Sue's Story

My husband and I had been married for 2 years and couldn't wait to have a baby. We tried for four months and bingo we where pregnant. Bob was going to work and I got up to do the home test. I ran down the stairs and out into the yard, wearing just my nightdress with no shoes (7:00 am October). I stood there and he ran into my arms and we cried with joy.

Well the monthly, by-weekly and weekly visits went so quickly it was like I just got pregnant and boom, the baby was coming. I lost weight for the first 4 months and wore my regular clothes until I was 7 months. The irony of it was I always wanted to have kids but I thought I would be so big they would have to wheel me around with a dolly, and take the door casings out, but I just looked like I was just gaining weight. I couldn't wait to look like I was pregnant. I gained 35

PI lbs in total, and I was 41 PI weeks when I had the baby. I kept myself pretty busy; I walked everyday in the malls to keep cool. My mother and I spent a lot of time together shopping and going to lunch. I swam as often as I could for hours at a time. I found that to be so very relaxing and the baby seemed to enjoy it as well. Listen to this one; the baby heard his first concert when I was 7 months; we went to see THE GUESS WHO. He kicked and moved when the concert started and didn't stop. We danced and had the time of our lives.

I went to the hospital August 2nd to have the jell (prostin) put in and have my cervix scraped. It was not as bad as it sounds, really. The nurse Mary Fraser was the nicest and the most helpful person I had ever met. I stayed for an hour to see if there was any difference in my cervix. There was a 70% change; I knew that I was going to go in labour so I wanted to go home. Yes, that kind of sounds strange, but I had a feeling it was going to be longer than I wanted, so I went home to be comfortable. My labour started at 7:00 pm. My sister-in-law (Tracy-Jane) came over and she and my mother said that we should go to the hospital, but I stuck to my guns and said later. I wanted to wait until morning, and that,s exactly what I did. Sure it was unpleasant, but we handled it. We went into the hospital at 7:00 am the next morning. They were going to induce me anyway. So, they put me on the drip and we prepared for the big event. Mary (my labour nurse) was like an angel sent from heaven. She guided me the entire way. I wasn't going to have the epidural but I was into labour for a while and I hadn't slept in two days. I said to Mary, "do you think I would be a wimp if I had it?" Well no you're not. Why be in pain if you don't have to be? Mind you it was not a very nice experience, but I handled it. If you get the epidural ask them to just to take the edge off and you will still feel everything but the pain. By this time my mother and Bob were there and Tracy was on her way. By 3:00 pm I was ready, but Mary and I waited for my family to get back from a break before we started pushing. Everyone was there and the stage was set. Started pushing at 3:30 and boom he flew (literally) out at 3:48. Everyone was so helpful, it was so nice to have everyone there, to help and encourage me through this.

Jared Robert Joseph is his name and he is a "living doll". He was 8.6 lbs and 21 PI " long. After I had him I got right up and had a shower and walked to my room. I have to be totally honest with you, I was very reluctant to go and have this baby. I had heard such negative feedback from everyone. From the hospital, the nurses, etc. Well, let me tell you that's all it was, just talk. I was treated like a queen and the labour and delivery was nothing like I had heard. So, if you're just pregnant now and reading this to learn other womens experiences, please read this and take heed. Do as much as you can ie: walking, swimming etc. The more active you are during your pregnancy the easier your labour will be. If you hear negative talk, please ignore it and think positive. "Prepare for the worst and get the best."