Announcing Gideon!
First, a picture, then the story of the week, then the details of his birth!
Our week:
After the 4th, I went to the doctor for my weekly checkup (on the 5th) and found I was still at 4cm. The doctor was surprised I even made it to that appointment.
We went to the park that afternoon (tried walking - too hot!), and we went to the pool on Thursday (better, but still very hot and even with sunscreen, we had some burns).
Natalie got to go to my brother's house and my sister in law taught her to straighten her hair. At home, I put curlers in my other girls' hair (Carolyn was gone to a sleepover and Seth just enjoyed a little less female in the house).
Friday, Rob was off, so we decided we were going to work on getting the baby out. (I laugh when I think of this because I didn't think it likely I'd go into labor before the next week.) He rearranged the den again (trying different arrangements) and we wanted to go to the pool in the afternoon, but a thunderstorm ruined that plan. I was going to make my usual homemade pizza, but I felt tired and didn't really want to (but also felt like I should because it's not like there was anything different about that Friday - I'm always tired these days).
Rob pointed out that I'd look back on this day and realize I was silly to think I should be making pizza instead of buying it when it was X number of days before the baby was born. So we went to CiCi's (we had some coupons anyways).
While the kids watched their movies that night, we went to a few furniture stores to "walk the baby out" and window shop. At the last one, the lady asked us what we were looking for that she could help us find. She laughed when we told her we what we were doing (thinking I was not that far along), but wished us luck.
That night, we read and prayed and put the kids to bed. I showered and laid down while Rob got ready for bed. We'd watch a movie later, but I was super tired.
The Birth Story
I am so thankful for that little nap! When I got up to use the bathroom a little after 10, my water broke. (I wasn't sure at first since it wasn't a hollywood movie style scene with water all over the floor.) We called my mom to warn her (and ask her advice...is this what we think it is?) We called the doctor (is this what we think it is and what do we do?) Do I wait a while? Contractions were still not really coming regularly or hurting...I'd never gone into labor before! I had no idea if this was it??
By 10:30, I realized, my water had indeed broken and we were on our way to the hospital (to be admitted or sent home). Seth was woken up to wait until we knew more, and Will and Madyson would be there shortly after if the hospital kept me.
Mom and Dad left their house before we left ours to start the nearly 3 hour drive to Columbia. (I assured her she had plenty of time - I still was barely having contractions when we left the house.) I'm so thankful they left when they did!
Of course, I was in labor, (5cm when I got to the hospital) and the contractions started coming - uncomfortable, then painful, then nearly one right after the other. Within 4 hours, we had a baby! (Scream, baby! Get those lungs clear!)
My mom made it to the hospital about 20 minutes before he was born (and was in the room only a few minutes before he entered the world).
I had decided to "go natural" (no pain meds). The doctor cautioned me about some potential medical reasons I might want to reconsider, and I changed my mind to accept the meds, but it was too late, and Gideon was born "all natural."
(I had a mostly dysfunctional epidural with Carolyn, but it did knock off a little pain. This was like nothing I've felt before!) But I'm thankful for how it worked out. My recovery has been so much easier and less painful (without pitocin and epidural side effects).
Unfortunately, because he was born so quickly (I pushed for about 5 minutes!), he didn't have time to clear his lungs of all fluid and I didn't have time to receive all the antibiotics I needed to protect him (group beta strep). So he ended up in the nursery later that first day.
Here he sports his IV for antibiotics in case he had one of several things (he went through 4 IVs because he kept knocking them out!), his (gold heart) temperature monitor, his oxygen monitor (because was breathing super fast), and at some points a feeding tube. (Because of his fast breathing, he wasn't allowed to breastfeed or bottle feed; he might aspirate. I'm glad I got to nurse him right after delivery.)
Some got to visit him first thing in the morning before they noticed his fast breathing and took him to the nursery for testing and treatment (just in case). All of his siblings got to hold him, my parents, and some of my siblings.
After they took him to the nursery, the later visitors could only look through the window.
A little disappointing, but at least we know it was for his safety.
When his respiration rate was under 70/minute, they let me feed him. In the times it wasn't, I learned to express and (machine) pump so he could still get milk from me. (I think they did sneak him one formula bottle, but it has had no effect on his desire to breastfeed. He is the best little eater I've ever had!)
I found that the more I held him (and I sang him primary songs as I rocked), his breathing would slow and he would calm enough for me to be allowed to nurse him (or let him "drink" the milk I had pumped).
Monday, they let him come back to our room to await his results from Saturday's blood work. (All the chest x-rays, echo, and other small blood work had come back with good results. Initial chest x-rays started with a small concern, but as it cleared up quickly, we guessed it was fluid and all was well.) The last IV stayed until test results came back good, which they did.
