Ethan Monroe

We had our baby! I went in for my appointment and was 4cm and 80% effaced (with a borderline blood pressure and protein in my urine) so they sent me to the hospital to have the baby! I was in labor for about 14 hours (most of it with the help of an epidural) and I started hurting really bad around 1:30 in the afternoon. The midwife came in and checked me and said "oh yes! That's a baby right there!" 4 pushes later and he was out! Super quick, and super healthy. It was everything I imagined and wanted for Benjamin's birth (but that sweet thing had other plans for us). I got to cuddle  him and nurse. We are having issues with latching correctly, so I'm trying really hard. I really want to breastfeed this time if I can. Little Ethan Monroe was born on 1/11/17 at 1:57 PM. He's 21.5" long and weighed 8 pounds and 6 ounces. I can only imagine what he would have weighed at his original birthday (1/21). He looks a lot like Benjamin did when he came out, so it will be interesting to see him change! Benjamin came in today to see him for the first time and he pet Ethan's head and that was that. He just played (and pushed the code blue button... not fun) today. I can't wait to go home. I think everyone will do better on a routine, Ethan included! The day before we went to our appointment I was getting Benjamin out of the tub and heard a loud "CRACK" and fell to my knees with an intense pain in my back. Of course we still have the remains of coughing and sneezing, so anytime I did either of those things, I would double over in pain and cry and almost hit the floor. It hurt to cry. So, my midwife called me in some flexeril for me and that barely made it bearable. So, all through labor I was terrified of super straining that same spot, but luckily my midwife convinced me to get the epidural early and I'm glad she did! I had zero pain in my back while pushing! I delivered with no tearing which was amazing. I felt good after delivering! That definitely didn't happen last time. Anyway, I will add pictures later, but he's perfect!