Dexter James Kaufman

Short version:
Dexter James Kaufman
Born 3/22/2010 at 4:40pm, 5 weeks early
5 lbs. 12 oz., 17 inches long


Really Long version:

2:00am Monday morning my water broke. I didn't really know what to do for a couple seconds. I was pretty sure I'd be having him early so was overly prepared but for a second had no idea the next step. Garth was in WI for the weekend for his last race of the season so I was at my mom's house (since I was on bed rest). I called the after hours number and told them my water broke, knocked on my mom's bedroom door, and she and I headed over to the Jackson hospital (about an hour away).

3:30am we got checked in and hooked up to the monitors. I was having contractions ever 3-4 mins.

4:00am I was dilated to 4cm and 80% effaced. Garth was at the Milwaukee airport trying to get home as fast as he could. He was scheduled to arrive in Jackson at 1pm. The doctor told me he probably wouldn't make it in time. I continued contracting every 3 minutes for the next 9 hours but not really progressing. Dexter wanted to wait for his dad!

12:45pm Garth arrives at the airport and I was still only 5cm dilated. I got an
epidural and was able to enjoy the rest of my labor. After Garth got there things finally took off-I really think Dexter was waiting. We all wanted him there. My mom was there with me the whole time and was my own personal nurse through the day and the most uncomfortable parts-pre epidural.
Passing the time texting and surfing

4:40pm Dexter arrives! His pediatrician was there and checked him out right away. Since he was 5 weeks early, he was on the border of them wanting me to deliver somewhere else that had a NICU. They thought I was too far along in labor to make it anywhere.

Tuesday evening-the hospital provided a lovely 'candle light' dinner in room for Garth and I.

Wednesday-Dexter only had to stay an extra 12 hours or so-just to keep an eye on him, then we were sent home Wednesday afternoon. He's super healthy and strong. We are so excited to have him (and it's also a bonus that I'm not on bed rest anymore-I still had another week).

Vote to name this belly!

I am 34 weeks +1 day and still not 100% settled on one name. So I decided to take a poll from you-my most trusted blogging friends. A little background on the choices-Garth's dad's name is Warren, my Uncle, Great Uncle and Uncles above him have the name James.
I have my favorite but wanted input from all ya'll!

The poll is just to the left of the post...

Bedrest Birthday!

I've been on bed rest for a little over a week now-since last Saturday. On Monday, I turned 28-yikes! Thanks to my wonderful mom, step dad and little sister, I still got to celebrate. My mom made an amazing lasagna, followed up by her incredible chocolate cake. They even got me presents!!

Rachel(12) whipped up this pillow down in the sewing room while I took a nap! So impressed!

Unexpected Hospital Stay

WARNING!! LONG POST!!

Thursday night at 6:30 or so I started noticing I was having frequent contractions. I started keeping track at 7pm and was having them regularly 3-4 mins apart. I called the after hours on call doctor and she told me the typical-drink 2 big glasses of water fast and rest and call back in an hour if nothing has changed... My wonderful mother came over at 8 and sat with me while I was monitoring my own contractions, giving me moral support. Nothing changed. Some were more like 2 mins apart. I called back and was told to go in for monitoring. Garth is in Wisconsin for one of his last races so Palmer and I are on our own! Palmer was in bed already so Garth's mom dropped everything and zipped over to stay with him.
So we (my mom and I) headed over to Jackson (there are no OB docs in Driggs) and got checked in around 10:20pm. The roads were horrible and I was wondering if it was even worth it.
They put me on IV fluids right away-explaining again-dehydration causes contractions. I was on the monitor for about an hour with continuous contractions so was given a shot (terbutaline) to try to stop them. It didn't do much, so they checked to see if I was progressing into labor. I was slightly dialated (1cm) and 60% effaced. Then I got some oral meds (nifedipine) to try to relax my uterus. (Too much info??-sorry). I was still continuing to contract. They gave me some steroids (betamethasone) to boost the baby's lung development-I'm not even 33 weeks yet (out of 40). Those shots were AWFUL!!
I stayed overnight Friday while they watched me and waited to see if I continued to progress in labor. They were thinking about sending me down to the University Hospital in Salt Lake (which is also where I had Palmer at 34 weeks-completely different circumstance) because the baby would be so premature. They don't have a NICU in Jackson.
I had some tests done to see if I was susceptible to pre-term labor. Those came back negative which was reassuring. That test is good for 10 days-then I may have to get it again to see if I'm putting off the hormone that would indicate pre term labor...
All Thursday night through today-Saturday, I've continued to have contractions while on medication but never progressed in labor. During our two night stay I had another shot of terbutaline, more steroids for the baby, and more nifedipine in effort to control the contractions.
This morning they sent me home w/nifedipine to take ever 6 hours and am on strict bed rest for the next 3 weeks. Then I can stop the meds and go into labor whenever it happens.
My mom stayed with me the entire time sleeping on those terrible beds in my hospital room and was my own personal nurse. She has taken me in along with my darling son has been waiting on me keeping me down. Rachel is of course a big help too. Palmer requires a lot of attention! :)
Jackson Hospital labor and delivery room (I'm a little puffy from the IV fluids)

Daddy!

Dads are the best. Garth was home for the last 10 days between races and we made the most of it. Here's what I have pictures of:
Open gym at our community center:

Bed time stories:
Snocross Racing:

Feeding cows with Grandpa, Aunt Julie, & cousin CW (and horses-Prince and Queen):