This Christmas week took quite a turn! My husband’s brother’s family, with their four kids, came to visit on Friday. We did various activities together — Elmwood Park Zoo’s lights, Disney on Ice (which the kids loved) — and I went to bed Saturday night feeling pretty tired.
I woke up with a shot of adrenaline around 1:45 a.m. Nothing too unusual; I’d been waking up in the middle of the night frequently. But then around 2:30 a.m. my water broke. I wasn’t having contractions yet, but I got up, packed my hospital bag, and called my doctor’s office emergency line. The physician on duty heard my “fifth baby” comment and said to go in. Given my experience with baby #4 — who arrived 2 hours after my water broke, and less than 20 minutes after we pulled into the hospital parking lot — I thought this was probably wise. I woke my husband and mother-in-law at 3 a.m. — him to drive me, and her so she knew she was on duty.
The contractions started coming pretty hard and fast during the journey, and indeed, the timing turned out to be roughly similar with this little one. He was born at 5:00 a.m., so 2.5 hours start-to-finish. We just got to the hospital a little faster (by 3:30 a.m.).
At 37 weeks and 1 day he is by far the earliest of my kids. As a result, he’s on the small size — 6 lbs, 8 oz, and while he nursed like a champ shortly after birth, he’s since had some trouble staying latched on and maintaining suction, which I’ve learned is pretty common with pre-term babies (which he technically isn’t, but if he’d been born 2 days earlier, he would have been considered that). So we are working on it.
The older kids are very excited. It was a bit like Christmas. They went to bed at night and woke up in the morning to a new little brother! My husband actually made it home around 7 a.m., ostensibly to share the news, though he proceeded to go back to bed and sleep until noon. Let’s just say that did not happen in the hospital (one reason I always lobby to be discharged as soon as possible). It was fun to have my other kids and their four cousins come visit in the afternoon and hold the little guy. My mother-in-law and my parents both made it on day 1 too. In the event of a swift labor, it’s good to have a house full of relatives!
So 2019 is going out with a bang. Even this week on my time log is kind of ridiculous. All the Christmas activities and then…this! I thought the little guy would come in January, but he had his own plans, and now will always celebrate his birthday in that week between Christmas and New Year’s. Here’s hoping he has a great many of them!
Congratulations! He is adorable!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Such a perfect holiday present for your family.
How wonderful to be born and instantly surrounded by so many people that love you and can’t wait to hold you!! What a cute lucky little guy!!
Congrats, Laura!! He is absolutely adorable.
Congratulations! This was such a nice surprise to see the happy news when randomly going over to my Feedly before bedtime 🙂 He’s adorable. Hope you and the family are doing well.
Congratulations! How exciting! Hope you are doing well.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations, Laura and family. Hope you all enjoy some quality bonding time with the new little guy (who already resembles the rest of the family!). I’m picturing your time log: “2:30 a.m. water broke; 3:00 a.m. drove to hospital; 5:00 a.m. gave birth”…
@Kathy- yep, that’s pretty much what it says! These things can be entered onto a time log like anything else 🙂
Welcome to the world, little one. Congratulations, Laura!
Congratulations! So happy for you guys! And since you were pretty miserable in the final weeks of pregnancy, it’s maybe kind of ok that he came a bit earlier? I’ve only had 1 child but I preferred having a new born to the final weeks of pregnancy! He looks very alert! I guess he just couldn’t wait to join the family. I bet it’s kind of nice to have your in-laws around to help out right now. Here’s hoping you get discharged today! I ended up spending 6 nights/7 days in the hospital when our son was born. I got admitted a day before my induction as I had signs of another potential blood clot (I got a nasty one at 34 weeks so was high risk), then the induction took over a day and resulted in a C-section and then we had to stay an extra night as they wanted to scan our son’s kidney on day 4 of his life (he had one large kidney and still does – it’s just the way he is and nothing is wrong). In hindsight I wish we had pushed to get discharged a day earlier and we could have driven back to the hospital. Oh well – live and learn! But there is nothing restful about being in the hospital!
@Lisa – yep, hospitals aren’t that restful (though he did go to the nursery overnight with two visits, so that was nice!) Since he seems to be fine, yep it was OK to come early. He’s figuring out the feeding – he just needed some extra practice and as a fifth time mom I have my tricks 🙂
Congrats!! He’s cute! Bonus you can claim him on your 2019 taxes!
@Arden – apparently! Funny how many people have mentioned this to us!
I was born on December 28, 1952, and was called “Daddy’s little tax dividend” for quite a while! My mother’s birthday was December 22 so she always made sure I had a real birthday cake and presents that weren’t wrapped in Christmas paper. She had received too many “Here’s something for your birthday and Christmas” presents when she was a kid.
