In honor of Labor Day, a meme from Shannon of Rocks in My Dryer:
How long were your labors?
Bito: 12 hours, more or less
Cupcake: 5 hours, totally fierce and rough
BabyMuffin: 9ish hours
How did you know you were in labor?
Bito: induced
Cupcake: unbelievably hard back labor…there was no doubt
BabyMuffin: slow, soft contractions that didn’t quit
Where did you deliver?
Bito: in a Japanese birthing center
Cupcake: in a hospital in Northern Virginia
BabyMuffin: also in a hospital in Northern Virginia, although not the same one and it could be argued that it’s not really in Northern Virginia since it’s so daggone far out…
Drugs?
Bito: Not common in Japanese births, but I made the doctor give me something. He swore he was giving me a little bit, just to take the edge off, but in reality, I don’t think he gave me anything. I still felt everything.
Cupcake: After the hard back labor, I finally begged for something. The anesthesiologist finally arrived, stuck me fifty times and left. I swung my legs up onto the bed and had to push RIGHT THEN. Cupcake was born three pushes later. The epidural took effect in time for me to get stitched up.
BabyMuffin: None.
C-section?
Nope.
Who delivered?
Bito: The Japanese OB who spoke adequate English. And no, I don’t speak a word of Japanese!
Cupcake: My fantastic, calm OB whom I’d been with for years and years.
Bito: An awesome, wonderful midwife who was so gentle and respectful.
