Forum Name: Custardtart
State: Vic
Baby's DOB: 7/9/2005
Baby's Stats: Weight - 4.565 kg/ 10lb 1oz Length - 53.5 cm
Gender of Baby: Boy
Baby Name(s): Max Zachariah
Baby's Website: -
Health Concerns: jaundice, had 48 hours phototherapy in hospital and needs to be fed every four hours to maintain fluids. Fortunately, this is his regular sleeping/waking pattern since birth!
Notes: Induced due to hypertension four days early, after 24 hours of labour tried for forceps delivery as he was presenting slightly posterior, ended up with an unplanned C-section.

Max is amazingly well co-ordinated for a newborn, he could lift his head unsupported from birth and is extremely strong. I guess that's what happens when you have a ten-pounder! At ten days old, he is already filling the size 000 rompers we bought him and will be in size 00 in a couple of weeks!

I'm a bit shell-shocked about the way the birth went, having had two vaginal births previously I really hadn't considered that I might have to have a C-section this time around and was doing everything in my power to avoid it. In the end, I just didn't have the strength to push him out, and was exhausted by the time they decided a C-sec was inevitable.
The recovery time is definitely longer, I was in hospital for a full week and now that I am back home I am trying to not be frustrated by how little energy I have. Fortunately I have an amazing husband who is discovering just how much work is involved in being Mr Mom, and coping brilliantly.

The best thing of all about this birth is how close it has brought my family together - my girls are old enough that they are claiming responsibility for 'their' baby brother, and we are all as involved with him as each other. We missed each other dreadfully while I was in hospital, so have a renewed apprecation for each others company and for how our family works.

Ok, I'm off to grab another hours sleep... last night Max was unsettled, I think maybe I'll have to add another layer of clothing to him to help him sleep through the night when it cools down. I have him well wrapped, but he was very wakeful.

Later!

Kerrie