Blessings to you, the little one and your family, Laura. Nothing tops the gift of life any time of the year!
Congratulations!! He looks adorable! I’m so glad there were so many hands around to help right away. I hope you recover easily and he gets into his feeding groove. Happy New Year!
Huge Congratulations to you and your family – and you already have a blog post up!
Congratulations! Glad to hear the delivery went smoothly and that you and he are doing well. Wishing you a happy new year with the new addition to your family!
Congratulations! Happy to hear of his safe arrival!
Congratulations! It was a lovely surprise to see your little guy on Instagram!
Congratulations Laura, what a wonderful end to 2019 for your family!
Congrats on no longer being pregnant!
He is beautiful! My youngest is also a Christmas baby (christmas day, was supposed to be born in January). It makes the holidays extra special. Now you can have a glass of champagne on New Year’s Eve! Enjoy your precious little bundle!
Mazal tov, Laura! You’re a real trouper and the baby is lovely. Thanks for keeping us up to date with your activities. I feel as if we’re all together in this!
Congratulations on your new cute baby boy!
Congratulations!
We are so funny in medicine trying to categorize continuous variables. My oldest was a premie at 36 weeks and 6 days. Yours was not a premie at 37 weeks 1 day. It really all boils down to about the same thing…a very slightly early 6 1/2 lb baby–so very sweet.
@Gillian – thanks! And don’t get me started on ridiculously specific designations that are basically meaningless…At least we came on the right side of this one. Because he was 37+1 weeks it was all good…
Somebody told me that the preemie guidelines got changed recently to distinguishing between 37 and 38 weeks. Is that incorrect? (Or maybe it’s different in Canada). My youngest (4 yo) was born at exactly 38 weeks, and they kept making a big deal about how that means he wasn’t premature.
@Rinna For a long time 37 weeks was considered fullterm end of story. Now there is a distinction between 39+ weeks (fullterm) and 37-38 6/7 weeks (early fullterm). Babies less than 37 weeks are still premies. I am not an OB so I don’t keep up on the literature that supports that, but as above we are really trying to make discrete variables out of continuous ones. As a physician I can tell you, OBs do not have the corner on that market.
Congrats Laura
Congratulations Laura!!!!! I’m so happy for you and your family❣️
There is an moment about the efficiency of the whole birth😊 Love following you and your family. Happy 2020!
Congratulations Laura!!!!! I’m so happy for you and your family❣️
There is a time management joke moment about the efficiency of the whole birth😊 Love following you and your family. Happy 2020!
What we really want to know is… has the running streak been broken or did you run laps in the hospital hallways? Haha! Seriously though- my first thought was “yay! Congrats!” My second thought was, “the streak has ended!”
@Lori – broke the streak – no running laps in the hospital hallways! But I felt it was time.
Congrats!! Wow, that baby came fast. Cheers to you, and congrats on number FIVE. Thanks for bringing us along of the journey 🙂
Laura – congratulations to you and your family. This is the 3rd baby that I know of born this week – it’s a mini boom! As an accountant, I second the comment about the deduction on your 2019 taxes. It’s rare we come out ahead against the “tax man”, so enjoy it! Happy and healthy 2020!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! He is beautiful! My baby #5 made his appearance 2 weeks early…he will be 12 on January 11. Enjoy!
Wow! God’s rich blessings on all of you!
Beautiful baby, congratulations!
He is beautiful. Congratulations to you and your family!
So happy for you! Congratulations and a tax break too! I was born just after Christmas and I’ve always loved having my birthday between Christmas and New Years — there is always lots of family, fun, and a celebratory spirit! Enjoy!
congratulations from The Netherlands!
Ahh wow. Congratulations Laura and family. I didn’t enjoy being pregnant with my two and at 41 now (same as you) it would be my worst nightmare, so instead we’re getting a puppy, lol.
Have a wonderful new year with the new addition.
Hooray for the amazing news! Congratulations to you and your family!
Blessing to you and your family on your precious baby. He is beautiful.
Congrats Laura!!! So happy for you and your family!
Woohooo! Congratulations!
Congrats to you and your family, Laura! He is absolutely adorable. What a wonderful blessing to end the year!
Wow! Congratulations Laura!
Congratulations! What a wonderful way to wrap up the year!
Huge congratulations and happy you had a fast labor. I sit here at almost 34 weeks slightly jealous! Enjoy your time with your newborn.
@A- soon! Hang in there!
How exciting! I am so happy for you and the family!
Congratulations! What a way to end the year 🙂
Congratulations! What a joy for you and your family.
Congratulations!