I'm calling out Jack #2!

[aimeefarrahfowler]

We started this week with one Jack, so let's finish with another one and hear all about Mandy's Jack today!

[Mandy]

I'm just finishing a long day and seeing this now! I'll post about my little guy tomorrow. So excited to share!

[Mandy]

Finally have a free moment! Sorry for taking a while.  Here is Jack's story!

Pregnancy: 

Jack was due on May 30, but seemed to always be measuring ahead. He was larger than expected from his 16 week genetic screening ultrasound right up until the end. The doctor thought that I may have had my dates wrong, and that I could go earlier, but he never officially changed the due date. I had a pretty typical pregnancy, uncomfortable but manageable. My labor, however, was not very pleasant.

Jack is a stubborn little guy, and wasn't interested in being born. I was not effaced or dilated at 41 week appointment on June 4, so the doctor sent me to the birthing center to be induced. I grabbed my bag and headed over, fully expecting to leave with a baby. They gave me cytotec to get the dilation moving along, and I started having moderately strong contractions every 3 - 5 minutes. I didn't dilate at all, though, and the doctor decided to admit me and "let it be" and see if I dilated on my own.  I have a genetic bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's Disease and they discovered during this visit that I was bruising and they worried about my Von Willebrand Factor levels, so they decided to stop the contractions (!!!) with medicine until they could have a full blood work up completed, which would take 48 hours. Sadly for me, the medicine slowed but did not stop the contractions and I was not dilating, so they sent me home on Friday (June 6) with pain killers and told me to go for a lot of walks. I managed at home with contractions for a day, and went back to the hospital on Saturday (June 7) at about 11pm when the contractions got stronger and closer together. I was SO sure I was going to have him... but I was only a fingertip dilated. They sent me home again and told me not to come back until Monday and they were planning to transfer me to Mass General in Boston. I got home at about 2, and my water broke about 20 minutes later. I went back to L&D again, and was ELATED to learn that I was 5 centimeters dilated at 3:30 AM! It was some pretty serious pain, though. Due to my bleeding disorder I am not able to have epidurals because of the risk of bleeding (although I was willing to risk it for a while there) and it was too late for any other type of pain killers. Once Jack was ready to join us, he didn't waste any time. Three short pushes and he was born at 7:17 AM on Sunday June 8! He weight 8 lbs 9 oz and was 21 inches long. I think he is the youngest "May" baby.







I was really lucky because he was a great sleeper and latched really well from the beginning. I struggled with low supply while breastfeeding from the beginning and had to supplement. Finally at 4 months the doctor told me that I should transition him to formula. He would cry and cry while trying to nurse, even with supplements and lactation cookies. I felt a lot of guilt for this for a long time, but he seems to be turning out ok.





He is a little love bug and loves to snuggle with his mama and dada. He LOVES to eat still, and waves at his bottle when he sees it. Haha! He is very fond of our cat, but the cat does not share the sentiment. Jack loves the water, Elmo, and going out and watching people. We've had a hard winter in Boston, but he loved playing in the snow in his little sled! We started swim lessons last week and LOVES the water. He splashes around and shouts with happiness, it's the cutest thing! He doesn't really have a nickname, but we do call him Jackie a lot. 



Jack is 9 months old now and loves to walk around holding on to things. I can't believe time has flown by, it's like life has hit fast forward. 

[Mandy]

One more from swim lessons today  

[kendy20]

He's adorable! I couldn't imagine going that far past my due date!

[ricola0522]

He looks like such a happy little man, adorable!

[meggypoo1]

He is so adorable! Is Jack a family name?

You're a super women for going through all of that during labor!

[Deleted]

I love the vest and hat!

[kc83]

He looks like such a happy little guy! I'm a sucker for a vest and bow tie.

[Deleted]

What an adorable little man. Your a strong mama going through such a hard labor. How is he doing with solids? Does he have a favorite food?

[lrmrtn]

Such a cute lil guy! Anyone who got through labor without an epidural is a super hero! Lol

[Mandy]

Mar 14, 2015 13:40:09 GMT -5 meggypoo1 said:

He is so adorable! Is Jack a family name?

You're a super women for going through all of that during labor!

It's not a family name, just one we always loved. We are from Massachusetts so we are big fans of the Kennedy clan. It's a bit of an homage to JFK. His middle name (Frederick) is a family name, though. Every first born son of a first born son is named Frederick on my side of the family, going back a couple hundred years. Christmas gets confusing with my brother, father, and grandfather all having the same name!

[Mandy]

Mar 14, 2015 14:38:50 GMT -5 @featheredarrow said:

What an adorable little man. Your a strong mama going through such a hard labor. How is he doing with solids? Does he have a favorite food?

He definitely loves ALL foods! He is a big eater. His favorite is butternut squash, but a new favorite has been blueberries. He goes nuts for them! 

[lissiehoya]

Mar 14, 2015 18:38:24 GMT -5 Mandy said:

Mar 14, 2015 13:40:09 GMT -5 meggypoo1 said:

He is so adorable! Is Jack a family name?

You're a super women for going through all of that during labor!

It's not a family name, just one we always loved. We are from Massachusetts so we are big fans of the Kennedy clan. It's a bit of an homage to JFK. His middle name (Frederick) is a family name, though. Every first born son of a first born son is named Frederick on my side of the family, going back a couple hundred years. Christmas gets confusing with my brother, father, and grandfather all having the same name!

