Welcome to the World, Baby Boy! Part 1...

Well, a lot has changed since the last time I blogged.  On Sunday, January 12, we went to the hospital to be induced because I still had made no progress at my doctors appointment on Friday and I was past 40 weeks.  Since I work in labor and delivery, I knew a little of what to expect so I was more excited than nervous.  The next 24 hours were full of ups and downs, but in the end we were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby boy.

I thought I'd be able to rest on Sunday night but the medicine they gave me caused me to be up all night with what I thought were just cramps, but now I'm pretty sure they were contractions.  I got a shot of morphine and was finally able to get a little bit of rest.  On Monday morning, they began the pitocin and not long after, I started having very strong, painful contractions every few minutes.  By 11:30 that morning, my water had broken and I was in desperate need for the epidural.  I had no idea that pitocin made your contractions so strong and painful.  I was definitely not prepared for that.  Even after the epidural, I was in really bad pain and I wasn't making a whole lot of progress.  Finally that night, I got more medicine through my epidural and was able to relax a little.  I woke up to several nurses and the midwife in the room telling me that Brooks wasn't tolerating my contractions and that he wasn't in the position he needed to be in to be born safely.  His heart rate was extremely high and then he began having decels (his heart rate kept dropping) every time I would have a contraction.  At first they told me his head was sideways and then I heard that he was face up, so I'm not sure which is correct.  Knowing him now, I'd say he was sideways because he always ends up on his side when he sleeps!  I was barely dilated past 9 cm, but the midwife had me push a few times just to see if I was going to be able to have him naturally...

So at about 8:30, the doctor came in with the midwife and made the decision that we shouldn't wait any longer and that we needed to go to the OR for a c-section.   My worst nightmare was coming true....I was past my due date, had to be induced, labored for almost 24 hours, and then ended up with a c-section any way.  But, I was relieved when they finally made the call.  I knew that it wasn't safe for him to stay in there much longer and that I would get to meet my precious boy in a few short minutes.  So, we prepped for the OR and were on our way within the next 15 minutes.  At 9:14 pm, I heard that sweet sound I had been waiting on for 9 months.  Our baby boy was here and he was PERFECT.

   
Clay was beside me so he was able to take pictures of him as soon as he was born.  Also, the sweet anesthesiologist took pictures on my cell phone.  I'm so happy they were able to catch this moment!  Hearing Clay's reaction to Brooks being born, before I could see him, was one that I will remember forever.  He was so happy and I could hear the tears of pride in his voice.  I was in love before I even saw him.

Clay was able to go to warmer with the NICU nurses.  He watched them clean him off, warm him up, and take all of his vital signs.  They took him to the recovery room with the nursery nurses where he got his first bath (which Clay filmed!) while I was being stitched up.  Within about 15 minutes, I was in the recovery room with my two boys.  This was such a special time for our little family.  Usually, in a normal labor room, you don't get a whole lot of time to yourselves as a new family because you are so excited to have your family come see the baby.  But, since we had to go to the recovery room first, we were able to spend about 2 hours together, just us, before we went up to our room.

Our first pictures with Brooks

It was fun going up to our room because by that time, all the night nurses that I work with were there so it was almost like a parade going through the halls!  Everyone was stopping us, saying hello, and checking out our newest edition.  The best part was seeing all of our family at the glass waiting for us to come by.  I had been waiting so long to see them and I know they were so excited to get a sneak peak of Brooks.

When we got to our room, our moms were the first visitors.  They were in love at first sight.  Brooks is so lucky to have these two in his life.

Shortly after we got to our room, we introduced Brooks to the rest of the family!  My sisters, Clay's sister, and his dad all came to meet him.  I'm so glad they were all able to be there!

 
After everyone left, we went to sleep for the first time as a family of 3 :o)

Part 2...coming soon!



  

Home Stretch

I can't believe this is the last week I will be pregnant!  I am 39 weeks, 5 days...which will make me 40 weeks on Tuesday!  Judging by my December 27 baby birth date pool pick, I obviously didn't think I would make it all the way to (and probably past) 40 weeks.  Clay is still in the running!  Apparently when he picked January 9, he knew Brooks would want to stay warm and cozy since the high on his due date is in the 20s!

Of course there have been sleepless nights and more episodes of reflux than I care to remember, but I have absolutely LOVED being pregnant.  My two favorite parts of being pregnant are getting to see my family so much for different events and feeling/seeing him moving around.  It is still so strange to me that there is a PERSON in my stomach.  It seems like it would sink in after watching so many deliveries, but I don't think it will until they lay him up on my belly and I get to see his cute little face for the first time.  I can't even imagine the emotions that will be running through our minds and hearts.  I am most looking forward to kissing his little cheeks and seeing Clay hold him for the first time.

I am trying to just enjoy these last few days of pregnancy instead of complaining about having to go past my due date!  There are so many people that will never get to experience carrying a baby, so I feel so blessed to get to feel every kick and to share all of it with my family and friends.

I was a little disheartened when I went to the doctor on Friday at 39.5 weeks and she said I had barely even begun to dilate and that we needed to give it another week.  But, when I thought about going through the induction process and still possibly having to have a c-section if we had jumped the gun and tried to induce too early, I realized it was the best decision.  I go back to the doctor on Friday to check our progress and make an induction plan if I haven't delivered by then.  The doctor doesn't want me to go past 41 weeks, which will be next Tuesday so we should definitely have him before the 14th!  I'm hoping to go into labor naturally this week so that we can skip the whole induction process!  

It's hard to believe that my next blog post will be about the birth of our baby boy!  Also, I'm going to go ahead and apologize for all the pictures that will be posted of him.  Just kidding, I'm definitely not sorry. :o)

Praying for an easy, uneventful, safe, and healthy delivery!