Otto!

Otto is here! We are so happy. It was the most intensely difficult experience of my life. Here's a quick version of the birth story (about all I have time for!):

Went in to get induced on Sunday night. (There was concern about decreased fetal movement and my group b strep status so they convinced me to agree to an induction.) Midwife gave me prostiglandin gel to get things moving and my water broke at 3 am. At 9am the following morning, they started the pitocin. I labored all day and the contractions got more and more intense. Around 3 pm I got in the tub which provided some much needed relief, but stalled my labor. So out I came and got hooked up for a bit more pitocin. Ouch. During transition, I was in so much unrelenting pain, it was unbelievable. Finally I asked if there was anything they could do to help me out. The midwife gave half a dose of nubaine (sp?) which gave me just enough of a rest between contractions to think that I might actually make it. Unfortunately, I didn't know that the baby would be stuck behind my pubic bone and I would end up pushing for 2 hours and 15 min. It was horrible. They actually called in the OB/GYN on call because the midwife thought forceps or vacuum extraction might be needed. Fortunately, I somehow managed to push him out myself. Not really sure how I accomplished this! And I only tore minimally.

But he's here, he's incredibly healthy and we are both home now getting to know eachother.

Otto was 8 lbs. 7 oz. and 20 3/4 inches long.