On Wednesday morning I had an appointment with my OBGyn and he discovered that I was 5cm dilated and 75% effaced. I was told to come to the hospital if I was having 1 minute long contractions every 5 minutes for an hour. On Thursday I was experiencing constant back pain and uncomfortable pressure in my belly. I decided that we should go to the hospital to at least figure out how much farther along I was.
We get to the hospital and explain what's going on and they tell me that I'm now dilated to 6cm and they'll break my water so we'll have the baby tonight. But after some further examinations, they discovered that Alex was breech [bum down- which is a HUGE no no]. So the doctor comes in and says he's going to try an external version- where they push on your belly in hopes of turning the baby around. After several painful attempts, they realized that his bottom was too far down in my pelvis because of how much I was dilated. There were no other options- I was going to have a C-section.
I was terrified and frustrated that things had gone from good to bad so quickly, but at the same time I was in so much pain from the attempted version that I was ready to just have Alex out! I was prepped for surgery and Alex was born at 11:20pm on Thursday, June 3rd. I got to talk to him for a bit and kiss him before he was whisked away to be cleaned off and measured. I was stitched back up and sent to post-op recovery where I had a lot of interesting and frightening side effects.
Apparently I have a lot of hormones [more so than the typical pregnant woman] AND I was more sensitive to one of the anesthesia medicines used on me [oxytocin]. So I started to have some violent shaking episodes where my entire upper body would convulse and there was nothing I could do about it. I also got to a point where my eyes had drooped shut from some other medications making me sleepy and I couldn't open them when I tried to. After a while, I was given some more medication to offset the affects of the oxytocin on my body and everything went back to normal. After over an hour in post-op recovery, I was finally sent upstairs to see my baby and tell Ian what had happened.
Alexander Gene weighed in at 8lb 3oz and 20 inches long [not bad for 2 weeks early!] He is such a cute bundle of joy and hardly gives us any fuss right now. Serra loves her little brother and constantly asks to kiss alex, hug alex, and hold him. Hopefully that love stays there when she realizes he's taking some of her attention- or some of her toys! Alex cried and pinked up really quickly and has shown no signs of being premature- he's a completely healthy boy! I have been recovering so well the doctors and nurses are surprised. I used very little morphine right after the surgery and have only taken a couple of oral pain meds today- I'm just not in any pain. I was up and walking this morning without any problems- was able to take a shower a little later in the morning. So things are going well and it hasn't nearly been as bad as I thought it would be!
The hospitals here keep C-section mothers for 48 hours, so I'll be leaving either Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning depending on how I'm feeling. My sister, Paige, drove up from
Lehi to help out and we've had lots of offers from friends in the area to take Serra when we need moments to just worry about Alex. Alex was having some trouble eating at first- he was just too tired to even try. But finally a couple of hours ago we got him to latch on and he seems to be getting the hang of it. Hopefully he and I can figure it out and not have the problems that I had with Serra! Well, I think that's pretty much everything- now the part everyone has been waiting for- PICTURES! :)
Alexander Gene MacGregor [Alex]
Mommy & Alex right after post-op recovery
Daddy and Alex a few hours after birth.
Serra kissing Alex during her first time seeing and holding him.
Our little family!
As a little side note- some funny things I was told. After I had given birth to Serra the doctors then had told me that I was "made for making babies". Ironically, after giving birth to Alex the doctors here said the same thing! I was also told by the surgical doctors that they were all impressed with my ab muscles- they're apparently great for a normal woman and superb for a pregnant woman- I would have never thought that about my abs, but I figure who would know better than the doctors who have actually SEEN them?
We get to the hospital and explain what's going on and they tell me that I'm now dilated to 6cm and they'll break my water so we'll have the baby tonight. But after some further examinations, they discovered that Alex was breech [bum down- which is a HUGE no no]. So the doctor comes in and says he's going to try an external version- where they push on your belly in hopes of turning the baby around. After several painful attempts, they realized that his bottom was too far down in my pelvis because of how much I was dilated. There were no other options- I was going to have a C-section.
