Week 40

Well, he made it! My water broke on Monday night/ Tuesday morning at midnight. I wasn't sure if it was my water breaking or an unfortunate bladder moment because it wasn't a huge gush and I hadn't experienced any contractions or other indications of labor. But it kept trickling and after about 15 min. sporadic contractions began. I called the Dr. to see if I should go and check it out, and she said to come on in. By the time we got to the hospital my contractions were 5 min. apart.

I was only dilated to a 2, but they decided to keep me since my water had, in fact, broken. I labored until 9 AM without an epidural, but I wasn't making very quick progress. I had thrown up twice and the contractions were pretty intense, so I asked for an epidural. RIGHT MOVE!!!!

I labored until about 4 PM with the epidural, so it wasn't too bad. They told me I finally hit a 10 but he was still pretty high, so we shouldn't push yet. The epidural started to wear off by about 6 PM when the doctor showed up and decided to try and push him out. (The hospital was packed, so the nurses only checked on me once every two hours or so!) I wasn't prepared at all for the doctor to show up since they'd checked on me so infrequently, so when they started me in position, I started freaking out a bit. When they laid me on my back and put my legs up, it felt very wrong. He felt way too high up and I started hyperventilating and crying. They didn't really explain what I was supposed to do very well, so the first attempt was horrible. I was out of control and all of the sudden the doctor started yelling to call my actual doctor in for an emergency c-section. His heart rate dropped really low so they turned me on my side to try and get it up while we waited for my doctor to get there. (The doctor trying to help me deliver vaginally was pretty new and hadn't ever done an emergency C-section.)

I thought we were having to do a C-section because I was freaking out, so I calmed myself down. His heart rate came up while I was on my side so I asked if we could try one more time with me in control. We did, his heart rate dropped again, and by that time my doctor had shown up. They kept saying "I see molding", but I didn't know what that meant. So, they quickly wheeled me down to the OR and in a matter of minutes they had given me a general anesthetic. I could still feel what was going on when they started cutting so they gave me nitric oxide as well. By the time they got the baby out I could barely open my eyes and hear him scream. The next thing I remember was opening my eyes and seeing Matt holding a clean baby.

His poor little head couldn't fit through my pelvis, so his head had molded to the opening. There was no way he could have been born vaginally. We would have both died probably.

His head was very cone shaped that first night, but it's nice and regular looking now. I felt so bad for him! But he is healthy and hungry now, so I guess we both survived.

His stats:
Birthday: Tuesday October 23, 2007 (One of the 3 % born on his due date!)
Time: 6:45 PM
Name: Dean Addison Bras(s)
Weight: 8 lbs 5.9 oz
Length: 21 3/4 in long
Hair: brownish-reddish hair
Misc: big feet
Conclusion: very cute

Here are some pictures to prove it. He looks different even now so I'll post a few more later. Celia and Dean were able to come home today (Friday). I'm recovering pretty quickly. My incision is quite small, and I'm feeling pretty good considering what we went through!

I'm so glad my parents are here to help take care of us for a little bit!! It's scary!