I'm sure you've already put 2 and 2 together--my prolonged blog absence and my rapidly approaching due date. It's true--the wee Peruanito has arrived!
Javier Joseph (J.J.) was born Saturday, February 2, at 11:49am. Despite our ultrasound tech promising us an 8-9 pound baby, he weighed in at 6lbs, 11oz, and 20.5 inches long.
If you're one of those people who prefer to imagine white storks traversing the earth, dropping off pink and blue bundles to expectant parents, feel free to stop reading right here. But if you love hearing other people's birth stories, then read on!
Friday, February 1, I got my hair cut in the morning (finally!) and then made my way to my regular prenatal appointment. It started with an ultrasound, where we found out the amniotic fluid was very low. Then they checked my blood pressure, which had been high for the last several visits, and found it still elevated. So the doctor said the magic words: "You need to go have a baby--today."
A quick stop for lunch and to pick up my bag, and we were off to the hospital, checking in around 2pm.
I have to admit to being ever so slightly concerned about the nursing staff--2 nurses showed up to say hi, and then 1 said, "You know, I think I'll go get her chart!" Well, there's a novel idea. She came back a half hour later, and still didn't have it.
Finally around 5pm, I got the Cervadil, which was supposed to, and I quote, "ripen" the cervix. Ewww. Unfortunately, it did nothing but give me painful contractions. By 3am, I had made no progress, cervix-wise, and the baby was reacting badly to the Cervadil, so that phase of the induction was over. Next, I was supposed to get Pitocin to bring on contractions, but the baby's heart rate kept dropping whenever I had to get up to pee (which was fairly often, since they were dumping a bunch of fluids in my IV), or changed position. We waited until 9am for it to stabilize, at which point the doctor decided it was now or never. I was started on the lowest dose of Pitocin.
Contractions started again, but baby wasn't having it. His heart rate dropped after each one. I'm sure you can see where this is going: doctor swung by to announce that baby had to come out, and he wasn't going to do it the natural way. I was heading to surgery for a c-section--in 10 minutes!
I had almost no time to wrap my brain around it, which was probably a good thing. The c-section went smoothly, but I was absolutely heartbroken that after 9 months of carrying my little Peruanito around, everyone and their brother got to hold him before I did. I think they invited a homeless woman in off the street to give him a kiss. When he could, CP brought him over to me to see, but it felt like hours until I was finally wheeled to recovery and baby was placed on my still-numb chest.
Still, the important thing is, we're all happy and healthy, learning to be a family.
And also, he's the cutest baby ever:
4 comments :
What a truly beautiful thing! I'm really sorry about the c-section, but I'm so glad that everyone is doing well.
Congratulations! He is so beautiful (but you don't need me to tell you that, of course.) Make sure you do nothing but sleep and cuddle your little boy for the next few months!
Congratulations, he is beautiful. Hope you have fun learning to be a family <3
Congratulations! He is precious! Glad you all are doing well.
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