Andrew Paul
February 1st, 2017
4:04 PM
7 lbs 15 oz - 20 in
#OperationAndy
#OperationAndy was the title of our journey to make sure Daddy made it home in time for the birth of his son. God worked many miracles, thanks to the numerous prayers of our family and friends, and Daddy made it home with almost a week to spare.
The last week of pregnancy was spent in the usual fashion. My husband was finally home and could take charge of the four other littles running around out house so I could get a good night's sleep. He was still on Korea time, so he spent his first few days sleeping during the day and awake most of the night. This worked out well. During the day, I let the well known "nesting stage" kick into gear. I was determined to have a clean home before this baby arrived. After all, we were having a scheduled Induction, so the date was not going to be a surprise. Plenty of time to prepare.
Baby Day
Baby Day was finally here! I called the Charge Nurse at 2am for instructions as to what time to report to the hospital by. We were told to call back at 5am. So I went back to bed. Hubby woke me up at about 5:30am to call the Nurse back. We were given a time - 8am. I was still exhausted. A couple of our children decided sleeping was for sissies that night so I was all worn out. Hubby told me to go back to sleep for another hour. We called the sister who was going to watch our children - early morning shift - and I went back to sleep. By 6:45am we were out the door to meet up with my Doula, Amy - Beautifully Made Doula Services. We met up at 7:15am and were headed up to Madigan Army Medical Center to have a baby!We arrived at Labor & Delivery and were introduced to our Birthing Team and the Delivery Room. The nurses in attendance from start to finish were Michelle and Lucy. From the start, they were very kind and knowledgeable. We planned for baby's first moments and I was pleasantly surprised by the changes that this hospital had made since my last delivery there (7 years before). I had a great feeling about everything. I explained I was super chicken when it came to IV placements. The nurses called the Anesthesiologist to come do it. He numbed the area, and stuck me - the first time. It busted the vein. So he had to numb another area, and tried again. This time it took. It was painful nonetheless. And so labs were drawn, IV was started as well as the clyndamyacin (antibiotics treatments for Group B Strep). And we waited. Meanwhile I had a few contractions here and there.
Good morning, Doctor! Dr Jason Pates arrived about 9:30am to check in and make sure everything was ready to go! He did a check to see where we were starting. I was 50% effaced and 2 cm. Good start. He tried to break my water at that point - wasn't successful. So we waited. At about 10:30am, Pitocin was started. Everything was easy going until about 1:30pm. Hubby, Amy and I watched the movie: Best Two Years! Had several really good laughs. Labor was going well. at about 1:30pm, Nurse Lucy checked me again and I was a loose 3 cm and still about 50% effaced. They upped the Pitocin. We switched the movie to Hunchback of Notre Dame. That movie, struck up some really good conversations between the nurses and I about good memories regarding a trip to France 14 years ago. (sheesh has it really been that long ago?) At this point I was laboring a lot more seriously (thanks, Pitocin) and was trying to talk through the contractions, I guess that was my coping method to get through the pain of those ones. Worked for a while. Dr Pates came back in at roughly 2:30pm to check me again and break my water. This time I was still at 3cm but 80% effaced - was making some progress. Water was successfully broken. He told the nurses that he knew my history from this point on, so he let them know he was going to be just around the corner because he knew it was going to be soon. Labor got super intense. I was no longer talking through contractions. I was trying to breathe through them. Then came the tears. The pain was still manageable but intense. At about 3:55pm or so the nurses said it was time to call Doctor back in. As promised, he was there pretty much instantly. Checked a last time, and sure enough we were ready to go. Nobody exactly had to tell me that. The pressure of baby's head was enough. By roughly 4pm or so I was pushing! The pain was unbearable. There was no breathing through it, or simply crying through it. Screaming through it so didn't ease the pain, but it sorta helped me mentally get through it. Thank goodness, little one knew what he was doing, because it didn't take too long, before his little self slid into this world of ours! Our baby was declared born at 4:04pm. The First Couple Hours
Andy was a perfect baby! He had a very long umbilical cord, and was easily placed "skin-to-skin" on my chest right after his birth. I was still throbbing with pain, but so much in love! I couldn't believe I was crazy enough to go through all that pain again - but so in love with the beautiful perfect little being that we helped create and bring into the world. Next thing I knew, Andy was latched like a pro and nursing great!
The placenta was delivered and we were well on our way to "recovery." Baby was perfect! Mama was in 7th Heaven! We had the perfect Birthing Team imaginable. I am grateful for each individual involved. Doctor Pates has my utmost respect for his discretion and thoroughness. Amy (doula) was outstanding. Perfect help and photographer. I could not have done it without her help and encouragement. Joshua, my sweet husband - I really was worried I was going to accidentally break his hand this time. Outstanding labor support. Between him and Amy I was constantly reminded of the strength I had. The nurses were amazing! Very pleased with the care and support they offered, not to mention all the laughs. We had guesses going around the room regarding his weight and birth time. I was closest on all counts. Andy was born around 4pm, he weighed 7lb 15oz (my guess was 7lb 12oz) and he was 20in long ( my guess was 20in too). Apparently I can guesstimate my baby's size better than I thought. The crowning glory of the day was hearing the Hospital play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" as we were being transferred to the Mother-Baby Unit. It meant, we had successfully introduced a new baby into our crazy world - bringing a bit of heaven's peace into our lives.
