Eli Hunter

Eli Hunter was born 7/7/07 in Delivery Room 7 at St. John’s Hospital at 10:31 a.m. He weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. He’s doing great! We’re working through some breastfeeding issues but it is going much better than with Dylan. I just don’t have my milk, yet so we are having to supplement a little and it’s hard for him to switch back and forth b/c the supplement comes so much easier and he doesn’t have to really work for it. You know what I mean?!

My doctor asked me if I wanted to induce two or three weeks ago and I was convinced Eli would come early so I did not consent right away. On July 3rd at my doctor’s appointment I was dilated to a 4 and had been dilated for the last 4 weeks. I was 70-80% effaced and just down-right uncomfortable. He asked again and suggested July 4th. It really didn’t work well with Chris’s schedule and so we discussed it and later decided to induce on Saturday. My doctor’s family was out of town and he had 2 others scheduled for that day.

We woke up Saturday morning at 4:45 a.m. and headed to the hospital shortly thereafter. I got paperwork started and IV hooked up and all that good stuff. At 7:15 they came to put in the Pitossin. I don’t remember the exact sequence of events but I know I started having contractions within about 45 minutes and they started getting stronger. Some time shortly after that the doctor came in and broke my water and then the contractions got even stronger and much closer together. I had asked to be hooked up for an epidural first thing that morning but I guess they were running a skeleton crew since it was Saturday and there wasn’t anyone available. I think they got to our area around 9:30 but then the doctor told them the lady next door was much more uncomfortable and was going to go quickly so they gave her the epidural first. They got in my room around 9:45 and I was already fully dilated to a 9 and going into hard labor. I was in the middle of a contraction as he stuck me with the first needle but didn’t much care b/c I was looking for some relief. He said it would take about 10 minutes for the first dose to kick in. It took at least that long. By 10:00 they were telling each other to get ready he was coming. Just a little pushing and a whole lot of pain we got Eli out at 10:31a.m. I was much more aware this delivery because I did not have any Statol. I had that with Dylan and it made me loopy and I honestly don’t remember much of what went on and it didn’t help the pain much at all. That’s pretty much the jist of the delivery.

We spent Saturday and Sunday all day in the hospital. No weird things happened. I recovered and felt a lot better much faster than after Dylan’s delivery. I think I was in better shape because I had been keeping up with Dylan rather than doing a desk job the previous 9 months. I know the next year is going to be difficult but it gets rewarding every stage we go through.

We came home yesterday at about 11:00 a.m. Chris is off work all week so he can help out and he has done an awesome job of being supportive and allowing my emotions to, well, just be emotional. That goes with having a baby, I guess. Chris was always so wonderful and helpful with Dylan at this age and he's twice that this round helping with both.

I love you, Chris!