The rest of the birth (part 2 of a 2 part series)

So...we had a couple more pelvic exams and dilation was going nicely and finally, in the early evening hours (something like 8pm) the baby was at +2 station and we were ready to start pushing. However, we had noted decels when Yvonne switched to certain positions and the doctor was concerned that the pushing, the most traumatic part of labor for the baby, would probably cause more. We tried a serices of pushes that seemed to go okay but then the doctor noted that the baby was OP (occipent posterior - face-up, not the preferred position but acceptable).

We talked about the distinct possibility of a C-section if the baby's heartrate went down and didn't recover and the timing of it. In the end, we decided to go into the operating room and push there. After a couple of tries, the baby was doing okay but it just seemed like we were in a position where a C-section was the better option. In my mind I was pretty sure that was where we were headed when we talked several hours ago. I give the doctor credit for trying for a vaginal birth.

The procedure was over quickly - it's very cold in the operating room (OR) and I hung out with "upper Yvonne" while the doctor worked on "lower Yvonne". We were separated by small curtain. Hadden came out fine and I got to hold him a moment later. They stitched up Yvonne with hadden lying by her face and we went back to the labor and delivery room where Wendy (Yvonne's mom) and Sara (cousin) visited for an hour or two. We are now in the post-partum wing of the hospital and will be here until Sunday as Yvonne recovers from the surgery. Everyone's doing well and sleeping a lot. Yvonne has graduated from ice chips (post surgery) to orange juice and graham crackers, Steve has graduated from bench to roll-away bed. Both good things. The cats (Kent and Adele) have no idea what they are in for...

Vital statistics:

Name: Hadden Thomas Muench (not "Scooter")
Birth time: 9:26 p.m., April 12th, 2007.
Birth weight: 8 lbs, 6.2 oz.
Height (I prefer to call it that although most say "length"): 20.5 inches

Love to everyone and thanks for the support and love back. It's all appreciated and makes me thing Hadden will grow up in a world that has a hell of a lot going for it - despite what you may read in the newspapers from time to time. People are, in general, good, love is alive and human life is a great thing. Especially when it's your son.

Love, steve