Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Introducing...


I'm out! Posted by Picasa


Being weighed... Posted by Picasa


Alexander Thomas!!!!




How perfect that I would post about the newest love of my life on Valentine's Day.

Xander was born on February 11, 2006 at 2:36 in the afternoon. He weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces and was 18.5 inches long. He is absolutely perfect.

TC and I went to the hospital at 7:00 am. I was very excited and somewhat nervous. Turns out, the scheduling person messed up and they didn't expect me until 8:30. Oh, well. Bailey and Jennifer were both my labor nurses. I just loved them and they were both very helpful.

After talking about the process and filling out lots of paperwork, Bailey said it was time to start the IV for the Pitocin. She has a one-stick rule; she only tries once to start an IV and if it doesn't work, she has someone else try it.

So, she tried it on the top of my left hand, and Jennifer had to come in and try. No go on try #1.

Jennifer tried #2 on the middle of my lower inner left arm. Again, a no go. We think part of the problem was that I wasn't very hydrated. I hadn't had any water since dinner the night before.

Jennifer tried #3 on my wrist under my left thumb. Nope, not there either.

They called in Wendy, who was apparently the IV bomb. She tried #4 on the top of my right hand. Nope...ugh.

Finally, on try #5, Wendy got the IV started on my wrist under my right thumb. Sheesh.

They started me on the lowest level of Pitocin and didn't have to increase it at all during the rest of the labor.

At about 9:20 am, my OB came in and broke my water. I had already talked to Bailey about wanting to try to do it without an epidural and I told her about my fears of the process of putting the epidural in. She helped to ease my fears and said she would support whatever decision I made.

After the water broke (um...yuck! What a mess!), the contractions were VERY PAINFUL!!!!!! I breathed through them and after two hours decided that I had tried that for as long as I was able (see, ^starshine? I didn't say I couldn't do it).

We called for Dr. Haskell and he came in to give me the epidural. After the 5 pricks for the IV, the one for the epidural was nothing. And I didn't feel him putting in the catheter. Just felt my feet, legs and middle slowly going numb. Ahhh...and we managed to get it put in between contractions so I didn't have to worry about trying to be still during a contraction.

Much better. I was quite the happy laboring girl at that point. I labored for a while and visited with Bailey. I think Jennifer was out doing a Sudoku puzzle...

After a while, it was time to push. They had to tell me when because I couldn't always tell when I was having a contraction. On a few of them, I could feel the pressure around my bottom, and that helped me to know where to push from. Thank goodness for instrumentalist lungs. That helped me to get good breaths and get some good pushes in. I only pushed for about 30 minutes before we finally got the baby's head at a place where it wouldn't slip back up.

The doctor came in about 2:15 and after he suited up, I pushed twice and out came a baby! The doctor did have to give me a bit more room in the birthing area for the baby's head. Glad I already had the epidural! Didn't feel a thing.

I had a mirror set up so I could watch if I wanted and let me tell you. It was certainly a weird sight to see a baby's head between my legs!

When the baby came out, the doctor announced that it was a boy and the whole room of nurses (Pat was his scrub nurse and there was another Pat for the baby's scrub nurse) as well as Bailey and Jennifer all were very excited to find out that it was a boy! I cried. I think the doctor cried, too. Hard to tell, but it looked like his eyes were a little puffy. TC smiled and they put him on my chest. I couldn't hardly believe that little baby came out of me!

The doctor stitched me up and I didn't care at all. I was interested in watching them clean up Xander. The nurses asked TC if he wanted to take some pictures. Oh, yeah! We have a camera!

After that, I had my baby eyes on and I don't remember much. I'll have to post about the next few days later...Xander is waking up and needs his mamma.

I will say that breastfeeding is hard work. I don't think my milk has come all the way in yet and I'm worried he's not getting enough food. We're going to keep at it and see how it goes.

My parents will be here tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the help.

I'll post more later.

20 comments:

Nicole Fleischman said...

He's Beautiful Snarfle, you guys do nice work! Congrats Momma and Daddy!

Carissa said...

BEAUTIFUL pictures! Love that sweet pink baby skin. Sigh.....makes me think of 3 years ago when I had a newborn in my arms. :)

Don't worry too much about the breastfeeding. Stress can make it harder. He doesn't need a whole lot right now...remember that his tummy is only about the size of his fist/a walnut. Colostrum comes in tiny amounts and it's just right. Be sure to nurse about every 2 hours around the clock right now. If you had him on Saturday, I'm betting your milk will be in within the next 24 hours. As long as he's peeing and pooping, you're doing fine. Expect one wet and one poopy diaper each day for each day of life. (So on the 4th day you want 4 wet and 4 poopy diapers.) Stools should also be transitioning from black, tarry sticky stuff to soft yellow and seedy looking. All that means you're doing FINE. If you are in doubt, call an IBCLC or a LLL Leader!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, he's so beautiful!!!
I'm so excited for the two of you! He looks like a nice, healthy baby boy!!!

