Saturday, October 06, 2007

Introducing... Eli!

I started early labor at 4 am on Tuesday morning, with contractions 8 minutes apart. By the end of the day they were about 30 minutes apart and I was getting very discouraged. I went to bed thinking I was going to wake up and not have any contractions. Instead, I woke up at 12:30 with strong contractions every 10 minutes apart, by 2:00 a.m. they were 8 minutes apart and I called the midwives. They told me to take a bath and see if the contractions lessened or went away. They didn't. By 5 a.m. they were 5 minute apart and much stronger. I called again and was told to come in. By the time I was in the triage room for the initial monitoring etc, I was having contractions every 3 minute and was getting sick from the pain. I had originally wanted a natural labor, but by the time I got to the hospital I knew I couldn't do it. Especially with the vomiting. The midwife unit was totally full and I was stuck in the triage area until about 1 pm. By the time I got to my room and was given some nubain I was 3 cm and could finally sleep. I got my epidural at around 5 pm and was 6 cm dialated . By 10:30 or 11, I was feeling okay, although my epidural was only really effective on the left side of my body, but I was 9 cm and was told it was time to start pushing.

I was pushing for about an hour or so when Eli's heartrate dropped in half. So in rushed the labor and delivery docs with the vacuum, and with one push Eli was out at 12:31 on October 4! He was stressed during the last part of the delivery and had passed some meconium and had inhaled a little, so they had to suck out his airway. I got to hold him shortly after he was born.

Eli was 6 lbs. 15 oz. and 21 inches long. We got out of the hospital today. I am super thankful to be home, but oh, so tired.







Eli & Daddy


Going home! In the outfit Mommy made...

11 comments:

Alyson said...

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations! (Ugh, 24 hours in labour, oy.) He's beautiful! And I don't mean beautiful in that "Oh, look, a baby, he's beautiful because all babies are beautiful and you're supposed to tell the mom her baby's beautiful" kind of way I mean, if your kid was plain, I'd just say "congrats" and leave it at that. But he is, he's completely beautiful. :-)

Tammy said...

Congratulations, your little guy is gorgeous.

Take care, Tammy

Intrepidgirl said...

Congrats! He looks just like Daddy!

Laura said...

Congrats! I'm so glad everything worked out okay!

Michelle said...

Congrats! He's a cutie!

Amanda said...

He is absolutely adorable!! Congrats!

Guinifer said...

Pretty boy! I had the same left side/epidural issue. You know it's because the Anesthetist couldn't get the epi in straight? (If the Anesthetist can give you the Epi while you are sitting up - they have a better chance of a good placement - I learned that with baby #2) Even though it's darned uncomfortable sitting like that through a contraction!

However - congrats, congrats, congrats!

Anonymous said...

Welcome Eli! I don't think he could be any cuter! What a lovely reward for your hard work!

Enjoy your new little man!

Take care!
Anna's Mommy/Theresa V.

sarah said...

Hey there partner! look at that baby. Damn good lookin' boy. Ok, he's sooo beautiful. I can't wait to meet him in person.

Sarah

P.S. Miss you on Weds

The Myers Family said...

He is beautiful, Amanda! Welcome little one, and great job mom!

Mary Heather said...

How precious! He looks just like his daddy. :)