The birth story

We weren't trying for baby #2, but we weren't doing anything to prevent it. We had actually just started discussing the timing on when we would start putting a little effort into making it happen. And then wouldn't you know...! Baby #2 was on the way, due July 20, 2011. We were somewhat surprised that it happened so effortlessly but we embraced it and were very excited for the new addition to our family. The timing actually seemed "perfect." It seemed this baby was meant to be and we felt very blessed.

A relatively normal pregnancy transpired, going by fast as we were busy taking care of baby #1. At a doctor's appointment at the beginning of June, about 33 weeks, I was having strong rhythmic contractions. Next thing I knew I was admitted to the hospital for possible pre-term labor. We were scared about a too early arrival but with the help of medications baby stayed put and I was released the next day with orders to come back in a few days for monitoring. At that next appointment, I was hooked up for a non-stress test and baby didn't pass. His heart rate didn't accelerate like it was supposed to. So I was then sent for a biophysical profile (BPP) ultrasound, and it turned out everything looked fine. But I had to go back again in a few days to try the non-stress test again. This is when the worry set in. For the rest of the pregnancy I was going in and failing non-stress tests but always passing the biophysical. The hospital staff assured me as long as the BPP looked good everything was fine. I spent hours hooked up to those non-stress test fetal monitors, worrying. Why isn't he moving like he's supposed to? I could certainly feel him moving around. The BPP gave us a sense of "everything is fine" but I still worried. Finally delivery day rolled around. We were nervous for the c-section; it felt so weird to have a scheduled c-section. Driving to the hospital I remember saying, "I hope there's nothing wrong with him" as I had many times in the recent weeks thanks to all those failed non-stress tests. We just chocked it up to typical expectant parent nerves and assumed everything was going to be fine, just like it had been with our daughter. During the surgery, it seemed to be taking a while. When the doctor said she needed a vacuum assist because he had a big head, I was nervous, thinking it was going to be a huge baby! Then she pulled him out and I was anxiously awaiting his cry. I'd been excited to hear that cry for 9 months and in the days leading up to his birthday, kept thinking, I can't wait to hear him cry so I know everything is okay. But he cried only briefly and not very loudly, and then just a lot of whimpering. I was officially worried, and now began anxiously awaiting his Apgar score. I was stitched up while Nate and the baby went for the newborn testing and typical clean up process. After sitting in the recovery room for a while I finally buzzed the nurse and asked her to find out what was taking so long. I wanted to be with my baby! Nate and Levi showed up shortly after and I finally got to hold the little guy who had been causing me so much worry. He was all bundled up and sleepy, like a perfect beautiful newborn baby. We snuggled and took a couple pictures and I sent out a text message announcing his arrival and birth details: 12:05 pm, 7 lbs 6 oz and 19 inches (not nearly as big as I'd expected/feared! A doctor came in to check on him again saying he had been a little blue so he wanted to take another look at him. I asked his Apgar and they said it was a 7 which was okay. The doc said he looked good and handed him back over to me. Then I decided I wanted to get him started on breast feeding. I unwrapped him and put him to the breast. He was sound asleep and wasnt even opening his mouth. I decided to just hold him for a few minutes and then tried again. The nurse popped in and I mentioned he wasn't nursing. She said that was common and to just keep trying. But still he wouldn't open his mouth or even root around. Norah had immediately latched so I wasn't used to this. Then I noticed his legs and feet seemed pretty blue. I told Nate, "get the nurse, something's wrong!" and then Levi was swept off to the nursery. That's when our birth story ends and a whole other story begins.