10 lbs., 2 oz.

21 inches

14 inch head circumference

Hospital (with a natural-birth-friendly OB)

Mother's Height: 5' 2"

How was your pegnancy?

This was my most difficult pregnancy by far--it was a stressful time, with a 2-year-old at home, a husband working long hours and often at night, a small house and not a lot of money.  I now think that the stress had a great deal to do with my pregnancy discomforts.   I had preterm contractions starting at about 28 weeks and was on medication for 7 weeks, which I hated and now believe was not necessary.  I suffered from PUPPP (a pregnancy rash) all over my belly, which itched terribly for the last 4 months of my pregnancy.  It was summer in St. Louis, and I was very, very big and hot, and had lots of swelling.  By the end of my pregnancy I measured 44 cm over my belly!
 
As I looked forward to my upcoming birth, I could not wait.  I was very uncomfortable due to my large baby and short stature, and could not wait to have my baby born and in my arms.  I knew he was big, but had talked it over with the Dr. and he knew that I wanted a natural childbirth.  I was only slightly nervous about the size of the baby, but did not get any pressure from the Dr. about it.  I was confident that I could have my baby naturally as I had had my first child, also large, without difficulty.
 
Birth experience:  I went to see my Dr. for a regular appt about ten days before my due date, very uncomfortable and having mild, irregular contractions.  I was 4 cm, but the baby was very, very high in my pelvis.  The Dr. suggested I wait several hours, and if l had not moved into active labor to come to the hospital for augmentation--he was concerned about risk of cord prolapse if my water broke at home since the baby was so high.  Although I knew this was not necessary, I agreed anyway because I was so impatient and uncomfortable.  We arrived at the hospital still just in very early labor (if that).  An IV and Pitocin were started.  Contractions were very mild for about an hour or hour and a half, and then my water broke with a huge, huge splash.  It was A LOT of water.  After that I moved into strong labor rapidly and the Pitocin was turned off.  I labored sitting in a rocking chair, sitting on the birth ball and leaning against the bed, with my husband near me and offering support, touching me, giving me drinks and ice.  I made a lot of noise, moaning and groaning and crying out, but I never felt distressed or like I was suffering.  I suddenly felt a strong urge to call for a nurse, so my husband did--when she got there I vomited and moved right into transition.  Soon I felt the urge to push, and my Dr. appeared.  I was on the bed in a half-sitting position.  I pushed for maybe 30 minutes or so, and although it hurt, I loved feeling so powerful!   When I said it was time, everyone snapped to attention and helped me, and I just loved that.  It was like being the queen of the world!   When the head began to crown and the Dr. could see how large the baby was, he ran out to call for some extra help, but there was no one extra around, so he came back.  He looked worried and that annoyed me, so I told him to stop looking so nervous!  He was jiggling around nervously, saying to me, "I know you don't want this, I know you don't, but I think I'm going to have to....," meaning cut an episiotomy.  Suddenly I could see my baby's head in the mirror, felt a huge urge to push, and told him, "No, don't do it, it's coming right now!"  I pushed my son's head out fast, then the Dr. said to me, "Put your hands down here, reach down and catch your baby," so I did.  I reached down and brought my dear son onto my belly on my own.  The whole labor lasted only about 4 hours.  I did have an irregular tear that required some repair (and honestly, healed a little funny-shaped), so that took a while.  Overall, the birth was not terribly difficult, was fast, and was a piece of cake compared to the pregnancy! 
 
The only problem I had--and it was fairly significant--was that I had a large postpartum hemorrhage.  It was a delayed hemorrhage, a number of hours after the birth.  I had terrible cramping after the birth, felt faint, couldn't empty my bladder, and then hours later passed several placenta-sized clots.  That did impair my bonding with my baby a bit, as I felt so ill his first day of life, and it did slow my recovery, since I felt dizzy and exhausted for a couple of weeks afterwards. 
 
I would say that six months and a year after the birth, although I felt very proud of myself for having such a big baby with no medication, I did feel some emptiness for not having bonded with him in the first weeks as well as I might have.   I kept wondering if it was my fault somehow.  Now I realize, though, that it was the hemorrhage that disturbed that process, and I didn't recognize that or take care of myself as well as I might have at the time.  That probably would have helped.
 
What I learned?  I would say that I learned that my body is capable of incredible things, such as growing a child that big, and then birthing it with no intervention!  Also that my body's limits need to be respected, and it's appropriate to give oneself enough time to recover.
 
Words of wisdom...don't worry that just because you are short you can't give birth to a big baby!  It's not just for tall ladies!