Natural vs. Drugs?

Dr. John Bonica invented the marvelous epidural in the 1930's for his wife.  I can't think of a better gift!  When I was pregnant, many asked if I was going to have little Noelle naturally or with an epidural.  Do you really have to ask?  I LOVE epidurals!!!  I think women who have babies naturally are superheros.  I didn't even want to try.  Once the contractions started, all I could think of was that wonderous drug.  People are very split natural vs. drugs.  Someone once told me if you go to the hospital to get your arm amputated, you would not try without anesthesia.  So why would someone have a baby without an epidural!?  Again, I am very biased because I do not like pain.  I was scared of the big, long, pointy needle going into my back.  However, I was more scared of pushing a 7lbs 2oz watermelon out of a 10cm hole (again - take a look at a ruler).

Additional notes:
-lamaze teacher (harriet) was anti-drugs
-babycare class teacher was anti-drugs
-my mom and mom-in-law are superheros (natural)
-anesthesiologist was going in for c-section three days after noelle was born
-noelle is perfect

Love,
Noelle's Mommy

Labor Day!

So I didn't think there were enough blogs out there...so why not add one more!  I am a new mommy who would like to share the joys (plus good, bad, and ugly) of parenthood. 

My daughter, Noelle Rose, was born on September 26, 2009.  It has been the best day of my life.  I never knew how blessed I would feel once she came into our lives.  I have been married for 2.5 years to "Freddy".  He is a wonderful husband and daddy (more to come about him in future posts).  Sometimes I see them together and get teary-eyed.  Okay now for the good stuff...the delivery...

Everything you learned in lamaze class - forget it!  Believe me, when the time comes you will forget how to breathe and beg for an epidural.  My water broke when I was laying in bed.  However, I didn't know it was my water (I thought I peed a little).  My hubby Goggled "Did her water break?" We had all the signs. It was truly happening.   In Lamaze, they told us that we should stay at home as long as possible - take a bath, relax, get a massage from the hubby.  Yeah - right!  The contractions came at full force within an hour (3-5 minutes apart).  I was so worried I was going to miss my opportunity for an epidural.  We were standing outside our apartment flagging down a cabbie.  We only live five blocks from the hospital, but I wasn't walking.  We got to the hospital and had to wait about an hour to get into a delivery room.  I kept telling (okay yelling) Freddy to go get the BLEEPing doctor now.  I need my epidural.  I did finally get the wonderful drug around 4:00am.  I was a different person - happy and cheerful.  We spent Saturday morning watching TV.  Finally at 1:00pm, I was ready to push.  Our baby's heartbeat was dropping so she needed to be "vacuumed" out.  I only pushed for 20-30 minutes and she was here.  Her head was only cone-shaped for about 12 hours, but she was wearing a hat the whole time. 

Also...we didn't find out if we were having a boy or girl.  We told the doctors and nurses that we didn't know.  However, when she came out - I had to ask if it was a boy or girl.  They forgot to tell us (definitely not like the movies). 

Things about labor no one told me about...
-the fish hook needle (what!?)
-it burns, it burns!
-how long will these last for? you know, down there...
-how long was i linda blair?... i blame freddy.
-10cm is how big?  seriously look at a ruler.

Okay...enough for the first post!  Stay tuned when I share stories about breast-feeding (holy &%#% - ouch), peeing everywhere, soft spots, shopping, etc.

Love,
Noelle's Mommy

PS:  Please feel free to comment and share advice.