I tend not to dwell on the births of the boys, mainly because I’m too wrapped up in the day to day chaos of actually raising them. This month’s book club selection for the Rocky Mountain Moms Blog, Birth Day by Dr. Mark Sloan, got me to thinking about them. A pediatrician, Dr. Sloan writes on the history and science of childbirth, and writes well at that. The book draws you in, and you can’t help but think, “Would I recommend this to an expecting mom?”
Yup, I would. Right after the thought better you than me, chica, I ain’t going through THAT again. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again.
Birth A: First child. No idea on the sex. Born on Easter weekend (I do not recommend going into labor on any kind of holiday weekend). The ever-so-kind staff set me up with an epidural, cranked it to high, and left me there. I got checked, “hey, you’re at 10, start pushing!”, and had to watch the contraction graph to know when to push. For an hour. The last 45 minutes I had the pleasure of being introduced to Pitocin, which certainly moved things along, but also caused me to say very naughty things. A was born, I got lots of happy-happy-fun-fun stitches, and it’s been craziness ever since.
Birth J: Second child. Knew it was a boy, and thankful for it, for if I had learned in the delivery room that I wasn’t having the girl my heart was set on, it would have been ugly. Born two weeks early on the hottest day of 2004. I knew what was coming this time. I had been doing yoga for a couple of years, and prenatal yoga the entire pregnancy. None of that ridiculous labor breathing crap (which is the complete opposite of how I studied breathing for years as a flutist), just deep yoga breathing and concentration. Imagine my surprise when the anesthesiologist took one look at me and said “no way, dude.” J was born quickly, without drugs, maybe one stitch, and the endorphin high later was indescribable.
Two different boys. Two different births. Two completely different personalities. And while I know that birth stories don’t predict temperament, sometimes I really have to wonder. A’s birth was difficult-ish, with drugs and being forgotten, and pushing forfreakingever. He’s a difficult-ish kid, with twice-exceptionalities and issue after issue. J’s birth was calm, with deep breathing and focus and no drugs. He is a laid-back, easy-going, happy and loving little boy. Sometimes I have to wonder, and that’s why I don’t think about the boys’ births much.
But I can’t wonder too long, because the results of those two births are older now, running around the house, being all boy-ish and running amuck.
I don’t know, I think you might be on to something here. I have three kids and come to think of it the easiest one to deliver so far seems to be the laid back one. Definitely glad though I have no plans for childbirth again anytime soon, if ever, lol.