Today is Matthew's due date, but thankfully he's already 11 days old! We love him so much and it feels like he fits right into our little family. Michael loves him and is so sweet with him, and the discussions about being gentle and making sure Matthew ONLY drinks mommy's milk (no goldfish crackers, for instance) seem to be sinking in.
Matthew Bennett Swift was born on February 25th weighing 10 lbs., 4 oz. and measuring 22 inches long. No, I did not have gestational diabetes -- apparently Jeff and I just have robust babies because we are both quite robust (Jeff's note: absolutely. I'm huge). We knew he was going to be big, but an ultrasound at 37 weeks estimated he was about 7 lbs. 11 oz. which would have made him about Michael's birthweight (9 lbs. 5 oz.) on his due date. The doctors were very fond of referring to my "proven pelvis" for a 9-5er, so they figured we should just let things progress naturally even though I was anxious to be induced (and probably would have been on March 1st). I was so worried he was going to be huge (I mean, look at my belly for goodness' sake :).
On the evening of February 23rd, I began to experience terrible itching that got worse as the night progressed, particularly on the soles of my feet and palms of my hands. It kept me up all night and with a quick google search (I'm sure doctors love us self-diagnosing) I realized I was presenting classic symptoms of cholestasis of pregnancy. I called the doctor in the morning and they wanted to see me in the office, but since the itching was a bit better (it's normal for it to be better during the day) and cholestasis is so rare, and perhaps because it was a Friday, the doctor sent me home with instructions to try Benadryl if it was bad again and call the on-call doctor if needed. The itching was terrible again that night, but CNN reruns kept me company until I called the doctor the next morning.
Dr. Munro had me go to the L & D triage on the morning of February 25th to be monitored and have some blood tests drawn. We dropped Michael off at the Roisums house (so thankful to have many great friends nearby!) and headed to the hospital. (Jeff's note: when we got to the hospital I made sure to tell every nurse we saw that we would be happy to induce that day. I didn't want anyone getting the wrong impression from us--as exciting as CNN reruns are). After I explained my symptoms the Dr. said it sounded exactly like cholestasis but that the blood tests wouldn't be able to diagnose it conclusively if it we caught it too early. The first and less specific test came back normal, and the results of the 2nd test take over a week so we still don't know about it (and even when those results are in we'll never know for sure that I didn't have it, but we might know if I did). Dr. Munro said she had been taught in medical school to induce after 38 weeks if someone presented with textbook symptoms of cholestasis, but she wanted to consult with some specialists at another hospital to make sure it was medically indicated. I was on the monitor, contracting often for a few hours with baby Matthew doing really well, but I was not officially in labor yet. Finally Dr. Munro was able to reach the specialists and she came back to recommend an induction!!! We were so relieved for so many reasons -- if my liver really was in cholestasis, and the baby was relying on my liver too, the sooner he could come the better ; Matthew was getting bigger and my pelvis wasn't :) ; the only way to get rid of the severe itching at night, if it's cholestasis, is to have the baby; my mom's plane ticket was scheduled for the 28th and it would be nice to have a baby by then; etc.
After several attempts to start my IV (same thing happened with Michael...apparently I have needle-bending veins of steel) I was ready to go and Dr. Munro broke my water (1:20pm). I was 4cm dilated and 70% effaced at the time. (about this time I went to the cafeteria and bought lunch. I managed to not accidentally spend $20 like I did on lunch during Sheri's labor with Michael) My labor picked up then but not as much as we expected, so we then started some pitocin (2:45). I was planning on an epidural and the Dr. informed me I was really lucky because my platelets were 103, which was barely enough for an epidural. If I had been in labor a day-- maybe even hours-- later I would not have been able to get an epidural to deliver my 10 lb. 4 oz. man-child. Kudos to those who do it naturally, but I'll stick with my epidural :).
After a while on pitocin I was finally ready for an epidural, which they placed at 5pm (they were really strict with their one rule for me: I had to stay seated. As if a giant needle skewering my wife would make me lightheaded or something.) For the first few contractions I felt nothing but sweet relief but then they became somewhat painful again. The Dr. checked me (5:10) and I was discouraged to learn I had only gone from 4 to 6 and 90% effaced. (About this time we watched the NCSU basketball team lose to Clemson in overtime. I bet all the nurses thought I was forcing Sheri to watch it--not true!) It turns out a change of positions was all we needed because shortly after I switched sides I felt Matthew drop and the nurse affirmed he was practically ready to shoot out of there (6pm). Dr. Munro took one look and said, "Let's have a baby!" (6:05). We were all expecting an 8ish lb. baby and his head was out pretty quickly but the mood changed quickly as Matthew's shoulders got stuck. (understatement alert--it didn't just "change quickly." It went from zero to insane.) One of the nurses hit the emergency call button and yelled out "shoulders!!" (6:06) and suddenly there was a room full of medical personel running around, some of them jumping up on the bed to push from above as the Dr. pulled from below to release Matthew's shoulders. (One of the nurses asked me if I wanted to sit down. I must have looked pale or something. It was kind, but I was a bit bothered: why worry about me when you're practically using a crowbar to get my son out?!) Poor Jeff just kind of had to step back out of the way and I was pushing frantically, just wanting to get my baby here safe and sound. It seemed like forever but Matthew was born at 6:08pm and was crying by 6:09.
We were so grateful to hear that cry and to learn that he did not have any broken bones, nerve issues, or other problems associated with shoulder dystocia. Even with the complication of the shoulders getting stuck, we were all shocked when they finally weighed Matthew and he was 10 lbs., 4 oz.!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it! Once again, I am so grateful we didn't have Matthew even a day later. He was soon in my arms and I couldn't have been happier. I'm so thankful for all of Jeff's support (I'm really good at sitting there while Sheri does all the hard work, "helping out" by making lame jokes) through the whole pregnancy and labor and delivery -- he made it all so much better and I don't know what I'd have done without him.
We are now the proud parents of two darling boys. They are already great together and I'm sure they will have many adventures together through the years. We are so thankful to be parents and thank God for the blessing of families.
My mom flew in the day after we got back from the hospital and it was soooo wonderful to have her here. I want to be like her when (if) I grow up. Besides just making things better just by being "mom," she cooked, did dishes, entertained Michael from sunup to sundown, held Matthew, allowed me to nap, cleaned (even behind and inside my oven/stove), did laundry, and even sewed curtains. We were sad to see her go but are so thankful she came to visit us!
A big thanks to all of our church and other friends who brought meals or treats, watched Michael, and otherwise helped us to welcome Matthew to our family. We are so thankful for all the love and support.
