Austin's Birth Story

Just as with Brody, we decided to induce with baby Austin. My ob informed me that babies typically get bigger each time around and since Jacob had shoulder dystocia, she didn't want to take chances with Brody. While Brody came out a bigger baby than Jacob with no problems, our ob still recommended it for Austin because our chances of having a successful induction were high (since we had a previous successful one, I believe) and to spare another 1/2 lb of weight on the baby and me. I totally expected Austin's birth to go exactly like Brody's except a tad shorter. With Brody it was:

7:00am - Arrive at hospital
8:30am - cytotec inserted, 1-2cm and 50% effaced
1:30pm - Doctor broke water, 1-2cm and 60-70% effaced
3:30pm - Rec'd Epidural
5:50pm - Fully dilated & complete!
6:00pm - started pushing
6:11pm - Brody was born

Austin wanted to let me know that he was his own person right from the start though. Here is how his birth went...

We arrived at the hospital at 7:30am and figured it would be a slow process, so I took my time changing into my gown and we took some last minute belly photos and checked out the little bassinet that our baby would soon be sleeping in and laughed at how tiny the diapers looked. I then changed and as our nurse walked in, so did my doctor ready to get things started. She had an early morning delivery, so she was there much sooner than we expected. She put in the cytotec and said she would be back at lunch to check my progress. The nurse then started my paperwork and got me hooked on the monitors. The new policy with cytotec is that I need to be administered for 4 solid hours, so we just chilled in the room and watched some old 30 Rock episodes on the laptop and browsed the internet. The nurse also called up iv therapy to place my iv since I told her it is always a huge ordeal and delayed my epidural a lot last time. Thankfully, the iv was placed easily on the first try this time around! I had a few contractions, but nothing regular or strong. My nurse started my iv fluids around 12 noon in preparation for my epidural, thinking that things might start moving after my next exam. Around 2:00pm the doctor returned and I was discouraged when she checked me and said I had no progress since the morning. At that point I was thinking all sorts of things like was I going to progress at all or would they send me home and try again another day? Was Austin going to be a NYE baby after all? And my worst fear, were we going to end up needing a C-section. Dr. Myers put in another dose of cytotec and said she would see me around dinner time. I initially had a pretty good pattern of contractions going, but they slowed down again and then got more consistent and strong towards 5:30pm. They weren't terrible, but a few I had to breath through. At 5:35pm, Dr. Myers returned and checked me again. This time I was 3cm and 60% effaced and she broke my water. This entire exam hurt like hell. I started crying at this point and didn't stop until Austin was born... it was a L O N G hour and 11 minutes! I instantly had horrible contractions right on top of each other and then shortly after she broke my water I felt something (an arm maybe?) dislodge and then Austin moved into place and it was excruciating! The nurse was like "let me know when you want your epidural" and I was just shaking my head not able to say much else! Our nurse was really awesome and seemed like she was working as quickly as she could to set up for my epidural, but it still took forever. She kept saying things like "I'm ordering your meds now.. I'm setting up the table now... I just paged the anesthesiologist...". Finally the anesthesiologist arrived, but I knew I would feel worse before I would start to feel better since I would then have to be hunched over for my contractions while he poked my back. The anesthesiologist seemed nice and sympathetic and seemed like he was working as fast as he could as he asked me the initial questions and prepped my back. At one point, I realized it must have been 6:30 pm because I could hear the music for "The Office" on the tv and I was thinking shoot, I meant to have Aaron turn that off because I didn't want anyone poking needles in my back to be distracted by anything! A few moments later he was done and told me I needed to lay flat on my back for 15 minutes and I would feel relief in just a few minutes. The nurse started to lower the bed and as I laid down I was like "oh my God, oh my God" and freaked out both the nurse and anesthesiologist. They both were like "what's the problem!?" and I was like I've got to push! My doctor came around the corner with her gloves on and check me and said "oh ya, she's complete". My nurse looked at the anesthesiologist and said I've got to put her up a bit and he threw his hands up, shook his head and walked out of the room. I pushed through about three contractions and a few minutes later Austin was born at 6:46pm. I wasn't sure how much the epidural numbed the pushing experience for Jacob and Brody since I was still able to feel a lot with their births, but it was a different experience for Austin. In a good way, I could really tell the progress that I was making when I was pushing but also in a bad way because it hurt so much that I kept pushing even without the contractions just to get it over with. It's amazing how soon after you deliver how the pain subsides. Initially after he was born felt my stomach and had normal sensation so I thought that they didn't even turn my epidural on, but after another 10 minutes I realized my stomach was a little numb, so it wasn't a total loss because it did help out for delivering the placenta, stitching up my 2nd degree tear and those post-baby contractions that help shrink the uterus. The hospital is so wonderful and places the baby right on your chest until you give the word that they can begin their work up on him (measurements and all). So we just snuggled him for awhile and Aaron cut the cord. The doctors and nurses commented on Austin being a big boy and I thought he looked like my smallest baby! Austin's nurse then cleaned him up and did his measurements and informed me that my little guy weighed 9lbs 4oz and was 20.25" long! Not bad for being born at 39w1d! My doctor joked that she should have prescribed smoking in the first trimester since I make big babies ;) Austin scored 8 and 9 on his APGAR and was a bit bruised up from his quick delivery including bruises on his head and two on his arms. In addition he had a broken blood vessel in both eyes as a result of his birth that they said will clear up in a few days/weeks. Dr. Myers also informed me that Austin made his way through the birth canal with one arm up by his face - nice, thanks Austin! The nurse let me know that it was hospital policy to check the blood sugar of any large or small for dates babies every hour for 4-5hrs and that it needed to stay above 40 I believe before they recommended giving the baby sugar water or something. Thankfully Austin's lowest number was 57, although they encouraged breastfeeding to help keep it up. My sleepy little guy wasn't too hungry, but eventually he latched on. The first night went really well and Austin slept pretty well for us. Austin did great at his 24hr exam, too. He had a jaundice reading of 8.5 so they took a blood serum to get a more accurate reading and that came back at 6.0 so we are mostly in the clear there. His weight had dropped to 8lbs 13oz, which wasn't too bad either. Austin has great head and neck control for a newborn, just as Jacob did, which Aaron in particular is very grateful for! We thought Austin might have some bad acid reflux (also like Jacob) because when we were in the hospital he threw up about three times, but since being home we have not had any problems so I (knock on wood) think we are in the clear with that too! Aaron and I are so unbelievably thankful that we have been so blessed with three healthy, beautiful children.

Grandma and Grandpa brought Jacob and Brody to meet their new brother the day after his birth. Both boys were initially very curious and interested, but after 10 seconds they became equally interested with the tv. And the bed. And the nurses curtain. And the nightlight. Brody also thought Austin's bassinet was awesome and tried to climb right in.

Our adjustment home has gone really well. Austin is a great baby and so content. Jacob has totally taken me by surprise with how interested he is in baby Austin. He asks to hold him at least six times a day and then will sit there with him for 15- 20 minutes! Jacob is super gentle and helpful. Brody is a little young to understand the true meaning of gentle. He says "Gentle" as he attempts to swat Austin's head or poke his eyes. But in general, I think he really likes Austin and he loves saying "baby!".

Monday we had Austin's newborn exam at the pediatrician and he is already back up to 9lbs 1.4oz. He's looking a little yellow, but nothing too concerning just something we'll keep an eye on over the next week. Provided his coloring improves, we don't need to return until February!

PS - Way to go Amy on the baby pool! I fully concur with your suggested prize ;)