Sunday, February 11, 2007

A "premium" baby doesn't just happen...

"I think I might be in labor," she said. My bleary eyes couldn't quite be certain, but the clock seemed to glow 4:30 a.m. This felt just like being awakened on a call night--waking from a deep sleep with an immediate demand to think clearly through the grog.

"How long between contractions?" I asked. She wasn't sure, so we fired up the Excel spreadsheet and started timing. She explained that she hadn't gotten much sleep because of the pain, so she had started watching one of our library videos on childbirth. Except that the video wasn't actually on childbirth, it was on pregnancy... and therefore its relevance was a bit limited seeing as how pregnancy was fixin' to end. Boss did pick up one piece of sage advice from the video though: "A premium baby doesn't just happen."

The contraction timing was equivocal, so we decided to wait. We didn't have much in the way of experience to compare it to, since last time we were hustled into an L&D suite to be induced and spent 3 days enduring all manner of labor inducing medications.

Boss spent the morning with her mother at a baby shower. She explained the pained looks she occasionally had by saying, "I might be in labor." Apparently whenever you make it tentative at all, people assume you must not be. When you're in labor, you'll know it, is the rule.

Home from the shower we timed the contractions again and made a call to the obstetrician. He said to head on in. We did and the triage folks were in no hurry, based on the Boss' calm demeanor. However, when they finally got around to checking her and found she was 5 cm dilated, things picked up a bit.

We settled into the L&D suite listening to some Bach and, well, laboring. It wasn't long until the epidural was in and Boss was able to rest a little easier, as seen here.





There was a short dispute regarding whether labor should be augmented with pitocin. Boss hadn't even been checked twice, so there was no evidence that things weren't progressing and I'm not a big fan of interventions for intervention's sake alone. But we acquiesced in a show of good faith. But before the drip could even be started, the nurse checked her and she was at 9+ cm. From door to delivery was 3-4 hours. Contrast this with the 3 days from door to delivery last time. I think Boss did well.

Grace had her eyes open taking in the world before she was even all the way delivered. When her chest was free she made a single cry to fill her lungs and then went completely silent. I was worried for a moment until I saw her pinking up nicely. Apparently, Grace just didn't feel that making a fuss would improve the situation any. She's practical like that. She's what you might call a premium baby.



Grace also wasted no time rooting around looking for food. She knew that was her immediate job, and didn't want to waste any time. Boss and I looked on in shock as Grace did everything that her brother never did--deliver after about 5 minutes of pushing, promptly breathe, immediately latch, fill out her own Apgar forms and sign her name in cursive.



We're pretty pleased with the results of this pregnancy, even though we managed to get a premium baby without the timely help of our library video's advice. Congratulations Boss and Grace!








12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy that things went easy on the Boss this time and that Grace is such a cute premium baby. (Why wouldn't she be with such premium parents and such a cute premium older brother?) Loved the piccies and the birth story. Grace and her mommy are just beautiful! dani :)

Anonymous said...

Did her feet come pre-inked?

Keith C said...

That is a premium baby. Congratulations! Our babies would have been born the same day if Kiersti had arrived about 40 minutes earlier.

B said...

Grace is a sweetie...Good job Boss and Coach! Way to have a premium baby that comes out knowing what to do! Way to go team!

Ree said...

Maybe Grace's middle name should be Serene. I can't believe how calmly she is observing the world during her first diapering. Hope that disposition is permanent. Congratulations Boss, Coach, and big bro. Sam! She is beautiful!

MMA Lady said...

She is beautiful! You are all beautiful!!! What does Sam say so far? I love you all so much!!!!!!

Trick said...

WAY TO GO!! I am so happy for you, and I am so happy that it was a lot faster this time!

Trick said...

PS Thanks for not taking "Helen Beth" I still have hope of having another girl.

Pooka said...

Wow and double wow, and congratulations to all of you, and great job Diana and Grace! [I absolutely LOVE her name!!]

Hey, what does the library know anyway...? Well, besides all the things that they really do know....

Lady said...

Congrats! I can't believe how calm she was. She was in awe of her surroundings after having spent many months only seeing a cord and placenta. I hope this is a preview of her personality - so calm, patient and undemanding! Hope the transition is going well!

MMA Lady said...

Banana loves looking at Grace's picture and gets upset when we veer away from it (like now, to leave this comment!). He nods and smiles and says "Mmm-hmmm . . . baby baby!" He is already her friend!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to all 4 of you! I'm so glad things went so smoothly this time. Boss, I met your parents at the Columbus temple recently. That was fun! And fun to hear a little update on all of you.

We wish you lots of blissful sleep and an easy adjustment for all!

Maryanne