 |
| Jordan Enters the World |
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Introducing...
Let me introduce my sweet little boy:
Born April 17 2:59am
Jordan Micah Coombs
Born April 17 2:59am
Weight: 8 pounds 11 ounces
Length: 20 inches (50.8cm)
Length: 20 inches (50.8cm)
Hair: Black - and lots of it!
Eyes: Dark blue
How Jordan entered the world rather abruptly...
I started feeling contractions on Wednesday afternoon (to those of you from Fuller Wives Support: yes I did use the stairs!) These contractions were certainly nothing much more that what I had already been experiencing (not regular or all that painful). But, by around 8:30pm I suspected that these contractions were more likely to be the real thing (at last!). It wasn't probably until around 11pm that I felt that I knew more certainly that things were imminent. At around midnight we called Ingrid (one of our neighbors) over to come and sleep the night taking care of the boys. At this time, contractions were probably still just 10 minutes apart and quite manageable, but they were more painful.
Once we were at the hospital everything picked up quite quickly. I was 4 to 5 cm dilated and about an hour later, I was around 8cm. I had been offered an epidural and was considering how much more bearable this could all be, but I sensed that we were close to the end and there would not be time for the benefit to be enjoyed. I could feel the baby descending and knew that I would be pushing soon but was told to hang on if I could, so that we could wait for my doctor to arrive.
From the time the doctor arrived, my recollection of events becomes sketchy as I was all too consumed with the pain and the other realm that I seemed to find myself in as I pushed for what seemed to be longer than I could hold my breath. (Clayton reports that my face went red like a beetroot). In just a few short minutes the doctor instructed me with what seemed great urgency 'push, push, push, push...' I had no idea of what was going on, except that something was up when instead of holding off, the doctor explained that the baby's heart rate was dangerously low and that she was not at all comfortable with that. (It was around 50 beats per minute, instead of around 130). I pushed hard and long. Then explained, "I feel that stinging sensation so aren't I supposed to stop for a bit?" The doctor replied something like, "No I'm going to need you to give one last push. Push now." As I pushed without stopping for the longest time imaginable, with my legs like a frog up near my ears, all of a sudden, felt one of the nurses jump up on top of me and knee me hard in the body. There seemed to be some sort of a panic going on, but all I could do was focus on doing my best at pushing. At last he was born.
Later it was explained to me that the umbilical cord was tightly wrapped around his neck and when the doctor tried to lift it off, the cord tore straight off near his tummy. So that explained the urgency. But what was the deal with that nurse jumping on top of me? Turns out that his shoulders were stuck behind my pelvic bone and the bone needed to be temporarily dislocated! Ahh, so that expains my limited mobility after the whole event. All the trauma aside, we're glad to have our little one safe and healthy. He was breathing well and had quickly regained good color.
A bit about Jordan...
He has a head full of beautiful black hair and dark blue eyes! While he is quite different to his two older brothers, at this stage he probably reminds us more of Judah than Nathan. He has long feet and toes and his nails are long. He's quite content most of the time and rarely cries unless there is a problem - which is a mercy. He sleeps well with all the noise that Judah and Nathan make, and loves his cuddles. He's a great kid.
And the rest of us...
Clayton is 'running hard'. Although he is not getting up to Jordan in the night, he is still quite sleep deprived. He is now focussed on having everything ready for our departure in June to return to Melbourne, and for our move to Chicago in August. Oh yeah, and he's trying to keep up with the usual study load.
I started feeling contractions on Wednesday afternoon (to those of you from Fuller Wives Support: yes I did use the stairs!) These contractions were certainly nothing much more that what I had already been experiencing (not regular or all that painful). But, by around 8:30pm I suspected that these contractions were more likely to be the real thing (at last!). It wasn't probably until around 11pm that I felt that I knew more certainly that things were imminent. At around midnight we called Ingrid (one of our neighbors) over to come and sleep the night taking care of the boys. At this time, contractions were probably still just 10 minutes apart and quite manageable, but they were more painful.
