Introducing....

Patrick James was born on April 2 at 4:49 AM. He weighed in at 6 lbs 14 oz and is 20 1/2 inches long. We came home yesterday and are doing great!
We went to the hospital bright and early on Friday morning to get the Cervidil that would soften my cervix. Of course, when the Doc put it in he said that it would be in for 12 hours, and while some women start to have contractions, it was very rare and I should have a very relaxing day. OF COURSE, a half hour after he gave the medicine I started having contractions! I had them all day, and Michael ended up taking a half day at work because he thought Patrick would make his arrival much earlier than planned (Before anyone gasps in horror that Michael wasn't there with me, let me assure you I was the one who told him to go to work. Again, we thought nothing would happen for 12 hours and there was no sense in him sitting there with me for even longer!)

After 12 hours, even with all the contractions I was only 2 cm dilated. The Doc took out the cervidil and then, God bless him, let me eat before they started the pitocin. He came in around 9 pm, and because I was still having contractions on my own without the medicine in, he decided to break my water and hold off on the pitocin thinking that I may not need it after all! After the Doc broke my water the contractions definitely got more intense. I managed them all day without any medicine and thought that I had done a pretty good job! By 11 that night I had had enough. I was only 3 cm dilated and knew I would be there for awhile and I was exhausted. I asked for a narcotic just to take the edge off. Well, I dealt with that for an hour before I decided that the medicine did absolutely NOTHING to take the edge off. They said I could have the epidural and a half hour later I was in HEAVEN. Seriously, the best thing ever!

Because I had had the narcotic AND the epidural, Patrick got a little sleepy. They decided to wait awhile to start the pitocin just to make sure that he was doing ok. He was! He just needed a nap like his Momma! By 1 am, they started the pitocin and I was still only 3 cm dilated. AHHH! Well, between the pitocin and being completely relaxed from the epidural, I went from 3 cm to 10 by 4 am. By 4:49, after 1/2 hour of pushing, Patrick arrived!

We are both doing great. He has a little jaundice. Between him being breastfed, 3 weeks early and having a different blood type then me, his little liver needs time to catch up. We go to the Doc tomorrow to check on it so we will see!

For now, Michael and I are enjoying every minute with him and trying to get as much rest as possible!