November 30, 2005 --- 8:39 AM – 9 lbs 2 ounces 21 ¾ inches long. Our beautiful, healthy baby boy was born; Fletcher Johannes Westphal. We were in the OR (operating room) behind the draped partition – and the surgeons initiated the c-section process. Libby had a spinal-tap injection so she was numb from her waist down. She felt the doctors pulling and tugging and soon we heard the first few gasps from Fletcher – and then once he was out, a lot of crying until they got him cleaned-up and wrapped.
We got to see him for a very short time – then Libby had to be “closed up” – which occurred after the oncologist gave his OK – they did not see anything abnormal in her abdominal area and indicated her left ovary looked fine. That was a big relief for us because of her previous cancer.
I immediately left with Fletcher to head to the nurses area where they “store” all the babies. At this point, he got weighed in, measured, and all sorts of little tests done to him. They checked his blood glucose, counted all his fingers and toes, checks his joints, skin, and various body parts. He also got a vitamin K injection and some goop put in his eyes (standard stuff).
Once Libby was “recovered” from the surgery, they moved her into her hospital room where she finally got to hold Fletcher; it was late morning by the time all this occurred. We managed to get some formula into him – and even got the honor to officially clean up his first poop (quite an interesting molecular structure that was generated).
All is good – mother and baby are doing great….
