(Closed) Baby Shower Birth Stories Giveaway

Bloggy Baby Shower Kick-Off

It’s officially party time!!! I’m so excited that February is officially here and with that, I’m committing myself to casting stress aside and enjoying the heck out of this final month of my pregnancy. This month will be jam packed with sponsor giveaways/reviews, and a few baby shower games. So let’s start things off easy and fun. Making and baking babies is all about the end result…the birth. I’ve touched on my own birth stories of Mattison and Kaydence. So today I want to share the story of Sarah from Mom Tips from the ZooKeeper. I’m hoping to experience a drug-free birth this time around, so it’s only fitting to share one with you! After reading Sarah’s story, be sure to check out how to share yours and enter the giveaway at the end.

Sarah’s Birth Story

A letter to my pal Cat.

The time is fast approaching my friend. I know you want to deny it and that just seeing those words typed out make you start to hyperventilate a little. But let me assure you that you will be just fine. You’ve done this before – TWICE! You know that you can do it. But just in case you were doubting yourself let me go ahead and tell you a little story.

Once upon a time there was a 25 year old (dingbat) woman. She fell in love with a wonderful man, moved in with him and promptly had her birth control fail on her. As she went to appointment after appointment and muddled through a birthing class she wondered to herself if she was really going to be able to do this. The second week of birthing class she and her beloved were introduced to the concept of the epidural. The very notion of a sharp pointy object that close to her spine deepened her resolve that natural was her way to go.

The day arrived and she was induced because there were questions of whether the bundle was a little over cooked. As the contractions intensified she began to wonder if she might have been wrong about that pointy object and her spine. So she broke. Ok! I’ll do it! And as soon as the words were out of her mouth, she began to cry. She was so close. The doctor and the anesthesiologist were paged. A contraction hit harder than ever. And then another. She turned to Beloved (white as a sheet by now and numb in all fingers) and said, “I have to push!”

Being the sensitive and thoughtful type he laughed in her face and said, “No you don’t! The nurse just said you were only 5 cm. You CAN’T push yet!” As she (ripped his face off) was overtaken by another contraction she let out a scream that sucked the entire nurses’ station into their delivery room. When the now faceless husband explained what had been said, the nurse lifted the sheet for a second look. Immediately nurses were scrambling for something called a fast pack and a catcher’s mitt. The baby was not caught by the doctor who had done all the prenatal care. She was caught by a shower cap. At least that’s what the mother saw. A shower cap with glasses.

The doctor arrived a few minutes later still in suit and tie and asked if he was really needed. The anesthesiologist never showed.

Fast forward 16 months. Dingbat woke up at 5:45 AM with “funny cramps.” She peed, got a drink of water and turned on the news. Faceless who had regrown his face, and had a 7 AM tee time. Dingbat sent him on his way because the baby wasn’t due for 6 more weeks; “It’s probably just Braxton Hicks.” Dingbat took firstborn to daycare and warned her boss that she may actually be in (wait a minute while I breathe – ok) labor. She then went home to pack her bag for the hospital while she waited an hour and a half for the doctor’s office to open.

After a early morning exam the doctor advised that she call Faceless off the golf course and drive across the street. “We’ll have a baby before lunch. You’re at 5 cm.” When Dingbat called Faceless on the golf course, he panicked. 5 cm before was baby 5 minutes later. In his excitement Faceless overshot the delivery room (still in Hawaiian shirt and golf spikes) and went into the room next door where a woman had been in labor for 30+ hours and would eventually deliver a 10 lb + baby. His response? “You’re not my wife!” and “Good Luck!”

This time the pointy object never crossed her mind. She had done this before. She survived it and she could do it again. And she did.

Two years later. 1:30 AM. Well crap. Here we go. She gets up, makes the coffee that she knows Faceless is going to need to get through to early morning, calls the backup for First and Second Borns and then wakes Faceless. They drive through the heavy fog of the wee small hours, check in on auto pilot and wait. Dingbat has been working 50+ hours for 4 months on top of being incredibly pregnant and a mom to two toddlers. She is overwhelmed, tired, and ready to be done. This time she asks the doctor for something to just take the edge off so that she can rest before the big fun starts. It lasted all of 45 minutes and allowed her to take a nap. Was she disappointed in herself? No. Not this time. She needed that rest to be a good mommy. The pointy thing was never in play this time either. She had done this before. This time though she was willing to ask for a little help.

Why do I tell you these three stories? To tell you that it never happens the same way twice. The key is to make up your mind. Be confident in your choice. Express your choice to yourself, your beloved, your doctor and the staff. If walking is for you, insist that you be able to walk. If the birthing ball is for you, insist that it is there. Make it known ahead of time.

They call that person who sits beside you your “coach.” Make sure the coach is supporting your decision.

Set your mind. If music helps you focus, bring music. If breathing works, breathe. If remembering funny stories is distracting and helps, have someone read you this story over and over. (At least they will have an idea of the torture you are going through.)

You can do this. You already have twice before. And when you do and you see that little bundle and you snuggle and cuddle you will be the best mommy you can be. May Emmaleigh come into this world just the way mommy wants her, safe, sound, healthy, and perfect. No matter what means you take to get her here.

All my love and support.
Your friend,
S

Win It:

Today I’m offering a little something from my own boutique, My Baby Bump Maternity. One winner will get to choose from the onesies “Girl Ingredients: Sugar & Spice” and “Boy Ingredients: Snips & Snails”. Sizes available are 6 mos, 12 mos, 18 mos, and 24 mos.

Giveaway Entry:

Joining in is easy. Just write a post on your own blog sharing your birth story. If you haven’t had a birth experience yet, just write your post on what plans you have or would like to have for future child birth. Come back and leave the link to that post (not your main blog link) in Mr. Linky below. You need to do 3 things in your comment to enter.

1. Let me know which link number is yours.
2. Tell me if you’d like to win the boy or girl onesie.
3. Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entries:

In order for extra entries to count you must first complete “Giveaway Entry”.

• 1 EXTRA ENTRY: Twitter this post and giveaway. Include #BBShower in your tweet so I can verify you did. Leave a comment with your twitter name letting me know you did.
• 1 EXTRA ENTRY: Stumble this post. Use the Share and Enjoy Stumble Icon below this post. Leave a comment with your StumbleUpon username.
• 1 EXTRA ENTRY: Digg this post. Use the Share and Enjoy Digg Icon below this post. Leave a comment with your Digg username.
• 1 EXTRA ENTRY: Add the Bloggy Baby Shower banner to your blog. If it’s already there that counts too. Just leave a comment with your blog link.

Giveaway Rules:

Giveaway open to U.S. residents only with a valid street address (no P.O. Boxes please). Entrants must first complete the “Giveaway Entry” requirement before completing extra entries. Winner will be chosen by Random.org on February 24, 2009 9am CST unless otherwise noted. Winners will be notified by email and must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Entries MUST include an email address in the comment! No email = No entry!