<p>Yes, operahorn – it was hell for me; I still feel sad sometimes. But the good thing is, it’s just us. The kids don’t feel this way at all.</p>
<p>OK, bethie, I really don’t believe you’re fat in the way I mean. I have some insider knowledge. However, I do have a lot of hair.</p>
<p>Harriet: Older, myopic guy? Sounds good to me. No such luck here.</p>
<p>Labor: Well, DD was upside down, not breech, but what they call “sunny side up.” Labor was a beast, 18 hours of back labor. Then my doctor decided to do a C-Section. The next day he told me that I was already 8 1/2 centimeters dilated and could have pushed her out because she was so “delicate” – 6lbs. 8oz. Thanks a lot Dr. Bert. Stomach muscles gone for nothing.</p>
<p>DS: Ex-boyfriend (very briefly) was next door in neighboring labor room with wife 10 years younger while I was in labor. The nerve. I made a joke about it, and the silly resident said, “Well yes, now that you mention it, she does look younger than you.” So there is a drawback to being an older mom. Same awful labor, though not back labor. Being an old bag with a PhD. got them to give me the epidural. Some relief. Pushed S’s head out after 15+ hours of labor and then . . . . his shoulders got stuck. Seems they were too wide for my pelvis. Okay. Doc next door with ex-boyfriend’s wife so another doc sent for. (My doc said it was the only time in her entire practice she needed back-up.) So, she finishes next door, and it took both docs three hours with the plunger thingy to get him out.</p>
<p>Just recently she said it was one of her five hairiest births. Good thing I didn’t know it at the time.</p>
<p>The college application season was almost as bad. And lasted longer.</p>
<p>Two beautiful children. Two beautiful colleges. Ruined stomach muscles (C-Section), but it’s all good.</p>
<p>I mourned the schools not chosen for months. He had such a great list that each one seemed better than the last in one way or another.</p>
<p>jym</p>
<p>Back in the 70’s in psych training I read a theory that kids who were induced or otherwise hurried during birth were people who would refuse to be “pushed” later in life.</p>
<p>Two days of labor for me, but DS was worth every minute–easy to say NOW!</p>
<p>Met H at 21, engaged after 11 months of many hours of long-distance calls, moved in together at that point and married nine months later, three days before I turned 23 and was no longer eligible for my parents’ health insurance.</p>
<p>S1 born a month before I turned 30; S2 15 months later. Both were induced due to preeclampsia – S1 was an easy seven hours (I was 4 cm and 90% effaced before I had a contraction) but had one of those horrible epidural headaches afterwards because I have terrible epidural spaces; S2 was 12 hours, no drugs because I wanted to avoid epidural hell at all costs.</p>
<p>Both were three weeks early – good thing! S1 was 7 lb. 10 oz., S2 was 8 lb. 12 oz. Both my sisters had ten pounders.</p>
<p>25th anniversary is in December. Why I agreed to a wedding the third week of December, within four days of my birthday, is beyond me.</p>
<p>Too many extra pounds, not enough hair, but no wrinkles.</p>
<p>Jude, I am still mourning two schools on S’s list. I’m very happy, but still…</p>
<p>My stats: Dated 5 months, engaged, married 8 months later at 25 yrs.
Still married to the same gem, 20 years now. Children born at:
28 (5 weeks early, 15 hours labor, eventually pried out w/salad tongs);
32 (4 weeks early, fetal distress, induced, 12 hours labor);
39 (12 weeks early, lots of complications, emergency c-section, long NICU stay, saga still unfolding). </p>
<p>The youngest one alternates between keeping me young and making me old! Compared to lots of his classmates’ moms, though, I feel like a calm, ancient sage.</p>
<p>bethie… don’t get me started on schools mourned!!! D2 won’t even look at schools perfect for her more than 4 hrs away. sigh… But then she was also a difficult birh and spinal meningitis at 5 weeks…cranky baby…slow to warm…need I go on??? Good thing she has intelligence and model good looks. ;( The doors are wide open for her but she won’t explore at this point in her life. can I give another sighhhhh…</p>
<p>It was 44 hours when they pulled him out by C-section, so I guess a little short of 2 days. When the anesthesiologist asked if I had any questions, I said, “How soon can you do this?”</p>
<p>Gosh…I missed part of the conversation…dated 8 yrs…married 29 yrs…first d born 9 yrs into marriage… d2 born11 yrs married. We are OLD parents! Both born through the miracle of science and both very early. They are very spoiled and much loved!;)</p>
<p>ok can’t resist: twins, in vitro. Had at 37 (“elderly”). Bed rest 3 months, C section after 6 hours of back labor. I was thrilled with the C section, didn’t know what hit me for the first 6 weeks, came up for air after 6 months. After that it wasn’t so bad! Until this college thing with 2 kids. Again I feel like I never gain any experience!</p>
<p>The felicitous term that ends up on your chart (or ended up on mine, anyway) is “geriatric pregnancy.” Wheeee! Makes you want to beat your OB/GYN with your walker.</p>