The Story of Dash

I figured since Dash is 1 month today I should get around to posting his birth story. Especially before I forget it. This is a picture of me the day before Dash was born. I had a doctors appointment, and guessed I was probably going to be induced the next morning, so I took this before I left. 

It was the second week of Christmas break. Everyone was home, including Jeremy, so it would be perfect timing if he could come! I wasn't really due until the day everyone went back to school. I was hoping Dash would come the week before Christmas because it would be even more convenient, but I would have had to get myself into labor...which I have NEVER done! I dilate & efface but never go into 'real' labor on my own, and the dr. couldn't induce before 7 days to due date, as per hospital rules. Even though I knew I probably wouldn't have Dash when I wanted, I tried. Jeremy & I went for walks, I got foot rubs, lots of baths...all that good stuff. I had major contractions that week but the hard one were never close enough together & the close ones were never hard enough. Except for the night I got my foot rub! I had HARD contractions about 5-7 minutes apart for about 4 hours but when I laid down for bed they stopped...boo :( I was pretty bummed. I thought for sure he was on his way! That was the 22nd. Obviously he didn't come. So then I started praying we would make it past Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. On the 27th was when my dr.'s appointment was.

My regular doctor was out of town for the week so I wasn't sure what to expect at this appointment. After he checked my progress, looked over my chart, saw how my other labors went, and a little coaxing from my 'teacher on Christmas break' hubby, he scheduled us for the next morning!

We arrived at the hospital at 7 the next morning, got all checked in and IV placed and all that needed to be done before labor. At 8:20 the dr. came in and broke my water, I was at a 4. I was monitored for 30 minutes then I got up to walk. Jeremy & I walked the halls until noon with 15 minutes of being monitored each hour. When I was walking my contractions were up to 3 minutes apart and by noon they were getting pretty hard where I had to stop walking through them, but when I would lay down to get monitored they would stop. IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING!!!! Just before noon my nurse, Stacy, told me the dr. wanted to put me on Pitosin (sp) at noon if things weren't moving along better. I have only ever heard bad things about Pit so I REALLY didn't want to do that. After I pushed it off for about 45 minutes, and Stacy promised me she would start really low (1 drop per 30 minutes or something ridiculously low like that) I agreed to the Pit. Stacy got me going on it, monitored me for about 10 minutes, and then went to lunch at about 1. Jer & I started walking again. I had 3 REALLY hard contractions REALLY close together and then thought maybe I should get checked. I hadn't been checked since my water was broken so I was wondering where I was. We asked another nurse if she could call Stacy to check me. I think she checked me about 1:15 or so, I was at an 8!! I told Stacy that once I get to this point I usually go pretty quick. She called the doctor, brought in all the delivery things and baby warming bed and what-nots, all the while I was having some pretty good contractions right on top of one another. The doctor finally came in (he was at his office next door to the hospital) gowned up and I was ready to push (really I was ready before him, but of course he made me wait). I pushed twice I think, maybe 3 times (this part always gets so blurry) and then Dash was here! 1:58 PM 7lbs 11 oz 20 inches long. It was a pretty crazy, intense hour but that's how all my labors go. I don't even know if I really even got any Pit in me but something happened there. I kept saying after all was done  "I am so glad that's done. I am so glad he's here."

Getting his first APGAR test

I call this his 'Cranky Old Man' face. He actually does it often. Probably only cute to the mother.

Weight

Lovin's with mom

Bathtime

I really need to talk about my nurses. I had the most awesome nurses! All 3 of them! I've never loved all my nurses with the other babies. I had Stacy as my delivery nurse. She was extremely sarcastic but very happy and cheerful (not the annoying kind though). She practically pushed the dr. out of the way & delivered Dash. The dr. didn't have time to get gloves on & had his hands wrapped in his sleeves to catch Dash. Stacy didn't think that was such a good idea I guess.
Kristy was my night time nurse. I had a couple bleeding issues that first night and Kristy kept me (& I think Jeremy too) calm and reassured that everything was ok. I think I started to go into shock a little, my body was shaking and I couldn't get it to stop, and she was calm & knew exactly what I needed. She got me all cleaned up & then wrapped me in 4 warm blankets. Later that night I passed a HUGE clot...bigger than a softball huge...I've never passed a clot before so she was good for this too.
Scotty was my nurse the next day. She was great. She took Dash for a bit so Jer & I could get a nap, then she helped us back up when it was time to go.
Dash is now 1 month. I can't believe how fast it has flown by. He is a really good baby too. We've been back and forth on sleeping well at night but for the most part he's been doing well. He has been a smiley little guy since the day he was born (I don't remember any of my babies smiling this early) and I LOVE it! He's starting to keep pretty good eye contact. He has a couple of hours that he's awake and looking around everyday. I can't imagine our family without him!