Baby Love

Jackson Wesley

May 11, 2010

12:09AM

7lbs, 4oz

19 1/2 inches

I had baby! I had a perfect, wonderful, amazing little baby boy who has stolen my heart and change my life forever. Here’s what happened:

My water broke at around 9:15 on Mother’s Day night and contractions starting about 10 that evening. My doctor was not on call at Northside Forsyth, so we were instructed to go to Northside Atlanta, which we did. We checked in a little after 10:30 and after being checked, my doctor told us that my water had broken “prematurely” – this means that normally women have contractions and THEN their water breaks, and mine was opposite, so it was going to be a long night!

I received my epidural and things were moving along slowly, but surely. I also received pitocin to help speed things up. About 4PM on Monday, I had five very strong contractions in a row (which I didn’t know because of the epidural). Jackson couldn’t take it and his heart rate dropped dramatically. Immediately the doctors and nurses went into action. They were prepared to perform an emergency c-section, but luckily, they were able to get his heart rate back up quickly.

About 10PM (about 24 hours into labor!!!), I was finally dilated to 10cm and we were ready to push! I pushed for just over an hour, but something wasn’t right. He would start to come out, but then get pulled back into. Finally, my doctor said that Jack just wasn’t going to come out this way and recommended a c-section.

I was sent to the OR about 15 minutes later for the c-section. Chris was able to be there with me. Needless to say, I was scared. It took about 10 minutes to get Jackson out (12:09AM, to be exact), but I immediately noticed he wasn’t crying. Chris went back to the table in the OR with him. It took a minute or two, but I finally heard him crying and it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard!

The nurse showed me Jack very quickly and I was informed that Chris and Jack were going to the nursery. I knew something wasn’t quite right, but seeing his beautiful face and hearing his cry, I knew he would be okay. I was sent to recovery and about 20 minutes later, Chris came down. He told me we had a healthy baby boy weighing 7lbs, 4oz! Because I was so tired (it was close to 1:30AM now) and pretty drugged up, I sent Chris back to the nursery to be with Jack. About 2:30, I was released from recovery and wheeled up to my room, where Chris and Jack’s Godfather Jeremy were waiting. But one person was missing – Jackson.

Chris and Jeremy informed me that Jack was in the transition nursery (also known as NICU) – where newborns would were born with issues go for observation. Jackson’s cord was around his neck when he was delivery and he need oxygen when he came out. Now, some newborns are born with the cords around their necks with no problems vaginally, but it turns out, this is why when I was pushing, Jackson would start to come out and then just sucked back in. The cord was wrapped so tightly around his neck that it was pulling him back inside. When he was delivered via c-section, he was blue, but PRAISE GOD they were able to provide him oxygen and within a minute, he was absolutely perfect! They took him to the transition nursery for observation for six hours. The neo-natal doctor observed him and concluded that he was completely and totally healthy and there would be no problems from the lack of oxygen!! Follow ups with the pediatrician have told us the same thing!

Chris and I finally got to have him about 6AM Tuesday morning. It was so amazing to have our little bundle of joy finally with us and, after this experience, we truly feel blessed to have him in our lives! He is amazing and beautiful and perfect. He has a very healthy set of lungs that he enjoys showing off at every diaper change!

Oh, and Chris and I are fine, too – the labor and pushing, while it didn’t really hurt (thank the Lord for the epidural), took a lot of out me, but emotionally, both Chris and I were just exhausted. Poor Chris has taken the worst of it. He was absolutely amazing taking care of me during labor and he is a pro at the Daddy thing.

We stayed at Northside until Friday evening. They released us in the middle of Friday night rush hour, which we weren’t too thrilled about. Unfortunately, though, when they tell you it’s time to go, you have to go. Needless to say, it was the scariest car ride we have ever taken!

The first week home was a whirlwind and we truly appreciate all the cards, letters, emails, texts and dinners! We are adjusting to our new lives as parents and Jack is a great baby! He’s definitely an eater – already back up to his birth weight and he loves his newborn lounger and his swing. The sleep schedule is the hardest to get used to, especially since Jack loves to stay awake after his 3AM and 6AM feedings, but will sleep after his other feedings.

Having Jack has been hands down the most amazing experience of my life. Even when he cries, it is the most beautiful sound. As Chris said, because there was a moment when he was born that we were worried that he wouldn’t ever cry, hearing his voice just reminds us how truly blessed we are.