My sister, on the other hand was pregnant with a boy and had just delivered. She has the EASIEST births in the world - this was her third, and had come in just 15 minutes with a huge gush of water. She had a hard time getting to the birth center in time, and left with her baby right afterwards (both of them in perfect shape).

We were very hesitant to go to the hospital until we found out that something was wrong. Then we couldn't wait to get an ultrasound. The midwives sent us to the best doctors in the world! They informed us that something was wrong with the placenta, and baby was not growing as fast as she should, and they might have to take her out early. She was perfectly healthy though, just a little small.

So we started having regular check-ups twice a week. Well, on Tuesday, we went in to have her heart rate monitored, and they were going to schedule us for the next check on Friday, but the doctor spontaneously decided to have me come in the next day (Wend). Good thing we did! On Wendsday, he checked her water, and found it extremely low!

An hour later, they induced labor - I couldn't even feel the contractions. The only way I knew they were occuring was by listening to her heart beat. As they became more intense though, her heart beat dropped. Every time there was a contraction, her heart stopped the whole time. Then it stopped for a long time.

They whisked us into surgery, and had her out in twenty seconds.

She was screaming! Six weeks early, 3 lbs 6.4 oz and all head, not a bit of fat on her, perfect scores on all the tests. She was in an incubator for two weeks, being almost 6 weeks early, and unable to digest yet or keep herself warm, but was healthy! She only needed oxygen for four minutes! She even had fingernails.

The doctor took the time to sew me up neatly - rather than staple me - that's important in terms of scars. I have plenty of advice for home birthers and c-section mothers. For example, if I had it all to do over again, I would have toured the hospital beforehand, and asked the midwives about c-sections. I also would have done some baby shopping right away, filled my freezer with TV dinners, cleaned the whole house, bought a camcorder, and prepared the baby announcements. (After a c-section, I couldn't wash my hair, open a door, get up, lift a big glass of water, hang up the phone, etc...)

I still believe that home births are okay for people like my sister - she probably won't have much choice about that next time anyway. However, I'll never have a home birth now - risking my baby's health isn't worth my ideal experience. In our case, baby was in big trouble and we knew it. If it had not been for the ultrasounds and the expertise of our level midwives & doctors, we would not have known it, and we would have lost her.

As for nursing, I very nearly gave up - I had to pump out milk for baby for almost a MONTH before she could stay awake long enough to just nurse directly. Even then she would fall asleep while nursing, or cry the whole time. I thought something was wrong, but couldn't figure out what. Her diapers were full & very plenty, and she was gaining weight. Eventually, I figured out that nothing was wrong, it's just how she is.

In addition to that, my antibiotics caused me to lose nearly 40 lbs - I was back down to 114 lbs, and could barely eat enough for myself! (Very glad to have my mother there to help me!) Then one day, I found out that I could get more sleep if I just attached baby to me and left her there. No more work! We sleep side by side all night. Every time I sit at a table I stick her on a big pillow on my lap, while she nurses and doses. She is always with me, and I am having the time of my life!

I've never had so much fun. My favorite time of the day is when we go to bed, and I can feel her little belly breathing against me. Nursing my baby is really the greatest experience I've ever had. I also enjoy giving her a bubble bath and almond oil massage every day - she likes it too - and it's something to do when I've run out of lullabys. She likes to be wrapped in warm towels, fresh from the dryer, and we listen to foreign language tapes while I massage her. She also likes to go outside. I keep her away from people - I don't want her in the hospital again - but she's a strong baby now, and at six months, she is 10 lbs. (that's perfect for her).

Please let me know what you think or ask questions by emailing me at:
rose@rosary.net

Much luck, London

Update: Baby is around 7 months old now & she has fewer diapers (less work - woo hoo!) and she will play with her toys or watch Barney for almost a half an hour by herself without crying! That gives me enough time to take out the trash and vaccuum. Most of the time she wants to be carried - I do everything one-handed, and am getting very strong! I made some nice footprints on special handmade rose petal paper that I got from Victoria Papers - free shipping on the web.

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