Introducing Caleb Doyle

On Monday, 9/29 I started having some tightening and mild crampy feelings every 45 min to an hour apart. This was nothing new for me b/c with Eathan and Garrett I did this for weeks before I went into real labor. I knew my body was getting prepared, but I figured I had another week or so. We went to Babies R Us and I got my diaper bag I had wanted and the McDonald's french fries I was craving and we went home. I continued regular contractions every 45 min but they weren't that painful. I was able to sleep good through the night. I woke up at 4:15am with pain and I had to potty. I thought the pain was my normal hip pain that I get from sleeping too long on one side, but when I got to the potty and was doubled over I had a second thought. hee hee I made it back to the bed and had to breathe through that contraction. I laid down and got comfortable and had another contraction. I had to wake Doug to rub my back and breathe through that one as well. With the third contraction I called my Mom and told her to make the hour drive to come and be with me. We called Doug's Mom and asked her to come to the house to be with the boys instead of going to work so that we could go to the hospital when I was ready.

The contractions came steady every 4-5 mins. I loaded the dishwasher and ironed my pajamas. I know...a little crazy, but I felt fine and just paused for the contractions and finished doing what I had to do. lol I finished packing up my bags and got some clothes together for the boys.

My contractions were coming stronger and I was starting to get uncomfortable with each one. I was doing my breathing and Doug was rubbing my back. My third birth and my third birth with complete back labor. FYI, it's the pits! We called my mom to see how much further she had to go. I was in enough pain at that point that I had decided to go to the hospital when she got to the house. I didn't want to go to the hospital and them tell me I was only 2 or 3 cm and have to lay in a bed. Doug's mom got there and I was sitting on the potty (fully dressed) b/c it was the only place I could get comfortable. I kept feeling a lot of pressure and knew that I was feeling something I hadn't felt before. Since Doug's Mom was there I told Doug it was time to go to the hospital. We called my Mom and told her to just meet us there. We got to the hospital at 6:11am. I know the time exactly b/c it was printed on Doug's visitor's badge. :) I went to triage where they checked me in. I hadn't pre-registered yet b/c I thought I had plenty of time. lol Anywho, in triage I was getting upset b/c I was in a lot of pain and they were extremely rude to me. I'm sure they deal with all kinds through triage, but it's no excuse to treat people rudely, especially a laboring woman! She took her sweet time and put in all of my info and then she said she would check me. When she checked me her whole attitude changed. She couldn't feel cervix and only felt a bulging bag and head. That was the something I was feeling that I hadn't felt before! I was feeling the bag bulge and head coming down in the contractions!! She had to call in a L&D nurse to check b/c she thought that my cervix may have been hiding under the bag? I didn't understand that, but whatever. The L&D nurse came in and checked and said I was 9cm and it was really stretchy and I stretched to 10cm through a contraction. She quickly wheeled me to my L&D room and I was surrounded by nurses and they let my Mom come up. I had a nurse taking my blood and a nurse putting in my IV. They brought in all of the stuff for the baby and were putting my feet in the stirrups. My DR was there and she checked me and broke my bag of waters. It was nice and clear. I have to admit that the ENTIRE time I was wanting an epidural and when they said there was no time I asked for drugs. They told me that the Stadol posed a risk to the baby so of course I declined. I did 3 practice pushes and with the next contraction I pushed and he was out with the third push. He was born at 7:19am, three hours and 4 minutes from my first real contraction. It was VERY fast and over with before I even realized what was going on. He was 7 lbs 10 oz and he was 19 in long. He was born with quite a bit of facial bruising from being born so fast. It was awful and I felt so bad for my little man. :( He was breathing rapidly so they didn't let me nurse right away. It wasn't long and I was able to nurse him and he latched on right away. He nursed perfectly and was the best nurser out of my three. He's such a good baby and loves his Momma already. :) He's a perfect fit with us and the boys are thrilled to have him home with us and out of Momma's belly button. hee hee

I was great after the delivery.  I'm telling ya that's the way to go if you have a choice in how you deliver. I felt great afterwards. It was just getting through it. lol It was all worth it!! :)

Here is my sweet Caleb. He is named Doyle after Doug's Dad. :)



We had to bake Caleb for a little bit b/c he was jaundice.





The boys had to put on masks for the first day b/c they both have bad chest colds and I wanted to take a little precaution until I got some good antibodies in Caleb. They were still so proud to see him and were happy to see their Momma. :)

We're all doing great now. Caleb's bilirubin levels have peaked and are going down already. We had to have him at the ped's office this morning for another check. Momma's milk has come in and he's gained 2 oz in a 24 hour period. He's my little piglet. :) He's at 7 lbs 5 oz and he's perfect in every way. :) We're so thankful and extremely blessed.