Monday, November 5, 2012

Welcome...Oren Monroe Waite


I had a doctor’s appointment when I was 38 and a half weeks and found out that I was the furthest thing from going into labor that I could be at 38 weeks.  This casted doubt into the mind of my OB and made him wonder whether he should actually induce me on the 13th as planned.  This stressed me out he most because the 13th was the best time for Patxi and his crazy-busy schedule and also for my mother who was taking tons of time off of work so she could help me with the kids.  The next week I tried everything I could to prep my body for labor hoping it would work.  My OB checked me on the 12th to see if I had progressed at all.  I had...a little bit.  When I told him that this was the same story as my induction for Boston, which labor was about 4 and a half hours, he told me to see him at the hospital bright and early the next morning.  I was so relieved.  
My mom arrived late that night so she would be there when the kids woke up in the morning, and I packed my hospital bag.  Patxi and I arrive there at 7:30 am with an expectation that we would have a baby by mid-afternoon.  Boston and Valin went so quickly and since I decided to do it “un-medicated,” we thought it would go very quickly.  My OB checked me and gave me meds that would ripen my cerex so that I would go into labor.  After a few hours of nothing, Patxi turned on the college football games while I walked the halls, trailing my IV on wheels.  They upped my pitocin intake so that finally, around 1:30, I started to progress.  This early labor lasted until 4:30 which was when the baby had finally dropped low enough for my OB to break my water.  This was 4:30 in the afternoon.  I had planned to be holding my baby by then! Luckily I transitioned into active labor and things started happening.  The contractions were stronger and I really had to concentrate on breathing.  I started to get major lower back pressure so I had Patxi push his fits into my back to try to counter it.  I do have to say it was weird being able to go to the bathroom and move into other positions because usually at this time I had an epidural and was bound to the bed with a catheter.  Patxi and I watched football and then when I would have a contraction, I would call his name out and start my rhythmic breathing.  Around 5:30 I told Patxi to go get dinner thinking that I could handle his absence then instead of later when it would get worst.  I tried a few different positions, and when nothing seemed to help or make a difference I took to the bed and held onto the hand rails.  
The best way I can think to describe the contractions at this point is to liken it to someone setting my pelvic bones on fire.  I would say it was like someone was branding my lower abs and lower  back, but since I’ve never branded before, I can’t say I know what it’s like.  I really don’t know if the rest of my uterus was feeling pain, because the pain from my lower back and pelvic region eclipsed it.  I still had Patxi pushing his fit into my back, but to tell the truth, it wasn’t doing anything to help.  I guess I just wanted him there and actively participating.  I had replaced my exhaled breath with “owe!” or “this hurts!”  and some times, “don’t touch my spine!!!” to Patxi.  
At about 6:30 I was checked and was told that I was only dilated to 5 cm.  Five, that’s it! I was beyond irate.  I couldn’t imagine much more of this pain! I reasoned with myself that I would labor for another hour and if I wasn’t anywhere closer, then I would screw the little white board that said, “unmedicated,” and get some relief.  Another hour of excruciating pain later and I found that I had barely gained another centimeter.  I was furious and could care a less about my desire to experience “natural” child birth.  After the next fire-burning contraction I asked about my medication options.  Patxi tried to remind me of goal, but wisely backed off  when he saw the look I gave him.  Finally the nurse gave me same fentanyl in my IV, which was to make me sleepy between contraction and take the edge off the pain.  Well, it did make me sleep, but I felt all of the pain. Soon, I started to feel pressure and ask that the doctor check me. When I exhaled, now I would say things like, “get it out!” “this hurts!” and “make it stop!”
My OB walked in and checks me around 8:45 and told that I’m not quite a 10 yet. I was still not there yet! I was close to certifiable at this point.  He leaves to answer a page and the pressure on my lower region becomes too much and I announced to the room that I had to push.  Patxi was the smartest one there because he ripped the covers off me while my nurse told me not to push.  Like right!  If you feel the need, you push.  Nothing was set up and the bed wasn’t broken down so I understand why she asked, but I could wait anymore.  When I pushed, I start to feel the most intense pain in my life, like someone was ripping open my pelvic bones, tarring them apart.  I now know what it feels like to have a compound fracture! This was the crowning of the baby’s head, which is what happens as the head passes through the pelvic cavity.  Needless to say, I was screaming at this point.  It was a good thing that I did, because it brought the doctor in time to see the baby’s head.  He then bent me in half, with the help of Patxi and the nurses, and yelled at me to push again.  I was in so much pain that I just wanted them to use the salad spoons.  But on the next contraction I pushed with all my might and soon felt the release as the baby came out, at 8:53 pm.  
Soon Patxi shouts out with unbridled excitement and a fist-punch, “It’s a BOY!” And then they placed the baby on my stomach.  I was overwhelmed with love for this little baby and had no problems telling him that I loved him.  He laid there without crying.  He was probably still surprised, as I’m sure the rest of the room was also, at how quickly he came out.  My OB and nurses took turns guessing his weight and we were all surprised when the scale read 7 lbs and 14.5 oz.  My biggest baby yet.  Interesting how it took even less time to push him through, even though he was bigger.  


