Birth Story of Amanda Jo

Amanda Jo
January 17, 1992 at 11:50 AM
8 lbs 13 ozs
20 1/2 inches

On January 17, 1992, Amanda Jo was born. Erin and Alyssa were 13 months old, but what a difference in delivery!! My family doctor thought I might be carrying another set of twins when he confirmed my pregnancy in May of 1991, so the first "procedure" with this pregnancy was an ultrasound the next day. My husband was hoping for twins again--my doctors and I were hoping not. There was only one baby, but this pregnancy was again high risk for a variety of reasons. Under close monitoring, this pregnancy proceeded normally.

My due date of January 10 came and went, and still no birth. On January 15, the OB made arrangements for an induced delivery on January 20. He said since there were no problems with me or the baby, the few extra days gave us a chance for the baby to decide when to be born. He didn't want to go too much longer, though, because of her size.

At about 9:30 a.m. on January 17, 1992, I felt some sharp pains but they didn't feel anything like what people told me hard contractions would be. I knew that they wouldn't let me eat at the hospital, so I ate and waited for my helper to arrive at 10:30. I also called my husband but I told him no hurry, so he finished some work, cashed his paycheck and went to the store before coming home. My husband arrived at about 10:45, and off we went in an old Jeep through a snowstorm. We arrived at the hospital at about 11:20 and called my mother from there. My husband went to admitting and I was taken to a labor room. My nurse had just returned from vacation, and was shocked when she checked--I was ready to deliver NOW!!!!

My doctor was already at the hospital with another patient, and he was advised by the nurse to just put new scrubs on over the old. There wasn't even time to move me to a delivery room, and he ordered the necessary equipment moved to where I was. When my husband came up from admitting, they didn't even make him put on a gown--if he was going to help me deliver this baby, there wasn't time!! There also was no time for any medical intervention, which after everything done with Erin and Alyssa I was glad.

Amanda was born at 11:50 AM. She weighed 8 lbs 13 ozs and was 20 1/2 inches long. There were no problems with her or me, so my my OB signed my discharge the next day but the pediatrician refused because I would have had to bring Amanda back for newborn tests and he said it was too cold outside. We went home on January 19. Somehow communications at the hospital broke down because at about 10:00 AM on January 20, the hospital called and asked why I hadn't come in for my induction that morning. I remarked that it is kind of hard to induce delivery of a baby when that baby had already been born!!!!!

Amanda is eight now, and has finished with second grade.