Akutaq has Arrived!

Posted by Bump

Akutaq—whose blog identity is subject to change at the discretion of the proprietor—was born today at 12:21 p.m., weighing 7 lbs. 8 oz. and measuring 19 ½ inches (some of which was conehead, of course). She and LHM are healthy and happy.

The birth actually went according to plan. We arrived at the hospital at about 7:45 a.m. for our 8:30 induction, started the pitocin almost simultaneously with the Group B Strep antibiotic just after 8:30 (we thought there would be a lag time before starting the pitocin, but there wasn’t). LHM got the epidural at 10:30, started pushing at 11:00, and the baby was out less than 90 minutes later. LHM actually had to wait a few minutes—not pushing during her contractions—because the OB had left the room for a few minutes and the baby decided she wasn’t waiting any longer.

Lumpyhead met his sister this afternoon. We’re surprised how much Akutaq resembles her brother as a newborn—we were expecting a different mix of facial features, but pretty much got Lumpyhead Redux, but with girly bits and without as lumpy a head. Unlike Lumpyhead’s delivery, there was no need for a vacuum extractor or episiotomy this time around.

LHM and baby Akutaq are doing well, although I’m sure you'll be regaled with photos and the gorier details in due course. In the meantime, thank you for all of your well-wishing and positive thoughts today—they seem to have paid off!