Randy, my boyfriend, and I, were visiting my sister at college during spring breakof 1998, when I learned I was pregnant.   I was always very regular, but I was late that month and knew something was wrong.   The home pregnancy test was instantly positive. There would be no 5-10 minute wait for me.  I was so scared.  I couldn't stop crying.  What would my parents say or do?  The fact that was 19 and unmarried really made me worry what their reactions would be.  For this reason, I hid it from them until I was 4 months pregnant.  After my first visit to the obstetrician, when I was 4 months pregnant, I told my parents the news.

    Their reactions were not what I had expected.  My sister, Jenny, helped me tell my mom.  My mom's exact words were "Stacy! I'm Disappointed in you.  This isn't what I had planned for you."  After that, we all cried together.  It was a few days later that my mom told my dad.  He took it much better than her.  I was shocked, he was always the one who yelled.  He told me he was all too ready to be a grandpa.

    When I started telling people at work, they were all shocked, as well.  The only person that knew of my pregnancy, up until then, was my supervisor and friend, Angela.  Everyone was very supportive and happy for me.  Angela even arranged a small baby shower for me at work.

    The first day of my maternity leave was Sunday, November 8, 1998.  Two weeks later at home in the kitchen on Tuesday November 24th, my water broke around 8:30pm.  I got lucky that night because I was suppose to be in my Mythology class, but it had been cancelled.  Even more funny was Randy was at the video arcade with his friend Tim.  When I called him on his cell phone he said "You're kidding, right?"  Of course I wasn't, so he drove like a bat out of hell to get home. 

    Even though my water broke, I had not gone into labor yet.  I called my doctor, and he said to go to the hospital so they could observe me.  He wanted to induce my labor if it didn't start on it's own, in order to avoid infection.

    I really wish I had not let them induce my labor.  Maybe if they had told me to walk around when I got to the hospital, I could have avoided it.  How was I suppose to know, since it was my first baby.  All the nurse did was lead me into the room and leave!  I don't remember how long it was, but very early Wednesday morning they gave me the pitocin to induce my labor.  The labor was terrible, probably ten times worse than it would have been without the pitocin.  I really wanted to have a natural birth, but once they hooked me up to everything, that was all over.  I ended up having an epidural, after 16 hours of labor, which allowed me to rest for a while.

    Around 4:30pm on Wednesday it seemed as epidural was wearing off, it was starting to hurt again.  The nurse came and checked me and I was fully dilated, time to push.  Then I had to wait for the doctor to get there to push, that was awful.  The urge to push was overwhelming but I managed to wait.

    My whole family had been at the hospital with me from the moment I got there.  They were all great, but I think they were too much of a distraction to relax.  I decided I only wanted Randy and Jenny present at the actualy delivery.

    The nurses had started setting things up in the room for the doctor, so once he arrived I got to start pushing.  I couldn't believe how much the delivery hurt, I didn't think anything could be worse than the labor.  What hurt the most was when her head was out.  It seemed as if I only pushed maybe five times and then she was born.  At 5:21 pm on Wednesday November 25, 1998 I had a beautiful 5lb 13oz, 18 1/2" baby girl.  I couldn't stop crying.   I was so overwhelmed with emotions.

    Jeremie's birth didn't go exactly how I wanted it.  The only thing I got that wanted was that I did not have an episiotomy.  I did tear though, and had some stitches. It was nice though, that I got to labor, deliver, and recover all in one room.

    Jeremie's birth has shown me how I really want my next birth to go.  When we finally decide to have another baby, I want a home birth, maybe even a water birth.  No machines that beep or take your blood pressure in the middle of a contraction, just relaxing peace and quiet.

    In the end, I would do anything for my daughter, but I wish it had been a more pleasurable experience.  I would advise any woman reading this to seriously weigh every option there is and stick to your plan no matter what, except in an emergency.

    Thank you for taking the time to read Jeremie's Birth Story and I hope it had some impact on your birthing decision or someone else's.