First Check-Up

We just got back from our first check-up for little Henry. Our pediatrician came to visit him both days in the hospital and we decided to go back and see him again before the weekend to make sure all the feedings are going well and just get the peace of mind that everything is a-ok with our new addition.

Henry is measuring at the average weight and head size and is in the 80th percentile for height; imagine that! He also has lost a little weight, just a tad more than the average weight loss for a newborn, but we are both really getting the hang of this whole breastfeeding process. Since he has lost some weight and my milk isn't in yet we are supplementing with some formula. He has no problem latching back on to my breast after a bottle feed so I say if it helps bulk him up and makes him happy then I am all for it! We go in for his circumcision on Monday and check back in with the peditirition for his weight gain on Wednesday.

As for mom and dad, we are so thankful to have all the help we have. My mom stayed the night with us last night and helped out so I could get some rest. I had only slept 30 minutes since Monday and really was on my last leg. I was able to get about a total of 5 hours throughout the evening/night yesterday and feel so much better today. Chris mom made us all dinner last night and is back here again making homemade chicken and noodles for us. Henry, Chris and I are so very lucky to have such a loving family. We are all spoiled rotten!

I keep getting asked about the labor process too. Overall, it went really well and I feel so proud of myself and Henry. We checked in on Monday evening around 6pm as I had been having consistent contractions since 1pm and given I was dilated to 4+ cm the doc wanted me to head into the hospital. Once we were there they confirmed I was about 5cm and in early labor. However, for most patience they would have sent them home until the contractions got closer together/more intense however with my level of dilation and antibiotics needed prior to birth they admitted me. The next several hours I spent walking up and down the halls trying to get my water to break and speed along contractions. At midnight the doc came to visit me again and we decided to break my water as I was now at about 6cm and still not progressing quickly enough. That triggered active labor and my contractions got a lot more intense. Definitely had to tap into the breathing techniques at this point. Given the size of Henry and the question of whether his shoulders were even going to fit through we decided to go ahead and get an epidural. After I started feeling the contractions after my water breaking I did not even question the desire of some drugs. Getting the epidural was not painless either but well worth it. The only problem I had from this point until pushing was the hormones for labor really triggered massive shivering. This happens to a lot of women and I was one of them. It was as though I was extremely cold but I wasn't. It took everything I had to manage them and not crack all my teeth. However at about 4:50am I was fully dilated and ready to push. The shaking seemed to settle down at this point. After an hour and 40 minutes of pushing Henry entered the world! I believe I had the best epidural as I could feel each contraction to help my labor coaches (Chris, mom and Carol) to get me ready to push each time. But the best part was that I could feel Henry come out but still numb enough to not feel the couple stitches I needed after. The entire time I could wiggle my toes and didn't lose feeling above my abdomen. The perfect cocktail! The moment when Henry entered the world was the most incredible moment of my life. The joy that overcomes you is unexplainable. Chris was just as choked up as I was. Truly the best day of our lives. I just can't wait to continue to watch him explore this new world and for us to all bond together as a family. I love my life!

Introducing....

Henry Daniel

Henry arrived at 6:32am on January 21st, 2009. He is 8lbs, 8 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long. Mom, Dad and Baby are doing great and will have a lot more details to share as soon as we catch up on some much needed sleep and learn our routine a bit. Until then here are a couple photos. More to come.....Thanks everyone for all the kind messages. We look forward to introducing you all to our beautiful son. The most incredible gift we could ever ask for. He is just perfect!

One Big Boy!

So I just got back from the doctor and have some new updates to share. But, first and foremost Henry is a healthy boy and still in the head down position. But, here's the catch....he is measuring to be about a 9 1/2 lb baby! You don't even want to know what words were flying through my head when I heard those numbers....yikes! The doc was able to get this estimate of weight by doing an ultrasound. It was great to get a last glimpse of him and see just how big he has gotten. This ultrasound was very different than ones before as you don't get to see one big picture of the entire baby. Rather you only see whatever body part is right below the wand (for example, the head or abdominen area, legs, etc.).

Based on his size and my due date we are looking at getting induced as early as Friday if he doesn't come before then. I am now dilated to 4+. The doc will be calling me this afternoon to see what appointments are open for Friday - Monday to be scheduled to get induced at the hospital. Since this is an "elective" inducement and not a medical emergency I would be the first patient to get bumped if necessary. So, even if I get put on the books for Friday I could very well be bumped if the birth center becomes really busy. I basically need a room, a nurse, and less than 3 inductions for my doc to be admitted. The reason we are looking to get induced is because I really want to try to avoid a c-section as much as possible. With him being so big I have about a 30% chance of having to go into a c-section anyway. But, we want to first try for a vaginal birth and then make the game time decision of whether a c-section is necessary. The doc thinks I have a really good chance of having a vaginal birth just fine based on my size and width of my pelvic bone. So, I am still very optimistic that this will all go smoothly but also know c-sections happen all the time and are absolutely safe to do.

