Thursday, April 9, 2009

Nathan Andrew Haertel

I started having contractions Sunday afternoon, but they were far apart and not painful. I went to the doctor Monday morning, the day after my due date, and he said I could be induced the next morning and to get to the hospital at 5am. My mom was very excited to find out she would be getting a grandson for her birthday. I had contractions throughout the day, but nothing painful. So after a lousy night's sleep, I probably only slept 2.5 hours because I was having contractions, we went to the hospital early. We got checked in. I was only dilated to a 1. They induced me at 7:20am and I got my epidural at 8am and the doctor broke my water at 8:20. At 11:50 I was a 9, and unfortunately I could feel everything on the left side of my body, which was pretty weird. So they gave me another dose of the epidural which numbed me up. I pushed 3 times through a contraction and they told me to relax. I thought I was going to have to push again, but I looked down and I saw his head. I had no idea that my pushing had done anything since this time I could seriously feel nothing (with Alex I could feel pressure, but no pain). And then all of a sudden his whole body slid out. I was like, "wow, that was easy". They took the baby to clean him off and measure him. So he was born at 12:11 pm and weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. and is 21 in. long. Unfortunately, I only got to hold him for like 15 seconds before they whisked him away to the nursery in respiratory distress.


He was in distress for 20 - 30 minutes.


They took an x-ray of his chest and found he had air in his chest cavity on both sides of the body and around the heart. Surprisingly though his vitals were so good. The doctors keep telling us how miraculous it is that he is doing so well after looking at his x-rays. His oxygen levels and heart rate are all excellent.


So, while he was in the nursery I was shivering to death in my room. I reacted badly to the extra dose of epidural. Usually I shiver for 15 mintues after delivery, but this was uncontrollable and lasted for like 3 hours. They brought Nathan to me around 2 and they laid him next to me as I shivered and tried to nurse him. It didn't go so well. I felt really sick and started throwing up. So they took him back to the nursery. They needed to monitor him because he might need to go to Utah Valley to the NICU. I was praying so hard that he wouldn't have to go. I didn't want to be separated from him and I was in no condition to be checked out of the hospital. They gave me a shot of Zofran and by 4pm I was able to sit up and eat an orange. (Despite the bad reaction I wouldn't trade the pain of childbirth for shivers and throwing up 3 times.) At 5:30 pm I finally got to hold Nathan for a little while. I tried to nurse him, but he didn't eat very well. They took him back to the nursery at 6:30pm to monitor him. I had a fever, I think it was just from my cold, but they put me and Nathan on antibiotics to be sure. The doctors think he might have pneumonia too, but it is really hard to tell at this age and from the x-rays I guess, so we'll just have to wait and see. He hasn't been allowed out of the nursery since then since he is attached to more monitors now and an IV, before he just had a portable monitor.

He was born on a beautiful day and this is the view from my hospital room.


My brother, Brett, my sister, Melanie, and her boyfriend Nick came to see Nathan that night. Only Robbie and I are allowed to hold him, and we can take only one person in at a time to see him.



We went to see Nathan at 10pm and feed him. He is just so cute and I really hope he doesn't have to go. Just before the doctor left he held his breath a few times and his stats went low. If it happens more throughout the night then they will have to transport him.


4.8.09 They woke me up at 5am to go feed him and he had been doing well so far that night, which made me so happy. At 10am after feeding him, the doctor gave me an update and he gets to stay here! They will run the tests tomorrow morning and see where is he at.

Robbie's parents brought the kids down to see the baby for the first time. Jared got to see him quickly before he went to preschool. Alex and I are watching shark tale while we wait for Jared to get back.


Jared was very excited about the baby. Alex was a little shy about seeing his brother at first, but every time he saw him he got more and more excited. I wish they could touch him and hold him.


Jared realized Robbie was taking pictures.


El abuelito with his 6th grandchild.


Abuelita Ann with baby Nathan.


Finally, we got a picture of Robbie with Nathan. He has spent the most time with Nathan as he accompanied the doctors as they worked on him.
My cute boys!
4.9.09 Nathan is doing great, but he will have to stay here an extra day. I got discharged at noon, but we are going to board in another day and hopefully he will be able to come home tomorrow. The air is gone on one side, but still there on his left. He tested negative for an infection, but they need to take him off the IV and see if he still continues to test negative to rule out the pneumonia. We feel so blessed that he is doing so well and living up to his name. We chose Nathan which means, "gift", "given from God" and Andrew means "strong". He has been so brave through all of this!

So yeah, the 3rd time has been quite eventful, but we are so pleased that things have gone so well considering Nathan's condition.

15 comments:

Rachel said...

He's so cute, Meri! Reading about his illness brings back so many memories and emotions of Elizabeth when she was a baby. We are praying for him.

Rachel said...

What an adorable little boy! Congrats Meri! Sounds like he is doing better, I'm afraid I would be an emotional wreck. Hope all goes well in the next couple days and you can bring that sweet boy home!

Emily said...

Congratulations! He is a cutie! It is a miracle when any little one is born! I am glad he is doing progressively better--thank goodness for prayer!

Ali said...

Meri, congrats! what a cute little guy. i am so happy for you. i hope things continue to get better and you can bring that cute baby home.

Emily Gibbons said...

Wow, what a lot to go through--as if giving birth wasn't enough! I'm glad you're a little healthier, and I sure hope things keep improving for little Nathan. Your family is so precious! Let me know if you'd like to bring your older boys over to play here so you can get some time just with the baby (or nap time!). We love having friends over to play! (Yes, I am serious! As soon as we're over our colds--unless you don't care that we have them--I really would like to babysit, so call me!)

Alisa F. said...

Congrats Meri! He's a little cutie! (by the way, Nate's full name is Nathan Andrew, so it kind of threw me when I saw that that's your little guy's name - I like it! :) ). Well, I'm glad everything is working out now - a little scary at first, but it looks like things will be okay. Good luck with everything! :)

Jessica said...

Congratulations! You look beautiful and amazing in all the pictures.

Gloriela and Nacho said...

Felicidades!!! I am glad things are going better, your baby is super cute!

Lee-Ruth-Clark-Cal-Shanna-Haley-Elden said...

What a scare! I am glad they didn't have to transport him. I hope you are both home now. Thanks for the update!!! he is a cute baby!

Nathan said...

Congratulations! I really like the name you picked for him. Can't go wrong with a name like that.

Margo said...

Meri! Hope you guys get to take little Nathan home soon! I love you!

Jen said...

I am so glad he recovered so quickly! He is adorable. Thanks for letting me stop by today!

Heather, Rex, etc. said...

He is so beautiful! Such wonderful features for a newborn!

Anna said...

Oh Meri, he is darling! Sorry to hear that things were rough there at the beginning, I'm so glad that he is doing so much better now!!

Hope that both you & sweet Nathan are home now and doing well.

Congratulations!!!!!!

Emily said...

Wow, Meri...what an eventful day. He's a beautiful baby and has a beautiful mommy! You seriously look so pretty after giving birth...wow! I'm sorry it was so traumatic for you, and I'm just so pleased that all is turning out well. I liked the fact that you included your story about praying that wouldn't have to be transported to the NICU, and how that all played out. We all need good tangible reminders like that from time to time that God is so aware of our lives. He really is. What a special little person little Nathan must be. I'm just thrilled for you!