Evan's birth story
Evan is taking a nap, so I have a moment to post his story. I'll try to leave out the gorey stuff.
Last Sunday morning I awoke at 5:45, used the little girl's room, and went back to bed but couldn't fall asleep. I had really mild cramps but after 3 weeks of off and on cramps, I didn't think too much of it. Then, my water broke. I woke up Jerry, told him, and the look on his face was like a child who had just been told there were cookies waiting for him in the next room. I called the doctor, then family members, and took a shower while Jerry frantically put all the necessities in the car.
We got to the hospital by 6:30 and I was having regular contractions, 2 minutes apart, but wasn't in too much pain. I was still dilated 3 cm and 80% effaced. An hour later the contractions were painful. They let me spend as much time as I wanted in the shower and when that no longer helped, I asked for my epidural. I had planned to wait much longer to receive drugs for fear that it would stall labor, but because of the pain I quickly changed my mind. I can't imagine what it would have been like if I had waited any longer.
I think I received the epidural around 9:30, when I was 4 cm dilated. The relief from the pain was immediate and I could then carry on conversations with Suzy (my sister) and Jerry. They told me the average first-time mom progresses 1 cm per hour with pushing to start at 10 cm. This would put us around 3:00 to start pushing.
At 11:30 they checked me and said it was time to start pushing! I thought I had misunderstood them. For the first time that day, I felt horrified and not up to the task...
It really wasn't that bad. I had Suzy and Katie (sister-in-law) and Jerry cheering me on and encouraging me. The pushing lasted about 2 hours. It all went well and progressed well until the end, when the baby got stuck and his heart rate slowed, a sign that he was stressed. The doctor said I would either have to have a c-section or have him vacuumed out. We opted for vacuum. About 3 contractions later, he was out, and I think the whole room was crying with relief.
In a way, it didn't really feel real.
They took him away right after he was born (to the other side of the room, which felt too far) to suction his nose and throat and check him out. About 10 minutes later I got to hold & nurse him. He was so sweet. We feel in love immediately...
He looks exactly like his dad did as a newborn... little nose, same lips and eyes. He has my chubby cheeks, and both mine and Jerry's chin (my cleft and Jerry's upside-down u-shape, whatever you call that). He has dark red hair like mine and blue-grey eyes which might change color. He is chubby! Every part of his body looks like a little strong man and when he eats he grunts and snorts!
After having him home a few days (he had to stay in the special care nursery for 4 days) we are happy but exhausted. He is an angel during the day... he eats well, sleeps often, and has moments of alertness where he makes cute faces and noises. At night he screams when hungry, screams when being changed, and is hesitant to eat even though he seems starving. I'm... so... tired...