Our 6th little angel (and 3rd girl) was born on June 19, 2008 two weeks early. She weighed 6lbs 9oz and was 19.5 inches long. We are so in LOVE!
Just born
So peaceful
You can visit Naomi's big sisters page at:
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/l/leahryann/
Her birth story:
On Wednesday I had my 38 week checkup and Leah was doing so poorly with drinking that I was planning on taking her to the ER after my appointment for an IV. However, my NST test didn't go so well because Naomi's heartbeat was in the 180's and wouldn't come down for anything. My bp was also up at 138/90 and he wasn't too pleased about that either so he sent me to the hospital for observation and a biophysical profile. At the hospital her heartbeat was still super high and she just would not stop moving which was making me nervous. My appointment was at 11:30 and she didn't settle down until 2:00, then when my doctor came around 2:30 her heartbeat went even higher into the 190's and he decided to keep me overnight. He asked me if I wanted to be induced but I was only 1 cm 50% effaced and her head was so high he couldn't feel it and had to get an u/s machine to check her position so at that point I said no.
DH got Leah and came to the hospital with her so we could get her and IV there and be together but on the way to the hospital she started drinking and thankfully kept it up so she didn't need one. That night my BP seemed ok and Naomi settled down but by morning I was having headaches and my BP was back up so we decided it was time.
The pitocin was started around 8:00 and my only requirement was that I get the epidural before he broke my water because i knew after that it could go quickly. However, between 8 and noon when he came to check me I only went from 1 cm to 2-3 and her head was still really high. However, he said to get the epidural and he would break my water after that.
The epidural was over around 12:30 and was the best epidural I have ever had. I couldn't feel anything - even when they checked for dialation it was completely numb. I had originally wanted to try with no drugs but being induced with very little progress made me more nervous about being in pain longer and after what happened later I'm glad I had a very good epidural!
After it was in place he broke my water and Naomi's head came down and he was satisfied. The nurse was hopeful that I would move along quickly and said she would check me in an hour but when that hour came I was only 3 cm still but about 70% effaced. Around 2 pm she checked again and I was only 4 cm dialated and 90% effaced which was frustrating but progress.
At 2:30 pm suddenly her heartrate started getting WAY low with each contraction. It was in the 130's - 140's but would drop into the 60's and was really scary to me. The nurse went and called the doctor and then turned me on my side. She checked me at that point and I was around 5 cm and completely effaced. Turning seemed to help her heartrate stay up but all of the sudden I felt pressure really bad and screamed for the nurse. Sure enough just in that 20 minute time frame of turning I was at 10 cm and it was time to push.
I had to wait for the doctor to come to start pushing which was around 3:00 or so and while I was pushing her heartbeat completely disappeared and they put the cathedar thing into her head to get a better reading. It would get much lower with the contractions and while I was pushing but wasn't completely going away.
After what seemed like a lifetime of pushing she was born at 3:33 pm with that cord I worried about for so long around her neck twice but she wasn't blue or anything and cried right away. I couldn't believe her thick hair!! All my other kids were bald or only had peach fuzz but hers is thick and can actually be washed. LOL She was toungue tied and had trouble latching on until they clipped it last night and now is really doing well with breastfeeding. She is so tiny and perfect and I'm in love.
I am a bit sore due to tearing I had way up high from her coming down so quickly but it is getting better. My doctor has me giving myself shots of lovenox (sp?) each night for 6 weeks because of my blood clotting disorder and it's not fun but I'm sure I'll get used to it.
