Gray Ellison Dunbar arrived on Feb. 26th at 2:16. After weeks of trying to get him to turn head down, we finally gave in to the idea that he wanted to be born head up. After a failed ECV, we scheduled a c section. On Gray’s birthday, we tried one more final attempt to turn him around, but his heart rate kept dropping so after 15 minutes we decided he was ready to meet us. Ankita and Melanie were there. The energy was good…so, so positive and celebratory. If it had to be surgery, this was the ideal scenario.
Although this was my second c section, this time was different. Anesthesia was better (a lot less side effects), my arms were free to move, Colin was ecstatic rather than worried, our people were with us. And I knew, at 39+4 and two failed ECVs that this baby was not interested in being born any other way.
We watched through the clear drape, finally ready to know if our third baby would be a boy or a girl! With Quinn, I could see more and my first knowledge of him was seeing his pink feet in the reflection on the OR light. The blue drape was in my way this time, but I could hear his tiny gurgles. He didn’t let out a big cry…he just made tiny gurgling sounds. Ankita did the big reveal…another boy!! I’m sure a little girl would have been an amazing addition to our family, and most people were really hoping for a sister for Cash and Quinn, but Colin and I couldn’t hide the fact that we were overjoyed to add a third boy to our family!
Colin went with our baby, who didn’t yet have a name. He was quiet but no one seemed concerned so I was never worried. Melanie stayed by my head narrating what was happening with the baby and what Colin was doing. His O2 sats were in the 70s and 80s. They were working on getting them up. Ankita slowed down her sutures to give him time to perk up so we didn’t have to be separated.
Eventually Colin brought me a diapered baby and helped me hold him. He curled up all around my face. Just a tiny lump of cheeks and arms and legs. The first thing I said was “Look at his cheeks!”
What a sweet, sweet day. From there, we went to the recovery room for a couple of hours. We talked baby names. The one name that emerged from both our lists was Gray. We talked through some options but we were pretty sold on this one. All those months of trying to come up with something just right and we couldn’t quite do it. We even went to the library and checked out baby name books the morning he was born! And then there he was…and, of course, his name was Gray Ellison!
What a perfect addition to our family! I’m so grateful for our birth team (before, during, and after birth) and all the positive energy we’ve received from our community these past few days. I’m beyond happy to be enjoying these sweet, sweet (but also hard) days at home.
Joyful Striving 