The Short Version

[dr_pretentious]

Dan and I are home now with the best baby ever.

Gareth Henry Avery-Davis was born on Tuesday evening.

Remember how I went into labor early on Monday morning?

I got through the first 12 hours unmedicated, and if it had been a 12 hour labor, I would now be saying that natural childbirth was easier than people think. But it wasn't a 12 hour labor.

After 34 hours of unproductive contractions, I was exhausted and my pain threshold had plummeted. We decided to choose a cesarean section for failure to progress while the monitors said the baby was still in great shape, rather than wait around to need an emergency cesarean later. I feel better about that choice than I expected to.

Gareth was born at 5:03 pm, weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces, measuring 20 inches long. He has his father's hands and my mother's chin. He is, under almost all circumstances so far, a calm and delightful baby, and he only seems to cry when there's a good reason for it. Dan and I are completely besotted.

I'm looking forward to reading all the replies to my previous post in the morning. Thank you for your kind wishes. As the baby's appetite allows, I'll post more later.

Comments

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

And it comes with a French literary nickname, for moments of domestic servitude! ("Dude, why does your mom keep calling you 'bow-man' when she wants you to do your chores?") >:-)