Thomas Rush Canon arrived May 17, 2011 at 3:13pm weighing in at 6 lbs, 9 oz and 19 inches long and perfectly healthy!!
I can't believe it's been 6 weeks since Tommy was born...my little boy is growing so fast!! The past 6 weeks have flown by with so many visitors coming to see Tommy, doctors appointments, trips to Babies R Us for anything and everything, and of course cuddling with my sweet little boy! Daddy and I took Tommy to dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant - Scalini's - when he was just 10 days old! He slept the entire time - and let mommy and daddy enjoy a dinner out for the first time in about 4 weeks.
So where do I start? On Monday night, May 16, I checked into the hospital to start my induction. Monday night I ended up getting 3 doses of cytotec (a medication that is suppossed to ripen your cervix) but the cytotec did not work as well as we had hoped and I was still only barely dilated to 1cm and about 70% effaced. So then around 11am the pitocin was started and the waiting continued. I did start feeling some contractions but around 3pm Tommy gave everyone a scare by dropping his heart rate. Next thing I knew the room was full of nurses, anesthesiologists and my OB - Dr Brough telling me that I was going to have an emergency c-section because they weren't able to bring his heartrate back up. I was rushed into the operating room for a c-section under general anesthesia (I didn't have an epidural in) and within 6 minutes the amazing Labor & Delivery team had Tommy out of harm's way and into the hands of the NICU team - Joanna, Kevin & Dr Minnich - thank you, thank you!!! I was told Tommy came out screaming and crying and just needed a little CPAP to pink up. Tommy was taken to the nursery to be observed for a few hours because he was breathing a little too fast - but thankfully did not need to go to the NICU. I've been told by my fellow nurses this was "the nurse curse" at work - oh well - we all turned out to be healthy patients in the end!
Mommy meets Tommy for the first time!
Daddy & Tommy
So after 4 nights in the hospital an excited mommy & daddy brought their beautiful baby boy home!!
The first few weeks were filled with joy and with stress. I was planning on exclusively breastfeeding but after Tommy lost 13% of his body weight while we were in the hospital, we needed to supplement him by giving formula. I continued to breast feed before I gave him a bottle, hoping that it was just taking a little longer for my milk supply to come in. Unfortunately though, it never did and after about 3 1/2 weeks of pumping, breastfeeding, and bottle feeding - and not pumping more than an ounce (EVER!!!) - I gave up breastfeeding. It was not an easy decision. I've spent my NICU career being taught how breast milk is best and teaching all the moms I've taken care of the same thing - but in the end I know I gave it my best shot and for whatever reason breastfeeding was not meant for me and Tommy.
When Tommy was about 2 1/2 weeks old we had his pictures taken - and OMG are they AMAZING!! Kari Burkhardt did a wonderful job but it didn't hurt having such a gorgeous baby :) Here's a preview of them and more are on my facebook page.
When Tommy was about 2 1/2 weeks old we had his pictures taken - and OMG are they AMAZING!! Kari Burkhardt did a wonderful job but it didn't hurt having such a gorgeous baby :) Here's a preview of them and more are on my facebook page.
At 6 weeks old, Tommy is eating about 4 oz of formula every 3-4 hours and is waking up every 3-4 hours at night to eat, but luckily goes right back to sleep. He has been much more alert and is cooing and smiling occasionally! Being a mom is really an awesome thing, plus he really has been a great baby! He does have his crying episodes here and there but nothing we can't handle and definitely nothing to complain about. I'm getting sad thinking I go back to work in less than 4 weeks, but we still have our family reunion trip to New Orleans and Tommy's first plane ride to look forward to!!
Alright - I hope to post more frequently from now on!
