I'll work on a more detailed birth story in a little while after I get some rest but I wanted to get an update posted on our little angel. He came into the world this morning about 8:17am weighing 8lbs even. I think. We are still kind of working on getting his real stats, as his debut was a little chaotic. When my water broke last night they had noticed there was just a touch of meconium in it, so thankfully when he was born the NICU staff was already in my room all set up and ready to go. Pretty much throughout 1st and 2nd stage labor he was doing great on the monitors. But then when he finally came out he just wasn't wanting to breathe on his own. I got to see him for just a brief minute while Dr. H was suctioning out his little nose and mouth, and I heard him making some little baby whimpering sounds. But they took him right over to the warmer, sounded the alarm, and was immediately surrounded by a whole crowd of people and I was hearing people say scary words like "intubate" and NOT hearing him cry :( Pretty soon they whisked him upstairs to the NICU and Eric went along with him while I got stitched up (2nd degree tear, more on that later).
Dr. H went up to check on him while I was getting cleaned up and came back to give me an update. He explained that Seth had a pneumothorax, which essentially is a collapsed lung. Apparently they aren't sure why, but upon taking his first breath he just got a little hole in his lung, causing air to leak into the chest cavity, which in turn makes it hard for the lung to inflate. Thankfully this apparently is a relatively minor issue and is easy to treat. FINALLY about 2 1/2 hours after he was born I got to make my way up to the NICU. We met briefly with Dr. B, the NICU doc taking care of him, and he reiterated what Dr. H had explained, adding that he had gotten these little holes in both lungs. The right side being very minor. Both will just heal on their own and he felt the X-rays were looking very very good. Not life threatening at all. Unfortunately, he had also inhaled some meconium and therefore needs to be on antibiotics and stay in the NICU for most likely 5-7 days. Boo.
So currently he is under the warmer inside an oxygen tent. When we went in he was pretty pissed off, I'm sure from getting poked and prodded for the last couple of hours. But finally the nurses finished up their business and he calmed right down and went to sleep when Eric and I started talking to him. He is gorgeous! Like a lot of overdue babies he has got a lot of dry flaky skin, but he's got 10 perfect fingers and 10 perfect little toes, and looks JUST LIKE his daddy! If we're lucky I will get to hold him later today but probably not until tomorrow. Once again we are on his schedule. :) Right now he is just getting some sugar water and electrolytes through his IV and hopefully here in a bit after I have a nap I'll start pumping and he'll be getting the good stuff before we know it.
Thanks to everyone for all your prayers and words of encouragement. Like I said, I'm sure later tonight I will get the full birth story up and going but for now I have really got to get some rest, it has been a LONG 48 hours with very little sleep for this mama.
2 comments:
I have been praying for you all day long and I'm grateful to Natalie for keeping me updated so well. I cannot wait to hear the details from you and also just encourage you. I cannot even believe how similar this story is to my own with my own sweet angel. Honest to goodness, I can't believe this same sort of thing happened to you. I SO remember all of these things just like it was yesterday (and really, it was only two years ago so I SHOULD remember). Seth and Emma have this little adventure in common -- our two little heroes. :) I have so much more to say to you but don't want to do it here. I love you, am proud of you, am thrilled to know Seth is doing better and that you are surrounded by good doctors and a great family support system. Can't wait to talk to you and see pictures. Get good rest, my "frind." God bless all of you.
Yay! So glad baby boy is finally livin' in the real world. And so glad you made it through labor in one piece!
Mandy has been GREAT about keeping me updated (Thank you!). I feel like I went through the experience with you. I slept hardly at all last night waiting to hear the next bit of news!
What a scary thing to go through, but so glad to hear that it's not considered serious. Now, you just have another little wait until you get to take him home. Praise the Lord you didn't have a section. I'm sure you're sore, but at least you don't have to hang out in the hospital nicu for a week after having had major abdominal surgery. That is a major relief. We all though he was going to be soooo big!
Although if you look back, my original prediction was 8lbs even! What do I win?? :)
Hopefully Eric is holding up too. I remember how tired Craig was the day after. I hope he has a chance to get some napping in along with the two of you.
My arms are aching in sympathy that you have yet another little wait until you get to hold him, but oh how sweet it will be when you finally do! They say nothing worthwhile is ever easy. This must be the most worthwhile baby on the planet!
I love you. I'm proud of you. And you, Eric and Seth are in my prayers.
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