Dutch Tanner de Jong, 9/17/2012 - 6:55am

I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

The war story happened like this:
Sunday night, September 16th, I was admitted to the hospital, 41 weeks pregnant, to be induced a little before 9:00pm.  Around 9:45 they inserted a cervical catheter balloon thing because I wasn't dilated enough, because he still hadn't dropped - the kid was still in my ribs.  They also started a low dosage of pitocin at that time.  I spent an hour standing and rocking myself, or sitting and rocking on the birthing ball.  We entertained ourselves by watching Seinfeld episodes (perfect labor entertainment).
At 11:00pm the nurse checked my cervical balloon and it came right out, which meant I was at a 3-4cm and received a higher dosage of pitocin, which started some serious painful cramps.  After a few more hours of standing, marching, rocking and bouncing, I couldn't stand it anymore and got an epidural around 3:45am (I was then dilated to a 6).  I got about 15 minutes of sleep, then my blood pressure monitor kept beeping every 15 minutes because my blood pressure was about 2 points too low (so annoying!).  A little before 6:00am my nurse came in to check me and I was mostly dilated, but he was face up so she put me in different positions to try to get him to turn around.  At 6:30am she checked me again and I was fully dilated, but Dutch was still up in my ribs.  The nurse said to go ahead and start pushing him down.  At that point I was worried that it would be a long morning of pushing, and I was exhausted from a sleepless night.  The epidural had largely worn off and I hurt.  I pushed my guts out to get that kid out!  When he started crowning they told me he had hair, which made me smile.  When he moved down a little more the doctor said, "Oh, he's going to be a big one" (I have no idea how they can tell that so soon, because his head doesn't look very large to me).  When his head came out, they told me to stop pushing because his umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around his neck.  He was completely blue in the face and they had to cut the cord immediately right there.  After they cut the cord, two more pushes and he was out at 6:55am.  25 minutes total pushing time.  I must say, I was pretty darn proud of myself, especially for having had to push him all the way down, plus being a larger baby - and, by the way, I don't remember it hurting that much with Gracie, I'll admit there was a bit of yelling and demanding water between pushes.  8 lbs, 20.25 inches.  And, best of all, I didn't tear, no stitches!  Yay! 
Dutch came out looking pretty purple, but still beautiful.  We love him so much and are so grateful that he has finally joined our family. 
I felt really well in the hospital and they let me go home a day early, which was great.  But now, every muscle is sore and I feel like I got hit by a train. 
But, on the bright side, I really love having my bladder back. 

First Family photo

Just a couple minutes old

Love at first sight

My handsome guys

In other news, just because I don't want to forget this bit of cuteness:
Gracie has taken to talking and giggling herself to sleep.  I enjoy sitting outside her door and listening to her play in the dark.  I love that girl. 

Get out of my belly!

We've checked into the hospital for my scheduled induction.  Little boy is 1 week late, more according to our preference.
They started the pitocin  around 9:45pm. 
We're hoping this goes quickly. 

Due date Schmoo date

In school and work we learn the importance of due dates, don't turn your work in on time by the due date, you get in trouble.
But those due dates deal with things we can actually control.
Why do we put a magical date telling a baby that he's supposed to now emerge from mama's comfy belly.
Babies know how to eat, eliminate, sleep, cry and let's also say cuddle (because everyone knows they're good at it even if they don't mean to be).
So here's a phrase that super bothers me.  "your baby will come when he's ready."  Really?  My baby knows when he's done cookin'?  How about we just admit that we can't control nature and leave it at that.  I guess it just sounds cuter, or more motherly?
Because here's the deal, if my baby is still kicking my ribs and punching my bladder just because he hasn't decided to come out of hiding, then that kid is in big trouble and will be getting a spanking* when he does man up and decide to show his face (that's right buddy, you better be scared, because mama's getting mad).


Induction scheduled for Sunday night the 16th, expected delivery to be Monday September 17th, so stop asking if he's come yet, trust me, I'll be joyfully advertising if I actually go into labor by myself.



*don't worry, I won't punish my newborn child for being late, please refrain from preemptively calling Child Protective Services.