Once we were at the hospital everything picked up quite quickly. I was 4 to 5 cm dilated and about an hour later, I was around 8cm. I had been offered an epidural and was considering how much more bearable this could all be, but I sensed that we were close to the end and there would not be time for the benefit to be enjoyed. I could feel the baby descending and knew that I would be pushing soon but was told to hang on if I could, so that we could wait for my doctor to arrive.
From the time the doctor arrived, my recollection of events becomes sketchy as I was all too consumed with the pain and the other realm that I seemed to find myself in as I pushed for what seemed to be longer than I could hold my breath. (Clayton reports that my face went red like a beetroot). In just a few short minutes the doctor instructed me with what seemed great urgency 'push, push, push, push...' I had no idea of what was going on, except that something was up when instead of holding off, the doctor explained that the baby's heart rate was dangerously low and that she was not at all comfortable with that. (It was around 50 beats per minute, instead of around 130). I pushed hard and long. Then explained, "I feel that stinging sensation so aren't I supposed to stop for a bit?" The doctor replied something like, "No I'm going to need you to give one last push. Push now." As I pushed without stopping for the longest time imaginable, with my legs like a frog up near my ears, all of a sudden, felt one of the nurses jump up on top of me and knee me hard in the body. There seemed to be some sort of a panic going on, but all I could do was focus on doing my best at pushing. At last he was born.
Later it was explained to me that the umbilical cord was tightly wrapped around his neck and when the doctor tried to lift it off, the cord tore straight off near his tummy. So that explained the urgency. But what was the deal with that nurse jumping on top of me? Turns out that his shoulders were stuck behind my pelvic bone and the bone needed to be temporarily dislocated! Ahh, so that expains my limited mobility after the whole event. All the trauma aside, we're glad to have our little one safe and healthy. He was breathing well and had quickly regained good color.
A bit about Jordan...
He has a head full of beautiful black hair and dark blue eyes! While he is quite different to his two older brothers, at this stage he probably reminds us more of Judah than Nathan. He has long feet and toes and his nails are long. He's quite content most of the time and rarely cries unless there is a problem - which is a mercy. He sleeps well with all the noise that Judah and Nathan make, and loves his cuddles. He's a great kid.
And the rest of us...
Clayton is 'running hard'. Although he is not getting up to Jordan in the night, he is still quite sleep deprived. He is now focussed on having everything ready for our departure in June to return to Melbourne, and for our move to Chicago in August. Oh yeah, and he's trying to keep up with the usual study load.
I'm a still a little sore and tired, although I am feeling a little better every day. I am realizing that I need to take it easy and not push myself too quickly to get back into things and our friends here have been such a tremendous support. The Fuller community has been wonderful. It is times like these that you realize just what a blessing it is to be in community with fellow followers of Christ. The following provides a perfect snapshot of the sort of love and affection that has been displayed through generous acts of kindness. I was sitting at home with the boys taking it easy, when Jason (father of 5 children) stopped by to offer to have Judah and Nathan join them at the play zone in our complex. After I had finished feeding Jordan, I thought that I would join them outside and give Jordie a little sunshine and fresh air. So there I was sitting on the park bench, when along comes Matt with a baby bouncer for us to borrow, Robert (who with his wife Alice) has been taking care of our boys and preparing meals, and then Heidi with tonight's dinner! I felt very much surrounded by love. Turns out that I won't have to think about cooking meals for the next month! We have had a beautiful cradle loaned to us, a bouncer, baby clothes and other things, then there are all the wonderful families who have taken the boys out to play or had them over for play dates. To top it all off, I have a friend who has offered to host a baby shower for me! We are really feeling the love!
Judah and Nathan love their baby brother and are very proud of him. Nathan wants him to sleep with him in his bed. Boys being boys, they are only interested in him to a degree and don't mind the occasional brief hold, but certainly have welcomed him into the family. Each night they request to kiss him goodnight and ask where he is when they wake in the morning.
Judah and Nathan love their baby brother and are very proud of him. Nathan wants him to sleep with him in his bed. Boys being boys, they are only interested in him to a degree and don't mind the occasional brief hold, but certainly have welcomed him into the family. Each night they request to kiss him goodnight and ask where he is when they wake in the morning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
