I posted this in the birth announcement thread, but since it's really dang funny (even to me), I thought more folks might get to enjoy it in a separate thread!
I had a boy!
John Henry
October 27, 2006
4:45 p.m.
7 pounds, 15 ounces
19.5 inches long
Baby was due November 8 - and I was sure I would go to 40 weeks, since I had done that with DD. But around 1 a.m. on the 27th, I got up to pee and noticed some bloody show. I went back to bed, and had what felt like strong menstrual cramps every 20-30 minutes. I still thought I was weeks away. In the morning, DH took DD to her gym class in the morning, and I took the opportunity to shower, wash and dry my hair, all that good stuff.
From about 10:30 a.m. on, I tracked my contractions, took care of DD (I'd sent DH to work, again thinking we had time), and puttered. At about 2 p.m. I messaged DH that he should come home. He got home around 2:30, took DD to the friends who were going to care for her, then came home and put things in a bag for me as I thought of them - I hadn't packed! At about 3:40, I said I thought we ought to go NOW; it took about 20 minutes to get out of the house from that point.
Without traffic, it's about 10-15 minutes to the hospital from our house. Unfortunately, 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon around here guarantees traffic. So ....
... think "sitcom trainwreck" for the drive to the hospital, arrival at hospital, and delivery of baby.
We got to the hospital driveway at approximately 4:35 p.m. (according to the slip DH got later from the valet, who was VERY confused when we pulled up). DH got me in a wheelchair, and wheeled up to L&D on 5 VERY quickly. I was wheeled into a triage room, could not get myself out of the chair. In fact, I declared that I was going to pee - that meant I was pushing, and my water broke. Wheeled even MORE quickly to an L&D room. Once there, I declared that I was pooping (yes, I have no shame while in labor, apparently), and pushed AGAIN in the wheelchair. Two nurses lifted me by the arms out of the chair, pulled off my pants (and saw the top of the baby's head VERY clearly) and turned me around to get me on the bed. I got my left leg, butt, and my right foot on the bed - and John came FLYING OUT - head AND body all at once. No one caught him, he landed on the bed in a huge puddle of the fluid that came gushing out with him. Time of birth? 4:45 p.m.
He did great - Apgars of 8 and 9, very content all the time. My OB got to the room about 3 minutes after John arrived, delivered the placenta, and then spent 45 minutes stitching me up - I tore down AND up, so I was glad to have him there, and I trust him with putting me back together. I had a lot of afterpains and the uterine massage was NO FUN, but necessary, since I had a borderline hemmorage last time. I did NOT have pitocin or anything else after delivery.
John latched on as soon as I got my hands on him - I'd been hyperventilating, and wanted to get that under control (needed oxygen) before I took him, but he was with DH the whole time. He's been a nursing champ ever since, even dealing with my overactive letdown.
Everyone is happy and healthy and WHOLE and home! Yay!
I had a boy!
John Henry
October 27, 2006
4:45 p.m.
7 pounds, 15 ounces
19.5 inches long
Baby was due November 8 - and I was sure I would go to 40 weeks, since I had done that with DD. But around 1 a.m. on the 27th, I got up to pee and noticed some bloody show. I went back to bed, and had what felt like strong menstrual cramps every 20-30 minutes. I still thought I was weeks away. In the morning, DH took DD to her gym class in the morning, and I took the opportunity to shower, wash and dry my hair, all that good stuff.
From about 10:30 a.m. on, I tracked my contractions, took care of DD (I'd sent DH to work, again thinking we had time), and puttered. At about 2 p.m. I messaged DH that he should come home. He got home around 2:30, took DD to the friends who were going to care for her, then came home and put things in a bag for me as I thought of them - I hadn't packed! At about 3:40, I said I thought we ought to go NOW; it took about 20 minutes to get out of the house from that point.
Without traffic, it's about 10-15 minutes to the hospital from our house. Unfortunately, 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon around here guarantees traffic. So ....
... think "sitcom trainwreck" for the drive to the hospital, arrival at hospital, and delivery of baby.
We got to the hospital driveway at approximately 4:35 p.m. (according to the slip DH got later from the valet, who was VERY confused when we pulled up). DH got me in a wheelchair, and wheeled up to L&D on 5 VERY quickly. I was wheeled into a triage room, could not get myself out of the chair. In fact, I declared that I was going to pee - that meant I was pushing, and my water broke. Wheeled even MORE quickly to an L&D room. Once there, I declared that I was pooping (yes, I have no shame while in labor, apparently), and pushed AGAIN in the wheelchair. Two nurses lifted me by the arms out of the chair, pulled off my pants (and saw the top of the baby's head VERY clearly) and turned me around to get me on the bed. I got my left leg, butt, and my right foot on the bed - and John came FLYING OUT - head AND body all at once. No one caught him, he landed on the bed in a huge puddle of the fluid that came gushing out with him. Time of birth? 4:45 p.m.
He did great - Apgars of 8 and 9, very content all the time. My OB got to the room about 3 minutes after John arrived, delivered the placenta, and then spent 45 minutes stitching me up - I tore down AND up, so I was glad to have him there, and I trust him with putting me back together. I had a lot of afterpains and the uterine massage was NO FUN, but necessary, since I had a borderline hemmorage last time. I did NOT have pitocin or anything else after delivery.
John latched on as soon as I got my hands on him - I'd been hyperventilating, and wanted to get that under control (needed oxygen) before I took him, but he was with DH the whole time. He's been a nursing champ ever since, even dealing with my overactive letdown.
Everyone is happy and healthy and WHOLE and home! Yay!
