063.jpg

[fustercluck]

They are beautiful!

[Scuba]

Beautiful wife and daughter, Your daughter looks healthy..Congrats !! :clap:



:bling:

[paddlenbike]

Very cute. And she will probably be one of the most photographed babies in history--I see you hitting that Nikon 100,000 shutter-click life. :D

[4x4mike]

I've wondered how to check the number of shutter clicks. I guess I should read the manual. Maybe my dad was right, that it was so expensive it will make me a cup of coffee. The nice thing about the D50 is that you don't have to read the manual. I've had the camera since it hit the market and the manual never left the box.

Baby is doing fine. She sleeps like a pothead and when she wants to, eats like her father. This post has taken forever because I am one handed typing with my off hand because I am holding her.

[paddlenbike]

and you didn't get a picture of that?!?

[4x4mike]

and you didn't get a picture of that?!?


What, the typing. If I can't eat while holding her at the computer I doubt I could take a picture. My luck I'd drop the camera on her. Plus I think it would be too close of a shot. Maybe next time.

[wifesaysimadumbass]

me and my wife had our last two kids at home it was bitchin we are expecting #5 and this one will be at home too
congrats dude the great adventure begins!!!

[4x4mike]

#5, damn. My wife used to want 3, now she is reconsidering. I could be happy with one but 2 would be good. At homewas so much nicer and I couldn't imagine it in a hospital with doctors. I don't think they would have let her labor as long as she did and because it took so long to progress they would have pumped her full of drugs and then probably done a c-section. If you look up c-section numbers you'll be amazed, it's like 45% in Sacramento Co. I bet more than half of those were unnecessary and more for convenience.

[wifesaysimadumbass]

dude me and you are thinking the same way hospitals make more money off c-sections and doctors can schedule them, so they dont have to miss a tee time.... what a frigging rip off....and i talk to people that have c sections that think a home birth is risky...???? Risky?!!!! having you major organs removed and being stictch back together is not risky?

[4x4mike]

hospitals make more money off c-sections and doctors can schedule them, so they dont have to miss a tee time.... what a frigging rip off

I guess most births are between tuesday and thursday and no later than 530pm. This frees up the doctors evenings and weekends. I guess all these stats can be looked up for each state. In the past 16 months we have had 8 friends or family have children. All but one was in a hospital. At least half were 'emergency' c-section. The moms say they were so thankful for their doctors, that they saved their lives and their babies. Out midwives comment to that is that's because they tried to kill you.

[wifesaysimadumbass]

labors not progressing... administer pitosin... baby goes into fetal distress due to drugs administered to speed up a "natural process".. then have an emergency c-section to correct the mistakes that have already been perpertrated..... you guys have the right idea and no matter how nuts people think we are screw em

[habanero]

At home birth would have been great but I'll be one of those women who were grateful for being in the hospital and for the immediate availability of that emergency c-section. I went in earlier than I really needed to, my water broke shortly thereafter (no drugs to urge things on), cord prolapsed and suddenly we were racing for surgery in a race to get him out before the pinched off cord did him harm. Had I not been there a little too early, before it all went sideways......

At any rate, I agree there are far too many c-sections and think home births can be a great thing but not the only thing, but could y'all maybe go a little easier on those of us who had that emergency c-section?

[wifesaysimadumbass]

sorry habanero we dont' mean to beat up on you... you were one of the cases where the c section was neccesary in so many cases it is not.... that's where is get chafed but, of course my wife is built to have children. i've seen her fold laundry, labor for half an hour and give birth and within 20 minutes she is back to folding laundry again....!!!!some women are definately not built like that, thats the beauty of hospitals that so many more kids can survive.

[4x4mike]

X2 I totally agree.

I'm sorry if I came off that way.

One week down. The baby is still alive, my wife hasn't killed me yet and I have made it into the garage multiple times. I'm happy.

[habanero]

Ugh! I can't fold laundry almost 6 years later! :D

I know y'alls didn't mean me specifically, it was just starting to feel like a bash-off which was a shame as the original subject matter, well, matters much more. Got more pics, you've prolly got the youngun changing the oil by now, don'tcha?

[4x4mike]

I haven't taken any pictures in the past few days because we've just been lounging. We did go for a long walk today though. The walk was nice because I hit the hills on a short bike ride today and the legs are still sore from being stuffed in that birthing tub.

Little Maggie did spend some time with me in the garage yesterday and today though. She didn't help much but I explained to her dishing a bicycle wheel, cleaning up after yourself, the difference between listening to mom and hearing mom, making a single speed into a shifter and sleeving metal tube.

[habanero]

Little Maggie did spend some time with me in the garage yesterday and today though. She didn't help much but I explained to her dishing a bicycle wheel, cleaning up after yourself, the difference between listening to mom and hearing mom, making a single speed into a shifter and sleeving metal tube.

:lol: Good man, you know, except for that mom part. For that... :flipoff:



:D

[4x4mike]

I just thought about this thread so I had to find it. There will be a part 2 or Birthing a Baby Revisited coming this spring.

We're expecting a boy the last week of March or the first week in April. Marin is currently at week 25 or so. Come week 40 or 41, if all goes well, I'll have to clear a spot in the bedroom for a birthing tub once again.

Stay tuned.

[Obi..]

Is it wrong that I'm smiling and thinking assembly line logic right now? Congrats guys, we're still unsure about going for a second kid yet. :D

[slosurfer]

Congrats Mike!