Hey-ho Webbies,

Short of it: Yesterday, October 6th, a beautiful 8lb 10.9oz baby boy entered this world. I is happy.

Long of it (Medical icky details. Read with caution!): So yesterday around noon I had my due date OB visit, and I must say, my OB was slightly miffed at me for getting to my due date after she had assured me I was going to go early. After leaving the office I started to cramp and leak a small amount of fluid. I paced around my house for  2 to 3 hours before announcing to my husband I was in labor and we needed to head to the hospital. The next two and a half hours passed with me cursing my female body and breathing deeply while rocking back and forth on an exercise peanut. Finally at six centimeters I gave in and said I wanted tasty, tasty drugs. After a hellish IV placement, and not so hellish epidural placement, an OB from the practice I see came in and decided to break my bag of water. I was all good with that, as I was sure it would speed up labor and I would get to deliver sooner. As he broke it meconium spilled and I was informed I wouldn’t get to hold my son right away as they needed to be sure he didn’t breath any of the nasty junk in. I was worried, but knew it was a normal complication. That’s when this got interesting.

Kitlet’s heart rate dropped suddenly from the 140’s to the 30’s. Very not good. I suddenly had two nurses and the doctor right back at my side. The doctor decided I needed internal fetal monitoring. As the nurse went to pass it to him to put it in he said in a deceptively mild voice, “Prep the back. I have a cord prolapse.” He then proceeded to tell me we were going to do an emergency c-section, but “everything is going to be okay.” In his next breath he said to the nurse, “I’m holding the babies head up, we need to go now.”

‘Da Fox was held back from coming in to the emergency room with me, even thought I had pleaded for them to let him come. The next few minutes are a blur, even just the next day. My epidural hadn’t been strong enough for surgery so they knocked me out. All I remember is about ten people running around and one nurse saying, “The heartbeat’s at 23.” Then pain in my IV and I was gone.

When I awoke I was alone back in my labor room with a single nurse and a much smaller stomach. She quickly informed me that my son and husband we’re in the NICU, that kitlet #2 was having a hard time breathing. ‘Da Fox soon returned and informed me our baby was on oxygen and an IV. I am fine by the way. After about an hour I finally got wheeled down to the NICU on a gurney and got to hold my son. He looks so much like his daddy it isn’t even stinking funny. The kid even looks forty! As we left he was finally let off the oxygen, but in the NICU he stays for observation of his fluid levels and blood sugars.

I miss him. I want him. But I know he’s getting the care he needs. He shows no sign of long term damage from his tramtic birth, and all signs point to him being let out of the NICU in a few hours.

If you’ve gotten this far you are a brave soul, and all’s well that ends well. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to call to check in on my son.

Keep Surfing Webbies, and may all your Imaginings be Fertile!

Stara