Name: Gunnar David
Weight: 9 lbs 12 oz
Length: 21 3/4 inches
Date: January 25, 2010
Time: 2:00 p.m.
We had a wild week last week. Our precious baby boy Gunnar David was born during a blizzard. Dave typically has Mondays off and I was getting ready for work worrying about how I was going to make it driving in those wonderful winter storm conditions (terrible visibility) and unbeknowst to me that my courthouse had decided to close for the day (thank goodness as I had a bunch of things to get done--I was busy nesting all weekend and still wanted to do some more stuff and I was looking forward to spending the day with my family). Well, our baby decided to stir things up for us as my water broke that morning. So Dave woke the kids up and took them over to Dani & Travis's house. I have no idea how Dave could drive to the hospital as the visibility was so bad and here he was trying to time the contractions and watch the clock. I told him to keep his eyes on the road and I would do my best to keep my eyes on the clock as I really did not want to have a baby in the car sitting in a road ditch. As I was in labor we were listening to the news and hearing how they were closing the interstate, pulling plows off the roads, etc, we then realized that there was no way Dave was going to get home to get the kids. We have wonderful neighbors, friends, and daycare provider that allowed the kids to spend the night. It was right up Benjamin's ally because he got to stay with his best friend Quinn.
Once we arrived at the hospital we found out that I was dialated to 4 cm. Unfortuately, my contractions had slowed down and after walking the halls for a few hours Dr. Madison decided to speed them up with Pitocin. They started to come hard, fast, and regular. Things were moving now. I went from 6 cm to 9 cm in less than 10 minutes. It was just a few minutes longer until I was dialated to 10 cm (although it felt like forever to go from 9 to 10 as all I wanted to do was push). I pushed Gunnar out in less than 15 minutes (it may have even been quicker). Dave was able to cut the baby's cord for the first time as the other two kids had to be born very quickly that there was no time for that.
I ended up with 4 degree episotomy and laceration (I tore through the rectum). I really enjoyed my drug free labor experience. Not only that but Gunnar was born without a broken arm (yep, he has two working & moving arms)! His head was a perfect little round shape. He was pretty bruised up on his face due to the tight fit and the cord being wrapped around his neck. Dr. Madison earned his paycheck with Gunnar's birth. Gunnar was in their pretty tight and the doctor had to do a bunch of different maneuvers to get him out. The nursing staff even had to help the doctor by pushing on my belly to help turn him, etc. My natural vaginal delivery was a miracle as I was scheduled for a c-section on Friday of that week due to the baby's size and fit. Gunnar was very high and was not descending into the pelvic region and unless I went into spontaneous labor my doctor firmly believed that he/I would not respond well to being induced and would end up with a c-section anyway. I really did not want a c-section and I think both God and Gunnar answered my prayers with this wonderful birthing experience.
Gunnar past all his blood sugar checks right away (he needed them as I had gestational diabetes) and was jaundice (due to all the bruises on his head and body) but he ended up not needing the bili blanket or bili lights--thank goodness.
He has been a wonderful baby and is our perfect miracle. We thank God for him every day! We love you so much little one!
