Jasper's birth story

lovethebosox

Short version: Jasper Donovan was born Monday morning, October 14 at 8:31 am by repeat c-section. He was 8 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long. (A peanut compared to his 2 brothers who were both almost 10 pounds!) We came home yesterday and are settling in with big brothers Alden and Elias.

Long version: DH and I headed to the hospital at 5:30 am. This was my third c-section, so I knew the drill, but I forgot how anxiety-producing the wait and prep time was, especially the time in the OR without DH, that included the placement of the spinal. But everything went smoothly and we were underway just a little after 8. Once the surgery got started, it took no time at all and our little boy was screaming away by 8:31. He came out feisty and active and checked out well on all counts. The nurses wrapped him up and brought him over, then gave him to DH to hold. With my past 2 c-sections, they quickly took DH and LO into the recovery room and I was alone for the rest of the surgery. This time, for whatever reason, they let DH and baby sit by me for almost all the surgery, probably 45 minutes or so. It was great for all of us. They got me all sown up, including doing a tubal, and I spent 2 hours in the recovery room before heading up to my room.

Jasper was amazing. Throughout our whole hospital stay he was as mellow a baby as I have ever seen. He slept and slept and slept. I was especially nervous about night 2, because that was when the pain usually sets in for me, and DH wouldn't be there. But Jasper made it easy and we spent all three nights doing skin to skin, sleeping, and waking up for the occasional feeding and diaper change (and pain med). 

DS1 and DS2 visited twice while we were there, brought by my parents who are staying with us. They were great, so enthusiastic about the baby and incredibly sweet with him. They also loved playing with the buttons on my hospital bed.

We got home yesterday afternoon. The boys are thrilled to have their little brother home and they ask to hold and feed him all the time. My recovery has been going well, but there is a lot that is still hard. The first night was tough, as we learned that Jasper was definitely not ready for his crib. So after being awake and crying from 12:30 to 2:30 (baby was crying, I only thought about it), we finished the night skin to skin and he slept beautifully. So we'll be doing that and trying out the new Rock n Play for a while. 

Jasper is beautiful and starting to look like his brothers. I am a bit overwhelmed by the challenges of three boys, but for now we have lots of help.

Thanks to all of you for your care and support over this last year. I wish all of you healthy, pregnancies and happy, healthy babies!

Serenla

Congrats mama!

RubiksElf

Congrats on your beautiful little boy!

74dragonfly

Congrats on your little boy! 

I plan on doing the tubal with my c section. Has it added to your recovery pain? 

BootsOrHearts

I'm glad it went so well! Congrats!

limeblue44

Congrats on your new baby boy!!

mightymousy

Huge congrats

Havlous

Congratulations!!! My DS # 2 used the Rock n Play. It was a night saver for us.

lovethebosox

KKDRAGONFLY said:

Congrats on your little boy! 

I plan on doing the tubal with my c section. Has it added to your recovery pain? 

@KKDRAGONFLY This time has actually been less painful than last time, so I would have to say no. I've heard mixed things about whether it will mess with my cycle in terms of heaviness of bleeding and pain, so I guess it's wait and see on that.

KatieintheCity

Congratulations mama!

linzeeh80

Congratulations!

lsuhoneybadger

Congrats!!

km_md

Congratulations!

ShhItsASecret

Congrats

TheatreStar86

Congratulations!