I had talked to Ken on Dec 7 and we discussed when we would be going to Mass the next day for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. We decided he would go at 6:30am and I would go at 7:00pm. I woke up on Dec. 8 at 4am having some contractions. I didn't wake Ken up, I just kind of watched the clock and they were about every 5 minutes and very consistent. By the time Ken got up at 6, they were getting stronger. I told Ken I thought maybe today was the day, even though I was 38 weeks 1 day, and I've never gone that early. Also I've had contractions like that before, but I just had a feeling. I told him to go ahead and go to Mass, and I got up and took a shower and packed our bag. By the time he got home, I pretty much knew he was coming that day. The contractions were around 3 minutes apart and getting stronger. I just kept walking around our house to try to get things moving - I didn't really want another 18 hour labor! I called my mom and asked if Ken could bring the kids to her house because I wanted to stay home for a while. I had a doctor's appointment at 10:30 so I figured I'd just go and see where I was then. So Ken dropped the kids off and stopped at Starbucks and got himself a coffee and me some of their oatmeal. I ate that, walked around, texted a few friends, and sent out a notice on facebook that I was looking for intentions to pray for during labor. (I didn't mention I was actually IN labor!) I got some great intentions to pray for and prayed for all of them! So we went to the doctor with our bags packed. She checked me and I was only 2 cm dilated, but she could tell I was uncomfortable and she felt my contractions so she said she thought today was the day. She suggested that we go walk around the mall for awhile and gave us her cell and said to call in a few hours. We went to Borders and walked around for a few hours. We bought both kids a gift for their baby brother to give them when they visited him in the hospital. By the time we left, my contractions were every 2 minutes, and were lasting 1 minute and 3o seconds. They were very uncomfortable and when I stood up I felt a lot of pressure. So we called the doctor and she had us come back to the office for another check. She hooked me up to the monitor and came in and checked me again. After all that I was a big fat 3 cm dilated! She suggested that we go up to Labor and Delivery and she break my water. Even though I told myself I wasn't going to let her do that this time, I was progressing SO slowly I decided to go for it. We got up there, got hooked up, and she broke my water. A few hours later I was at 4. At 8pm I was at 6. Seriously? The third kid?? The doctor said that she would really suggest I try a little pitocin. By this point, 16 hours later, I decided I would go for the pitocin and epidural. So much for a natural birth. However, I gotta say I love that epidural ;) It kicked in about 8:30. She checked me again around 9:30, I was at 8. Around 10:15 I told the nurse I needed to push. She checked me and I was fully dilated and his head was right there. She told me not to push, the doc was on her way. That was the HARDEST part of the whole thing. I was shaking and trying my hardest to breathe through the contractions and not push. It took every ounce of strength I had! She came in just in time, I pushed once and his head came out. He had the most beautiful head of thick dark curly hair. His cord was completely wrapped around his neck. Then one more push and he was out at 10:32pm, after 18 1/2 hours of labor! They put him on my chest. I could not believe his hair or his cheeks. He was just beautiful. He was 8 lbs 12 oz, 20 3/4 inches long.
In addition to his cord being around his neck, he also had a true knot in his cord. The doctor said it was "chilling" whenever she saw that. So scary. I didn't get to hold him for too long when the took him over to examine him, because of the cord issues.
I was looking over there at him while she sewed up my little tear. I heard the nurse say to Ken... "Put your finger in his mouth. You feel that? He has a cleft palate."
I had absolutely no idea what that meant, what it entailed, what would happen. I was kind of in shock because of the cord and the palate. I was really worried. My doctor assured me that he'd be fine and I should be able to nurse him. The nurse said she didn't think he'd need surgery til he was over a year. But I still didn't know what would happen. They cleaned him up and gave him back to me. He was just beautiful and perfect. They said his lip and gum weren't involved, just his palate. I tried to nurse him in the delivery room and he latched on and off just like my other newborns. It turns out 22 babies were born that day and night, so we waited down there for several hours before we were moved up to the room.
