My boy is here! A little late...

[jewel]

Both in his arrival, and in announcement Long labor/birth/after story:

I was due Sept 5th. I started having mild contractions on the night of the 15th. They were uncomfortable enough to keep me awake all night, but weren't too painful, and were 10 minutes apart. I went to my NST/OB appointment scheduled the next morning, the 16th. The NST showed some decels during contractions, so my OB sent me straight to labor and delivery.

I checked in around 10:30am and was 2cm dilated and 50% effaced. After a couple hours of laboring on my own, with no progression, the gave me a small dose of misoprostal to prep the cervix. That definitely helped increase contractions (in strength and time apart). I was doing well with them, but they started coming 2 minutes apart, lasting 1.5 minutes, and it was really hard to keep up, so I asked for an epidural in the early afternoon. He got to the room within 5 minutes, had the epidural placed within 10 minutes, and I felt a huge difference 2 contractions later. I know everyone says something similar, but I could have seriously kissed the anesthesiologist! That epidural was the best thing ever, and I told everyone who came into the room. Although contractions were looking good, my cervix still wasn't progressing a whole lot, so they added Pitocin, and continued to up the Pitocin throughout the evening.

Around midnight, they checked me and I was at 8cm, but the baby wasn't turned the way he needed to be. They had me rolling over, changing positions constantly, to try to get him to turn. Throughout that process, something happened with the placement of my epidural and it COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. That was awful, so awful. I called the nurse and told her I needed help, and she checked me and said I was 10cm, so it was time to start pushing (and no time to call the anesthesiologist back to adjust).

I pushed for just over an hour, and he was born at 3:06am. It was exhausting and painful and I never, ever want any part of any kind of med-free birth again. 2nd degree tears and 12 stitches.

He latched right away, and was a power sucker. Unfortunately, he's been an ineffective nurser and I was breastfeeding him the majority of the day and night (and he was still very hungry). My nipples were cracked and bleeding, and when he wasn't struggling to nurse, he was screaming. He got a mouthful of blood the other day, and that was the end of that, for now. We will revisit once my nipples are healed and I can talk to the doctor about a possible upper lip tie. So, I'm exclusively pumping now, which is tiring, but better than bloody nipples and a starving, frustrated child.

But, here's my boy. He's incredibly healthy and a perfect little love.

PDQ name/picture

Luca Andrew (Last name)

[KaraOrNot]

He is adorable!

[toutsuite]

Congrats!!! He's absolutely precious!

[kams]

Oh he is absolutely perfect.

And that is our exact boy name front runner (H's mn is the same ).

Congratulations!

[nextbigthing]

He is VERY cute! Congratulations!

[vtdiamond]

Congratulations!!

[fayeelle]

Congrats! He's perfect!

[scribellesam]

Congratulations! He is so sweet.

[rachelgreen]

He is so stinking cute! Congrats!!! I'm sorry that you had to go through so much pain and frustration so far though.

[jewel]

Sept 27, 2014 14:39:16 GMT -5 kams said:

Oh he is absolutely perfect.

And that is our exact boy name front runner (H's mn is the same ).

Congratulations!

Andrew is a family name for me too. It was funny, because we went to the hospital with a list of 10-15 possible names that we'd worked on throughout the pregnancy. After he was born, nothing seemed to stick. Then I saw a doctor that reminded me of Luca from ER, and I suggested the name (Lucas was on my list, but my H didn't love it). He agreed, and is happy that we ended up with an Italian name.

[jewel]

Sept 27, 2014 16:50:47 GMT -5 rachelgreen said:

He is so stinking cute! Congrats!!! I'm sorry that you had to go through so much pain and frustration so far though.

Thanks! I think he's pretty damn cute too. My mom said that it's how moms and babies survive the first part of life - the cuteness is their saving grace.

Of course, all of the pain, and more, is worth it. I'd prefer to have a lot less though, obviously. LOL.

[whiskeyandwine]

Oh Jewel, he's beautiful! And I love love love that name. Congrats!! 

[blushing]

Congrats! He is very cute. (And our son's share a birthday!)

[pennylane]

Congratulations! He is so sweet!

[kams]

Sept 27, 2014 18:30:43 GMT -5 jewel said:

Sept 27, 2014 14:39:16 GMT -5 kams said:

Oh he is absolutely perfect.

And that is our exact boy name front runner (H's mn is the same ).

Congratulations!

**** is a family name for me too. It was funny, because we went to the hospital with a list of 10-15 possible names that we'd worked on throughout the pregnancy. After he was born, nothing seemed to stick. Then I saw a doctor that reminded me of **** from ER, and I suggested the name (Lucas was on my list, but my H didn't love it). He agreed, and is happy that we ended up with an Italian name.

[

Too funny! ER was when I fell in love with the name, and it has stuck with me since I was a kid! H & I had a similar naming situation with DD - we went to the hospital with a few in mind, and ended up with something different a few hours later (Elle with a family mn). I adore DDs name - it suits her so perfectly - so we plan to go in without a 100% decision this time again. He's so precious

[sparkythelawyer]

OMG he's PERFECT! I love that picture with his smile! (Or, the newborn version thereof :-). He's a doll! Congrats!

[miss.colorado]

Congrats on your cutie!

[lo]

Congrats! Simply gorgeous and love the name!!

[azurely]

He is precious! Congrats!

[jorja]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing! He's beautiful, and I love his name!

[626]

So adorable. Congratulations.

[busterpup]

Congrats! I love his name!

[jewel]

Sept 28, 2014 0:06:43 GMT -5 sparkythelawyer said:

OMG he's PERFECT! I love that picture with his smile! (Or, the newborn version thereof :-). He's a doll! Congrats!

Thanks! My mom said - "Love the smile, he must be farting" LOL.

[jewel]

Sept 27, 2014 20:03:38 GMT -5 kams said:

Sept 27, 2014 18:30:43 GMT -5 jewel said:

**** is a family name for me too. It was funny, because we went to the hospital with a list of 10-15 possible names that we'd worked on throughout the pregnancy. After he was born, nothing seemed to stick. Then I saw a doctor that reminded me of **** from ER, and I suggested the name (Lucas was on my list, but my H didn't love it). He agreed, and is happy that we ended up with an Italian name.

Too funny! ER was when I fell in love with the name, and it has stuck with me since I was a kid! H & I had a similar naming situation with DD - we went to the hospital with a few in mind, and ended up with something different a few hours later (Elle with a family mn). I adore DDs name - it suits her so perfectly - so we plan to go in without a 100% decision this time again. He's so precious

What are the odds of that? How funny! ER was such a wonderful show...