Paxton's Post: September 2008

Sorry it has taken a while to post. Things have been a little challenging emotionally and physically with my Grandfather's death and recovering from 22 hours of labor on top of being sleep deprived. I had no idea the intensity of this recovery. It has been almost two weeks since Pax was born and I am just starting to be able to walk around with little pain. My back is feeling better, but I am still very sore. Enough about me, let's talk about our little guy.

When we brought him home he was jaundice so we had a company come to the house to set up a photo therapy blanket to reduce his bilieruben count. He looked like a little glow worm. We had him on it for three full days. This made diapering, feeding, and cuddling a challenge, but we got through it. Sanjay and my mom took him to the doctor and she said he is gaining some of his weight back (he lost 12 oz) but she still wants us to supplement with formula :( . She also said that she can tell by looking at him that his count is lower; YAY!

Yesterday, we were so happy that Pax lost his umbilical cord. This makes diapering and bathing so much more manageable. We gave him his first real bath yesterday too and he seemed to like the warm water. In terms of personality, Pax is a lover. He loves to be cuddled and talked to. He has about 55 different faces he makes and we find ourselves staring at him for hours upon hours. "I can;t believe we made him" I always think to myself. He is the love of our lives and we are so very blessed to have such a healthy and loving baby.

From Sanjay:

Our little raja, Paxton Richard, arrived at 10:18pm on September 1 (Labor Day!) He weighed a healthy 7 lbs and 8.5 ounces, measuring in at 19.5 inches.

He came out alert, cried within 15 seconds, and was feeding in the first 5 minutes (gotta admire his appetite!) Nicole was able to hold him immediately for about 45 minutes, which was soooo inccredible. After all the pain and suffering (see below) --- this was the only way to truly put those memories behind.

Paxton scored a 9 on his APGAR test, and immedately had become a fan-favorite with those in the room (mommy, daddy, doula, delivery nurse, cleanup nurse, and doc).

Sooooo - sorry to leave everyone hanging in the last post. Let's see . . . where were we?

Oh yes, "She was 2.5 cm at 7am this morning ---- the doctor is checking her at 10am to see how far along she is!!! I'd bet almost 5 cm!!!!"

After that test, we found out Nicole was at 4cm --- not as far as we dreamed, but definitely significant progress in 3 hours. Nicole decided it was time to do more laps around the floor (at 9 hours of labor at this point). Let me tell you about these 'laps' ---- some were slow, some were fast, there were MANY pauses in the middle of a lap to stop and breathe for a heavy contraction. Nicole's will was amazing. Brandy (our doula) and I were both more tired than she seemed to be. So - picture Nicole in her gown, myself, Brandi, and an IV pole wearing out the carpeting on the floor by turning it into a NASCAR speedway of sorts. Each lap took about 3 minutes, and we did about 30 minutes at a time before Nicole had to be poked and prodded by the various medical personnel on the floor. We'd occasionally stop by and greet our waiting room (filled with 10 of our closest family members).

After a few hours - we checked Nicole's dilation again --- she was at about 6cm. Soo . . . more laps! Nicole and I had the breathing down in harmonious synchronicity (heeeeeeeh heeeeeeh whooooooh heeeeeh) --- it was so amazing to be so connected with her. She still had her wits about her, and her sense of humor (more on that later).

It was now about 12.5 hours into labor --- and she was finally at about 8 cm!!!! I could not believe she was going to do it!! Fully in the 'transition' phase, and Paxton was seated very well ---- things were progressing famously. Nicole had REALLY hard contractions at this point, was fatigued, and still had no medication (her only remedy to date was to walk!) I'll have to make a quick note here that I could NOT believe how far along she had gone and how strong she was. We had no sleep since 9 am the previous morning (so - we're at about 28 hours of no sleep at this point) and her resolve was unwavering. If someone told me that Nicole would get to 4 cm without meds or pain killers --- I would have been amazed. Her tolerance for pain during this event was incredible. I would have screamed for drugs and epidural and general anesthesia at .5 cm if I were the one pregnant (yes ---- very humbling experience and will pass along true props to all the mommies out there who transform themselves to bring a baby into the world.)