Anyway, We started to talk about names right off.  When Patxi suggested Calhan Monroe, it was the best one we could both agree on, but every time I said it or texted it to someone, it just didn’t feel right.  So when they wheeled us into the recovery room, I asked Patxi if he would be willing to change the name.  He was and I suggested Oren.  We decided to pray and sleep on it and then I would make the final decision when I would fill out his birth certificate in the morning.  Patxi then left to sleep at home so he would be ready for his shift at the Keizer Fire Station.  In the morning I made Oren Monroe official and we were really happy about it. 



My stay at the hospital went really well, except the fact that Oren had lost 7% of his weight.  I realized that I should have fed him more on each side.  One of these days I’m going to get the hang on this nursing thing.  We’re still having a little bit of trouble.  He did regain his birth weight by 2 weeks (which is the healthy goal) so he is getting enough, but just not an abundance.  I am going to talk to a lactation specialist so I can make sure we’re latching alright and to get tips on making nursing quicker.  With two other young kids, it’s hard to sit on the couch for an hour every 3 hours nursing a baby.  I thought that we might have Thrush since I’m still really sore and there is whiteness on Oren’s tongue, but after five days of medicine, nothing has changed so it must be something else. 
Everything with Oren is going great.  When he was 3 days old, he smiled for the first time and absolutely melted my heart.  He has such an adorable smile.  We had him circumsised about a week after he was born and I made the wise decision not to be there for it.  Patxi and I were there for Valin and hated it, but I was still planning on being there for Oren.  But when the nurse shared her story of leaving the room while her son was circumsised, I decided I would leave too.  It was perfect because he left -not crying and came back, not crying.  I didn’t even hear him in the small operations room.  He is healing great.  
My mom was here almost 11 days after Oren was born since Patxi has two 48 hour shifts within that time.  She was absolutely amazing.  We are still eating meals she froze for us.  We all missed her when she left.  
Adjusting to life with a newborn is going alright.  It of course has its ups and downs.  The  kids utterly love their little brother and I can hardly set him down without him being swarmed.  the hugs and kisses continue whenever he is awake and even while he is eating.  They ask about him first thing in the morning and will tell me if he wakes.  We are all trying to deal with mom’s lack of time with them, but things are going better then I thought.  I’ve found that I stuggle the most with productivity.  I’m a very task-orianted person and gain great satifation on checking things off my To-Do list.  But now that I can’t seem to cross off “shower” from my lists most days, I’ve been having a hard time.  But I know that things will get better and that I just need to take it one day at a time. 



6 comments:

Brittney said...

you are amazing! he is a handsome little guy :)

Matt & Steph said...

He is a handsome little guy, and you are an amazing mom. If you ever want to consider babywearing (great at bonding, increasing your milk supply, and keeping up with the other two -- once you are proficient with nursing and babywearing, you can combine them)... I would love to help if you would like. ;)

Are You Serious! said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Are You Serious! said...

Congratulations!!! How exciting for you and your family! :)

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