My two pregnancies and deliveries could not have been any more different!
#1. I chose a doctor who came recommended. He was old, experienced, but also closed up. He didn't just offer up information - not unless I asked, and then he seemed irritated. But...I didn't really know any better - so I stuck with him. I was super hungry the whole pregnancy and ate whatever I wanted because nothing satisfied me. I gained 33 lbs before my 3rd trimester. I went to the doc for a routine checkup at 28 weeks and he told me not to gain anymore weight. At exactly 33 weeks I had put on 45 lbs. At work that day I felt like I had peed my pants all day long. The next day I went to see the doctor and he confirmed that I was leaking amniotic fluid. He told me to go home and pack my bag since I would not be leaving the hospital between then and my due date. I was monitored to the hilt and offered sleeping pills the first night, which I did not take. The second evening the doctor on rotation came to see me and asked if I had been given my second shot of steroids yet. 2nd, I said? When was the first? Apparently somebody missed something and my baby did not get his lung help. Doctor was infuriated. Nurse came in with the first shot. About 6 hourse later I was awakened to the feeling of literally being probed and flipped over - his heart rate had dropped. They said the doctor was on his way and that I'd be having a cesarean within the hour. 20 minutes later my gorgeous tan and dark haired boy made his way into our operating room. He was a healthy 4lbs 9oz (in fact, overweight for his age!) thanks to my overeating. They wisked him off to the NICU and my husband disappeared. I was stitched up after being told that I had nice looking ovaries, and wheeled off to recovery. My toes weren't waking up. I took almost two hours before they cleared me and took me in to see my little baby. When in recovery I had my nurse page the NICU for my husband to bring the camera in - I wanted to see my baby! The NICU nurse turned to my husband and said, "Your wife is dying....(pause)....to see those pictures." He just about had a stroke - seriously, nurse, some sensitivity! Our baby mystified the doctors and nurses by scoring an 8 apgar, comletely breathing on his own, no problems at all, except a little heart murmur, which is typical for most premies. He was in the NICU for 3 weeks 2 days to learn how to suck and get over an acute sleep apnea. He never nursed, not uncommon for babies that early. I pumped for 2 months before I started drying up. My recovery was long - I had pain for 6 months in my abdomen. He has been the healthiest child ever - no issues at all.
#2. 2 years later - I insisted on a VBAC because I did not want to go through 6 months of recovery, this time with a toddler to chase around. I found a wonderful female doctor who answered all my questions, and always asked if I had any more. She said that if ANYTHING looked amiss that I'd have to forgoe the VBAC, and I agreed - a healthy baby is most important. The pregnancy was textbook, but the first 3 months painful because I had adhesions to the cesarean scar and they were stretching. I gained 32 lbs, and nothing till well into my 5th month. It was another boy. At 40 weeks, she tried helping things along by thinning my membranes. Nothing. I had been having a few contractions, but nothing progressive. We scheduled an induction for the following Wednesday. Then she called and said that she would be out of town, but could get me in Tuesday - ok, fine. Oh wait! That's our anniversary! Oh well, baby needs to come out and if that's the day, so be it. Tuesday morning I was in light labor. We went to the hospital at 6am. By 9am I was on PIT and progessing well. I started pushing at 12:15 and he was born just after 1pm. My pushing wasn't successful though because he kept creeping back up into the birth canal. When I finally got his head out, the doctor called out, "double nucal" and from between my knees I could see her working frantically with scissors. She did the rest of the birthing, and wrestled his fat shoulders out of me. I did have a level 3 episiotomy. He was a chubby 8lbs 3oz. Pale and blonde! There was meconium when they broke my water, so the NICU staff was in the room for the delivery and took him immediately. After a little oxygen and some extra suckage, he was cleared. My recovery was limited to about 2 weeks of discomfort from the episiotomy, but that was totally acceptable by me! He nursed for 6 months.
So I have two completely different looking boys from the same parents. One looks like my husband and one looks like me. One dark skinned, brown hair and the deepest brown eyes you have ever seen. One light skinned, platinum blond, and bright blue eyes.
Couldn't have been any more different!