Lastly, I know many of you have been following my decision to try to have a drug free birth. Well, based on the facts we got today that has gone out the window pretty darn fast! If I get induced I will have to have a drug called Pitocin, which basically takes you from 0 - 100mph in less than 2 hours for contractions. Not something you want to necessarily try without an epidural to help with the pain. Pitocin doesn't always do the trick either. But, usually when this doesn't work it's because the woman is not dilating. Since I am already dilated to 4+ we are looking pretty darn good.

Anyway, I will know more this evening. But, it is pretty safe to say that Henry will be here no later than early next week. Our anniversary is on Tuesday so we are really hoping we get to have him before then. But, I guess we can share our big day with the little guy...he's so worth it!

Weekend Rewind

I have been getting so many phone calls that I thought I would post an update as to Baby Henry's arrival. Basically, we are still waiting! I mean how long can someone be dilated to 4cm..seriously!?! But, I am still early so have no room to complain. He is getting big and his feet are really starting to do some damage to my ribs that's for sure. Overall, I am just getting more and more uncomfortable as the days go on but thankful that things are moving along smoothly. I go back to the doc on Tuesday (he is back from Hawaii so we can go into labor anytime now!) and will update you all then. Until then I will still have to say "it's not the call" every time I call one of the grandparents...really funny how anxious the family is getting.

As for our weekend, I tried to keep moving around as much as possible so gravity might help bring Henry to the world! Friday was my acupuncture appointment where we tried a few points to induce labor. I go back again on Monday so hoping it will help keep things progressing forward. We also went to see Gran Tarino (the new Clint Eastwood movie) and we both really loved it. I didn't expect to hear so many "slang words" but overall the story was great. Saturday was spent at our cousin Ryan's 6th b-day party at the bowling alley. I had so much fun with the youngsters and it made me even more excited to be a mom and show our little man all the fun hobbies we enjoy (we both have our own bowling balls!) Today my parents and I went to the Woodland Park Zoo as it was gorgeous outside and I wanted to do some walking around. I had no idea that there was a newborn Gorilla. It was really neat to watch her with her mama. She was very playful and climbed right on her moms back for a ride up the tree to sit in the sun. Really cute. Gorillas are by far my favorite animals to watch as they just have no manners at all and each have their very own attitude. I won't describe some of the things they were doing today but it always gets a good laugh out of the crowd, especially little kids who love to yell out loud exactly what they are seeing to their parents. Pretty funny. My parents have season passes to the zoo and frequently go there to get a good walk in. I look forward to sharing this experience with Henry some day real soon!

Life's Little Pleasures

We all have a list of places we want to go, things we want to see or hobbies one day we might explore. Well today I decided to take advantage of my quiet time as we wait for the arrival of baby Henry and check something off my "do at least once in your lifetime" list. While it may seem simple it really was a great experience to accomplish a little action I have always wanted to give a try. I decided to go see a movie all by myself and I really enjoyed it. I must say that I do enjoy sharing experiences like catching a good film with someone as you get to live in the moment together, but it was a nice change to be completely on my own. Never once did I feel weird sitting in the theater enjoying my popcorn by myself. Instead, I was completely absorbed in the movie and barely even noticed I was all alone. Once I got back home I started thinking I could actually enjoy doing that more often, but then I realized....we have a baby on the way oh so very soon! I highly doubt when I get free time to see a movie it will be going solo, most likely it will be with my hubby on a date night (which is fine by me!). I think most of my solo trips in the future, when time allows, will be to the spa! So, I am even more grateful for the wonderful day today all alone accomplishing one of my little personal to do's.

Quick Update

I had my weekly doctor's appointment this morning and everything is still moving along perfectly. I am still 3+ dilated. I guess I probably won't dilate any further until actual labor starts. Moms who are on their 4th or 5th child sometimes will dilate to 5 before labor starts but that is not too common. At this point we are just waiting for the effacement to be complete and then labor should be triggered. I thought I was 100% effaced but I guess I was a bit confused with what the doc and I discussed last time. I am actually about 50% effaced but have lost the "plug" which is a great sign that labor will start any day now. The rest of effacement could take hours or days...no way to really tell. At this point it's up to Henry on when he wants to enter the world. The great news is he is sitting at minus 1 (how far down his head is in your pelvic) which is fantastic! The further down he is the easier the pushing will be. I have another acupuncture appointment on Friday to help move things along if he hasn't arrived by then. Otherwise, I go back to the doctor early next week and will update you all then. Until then I am going to try to take advantage of some quiet time. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Maternity Photos

I picked up my maternity photo proofs today and am absolutely thrilled with the results! I cannot post very many of them on the blog as while they are mostly covering my girly parts it is still a bit much for some of the folks I know have access to this blog. Tasteful but yet not sure I want to expose this much. The below actually exposes a bit more than what I am used to but I figure what the heck it's part of nature. ;o) However, I will upload the rest on a different photo sharing link and send out to my close family & friends. But here are a few that I felt comfortable enough sharing. Unfortunately my absolute favorite is not one of them below but these are still pretty amazing if you ask me. Enjoy!
Baby Henry's cowboy boots and my boots....