Baby #3: Lisa's Perspective

So, a week before his due date and a day before his grandmother was to arrive, Mathis decided to come into the world. Even though I was hoping he'd hold out until after my mom got here, he picked an okay time. My regular contractions started around 7:15a (thankfully not the middle of the night). See Hansel's blog for the rest of the story. My blog has my perspective of the labor and delivery and other observations.

Maybe it's because it's so fresh in my mind but I would have to say this time was the hardest. I say this despite having received an epidural that actually worked. With Maile my labor was longer, I pushed longer, and I did not get an epidural. With Beck my labor was about the same as Maile's, I didn't push very long because they ended up using a vacuum, but I got some kind of pain-relief medicine that made me nauseous and my epidural only settled in the right side of my body.

Warning: The following two paragraphs contain some graphic content. With Mathis after one of his kicks, my water started to break and the contractions got 10 times more intense. I felt like my insides were going to explode. As soon as my water completely broke, the contractions felt a little less intense. The nurse commented that contractions usually get worse after. I think the fact that my water did not break with Maile and Beck (the doctor ended up having to break it) is why my contractions with them were not as painful.

The pushing was harder and more frustrating this time too because I couldn't feel the contractions or what I was doing. With Maile even though I pushed for a lot longer it didn't seem as frustrating. Part of it was probably because I had no expectations then, but also I think it was because the hospital where I delivered Maile (CMPC) is more progressive. They had me try different things while pushing, such as sitting on the toilet and holding onto a squat bar at the end of the bed. But at El Camino I had to be on my back, legs apart and back, and chin to my chest. It was actually easier for me when I had my chin up, but she kept reminding me to tuck my chin.

In the end it worked out fine, and Mathis came out after pushing for less than an hour.

Mathis was born with less hair than Maile but more than Beck. His face seems shorter and rounder, his cheeks are a little fuller, and his eyes look wider. So far he is a good sleeper. He has been on a 3.5-4 hr feeding cycle and actually would not drink when I tried to feed him after 3 hrs like the doctors and nurses say to do. A couple of nights in the first week he slept for 5.5 hrs between feedings (I didn't wake up at 4 hrs like I planned and he didn't cry). He burps a lot more easily than Maile and Beck and does not spit up as much.

So far, Maile and Beck both adore Xiao DiDi. Maile likes to look at him and kiss him. Beck likes to give him things although sometimes he's a little too generous.