And we were all discharged together Monday evening - home by about 6:30 pm.
First night was typical - no one slept much. But, he has eaten wonderfully (most of the night in fact!) At his first doctor check up this morning, he had regained and passed his birth weight - now 8 lbs 11 oz and 20 3/4" long.
We'll go back Friday for another bilirubin check (but we expect he will be fine).
Gideon Edward Bailey
8 lbs 10 oz
20" long
Born 2:28 am Saturday 8 July 2017
Our week:
After the 4th, I went to the doctor for my weekly checkup (on the 5th) and found I was still at 4cm. The doctor was surprised I even made it to that appointment.
We went to the park that afternoon (tried walking - too hot!), and we went to the pool on Thursday (better, but still very hot and even with sunscreen, we had some burns).
Natalie got to go to my brother's house and my sister in law taught her to straighten her hair. At home, I put curlers in my other girls' hair (Carolyn was gone to a sleepover and Seth just enjoyed a little less female in the house).
Rob pointed out that I'd look back on this day and realize I was silly to think I should be making pizza instead of buying it when it was X number of days before the baby was born. So we went to CiCi's (we had some coupons anyways).
While the kids watched their movies that night, we went to a few furniture stores to "walk the baby out" and window shop. At the last one, the lady asked us what we were looking for that she could help us find. She laughed when we told her we what we were doing (thinking I was not that far along), but wished us luck.
That night, we read and prayed and put the kids to bed. I showered and laid down while Rob got ready for bed. We'd watch a movie later, but I was super tired.
The Birth Story
I am so thankful for that little nap! When I got up to use the bathroom a little after 10, my water broke. (I wasn't sure at first since it wasn't a hollywood movie style scene with water all over the floor.) We called my mom to warn her (and ask her advice...is this what we think it is?) We called the doctor (is this what we think it is and what do we do?) Do I wait a while? Contractions were still not really coming regularly or hurting...I'd never gone into labor before! I had no idea if this was it??
By 10:30, I realized, my water had indeed broken and we were on our way to the hospital (to be admitted or sent home). Seth was woken up to wait until we knew more, and Will and Madyson would be there shortly after if the hospital kept me.
Mom and Dad left their house before we left ours to start the nearly 3 hour drive to Columbia. (I assured her she had plenty of time - I still was barely having contractions when we left the house.) I'm so thankful they left when they did!
Of course, I was in labor, (5cm when I got to the hospital) and the contractions started coming - uncomfortable, then painful, then nearly one right after the other. Within 4 hours, we had a baby! (Scream, baby! Get those lungs clear!)
My mom made it to the hospital about 20 minutes before he was born (and was in the room only a few minutes before he entered the world).
I had decided to "go natural" (no pain meds). The doctor cautioned me about some potential medical reasons I might want to reconsider, and I changed my mind to accept the meds, but it was too late, and Gideon was born "all natural."
(I had a mostly dysfunctional epidural with Carolyn, but it did knock off a little pain. This was like nothing I've felt before!) But I'm thankful for how it worked out. My recovery has been so much easier and less painful (without pitocin and epidural side effects).
Unfortunately, because he was born so quickly (I pushed for about 5 minutes!), he didn't have time to clear his lungs of all fluid and I didn't have time to receive all the antibiotics I needed to protect him (group beta strep). So he ended up in the nursery later that first day.
Some got to visit him first thing in the morning before they noticed his fast breathing and took him to the nursery for testing and treatment (just in case). All of his siblings got to hold him, my parents, and some of my siblings.
After they took him to the nursery, the later visitors could only look through the window.
When his respiration rate was under 70/minute, they let me feed him. In the times it wasn't, I learned to express and (machine) pump so he could still get milk from me. (I think they did sneak him one formula bottle, but it has had no effect on his desire to breastfeed. He is the best little eater I've ever had!)
I found that the more I held him (and I sang him primary songs as I rocked), his breathing would slow and he would calm enough for me to be allowed to nurse him (or let him "drink" the milk I had pumped).
Monday, they let him come back to our room to await his results from Saturday's blood work. (All the chest x-rays, echo, and other small blood work had come back with good results. Initial chest x-rays started with a small concern, but as it cleared up quickly, we guessed it was fluid and all was well.) The last IV stayed until test results came back good, which they did.
And we were all discharged together Monday evening - home by about 6:30 pm.
First night was typical - no one slept much. But, he has eaten wonderfully (most of the night in fact!) At his first doctor check up this morning, he had regained and passed his birth weight - now 8 lbs 11 oz and 20 3/4" long.
We'll go back Friday for another bilirubin check (but we expect he will be fine).
We love our little Gideon. :)
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