I met Ted Kennedy a few times when I was in high school and went to see him in his DC office when I was in college. He and my grandfather were friends after having been political rivals.

Your baby is adorable!

ETA: 

[footloose]

You have really cute pictures and your son has such a sweet angelic face! DD is also a big fan of Elmo

[minae01]

He is one handsome boy! I love those blue eyes! Do you and your H both have blue eyes? I can't really tell from the picture but I'm guessing you have blue. I am so jealous of blue eyes! I have brown eyes, my H has blue and we have a son with each color. Crazy how genetics work. Also, we have a Jack, so I'm partial to that name!

The one of you two at swim is my favorite! You both look so cute!

[microworm]

Love the pictures and the name - my LO is Jack as well =).

What a crazy labor story Mandy. Totally random, but I work at Baxter and we have a long history of providing therapies for those with bleeding disorders, however I have never actually met anyone with a bleeding disorder. How does the disease affect your life? I know we have several therapies for hemophilia and late last year we submitted an application to the FDA for a recombinant Von Willebrand Factor. I wonder if that's something that you would benefit from!

[becole]

That would be terrible not to have the option of an epidural- I can't imagine! Awesome job momma!

[ksyknelvr73]

Whew - bless you for going so far past your due date and for having an epidural-free labor and delivery! I love all the pictures, Jack has such a sweet face!! The pictures of him in the vest and hat are killing me - SO adorable. He looks like such a happy boy. I hope you guys actually start warming up soon - one of my best friends live in the Boston area and it's been so rough!

[ciaobaby]

What an adorable little guy, he looks so happy! I'm glad to hear that Jack is enjoying his swim lessons...DS and I also did swimming and some of the other babies in the class were not too happy about being in the water! lol Luckily my DS had a good time, but I felt bad for the mommas who had crying babies.

[aimeefarrahfowler]

He is so handsome and I love the name Jack, my May baby was so close to being a Jack too!

Great birth story. Maybe because of your bleeding disorder, but I feel like a story like that around here you would have been pushed into a C/S the first time you went into the hospital.

How is he sleeping? Who do you think he looks like?

[mamarazziof3]

His eyes are so beautiful!

[Mandy]

Mar 14, 2015 22:04:58 GMT -5 lissiehoya said:

Mar 14, 2015 18:38:24 GMT -5 Mandy said:

It's not a family name, just one we always loved. We are from Massachusetts so we are big fans of the Kennedy clan. It's a bit of an homage to JFK. His middle name (Frederick) is a family name, though. Every first born son of a first born son is named Frederick on my side of the family, going back a couple hundred years. Christmas gets confusing with my brother, father, and grandfather all having the same name!

I met Ted Kennedy a few times when I was in high school and went to see him in his DC office when I was in college. He and my grandfather were friends after having been political rivals.

Your baby is adorable!

ETA: 

 This is amazing!! I've only ever seen him from afar- I'm SUPER jealous!

[Mandy]

Mar 15, 2015 12:27:35 GMT -5 minae01 said:

He is one handsome boy! I love those blue eyes! Do you and your H both have blue eyes? I can't really tell from the picture but I'm guessing you have blue. I am so jealous of blue eyes! I have brown eyes, my H has blue and we have a son with each color. Crazy how genetics work. Also, we have a Jack, so I'm partial to that name!

The one of you two at swim is my favorite! You both look so cute!

Thanks Hubby and I both have blue eyes, but I think his are closer to my shade of blue. Genetics are so cool- I love that your kiddos show it! 

Jack is a great name, isn't it??

[Mandy]

Mar 16, 2015 7:46:28 GMT -5 microworm said:

Love the pictures and the name - my LO is Jack as well =).

What a crazy labor story Mandy. Totally random, but I work at Baxter and we have a long history of providing therapies for those with bleeding disorders, however I have never actually met anyone with a bleeding disorder. How does the disease affect your life? I know we have several therapies for hemophilia and late last year we submitted an application to the FDA for a recombinant Von Willebrand Factor. I wonder if that's something that you would benefit from!

I bet would be! I am treated now with DDAVP but it can only be used in a limited fashion due to the way it works. To my understanding (which is limited) it only activates the Von Willebrand factor that I already have. I wonder if the new drug will change that. So interesting! 

[Mandy]

Mar 16, 2015 12:02:18 GMT -5 aimeefarrahfowler said:

He is so handsome and I love the name Jack, my May baby was so close to being a Jack too!

Great birth story. Maybe because of your bleeding disorder, but I feel like a story like that around here you would have been pushed into a C/S the first time you went into the hospital.

How is he sleeping? Who do you think he looks like?

I actually WAS pushed to a c-section at one point and after a few hours I agreed to do it... and then another doctor came on and shut it down. He didn't want to have to put me completely under for the c-section and my bleeding potential made him nervous. He is actually the one who decided my Von Willebrand factor may be too low and tried to stop my contractions.  That was an emotional roller coaster of a day. 

Jack is sleeping... as of now. Fingers crossed it sticks! He goes to be around 7:30 PM and stays asleep until about 6 or 6:30 AM. It's glorious.

I think he looks like both of us, but my mom swears he looks like me. He has so many of my husband's mannerisms, though. Even just little things, like standing with one foot resting on top of the other one. It cracks me up!

[QOTRnew]

He is so handsome!