Our little Zane

Now that he is a week old, I am finally getting around to posting some of what has been happening in the last week. This first post is part I of what has been going on.

Last Tuesday, Jan 26, we checked into the hospital for my induction. Steph brought along some crocheting and Clay brought along some hamburgers. They made a pretty amazing support team! First things first, they filled me up with 2 bags of IV fluid. I began to get extremely puffy and swollen. My feet were completely enormous.

All it took to start my labor was one round of gel, which they left in for an hour, then I walked around for an hour. By this time, the contractions were not feeling great, but not completely unbearable. I decided to get the epidural at this point anyway. It is a REALLY good thing that I did. At one point, I had three nurses rush into my room in a slight panic. It seemed that Zane's heart rate was going down every time I had a contraction, so they had to attach an internal monitor to his head. They continued to be concerned about it all night and were threatening more extensive monitoring until I got a new nurse at the shift change at 7:00 am on Wednesday. She said that every baby's heart rate does exactly the same thing as the cervix dilates from about 5 cm to 7 cm. Sure enough, I was at 7 cm, and his heart rate returned to normal. By about 9:30, I was at a 10, but she decided to let my body and the contractions keep doing the work so there would be less pushing. About this time, she realized that Zane was head down, but positioned sunny-side up. We tried some pushing and she put me into some crazy yoga positions to try and get him to turn. She even put a giant peanut shaped ball between my knees to try and open the pelvis to let him turn. None of it worked. About 10:00 we started pushing in earnest with each contraction. The doctor got there at about 11:00. He had the vacuum out and ready to go, but wanted me to try to do it on my own. Somewhere around here I lost track of time and became completely overwhelmed and exausted and really didn't think I could push anymore. They added some pitocin to my drip to try and make the contractions stronger to help me push him out from where he was stuck. Finally, through sweat and tears and a pretty good sized tear, Zane made his debut at 12:02 p.m. I am infinately grateful that I had the epidural, or I really don't think I could have done that. He was born at 38 weeks and 2 days, weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and measuring 22 inches long. I can't imagine how big he would have been if we had waited until 40 weeks. We are just so glad he is here! Clay and I can't get enough of snuggling, kissing, loving, holding, and staring at him. We love him so much and he is completely perfect.

Happy Daddy, holding his most beautiful new son.

I just couldn't believe that he was finally here. I couldn't stop crying.

Clay went to the nursery with Zane while he got his bath and warmed up under the heat lamp.

Because our blood types are different and because he had a traumatic delivery (being stuck behind a bone for two hours as your head swells up can't be any fun) Zane is at risk for jaundice. We had to supplement with formula to try and flush out all of the billiruben in his system. Clay loved being able to feed him.

I love being able to just sit and hold my beautiful, sweet baby. I just can't get enough.

Steph and I left Daddy and Baby sleeping while we took a walk around the maternity floor. That first walk was VERY slow going. I am still not very fast (vicodin and motrin help) but I am getting better every day.

All packed up and ready to go home!