I was terrified and frustrated that things had gone from good to bad so quickly, but at the same time I was in so much pain from the attempted version that I was ready to just have Alex out! I was prepped for surgery and Alex was born at 11:20pm on Thursday, June 3rd. I got to talk to him for a bit and kiss him before he was whisked away to be cleaned off and measured. I was stitched back up and sent to post-op recovery where I had a lot of interesting and frightening side effects.
Apparently I have a lot of hormones [more so than the typical pregnant woman] AND I was more sensitive to one of the anesthesia medicines used on me [oxytocin]. So I started to have some violent shaking episodes where my entire upper body would convulse and there was nothing I could do about it. I also got to a point where my eyes had drooped shut from some other medications making me sleepy and I couldn't open them when I tried to. After a while, I was given some more medication to offset the affects of the oxytocin on my body and everything went back to normal. After over an hour in post-op recovery, I was finally sent upstairs to see my baby and tell Ian what had happened.
Alexander Gene weighed in at 8lb 3oz and 20 inches long [not bad for 2 weeks early!] He is such a cute bundle of joy and hardly gives us any fuss right now. Serra loves her little brother and constantly asks to kiss alex, hug alex, and hold him. Hopefully that love stays there when she realizes he's taking some of her attention- or some of her toys! Alex cried and pinked up really quickly and has shown no signs of being premature- he's a completely healthy boy! I have been recovering so well the doctors and nurses are surprised. I used very little morphine right after the surgery and have only taken a couple of oral pain meds today- I'm just not in any pain. I was up and walking this morning without any problems- was able to take a shower a little later in the morning. So things are going well and it hasn't nearly been as bad as I thought it would be!
The hospitals here keep C-section mothers for 48 hours, so I'll be leaving either Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning depending on how I'm feeling. My sister, Paige, drove up from
Lehi to help out and we've had lots of offers from friends in the area to take Serra when we need moments to just worry about Alex. Alex was having some trouble eating at first- he was just too tired to even try. But finally a couple of hours ago we got him to latch on and he seems to be getting the hang of it. Hopefully he and I can figure it out and not have the problems that I had with Serra! Well, I think that's pretty much everything- now the part everyone has been waiting for- PICTURES! :)
Alexander Gene MacGregor [Alex]
Mommy & Alex right after post-op recovery
Daddy and Alex a few hours after birth.
Serra kissing Alex during her first time seeing and holding him.
Our little family!As a little side note- some funny things I was told. After I had given birth to Serra the doctors then had told me that I was "made for making babies". Ironically, after giving birth to Alex the doctors here said the same thing! I was also told by the surgical doctors that they were all impressed with my ab muscles- they're apparently great for a normal woman and superb for a pregnant woman- I would have never thought that about my abs, but I figure who would know better than the doctors who have actually SEEN them?
9 comments:
congratulations!!! He is such a handsome little boy! I was so excited when Joan called me and told me. I will be calling you to find out what you guys want for dinner on Monday.
Oh he is so handsome! I can't wait to hold him!
I have had those shaking fits. I know what you are talking about and they are scary! I had that right after I had Emily. I had all kinds of fun side effects from my messed-up epidural.
So glad you are not in too much pain. You are amazing!
Love you!!!
I am so glad that you are okay! And you are up moving around! Atleast the worst is behind you! He is adorable and your family is to die for!
Congratulations, Kristen! So happy for you! I guess if your little man had been head first, he may have come sooner?
So perfect in every way! These pictures are great!! Congratulations to you and your darling little family. Funny story about the abs, too...
Yay!!! I'm so glad Alex is here, and that he's nice and healthy. And can I just say that besides having an awesome mommy body, you look way good after having a baby too. I'm so happy for your family! And I can't wait to see you all soon!!!
He looks a lot like Serra in that first picture. I am glad you are okay. I would have a c-section any day if it meant i had a healthy baby! You look amazing and I am so glad you are feeling well. Wish we were there to bring you dinner or something! Good luck and keep posting pics of that baby- they grow so fast!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Thanks for the e-mail and I loved reading the story - it's a good one! I'm so glad that you are recovering so well! Your doctors didn't know that he was breech? Or did he turn all of a sudden at the end? I'm glad that it all worked out and be sure to visit next time you're down here!
Oh he is so cute!! Congratulations! I can't wait to see him!
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