We got up to the room about 2am. The nurses came in and checked us. I went to the bathroom by myself (the nurse was surprised, lol) Then a lactation consultant came in and tried to get him to latch on. We used a modified football hold so he was sitting more upright. I was able to feed him a little bit and we got left alone at 4 am. Yes we were up for 24 hours. Then of course someone came to take our vitals at 4:45, and then i got up at 5:45. I took a shower and got ready for Leo's pediatrician to come. I had lots of questions for him. He came around 7:30. He said he was going to refer us to this great surgeon who would come see us that day. He said that a lot of cleft palate babies are able to nurse, most have to have some kind of supplementation. Not knowing whether he'd be able to breastfeed caused me the most anxiety all day. I called the lactation consultant in every time we tried, and they were very helpful. We tried all kinds of positions, nipple shield, etc. I had to pump every 2 hours and feed him the colostrum with a syringe. And I had to try to nurse him every 2 hours as well. We focused so much on feeding for the three days we were in the hospital that we asked our family and friends not to come. It was the first time we didn't have many visitors, but it was really good to be able to focus on feeding him.
We had some success nursing with and without the shield, and I also diligently pumped colostrum and fed him with a syringe every 2 hours. I got anywhere from 1-4 ml each time for the first day, then the next day I got up to 7-10 ml at each pumping session. My milk did not come in fully until the third day. By that time his biliruben levels were up and he had lost a whole pound. The nurses and lactation consultants said he was ok though, and we never did have to supplement formula. I was really happy about that.
The surgeon came the first evening. He was SO nice and put my mind at ease. Before he came, I didn't know if he'd need surgery in a few weeks, few months, or what. He said that he would have one surgery when he is around 18 months, and that should be the only one he needs. He explained what that entails, and said he'd have us come to his office in January to explain it in more detail. He looked at him and said he has a "complete cleft." He said that he would most likely be able to breastfeed with some extra help and patience. He also said I didn't have to do anything differently when starting solid food. After his surgery, they will follow up with him with their team until he's an adolescent, and give him any help he needs, with speech therapy or whatever.
The second day he was so sleepy he hardly ate for about 10 hours, just a few sips and a few syringes here and there. Not even the lactation consultants or nurses could wake him up. But in the afternoon he woke up and nursed for about 40 minutes, which was by far the best he's ever done. I had several different lactation consultants and nurses help us. He started doing better. But the pediatrician wanted us to stay one extra day to make sure we had it down, and to make sure his bili levels weren't too high when we left. Heck I didn't mind too much - it's almost like a vacation at that hospital! The food is fabulous, the nurses are great. I love it there. I did miss Madeleine and John Paul though. They were able to come meet him the first night. Madeleine was THRILLED, and got up on the bed with us, touched him, held him, and was just in awe. It was a beautiful thing to see. John Paul didn't pay much attention at all, but that was to be expected ;) We got to go home last night (Saturday.) But when we left, his bili levels were high so they wanted us to come back the next day for another blood test.
His first night home wasn't bad. It's a lot harder to feed him that the other babies. It takes longer for him to nurse, then I have to supplement with a special bottle, then I have to pump for the next supplement session. It takes quite a long time to feed him. I'm hoping and praying that when he gets a little bigger and stronger, we will just be able to breastfeed with some supplementation. I know nothing about this. He is doing MUCH better but it's taking a lot of work. But it's totally worth it to be able to nurse him. He is just a wonderful, sweet, beautiful baby and I love him SO much.
We took him back to get his levels checked and they were even higher than before. So they sent a home health care worker out today with a bili blanket. He has to lay on it 24/7 until they tell us he's ok. We have to go back tomorrow and check again.
Then Tuesday I am going to meet with his pediatrician and the lactation consultant at his office. And Thursday I am going back to the hospital for a follow up with their lactation consultants. We have got to get this feeding thing down. Please pray for that!
I am convinced that Jesus and His mother were watching out for my sweet baby. I know it's dangerous to have a cord around his neck and a knot in it as well. I don't even want to think about what could have happened. I am so thankful for our little miracle baby born on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
This picture was taken on Christmas day, and it's the only halfway decent one I have of the three of them. I did get their pictures taken professionally on Monday and got some great ones, so I will post when I get them. 
I'm sure you've seen it, but if not, read Leila's post from the other day. If you can get through the comments, Ken left one that I found so funny last night! Maybe I was overtired but he cracked me up. 