Steph emailed me Monday to ask if I had heard any news on baby's arrival. And here I check a couple of days later and POOF! what do you know, he's arrived!

And say congrats to Mommy & Daddy W (your parents Marth) on being grandparents!!! And to Aunt Anne too!

Love ya,
CJ

MommyLuv said...

He is PERFECT -- what a beautiful gift from God!! We are so happy for you - I hope we can see you guys sometime soon. Congrats and enjoy being with your newborn baby - it is the best time ever. About the breastfeeding, don't get discouraged. I also felt like Babyluv wasn't getting enough milk - but she was. I breastfed her until she was 14 months old - she only drank formula one time (the day she was born).

Amanda Fortney said...

Congratulations, Martha! Boys are the best! I'm so excited for you-and I love the name. He is beautiful!

Periwinkle Jen said...

Yay! Congrats!

^starshine said...

I can't type cause of the tears!! I'm still just so happy for you guys! And of course I have to post to rub it in that I got to see you and the baby!! Muhahahahahaha!!

I know how much Valentine's day is a special day for you already...so happy for you guys!

Okay...tearing up again!

Did I tell you that I am already planning Xander Baby's and Goober Baby's wedding? Yes, they are getting married. (I can't wait for the hubs to read this and call me up..."WHAT ARE YOU DOING WOMAN! LEAVE THE POOR BABY ALONE!" :)

Heidi said...

Congratulations!!! What an adorable little guy!!

Jessica said...

Congratulations Martha!!! What a wonderful birth story for Xander! I love the name by the way! :)

I bet it is a wonderful feeling to become a mother for the first time...soak it all up! What a miracle babies are!

Luv, Jess (BC)

Anonymous said...

Just a quick update:

Xander is eating well and aparently pooping and peeing all over the place. Oh, and he has a perfect natural clarinet embouchure....Aunt Chickie is so proud!! Both Mommy and Daddy are doing well. My parents get there today so that should help.

Now, CJ, are you the one gettting married? Or am I confused with someone else?

SarahB said...

Congratulations!!! Welcome little Alexander Thomas!

Your milk is probably just now coming in, and those first few days are tough, but you are doing a wonderful job by sticking with it!

Looking forward to reading more about your handsome little boy!

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE'S BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Great name too.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! He is beautiful!

Kristin, Rod, and Victoria said...

Congratulations to all of you!!! He's absolutely perfect. Compared to my little one, he looks HUGE!!! And she's two months old! Be sure to take time for yourself - don't get burned out. Don't ever say "no" to offers to help - they're lifesavers!
Kristin

Claire said...

Snarfle -- found you from Mrs. F's baby-watch. Congrats! He is so lovely, and such a healthy-looking guy.

I have to second Carissa about the bf-ing. I bf-ed my boy for 13 months. I remember shopping for formula when he was two weeks old because I just couldn't take it anymore. How on earth was I to know that he was getting enough food? He couldn't possibly, I thought, because I couldn't feel my milk "coming down" like everyone said I should. And don't get me started on my poor nips, which everyone said shouldn't hurt so bad. They lied.

It took us six weeks, including a seriously painful bout with mastitis, before things were good. After six weeks, it was completely painless and I could finally feel my milk coming down and know that something was going into his gaping maw. So please, stick it out for six weeks. Because after that, for me, it became so easy that I freaked out when he finally weaned himself. "You mean I have to, like, fix him milk and junk now?" said I.

Amanda Fortney said...

Yes, breastfeeding is the best! It is worth any trouble you might experience, I promise! It is one of my favorite bonding times with Eli, and I'm going to be sad when it's time to wean him (although I'm sure I'll enjoy having a little more freedom). Plus, it's so much better for them and for you. My breastfeeding class gave us 2 pages worth of the benefits health wise for you and the baby. If you have any questions, La Leche has a website about breastfeeding, plus if your hospital has any lactation specialists to talk to, that's very helpful. Or you can ask me or anyone else you know that has loved breastfeeding!

Mrs. Flinger said...

CONGRATS!!!!! What a wonderful little boy. Welcome to the mom club. It's a wild ride, my friend, worth every minute.

eyeball_715 said...

he's GORGEOUS!!!!! not that i expected any different.

the blogosphere (and your circle of friends) happily welcome Xander to the world!

love and BC!

British Isles Artworks said...

Oh Martha!!

What a beautiful baby boy! Welcome Zander! What a precious wonderful Valentine's gift - just in time!

Congratulations to you and your DH.

RB said...

Yeah! I am so excited for yall. Glad everything went smoothly and you are home safely. Can't wait to follow the adventures!