Welcome to the World, Eli

What a ride!  Literally.

Yesterday we welcomed our third little boy into our family.  Elijah (Eli) Justus weighed in at 9lbs. 11 oz and 23 inches long at birth.  

For those of you who know(and care) about head circumference, his was 16cm!

Considering his size, the actual labor and delivery were pretty short and uneventful.  The days and weeks that led up to it, on the other hand, were not. 

Around 35 weeks my doctor let me know that she wasn't positive that he was head down.  She said we would wait until he was 37 weeks to check for sure.  I knew he was active, as it felt like he was swimming (literally) all around, changing positions daily.  It was very uncomfortable and brought on literal tears a few different times.

At 37 weeks she did a quick ultrasound and found him to be transverse.  We decided to let her try to turn him externally, and went in at 38 weeks to do just that.  When we got to the hospital he had already turned himself and was sitting head down.  We were so relieved and excited!  

At just over 39 weeks I went back to the hospital because I was convinced that he had turned completely breech, and wanted to see if we could turn him before going into labor.  Once labor starts, it's too late to turn the baby.  I was paranoid that labor would start and he would be breech.

When I went into the hospital at 39 weeks he was head down.  Looking back, I think he was breech that morning, and then flipped before we got to the hospital.  The doctor on call assured me that it's almost impossible for a baby to flip at the age as they are almost always too big.  This was re-assuring to me, and allowed me to 'chill out' a little, although there were still times over the next 2 weeks that I felt like he was moving all around. 

At 40 weeks our doctor offered to induce labor, but we declined.  After being induced once and experiencing labor starting naturally once, I MUCH prefer the latter.  We all agreed that we would give him until 41 weeks 2 days (9 days overdue).  If he hadn't come by then, Jason and I decided that being induced was the best move.

Yesterday was 41 weeks 2 days, so around 8 am we headed into the hospital.  I was nervous, but also ready to meet our little guy!  After getting settled Dr. Adam came in to say hello and check things over.  I told her I was nervous that he was breech, and knowing the history, she grabbed the ultrasound machine.  Sure enough, he had his head tucked under my right ribcage.  

Little Stinker!!!

I asked her if we could try to turn him, and the nurse laughed out loud. 

She said, "At 41 weeks?!?"

Dr. Adam felt to see if he was easy to move, and said, "We can try."

They gave me terbutaline to relax my uterus (and to make my heart race and my body shake).  The nurse took the butt and Dr. Adam took the head.  They were able to flip him in less than a minute, I'd say.  She was afraid he'd flip back, so she held his head down for a few minutes and then had Jason hold pressure on my stomach to keep his head down.  Try as we migh this didn't work.  He slipped his head right back up into my ribcage even while Jason was holding pressure.  It was so weird!  

We told the nurse we thought he had flipped back.  She felt, and agreed.  

At this point I was pretty discouraged, but also knew there was nothing I could do.

Before Dr. Adam came back in, I asked to go to the bathroom.  I did my 'business' and then decided to get down on my hands and knees and do some pelvic tilts.  I also rested on my forearms and stuck my rear up in the air.  These had helped me get him flipped at home, and I thought it was worth a shot.  Then I went back to the bed and laid on my side.  I knew he was in a different position, as I couldn't feel his head anymore, but wasn't sure what he was doing.  Dr. Adam came in and confirmed that he was head down.

She said, "Start that pitocin." to the nurse, and away we went!

She wanted to get his head more engaged before breaking my water, so we still weren't out of the woods.

She caught wind of what I had done in the bathroom and told me to do whatever I thought it took to keep his head down or to get it back down if he flipped again.

It ended up that I just stayed on my left side for the rest of labor, which made my left hip numb, but was so worth it. 

All in all I was only in labor for just over 4 hours.  We were all convinced that he was small, since he was able to flip around so much.  Boy were we wrong!  

We still aren't sure why he was so active.  I thought maybe it was because he had the cord around his neck, but he didn't.  He's just ornery!

 Moments old.  He looks a lot like Jude in this picture!  We'll have to label pictures I think!

 Like my tan lines?  I had been walking 3-5 miles a day, hoping that would bring on labor.  I got some awesome tan lines doing so.

There's your proof...9lb 11oz!  Seriously, how in the world?!?!

 First looks and loves!

"Bright lights are not my friend." 

Sweet baby boy, we love you so much!

It is awesome and overwhelming to look back and see how the Lord had his hand on every last detail of bringing this sweet boy into our lives.  First off, he's healthy...that in itself it a miracle! 

As many of you know, I had a c-section with Micah.  While c-sections are not the worst thing ever, I was really really hoping to avoid another one.  Recovering from major abdominal surgery while caring for 3 children under the age of 4 seemed like a daunting task.  I would've survived, but I'm so thankful that it was avoided.  If I would've gone into labor on my own, and he had been having a moment of 'mis-direction', a c-section would've been inevitable.  

There were so many details that happened yesterday that were a blessing as well.  My doctor being willing to try to flip him encouraged me to stay positive the rest of labor and delivery.  I had an AWESOME nurse who was at my side almost all day.  The anesthesiologist was great, and listened to my request for the least amount of drugs in my epidural, which allowed me to feel (maybe a little too much), so I could deliver this whopper of a kid.  I really don't know if I could've delivered him if I was any more numb.  

I could go on and on, but I'll close for now. 

Thankful.  That's what we are.  Grateful for this new little life.  

New potential, new beginnings, and the future.  

He is awesome!