37 Weeks and TMI

I've been reminiscing about my children's births. Especially in the context of, "Will this baby come early or late?" So, for those who care, here is a little history.

As I remember it:

Good Thing #1 was originally due November 8th though the due date was moved up to November 1st after my 20 week ultrasound. Imagine my surprise when on October 19th, way before I was expecting it (after all I had been told that 1st babies are always late) my water broke. We had invited some of Gabe's brothers over for a movie and pizza and were just getting started when I had the exciting experience of feeling like I wet my pants. After consulting 2 of my sister-in-laws, they told me that it was my water and I should head to the hospital. I was pretty dumb, as I didn't really realize that meant I was there to stay and that I would be having a baby. I remember being pretty excited when the nurses told me I was having contractions. I was like, "Sweet, these don't even hurt." About midnight, though they kicked in, and I remember being so sad that I would not have any more children since it hurt so bad. After my epidural though all was well and I knew I'd be able to do this again. Well, after a bit of sleep then a bit of pushing (2 hours, HELLO!) baby boy #1 was born at like 7:44 am on the 20th, weighing in at 7 lbs 5 oz.

Good Thing #2 was due July 6th. Since my first baby was early I fully expected #2 to do me the same favor. No such luck. I went to my appointment on the 7th, still very pregnant, where the doctor sent me to the hospital to see if I had progressed enough to be induced. They determined I was, so I was sent home with an appointment to be induced the next morning. The morning of the 8th we arrived bright and early to have a baby. I was indeed ready to have a him as this delightful child came after 3 hours of labor and no pushing. (Yes, I had an epidural-remember I wanted more children). He was 8lbs 11 oz.

Good Thing #3 was due May 2. At my 39 week appointment my doctor asked me if I wanted to be induced and I said, "Sure, sign me up." I thought it was interesting that they didn't send me over to the hospital this time "to see if I had progressed enough..." I went in on the 25th and got hooked up. This baby gave me a bit of a hard time as his heart rate would continue to drop at each contraction, and at the call of, "We might have to do a c-section" I freaked a little (if you've read my 100 things about me list, you will know that I'm afraid of black widow spiders and c-sections). I couldn't help thinking, "Maybe I shouldn't have got induced, since this baby doesn't seem to want to be born." All was well in the end, and boy #3 was born at like 2 in the afternoon. This baby was also 7lbs 5 oz.

Good Thing #4 was due September 14. All I could think with this baby was, I kind of wish it would be born early so it could hit the school enrollment cut off (I dislike the late birthday thing). Well, in fine fashion, this delightful baby woke me up Friday, August 31st, ready to be born. My water broke, so off we went though we took our sweet time getting to the hospital. Baby #4 wasn't born until the evening, since no one was in any hurry to get me going and once the pitocin had started her heart rate dropped like #3. Like the last 3 times though all was well in the end. Baby girl came in at a petite 7lbs 1 oz.