Delivery Details

Meet Raleigh Joseph Levin! What a sweet pea! Ok, delivery details....here we go. We were induced because my amniotic fluid was low at an almost critical level for Raleigh to remain healthy. We checked into the hospital Monday afternoon at 3pm and I was given something called cervidil, which is a tablet placed behind the cervix to help it soften. We went to sleep and at 4am the pitosin drip was started. This brings on contractions steadily. My water broke on its own at 6am and that is when the pain REALLY started! I was dilated 4cm and received my epidural shortly after 7am. From 7am to almost 10am I had dilated from 4cm to the full 10cm needed to start pushing. I began pushing right before 10am. I pushed for one hour and it seemed that Raleigh was stuck in the birth canal. The doctor decided to intervene because of a few reasons. Not only was Raleigh turned the wrong way (sunny side up where he is looking up at the ceiling instead of down towards the floor) but he was also coming down the birth canal diagnol instead of straight down. There was no way he could come through at that angle. The doctor decided to use the forceps to go in and first turn him the right way and then straighten him out. He then used the forceps while I pushed to deliver. Ouch!

The result? A beautiful baby! But also many stitches and twice as much blood loss than the normal delivery. It was pretty scary when I saw those HUGE salad tongs coming towards me! Yikes. Also, when my water broke they were able to tell that Raleigh has made his first poo-poo in the womb. So when he came out, the Dr. had to clear his lungs before he took his first breath, which could be very dangerous. There was a pediatrician staff on hand who took Raleigh as soon as he was born and checked him over for about 30 minutes to make sure he didn't have any lasting effects from the traumatic delivery and also the poo-poo in the lungs. After they checked him I was able to finally see him face-to-face. What a HANDSOME little thing!





This is his funny face.



This is his "do I know you?" face.




This is his "I'm really happy right now" face.

Yawn.

Raleigh is turning out to be a thumb sucker. He will scream bloody murder unless he has a hand free to suck on. Hey, whatever works.

He just got a sponge bath and has a red face from screaming. I've never heard anything so loud!

Here is Pop hanging out with Raleigh while he sucks his thumb.

Here is Nana spending some QT time with the babe!