SuperNaturale

jasmineT · Last edited by jasmineT on Dec 06, 2006 5:20 pm; edited 2 times in total

Levi Emanuel was born a week ago on November 28 at 3:13 am. 7 lbs 11oz and 21 1/4 inches. It's been a little crazy around here and this boy loves the boobies. I'm a 24 hour milk machine. I'll try to update with a birth story but until then here's another pic...

ETA- BIRTH STORY or "How I thought I wanted a natural childbirth but changed my mind"

I had a check-up Monday afternoon with one of the doctors in the office. (For those who haven't been following my posts, my regular doctor is on disability/family leave.) I was less than impressed. She couldn't find the heartbeat and said I wasn't dilated at all. Weird since I was 2 cms last visit.
She wanted me to have a non-stress test and biophysical profile the next day. I ended up getting one that day though since mrT had to work on Tuesday.

The BPP was scheduled for 4pm and the results were great. I started the NST around 4:30. The baby was fine but I was having contractions every 4-5 minutes. They weren't painful and I assumed that they were just a continuation of the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been having for the last few weeks. The doctor on call agreed that I should go home and if it was real labor to call back. I absolutely loved the OB on call and told mrT that I hoped she would be on when the time came.

We went to my parent's house to pick up the kids and have dinner. Just as we were finishing I felt a "thud" on my cervix and then noticed some oozing. As I excused myself, i felt a big gush. I made it to the bathroom and checked the status of the fluid. I wanted to make sure it wasn't blood since my first pregnancy was a placental abruption with lots of blood when the membranes ruptured. It wasn't. It was slimy green clumpy meconium- like swamp water in the middle of August. (If you've read that and not gagged a little, I'm proud of you :)

We called the hospital and were back in by 7:15. I knew I would have to have continuous fetal monitoring since this was my second VBAC. I thought I'd still be able to walk around my room and use the birthing ball. I probably could have but I was surprised that I didn't want to. I just wanted to lie down and try to sleep. I didn't even pull out my birth plan. I just kind of went with the flow. My nurse was wonderful and knew I wanted as few interventions as possible. The nurse and the doctor were really happy that I didn't want an epidural and wanted to avoid another c-section. That alone made me feel much better about the whole ordeal. They also explained what would be necessary for the baby during and immediately after birth because of the meconium. (pausing during a push to suction the airways, immediate cutting of the cord, and exam by pediatric specailist before nursing or holding the baby) I'm really glad I knew about it ahead of time as it gave me time to mentally prepare.

The contractions started to get mildly uncomfortable. Like period cramps. I watched Prison Break (Michael Scofield is enough to ease any pain) and waited for my sister LIsa to arrive. As soon as she got there I started to go into "laborland." Everything was sort of hazy and I alternated between focusing on the contractions and existing in a trippy half-dream state. I knew I was out there when I let mrT and Lisa watch Monday Night Football.

The contractions felt really strong but the time between them was lengthening. The baby's heartrate was dropping between contractions and the external monitor kept loosing the baby every time he moved. (he was kicking throughout the labor) They suggested internal monitoring and starting a slow pitocin drip. I was concerned about the internal monitoring and asked some "really great questions" (I felt like the teacher's pet. I'm such a dork!) before making the decision to go ahead with the whole she-bang. (I can't believe I made it through the insertion of the monitors since the mere mention of an IUD or cervical procedure makes me weak at the knees)

Since I was already straying far from my natural birth plan I decided to go with demerol when they started the pitocin. I'd been through one labor with pitocin and no pain-meds. I wasn't going to do it again. "Laborland" was ratcheted up a notch with the demerol and the contractions really kicked in. I would wake up, sit up, and moan my way through them. The lights were low, the tv was off, and I didn't want any music.

I had a couple more contractions and then felt intense pressure. I told the nurse "oh my god he's on my rectum.. he's coming... he's coming" as she paged everyone. They were barely in the room as he was crowning. They told me to relax and not push but I told them I couldn't NOT push. The whole thing was one long push over which I had no control. I took a deep breath and he was out. They took him to the side to be examined and he was perfect. I needed two stitches because he came out with his hand on his face but haven't felt any pain from them. (a nice change since the last birth)

I held him about 10 minutes after the birth and he nursed immediately. He kept lifting his head and looking around and then would go back to nursing.
He's been a true joy. I'm so glad he's a part of our family.
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we're still awesome (and by awesome, i mean dorky but supportive) -the boy

pinkie · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 2574 Location: San Francisco

He is stunning!
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knittykat · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 10694 Location: Here & Now

Yay! I love the name too....very classy.
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Martita · Posted: Dec 05, 2006 10:25 am Post subject:

he's positively cherubic! Congrats!
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jess152 · Joined: 10 Apr 2004 Posts: 443 Location: Alberta Rockies

I was thinking the other day it must have been your time! Yay! What a sweet thing he is!

skyprincessjo · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Posts: 281 Location: Minnesota

He's so sweet! Congratulations.

merededeux · Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 1339

Congratulations! Levi is a wonderful name.

neurochic · Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 1584 Location: Boston

Congratulations! It is a great name.
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snoopy · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 3511 Location: SF

Yay! I look forward to reading your birth story. What a great name!
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kittyroc · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 2406 Location: Bay Area

Congratulations! He's so adorable!

notthemama · Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1157 Location: city

Yay! I'm so excited!

(You missed my birthday by a day!)

bubu82 · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 174 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Congratulations! He's so scrumptious!
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merp · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 584 Location: Cow-lee-rado

squee! He's so adorable! Congratulations, I'm so happy for you guys. I can't wait for the birthing story!

cassiejane · Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 647 Location: Swannanoa, NC

congrats! he looks like a levi--kinda serious. he looks like he is really thinking about things.

blissed · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 707 Location: bay area

Congratulations! He is beautiful. I hope you're able to get some rest while you get acquainted!
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All I ate was spearmint candy
Trying to change the flavor of the days
...But oh this time the sugar was dazzling