And then there were 4
There's a new Mr. Williams in town! Ethan Gary Williams, 7 lbs 11 oz, 19 1/2 inches, born at 1:56pm on March 10. Went really fast, like about an hour after we got to the hospital. So quick Debbie couldn't get any painkillers at all, but she was quite a trooper.
We probably loitered too long at home that morning---she called me and her mom about 10:30, and we left for the hospital a little after 12pm---but there really wasn't much reason to hurry. She was having contractions, and they were making her take very deep breaths, but she wasn't in much pain and they weren't coming fast. So we took our time and made sure we had everything, then headed to the hospital. The night before they assured Debbie there'd be room, but apparently a bunch of women came in, and when we first got in there were no delivery rooms available. We had to wait 30 minutes or so while they moved someone, and even then it didn't seem to be moving too quickly.
They got her up on the bed, and the doctor broke her water, and after that things started happening much faster, although it wasn't apparent at first. They hooked her up to an IV, took some blood, and said they'd get an epidural into her as soon as the bloodwork came back and the first liter of fluid had gone into her IV. I'm not sure the bloodwork ever came back, but the liter was barely gone when she was really feeling the pain, and the nurses started hurrying. The head nurse told Debbie that the anesthesiologist could give her something through the IV, but about that time she gasped, "It feels like it's coming out!" The nurse said, "Go get the doctor!" and about 15 minutes later, Ethan was out.
So, not an easy birth by any means (she cut my finger with my ring, from squeezing so hard), but much faster and so it was easier, in that sense. Debbie's much less tired than she was after Abigail's labor. But I think she'd take the long labor with the epidural over the quick delivery with no painkillers at all. I'm really proud of her: she was crying out, but no blood-curdling shrieks or anything like that.
Ethan is a shockingly easy baby. Abigail was wailing constantly as they were cleaning her up, and threw multiple fits in the first couple of hours. Ethan, by contrast, had to be coaxed to cry. Even during his bath, he never cried more than about 30 seconds. He's been home for almost a week and half now, and is still pretty easy: lets us know when he is hungry but in a polite sort of way.
Debbie's mom and dad brought Abigail in with them to see the baby, and she did very well. Pointed at him and prodded him a bit, but not too much. It was a positive experience for her (and for everyone, really), so I expected that she'll be fine with him, which has turned out to be true.. Of course she's unhappy when she wants Mommy and Mommy is busy with Ethan, but other than that there's been no jealousy issues.
I posted pictures, and pre-baby video, at One Acre Woods. Updates start at the bottom.
We probably loitered too long at home that morning---she called me and her mom about 10:30, and we left for the hospital a little after 12pm---but there really wasn't much reason to hurry. She was having contractions, and they were making her take very deep breaths, but she wasn't in much pain and they weren't coming fast. So we took our time and made sure we had everything, then headed to the hospital. The night before they assured Debbie there'd be room, but apparently a bunch of women came in, and when we first got in there were no delivery rooms available. We had to wait 30 minutes or so while they moved someone, and even then it didn't seem to be moving too quickly.
They got her up on the bed, and the doctor broke her water, and after that things started happening much faster, although it wasn't apparent at first. They hooked her up to an IV, took some blood, and said they'd get an epidural into her as soon as the bloodwork came back and the first liter of fluid had gone into her IV. I'm not sure the bloodwork ever came back, but the liter was barely gone when she was really feeling the pain, and the nurses started hurrying. The head nurse told Debbie that the anesthesiologist could give her something through the IV, but about that time she gasped, "It feels like it's coming out!" The nurse said, "Go get the doctor!" and about 15 minutes later, Ethan was out.
So, not an easy birth by any means (she cut my finger with my ring, from squeezing so hard), but much faster and so it was easier, in that sense. Debbie's much less tired than she was after Abigail's labor. But I think she'd take the long labor with the epidural over the quick delivery with no painkillers at all. I'm really proud of her: she was crying out, but no blood-curdling shrieks or anything like that.
Ethan is a shockingly easy baby. Abigail was wailing constantly as they were cleaning her up, and threw multiple fits in the first couple of hours. Ethan, by contrast, had to be coaxed to cry. Even during his bath, he never cried more than about 30 seconds. He's been home for almost a week and half now, and is still pretty easy: lets us know when he is hungry but in a polite sort of way.
Debbie's mom and dad brought Abigail in with them to see the baby, and she did very well. Pointed at him and prodded him a bit, but not too much. It was a positive experience for her (and for everyone, really), so I expected that she'll be fine with him, which has turned out to be true.. Of course she's unhappy when she wants Mommy and Mommy is busy with Ethan, but other than that there's been no jealousy issues.
I posted pictures, and pre-baby video, at One Acre Woods. Updates start at the bottom.
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