Around this time, we visited the folks in the waiting room again (we came near the entrance, I held the door open, and everyone rushed over). At this point, many jaws dropped at how weak and tired and flushed and in pain Nicole was ---- this was the last time we would see family until Pax was born. I heard later that my brother Reeve asked everyone with a fair bit of incredulousness --- "Why can't someone give her some pain medication???? Why is this allowed to happen????"

Nicole was measured again - at 14.5 hours into labor (3:30 pm on Labor Day) - and she was 8.5 cm!!! But, there was a problem, and this is where the heroics came to a halt. The contractions were slowing down, and Pax's head was not positioned properly (malposition of vertex). Under normal conditions, we could have kept laboring --- but since Nicole's water broke at midnight the previous night --- they preferred not to go much beyond 18 hours of labor before baby came out.

At this point, the labor plan needed to be altered, and Nicole was given Pitocin to increase the intensity of the contractions, and since she was already about 20% beyond her pain peak (but would have stayed there otherwise) --- we decided for the epidural. Nicole asked that the minimal amount be given, so that she could still feel the labor and push properly at the right time.

The epidural took almost 45 minutes, as our 'skilled' and well-paid anesthesiologist had to reinsert the needle 5 times into Nicole as she went through a variety of contractions. Finally, as things looked like we were set - Brandi and I were allowed back in the room. Nicole had some relief, but asked repeatedly if the epidural was working (she still felt the full intensity of the contractions.) As the Pitocin kicked in stronger --- Nicole took a serious downturn. The contractions were so painful that she screamed in pain with everyone. Tears streamed down her face, and the breathing techniques were reduced to miniscule whimpers of the words only in sound - no actual breathing. This was the hardest thing in the world for me to see; Nicole was sobbing in fear of every subsequent contraction. I asked if they could reduce or remove the Pitocin and they said that doing so would not be recommended, as the progression of the contractions was needed to keep her going towards delivery.

We had the anesthesiologist come back in, and somewhat against Nicole's will (she didn't want to go through 5 pokes in her spine by this long needle again) -- we had the doc redo the epidural. I asked to remain in the room this time, and this was reluctantly agreed to by the staff. After about 15 more minutes of ridiculous pain (we had learned that the previous epidural missed completely) --- and Nicole having to stay still during these most painful contractions --- we finally had some relief! At one point, before the doc started again, he wanted Nicole to have a contraction finish ---- she did, and the monitor showed the contraction on the decline. Nicole said she was having another one --- and the doc said, nooo - it's highly unlikely to have a double hump contraction --- to which Nicole responded, "Well, call me a camel, because I'm having another one!!!" --- she was right. This was priceless.

Nicole now had contractions and no more pain. In fact, it was so good - that Nicole asked to lower the meds so she could feel more!!! (sheeeesh)

At about 8pm (19 hours into labor), the doc said that Pax had corrected his head (likely through Nicole's pushing), and Nicole was 10 cm dilated!!! We were ready to have a baby!!!

During the next 2.5 hours of pushing - Nicole continued to amaze me --- as I was fighting to stay awake - she kept focusing and pushing --- just incredible. As we neared the crowning, after much pushing and lots of encouragement --- timing the pushes with the contractions --- Nicole started to push even between contractions, finding the energy somehow. We asked her to save her energy, and Nicole screamed out at us (in the coolese Exorcist impersonation I've ever heard), "We've. Got. To. Get. This. Baby. Out. NOOOWWW!!!!!!!" As the room silenced and everyone stopped to look at Nicole ---- she opened her eyes and said in a very sheepish voice --- "Don't we?". Everyone laughed - this was a great moment.

I know I've left out many details - but just know that every moment drew us closer together; Nicole rarely yelled at me (and even when my fault, she apologized a minute later). I could not imagine not having been there and supporting her and appreciating how much she went through for our baby.

Baby Paxton and Sanjay are the luckiest new family in the world, and we hope a speedy recovery for Nicole. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX