hello world

Because of the gestational diabetes I have been dealing with this pregnancy, I was told that I would be induced a week early. Friday, July 1, was the day.

We arrived at the hospital at 7 am. After getting all the preliminaries like paperwork out of the way, I got an IV and was started on pitocin. The doctor also broke my water at the same time. The baby did not handle the start of contractions well at all. After each contraction his heart rate dropped. Consequently, they turned off the pitocin. We waited about an hour before the pitocin was restarted and I got an epidural. This was just before 11 am.Things continued moving along. Dave read The Girl Who Could Fly out loud to me. I didn't feel much until about 1:30 when the contractions got quite severe. The doctor was called and after pushing through two contractions, Benjamin Warren said hello to the world at 1:58 p.m., weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz. and measuring 19.5 inches

 

Ben wasn't breathing well so I only got to hold him for about a minute before they whisked him off to the nursery to put him on oxygen. Dave went with him and watched him get his first bath. After almost two hours, we were finally reunited.

 

Megan brought the rest of the crew to see their new baby brother at about 5:30 that evening.

 

 

 

They came back the next morning to visit also. Dave left about 4 in the afternoon on Saturday leaving me alone for a quiet evening and morning. Ben and I finally went home on Sunday at about 1 in the afternoon.

 

Here we are 9 days later. I am feeling really good. I've felt the best I've ever felt after a delivery. Ben is doing great too. He is acting just like a newborn--eating a lot, pooping a lot, sleeping a lot. He seems to be a fairly calm baby so far but that certainly could change. The other kids all adore him and want to hold him all the time. Even Anne loves the baby and she has handled his arrival rather well. I've been told to put him down and hold her instead only a few times. Last week, Dave took mornings off and Keri came to help in the afternoons. There has been lots of quiet time for me to watch TV, read books, eat lots of the formerly restricted carbs, and enjoy my new baby. Today, I even managed to take a few pictures.

 

Tomorrow, Dave is going back to work and the reality of life with six children will really hit. Wish me luck!