16 & Pregnant - Part II

Sunday, August 28, with my mama by my side, I gave birth to an 8lbs, 6oz. baby boy, without the aid of drugs!  I don't think you heard me!  I delivered that lil boy without drugs!  It was certainly an experience I will never forget, but one I vowed to never repeat.  I was way too young & the whole experience - pregnancy, labor, episiotimy & natural delivery, left me a tad bit jaded. 

After all was said & done, my mother was on the phone passing along the word that we were OK.  However, when she called my grandparents, I got sick to the stomach.  I was not ready to face them.  It's not like me & baby could just disappear but I sure did wish we could.

My mama & the donor stayed at the hospital until they kicked them out.  Before she left she told me the grands would be stopping by tomorrow.  As much as I loved those old folks, they were the last people in the world I wanted to see.

The next afternoon, I heard my grandmother's voice in the hall asking, "Where is she?"  The disappointment was still in her voice.  They walked in & she had a look in her eyes that I will never forget.  I swear I wanted to vomit, but I held it together.  She just stared at me for a moment, and when she did speak, all she said was, "So, how many more are you going to have?"  Even tho I was choked up, I managed to tell her that she would never have to worry about visiting me in the maternity ward....ever again.  She was still stoic.  Her expression didn't change.

Papa walked in & interjected with, "Where's John Henry?" {That is not my son's name, but that's the nic Papa gave him.}  I pointed to my baby & Papa picked him up & started talking to him.  I don't even recall what he was saying I was just glad my grandma wasn't talking.  Papa looked at me and said, "I'll help you with this one, but you better make damn sure you have a good husband before you bring me another one."   I smiled at Papa and said, "I promise."

The next day, I named my baby & was asked about circumcision.  I had to call my mama & grandparents because I didn't know what to do.  All parties said, "snip him".  So it was ordered.  I didn't bother to ask his father because he was a lil ticked that I didn't name my baby after him.  Whatever,dude.  He already knew that wasn't happening, but I guess he thought I'd have a change of heart.

5 nights in the hospital and fast forward to our 1st night at home.  Up until about a month before I delivered, I shared a bedroom with my sister, but she went to live with our grandparents.  That 1st 2:00 am feeding had him crying & me too!   Back then, the babies didn't spend 24/7 in the room with mom.  They spent the nights in the nursery.  That was such a rude awakening for me.  Welcome to post-partum depression.

To be continued....

 

Due Date vs. Delivery Date

Mothers/Fathers: 

This is a simple one - when was your/her due date & when was your/her actual delivery date?

Being that I was 16, pregnant and in denial until I started to show, a lot of my experience is a blur to me, but I will never forget that day.

Doc's estimated due date was September. 6.  The boy child decided August 28 was the day.  I remember being teased by my cousin {the day before I popped} about being pregnant for so long & I jokingly said, "I'm having this baby in the morning since you're so sick of looking at me!"  *eyeroll*  Lo & behold, it was no joke.

I remember when they wheeled me to the maternity ward and the nurse asked, "When's your due date, doll?"  I tearfully replied, "Sept. 6."  She said, "Close enough!"

.....and so it began.

What Shall We Name Her?

May 3, 1972 & that was the question.

Apparently my parents hadn't decided on what to name their 1st born until that fateful day.

Daddy had chosen Jennifer Lynn & wanted to call me Jenni Pooh.  Mama disagreed.  She didn't like either one & suggested Monica.  Daddy was okay with that & still suggested Lynn for my middle name. Mama said no.  So here's 9lbs & 1.5 oz little Monica with no middle name. 

Mama pondered the middle names of her nieces & chose one that fit, but spelled it differently. {Ya'll know how we do.}  Mama was happy & Daddy was too.  You see my family has a tendency to recycle and/or combine names to create a middle name.  Considering my grandmothers were Dorothy Mae & Lillie Mae, I'm just damn glad I'm not Monica Mae.  *gag*

Papa even threw in his nickel's worth and decided to nickname me Pumpkin because of my smile...imagine that. {I miss that old dude.}   I hear he raised quite a ruckus with nurses because they would only let him see me from behind the glass.  In the end, Papa got what he wanted.

Now of course, I have to ask - do you know how your name came about?  I'm all ears!

How Much did Your Baby(ies) Weigh?

This is another one for Starrdustt.  Her MiniMe (fetus) is a little less than 7 lbs and Mama thinks she's a little porky already. 

My mother was diagnosed diabetic after having me.  Diabetic women tend to have larger babies.  I was 9 lbs & 1.5 oz.  My middle sister was 9 lbs & 10.5 oz.  My baby sister was 11 lbs & 1 oz!  My mother was induced several weeks early with her because she was still growing.  My grandmother was convinced that she was carrying more than one baby.

My son was 8 lbs. & 6 oz.  My mother was in the delivery room with me & when they said his weight, she yelled, "Ha Mercy!  We don't do tiny babies."  The doc & the nurses got a kick out of that one.  I delivered without the aid of drugs.  I'm a soldier dammit, but the boy will remain an only child...on his mama's side!

My sister's 3 boys were all over 8 lbs & the twins were a little over 5 lbs each - which is great for twins.

I also need to add that all of the aforementioned deliveries were vaginal.  No C-Sections for this clan!

Now, how much did your baby(ies) weigh & how were they delivered? 

Fellas, even tho you ain't birthed ahn baby, feel free to tell us about your offspring.

Mothers/Fathers: Where Did Your/Her Water Break?

Where did your water break?

At home

 

 1

In public

 

 1

The hospital

 

 6

Simple question, but feel free to share the details of your experience.

I truly believe my son was lazy from conception.  I went into labor at about 830 am, he was born at 430 pm & never broke the sac.  They were wanting it to break naturally, but the boy child didn't see it that way. 

Honestly, I'm just glad it didn't break on the metro bus or in the mall.

I should be working but oh well...they'll get it outta me one way or the other. 

That Ain't My Baby!

This lil dude that I've been dealing with off & on claims that he is with child and I'm his "baby mama". I have denied this "baby" on countless occasions, yet he insists that it's mine.

I think he just tryna get in my pockets 'cause I keep my Elexa! I swear to ya'll, if I get a letter from the State talking 'bout some DNA test & child support, I'mma kick his ass, cuz that ain't my baby!

This dude done been with a whole lotta women & I'm just one of many, so how is he just gon' pin that baby on me?? He'on know who his baby mama is & just tryna trap me cause I gotta job, my own place & my own ride. Ladies, this dude done threatened to call the Maury Povich Show and er'thang!

He said he had an ultra-sound and the baby already gotta mouth fulla teeth & cheesin' all on the ultra-sound. He claimed he showed the doc my pictures & the doc said, "You need to call child support asap, because that's her baby."

Ninja please. THAT AIN'T MY BABY!

I AM NOT THE MAMA!

Sperm & Eggs

Now that I have you attention I have a few questions for you good people:

1. Ladies/Gents - would you consider donating your sperm/eggs to a fertility/reproductive clinic whose use will be unbeknownst to you?

2. Ladies/Gents - would you consider donating the same to a relative or friends, knowing you will be aware of the outcome?

3.  Ladies - would you consider becoming a surrogate (artificial implantation or in layman's term, renting your womb)?

Let's talk about it.