Back Blog: Jackson Facts

Jackson Foster Morss
6 lbs, 8 ozs
19 inches long
2:48 p.m.

Jack waves "Hello!" to all of his new family and friends.

Back-Blogging and Posting: The Birth Story

I’m back-writing and dating all the info, to give time and space to each event.

The whole birth story would take too long—so, here are just the basics…induction was recommended due to a 8lb 14 oz estimated weight, which was a huge overestimate, as we were soon to find out!

At midnight we checked into OSF hospital and made our way to the labor and delivery floor where we were greeted by a fantastic group of nurses and medical professionals. Even though the toilets and water were not working on the floor (ugh!), we were comfortably placed and very happy with the treatment we were receiving. To start the induction, the cervical gel was applied at 4:30 a.m. The IV was put in place for the saline solution and Pitocin. Dilation and contractions progressed so quickly, that the Pitocin ended up not being necessary.

The contractions were actually not that bad and I was surprised when I was dilated to 4cm and told that an epidural could be administered. I wanted to actually wait a bit longer, to see how much stronger the contractions would get, but the nurse said that the labor was progressing too quickly and I could miss the window of opportunity. Surprisingly, the epidural didn’t hurt and wasn’t at all scary. The excitement of the moment overrode any fear I had of needles. I was so comfortable by the time I was dilated to 7 cm at 1 p.m., I was confident that the whole childbirth pain was very overrated.

Sounds good so far, eh? Although I couldn’t feel the pain of the contractions, we could see them spiking on the monitor and could hear the loud thumping of Jack’s heartbeat, which slowed each time I contracted and prompted the nurses to attach the monitor internally straight onto his head, to make sure that the beats were accurately captured. Then, the scariest moments of my life happened. Jack’s heartbeat stopped on the monitor. The nurses rushed in and began to flip my body around to place him in a better position and stimulate his heart to working. The third time his heart stopped, they flipped me once more, got the heart working again, and prepped me for an emergency c-section due to ‘fetal distress’.

The nurses called the attending doctor, tossed Jamie his scrubs and began upping the epidural medicine to numb me from the waist down. I was so scared for Jack and scared that I wouldn’t be numb enough in time for the incision. Five minutes after I was rushed to the emergency room and Jamie was allowed in, we heard his first cries. My crying turned from fright to relief as his heart was pumping and the nurses untangled the cord from around his neck.

Because Jack’s body temperature was lower than a normal newborn’s, Jamie was allowed to hold him for only a few minutes and show him to me, but the baby wasn’t allowed to lay on me. Instead, they took him down to the nursery for evaluation and was put in a ‘warmer’.

With the scariest parts over, the doctor stitched up the incision and the nurses wheeled me into recovery. Although Jack was born at 2:48 p.m., we weren’t allowed to see him until after 9:30 p.m. so that he could stay under the warmer and the nurses could keep an eye on him. Confined to the bed, I couldn’t even go to the nursery windows and look in on him. Jamie went down and took pictures to bring back to me. The pictures helped, but still didn’t calm me down. The nurses gave me one Ambien and a sleeping ‘shot’ during those seven hours, but I couldn’t close my eyes til I saw him. Fifteen minutes after holding him in my arms, I fell into a much needed sleep.

Quick Update

First--thanks for the phone calls! Sorry I haven't called anyone back. Jamie works at night and sleeps during the day, so I keep the phone muted to keep from bothering him. I'll slowly start to get around to talking on the phone.

Went to the dr's on Thursday. Seems Jack has grown over two pounds in two weeks, to an estimated weight of 8lbs 14 ozs. Really, we're not sure how much of that to trust. He'll probably come out only weighing 6 lbs, which would be find by me!

Here's some TMI--I'm having stronger contractions--today has been a bit rough. We're going back in Tuesday morning to start the whole 'induction' process due to Jack's increasing weight. It won't be induction day itself, but I'll be prepped with some gels, etc. Yuck! Even though Jack has gained, I keep losing overall. I've cut almost all sugars, fats, etc. to only get those good nutrients in, although I've promised myself some cookie dough ice cream before Tuesday night. Jamie bought some at the store, in case I can't wait until then... :o)

A Lesson From Dale Carnegie

“Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it... that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear.”--Dale Carnegie

This past Sunday, Jamie shopped his first, full shopping trip by himself in the past two years. We were both nervous--I that he wouldn't be able to navigate Super Wal-Mart by himself and would end up with a cart full of chips and beer, and he that if he came home with chips and beer, mass hysteria and lamenting would ensue.

Oh, I of little faith and too many issues. Jamie surpassed expectations and proved his hunting and gathering skills without exception (though a few bags of chips and goodies were thrown in to boot).

Jamie makes me smile every day. Not only because he cheers me up by adorning my fresh pineapple with a Spongebob, but also because he continually proves me wrong---in a good way. For those who know me, I am a control freak. I like things my way and on my schedule. He reminds me that end results can be achieved by different means and much better than I can often do it myself.

Will there be time off for good behavior?

Despite the pic, home restriction is not what it's cracked up to be. While I'm loving cuddling with 'mama's babies', I'm very anxious and moody. It's hard staying at home and not doing as much for myself as I'm used to doing. Thank goodness I can still keep in touch a little at work by working on my laptop. It gives me something to do during the day and I feel value-add. I'm still taking time out for naps, though. I wanted to go out and water the plants today, but it was way too hot and I was already looking a little puffy.

I haven't left the house since last Thursday's dr's appt. I'm actually looking forward to my two dr's appts. in the next few days just to get out! We'll find out Thursday when the induction or c-section date is. Most likely it's next week--hard to believe that by this time next week our baby will be with us!

Grounded!

Up until the last few weeks, I've really had a fantastic pregnancy. Minimal first trimester sickness, little weight gain (now at a total of 14.5 lbs, due to a recent loss) and reasonable third trimester discomfort.

But, pride comes before the fall. And what's falling is Jack. I am now faced with lugging around a small bowling ball between my legs. My high spirits and good health have been replaced with a "well, at least he's not waving at me yet" attitude. I'm still excited, but at the point where now that I'm being 'inconvenienced', I'm ready for it to be over with. Pretty selfish, eh?

So, I'm grounded. Dr. Swingler, after struggling with me on the examining table, deemed the baby's engagement, my edema and the increased frequency of my Braxton Hicks a reasonable enough excuse for me to work from home. The upside--way more comfortable. The downside--I can already image that I'll go a little stir-crazy.

Brainiac or Bruiser?

Today we found out some interesting--and potentially disturbing--news. It seems that although I'm only 36 weeks along, Jack's head is the size of 39 weeks. In addition, he is estimated to be 6 lbs and 10 ozs right now (for what that's worth). So, the doc is thinking that I'm going to have to go early, either by c-section or induction. I'm voting for the second.

On the way home from the doc, I couldn't help think of the scene from So I Married an Axe Murderer:

"Look at the size of that boy's heed."
"Shh!"
"I'm not kidding, it's like an orange on a toothpick."
"Shhh, you're going to give the boy a complex."
"Well, that's a huge noggin. That's a virtual planetoid.....I'm not kidding, that boy's head is like Sputnik; spherical but quite pointy at parts! Now that was offsides, wasn't it? He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow."