Leo is 2 weeks old!

Two weeks have passed and I am loving being a mom. And I totally love Leo being a dad. He's such a good diaper changer you'd never guess he hadn't done it before now. Little Leo is so sweet and precious and a very good baby... having him makes me want to have ten more.

We went to Leo's 2-week checkup today and found out he is normal and healthy and in the 15th percentile for weight and height.

Breastfeeding is going GREAT. The baby and I both really love it. He eats so well that he went from 6 lbs 7 oz last week to 7 lbs 5 oz this week! I would recommend to any expectant mom even considering breastfeeding to give it a good try because it has been so rewarding so far. No bottles to wash or heat, you always have the right amount, and it's practically free! The bonding time is so special too. BUT I highly recommend reading up and enlisting a Lactation Consultant for help... you have to learn to do it right or it will HURT!

Fortunately we are getting enough sleep because Leo pretty much goes right back to sleep after night feedings. We got a great tip that really works - we've been keeping the lights low and the house quiet when we get up at night. Baby pretty much stays sleepy and goes back down easily.

Dad sat him up in a chair and read his first book to him!



A good shot of his "Spock" ear - a Butts family trait.

This is not my body (Part 2)

This is still not my body...

An 8 inch incision across my abdomen.
Bruises up and down my arms from the IVs.
Huge milk-producing breasts.
A super-squishy tummy.

But, I feel like a hero and these are my battle scars!

1 Week Old

We're Home!

My Baby Story

My water broke at about 8 p.m. on Monday night while I was putting sheets on the crib. I was totally shocked - never expected my water to break before going into labor. I had measured 2 cm that day at the doctor's office, and she still wouldn't predict when I would go into labor. Ironically, I was planning on starting a week (or so) of vacation on Tuesday, but fortunately that meant everything was wrapped up at work.

I knew there was a chance they'd have to induce labor if I didn't start labor myself, but no problems there. Within 10 minutes I was having contractions 6-8 minutes apart. I called my doctor's answering service, and the nurse who called me back said to go straight to the hospital. So, Leo and I finished packing up everything for the hospital and were out the door by 9:00. We had to take a detour to get to the hospital because 288 was blocked, but we got there by 9:15 and my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart and strong.


We got checked in immediately, and by 9:45 or so when the nurse first checked, she confirmed my water was broken (duh) and said I was 5 cm and about 90% effaced. An on-call doctor came in to see me because of the hour, and asked the nurse to start me on pitocin to augment labor. (She never ended up using it because I was contracting so fast and hard I didn't need it.)

I had really wanted to have a natural childbirth, but at this point I was questioning my sanity. Part of it was that I was basically confined to the bed and attached to the IV and monitors and so uncomfortable. The other reason I wouldn't find out until much later. I asked for the epidural at around 10:15, I think, and never regretted it. Leo and I both relaxed and were happy. The nurse continued to let my labor progress, until around 12:30, and when she checked I was 9 cm and fully effaced! I had been worried that the epi would slow down labor, but it may have actually had the opposite effect in my case.

I didn't start pushing until 2, because the nurse allowed enough time for me to finish dilating and for the baby to move down more, since baby had only gone from -1 to 0 station before. I pushed for about an hour before the doctor came in to check my progress. At that point I discovered why I had been in so much pain before (other than just being in labor!). The doctor pronounced the baby was "OP" or "sunny side up" as they called it, meaning his face was toward my front instead of the back. She informed me this was going to be a very difficult delivery but offered no solution other than continued pushing. So I pushed for another 2 grueling hours. At some point they added pitocin to my IV to strengthen contractions and hopefully help the baby move down. He didn't budge.

Now we were talking about alternatives. The doctor proposed she could try a delivery with forceps, or I could have a c-section. Reality hit me and I realized there was no pushing the baby out myself. We agreed to a forceps delivery. I never would have thought I would allow it, but after pushing so much it was the only alternative to surgery. The doctor got set up for the assisted delivery, but when she examined me for the baby's position one last time, she said she didn't think we could deliver him vaginally and informed all of us that I would be having a c-section.

The flood gates opened, and I cried.

After all of this, being up all night, and getting the epi, and pushing, I was going to have surgery.

I pulled myself together by reminding myself that soon I would have my baby, and that this was going to be the safest way to get him here. I was full of remorse after all we went through knowing that he was never coming out my way in the first place.


I had to wait until about 7 a.m. to be moved into the OR because of other more urgent deliveries. The baby had endured my labor like a champ, his heart rate staying strong and kicking me like crazy. So it wasn't an emergency for me.

The c-section was like a well choreographed ballet, amazing to watch, with many players, though a little embarrassing even for immodest me. (I didn't get to see the actual surgery but I could see a lot). I was shaking like a leaf from the anesthesia. Leo sat in a chair by my head that they provided when I told them he didn't care for the sight of blood or surgical procedures. But Dad surprised me. He didn't flinch when they pulled out baby Leo and held him up for us to see. I only flinched because I saw his huge conehead from my fruitless 3 hours of pushing.


I gave Leo the nod to run over to where they were cleaning up and checking out the baby while they finished my surgery. Eventually though, they brought the baby over to let me hold him while they stitched me up. He babbled the entire time I held him!


They had to take him to the nursery of course, but after a little time in recovery, we were moved to postpartum and they brought us our new family member.

A poem for baby

Thanks to my Uncle Ron, we know that Leo IV was born on National Limerick Day. Here's the limerick Uncle Ron wrote in his honor!

Hooray now we have Baby Leo,
He's as cute as a baby can be so,
Let's give a cheer
Now that he's here
Great day for the Cailleteau trio!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Leo Pierre Cailleteau IV

Born May 12, 2009 7:10 a.m.

6 lbs. 9 oz.

20 inches long

Another disappointing doctor visit

My 38 week appointment was at 2:40 today. I arrived a little early, as I usually do, around 2:25, only to be informed the doc was running behind, about 45 minutes. Great. I try to be patient when this happens, I do, because I know she's usually had to run to the hospital to deliver a baby, and I know that will be me soon.

So, after I get called back, an hour late, I follow the nurse back and even spot the doc on my way into the exam room. Well... as the nurse is taking my blood pressure, she overhears the doc exclaim something I couldn't hear in the hallway, and says "that's not good...."

I think you can tell where this is going. Yep, for the second week in a row, I didn't get to see the doc. Another nurse came in and told me the doctor had to leave for an emergency c-section (again, I absolutely don't begrudge any woman the doc's urgent response!) and I could wait up to an hour and a half, or go home. If I needed, they could squeeze me in Wednesday. But, thankfully, everything's still going great, so no need to see the doc Wednesday.

The most disappointing part is that I was hoping to push the doc for answers as to my chances of going overdue, to make my decision as to whether to take off work beginning next week. Maybe he'll just come before then and let me off the hook. :)