Well, as it turns out-I was indeed in labor for an entire week!

The contractions/early stage of labor started about 20 minutes apart on Friday, August 4th...and it took me a week of them and the other symptoms to finally "get serious" enough to actually get admitted-which happened Thursday around lunchtime-I was up all night Wednesday night/Thursday morning and called my doctor when they were down to 7-8 minutes apart, and when I went in to the office I was dilated to 4-5cm and about 60% effaced.

Because they were able to do the ultrasound in time to guage his size (which was a huge concern with my history) I was able to have a vaginal delivery going by the size estimation. There were only a few minor complications during that time-and I and the baby are doing okay.

I had him at 36 1/2 weeks-3 1/2 weeks before my due date. He came just at the right time-early enough where I could have him naturally (he would have been around 11 pounds possibly at 40 weeks) but not too early-which could have caused complications from him being too early.

By a single ounce, he is my "smallest" baby:

Saber Phoenix Tyree Phillippe
9 pounds 3 ounces
21" long

He looks just like his daddy, and older brother and sister. He has my ears...but who is going to notice THAT?

This photo was taken on Sunday-when he was a day and a half old.

Aphil

Congradulations!!!!! he's a cutie I absolutely love his name

Aphil, That is one beautiful baby! He doesn't look like those wrinkled, red, bald old-man babies Glad you were able to have a vaginal delivery. I got the feeling that is what you would ideally like.

Congrats!
Mary

contrats aphil.. what a sweetie...!!!

He's so cute and look at all his hair!

What a gorgeous baby! Hes so cute. I love the name too. Very unique. Congratulations!

Wow...he was your smallest baby? I was my mom's biggest at 8 lbs, 8 oz.

Congrats Aphil!!! I'm jealous!! His name is very cool - can I ask what your other children's names are? (Don't worry, I won't steal them - I've got my babies' names picked out already )

Yes.

My other children were 10 pounds, 4 ounces and 23" long at full term, and my first son was 9 pounds, 4 ounces and 21" also at 36 1/2 weeks-about the same gestational age as Saber.

Thank you.

The middle names are in honor of my deceased grandmother, who passed when I was pregnant with my first son. Tyree was her Scottish maiden name, and the Phoenix is the bird in mythology who lives for hundreds of years...and bursts into flames upon dying. The phoenix then reincarnates itself into a baby...rising from its own ashes.

Aphil -- Congratulations! I had been away for a while and was actually wondering earlier today if you'd had your baby! He's adorable and I'm glad to hear the delivery went well!!

Aphil,,,your new baby and my youngest are the exact same. 36 1/2 weeks, and 9 lbs and 3 oz. But he was only 18 inches long.
Now if you take your sons hair and do the Don King look,,,thats how my son looked exactly,,,

Congrats,,,hes a beautiful baby!

Congratulations. Prodromal labor worked the way it was supposed to for you. I'm glad, & glad you got to have him vaginally (I trust it was a fairly calm delivery?).

I too had risk of a large baby with my second as my 1st was 9lbs 4 oz. My Dr. induced me @ 39 weeks and the lil feller was only 7lbs 2 oz. Go figure. CONGRATULATIONS!!! He has lots of hair! Both of my boys did too.

Congrats! What a cutie! And how cool is his name?! Future Chick magnet....

He is so cute. Glad to hear you were able to have the vaginal delivery. I too love his name.