Joshy’s Birth Story

Joshua Josiah Johnson
Wednesday, November 10, 1999
8:11 a.m.
20 1/2 inches long
7 pounds, 6 1/2 ounces
Apgars: 8 & 9

We got to Emanuel at 5:15 a.m. It felt weird going up to the check-in counter, with my bags, but not in labor. The nurse took down our names and led us to room “9″ in the “Labor and Delivery” section. I then changed into a hospital gown and lay down on the bed.

The nurse came in and attached the fetal monitors… Which was still detecting a “heart arrhythmia”. We filled out some paperwork and she put an I.V. into my left arm. By this time it was around 6:15 a.m. She told us that now we had to wait until 7:30, when the surgery was scheduled… An hour and 15 minutes!!!

Luckily someone from the Red Cross came to talk to us about donating your “cord blood”, and a nurse from the nursery came too. So that helped pass the time.

At 7:30, while Daddy stayed in the room to change into his O.R. wear, I was led to the O.R. After a short delay, the anesthesiologist put in a spinal, which numbed me from the breasts down (and very quickly too!). I was then prepped for surgery. (The nurse had already shaved me in the other room.)

As soon as I was prepped, the nurse went to get Daddy, so he could be with us. He sat next to my head while Dr. Prescott started the c-section. It wasn’t long before we heard your cry! The anesthesiologist quickly took your picture for us and said, “It’s 8:11… You’ve got a boy!”

As soon as I heard your cry, I was crying too…. And wishing I could hold you that very second!
They took you over to a table to wipe you down and get your vitals. Daddy went over to watch and get some pictures. They weighed you, you came in at 7 pounds, 6 1/2 ounces. You are 20 1/2 inches long and your head is 13 inches around.

Dr. Prescott said that Mommy did great and that he was surprised at how calm I was (during the surgery).

After I was all sewed up, they wheeled me back to room #9. We stayed there until around 9:30. While in room #9 I breastfed you for the first time. They also had me hold you under my gown, skin to skin… I can’t tell you what a wonderful, bonding time that was. Makes me cry, just thinking about it. Wish I had been able to do that with Jared too.

I then got transferred to a post partum room. We are in room #2504. It’s a tiny closet of a room, but it’s “home” until tomorrow.

Wow! You are a beautiful baby! Aunt Debbie thinks that you look like Daddy when he was a baby. Daddy thinks you look like Jared, only lighter. (Like Jared when he was born, not now.)

You’ve been sleeping quite a bit, and at first nursing was going great… But that is getting harder too. I don’t think that there is enough colostrum to get you by. I hope my milk comes in soon (with Jared it never really did). You got your first supplement this morning. They gave you 1/2 an ounce of Similac formula.

You were seen by one of Dr. Gyerko’s associates, Dr. Bell, both yesterday morning and this morning. He says that you look absolutely perfect and that he can’t find anything wrong with you! There is no more sign of the heart arrhythmia!!!

You will have your circumcision tomorrow morning, before we are released from the hospital. I can’t wait to take you home!

We saw another lactation consultant today. (That makes 3) She showed us how to use an electric pump that we are renting for one week. She also stayed to watch a feeding and she thinks that my milk is coming in! Yay!

It’s amazing what you can sleep through. Both last night, and right now, you have slept through Jared and all his noise. He even threw a fit, and you slept through that.

At first Jared wasn’t too sure what to make of you. He wouldn’t really even acknowledge you at all. But we broke the ice by giving him a present from you… He got to sit on the bed with me and open it, while Uncle Rudy and Auntie Crystal held you…. You gave him a “Little People” airplane, which he loved. Then, I took you in my arms and showed you to Jared… He started warming up a little then…. Every day, while at the hospital, Jared got more and more interested, and liked to watch the nurses while they checked you out.