Hannah Grace
Welcome to the world, Hannah Grace!!
My blood pressure did pretty well this pregnancy until about 36 weeks and it started going up and down pretty inconsistently. On Saturday, October 15, I went to labor and delivery for a blood pressure check to see how things were because I had been having some consistent high readings. They ended up sending me home with instructions to follow up with my doctor a little earlier than I had planned that week (Thursday). I was scheduled for induction on Friday, October 21.
I went to the doctor on Tuesday afternoon and my blood pressure was really really high! I think the lowest reading was 158/106. I was having some MAJOR pitting edema and did have protein in my urine as well as some visual disturbances. To the hospital I went. I was a bit nervous because I was only 37 weeks along and it wasn't when I had scheduled. Needless to say, God had everything all worked out!
I was at the hospital for awhile and my BP did go back down some but I was contracting regularly. I was also dilated to a 3 with some effacement. I ended up getting admitted to the hospital for what I thought was going to be antepartum until the 21st. The nurse got me in a room and the lab came to draw blood and the nurse came back in and said, "Change of plans. We are going to have a baby now."
I have to say, I was a little alarmed. I wasn't quite sure if something changed or what the deal was but the nurse explained with my history, regular contractions and a term baby, they didn't want to take any chances. I labored by myself for a little while and then pitocin was started.
There were several things that were going through my mind...wow, 37 weeks, I really hope that the baby is okay. I was very hungry - I hadn't eaten since about 1:00 the previous afternoon. I was VERY tired and I kept thinking about how tired I was going to be by the time the baby was born (whenever that would be).
I also want to point out something else really quick. I was SUPER nervous about having the baby that day because of who the doctor was. I knew I would be okay but if I had to choose, I would not have chosen her. After I got to the hospital I was BEYOND relieved to know that it was a different doctor on call that evening. It was a doctor that only works about once a month in the evening. I ADORE her!! It absolutely was a "God thing" that she was there. If I couldn't have my doctor deliver, I could not have hand picked another doctor who would have been more perfect!
I labored for awhile and dilated to about a 4. I decided about 2:00 that I would go ahead and get my epidural to see if I could get a little sleep before having to push. I got the epidural and it was a WONDERFUL experience. The best epidural experience I have ever had. I still didn't dilate much more and the doctor came to break my water. That was about 3:00. She said I had a lot of amniotic fluid. At about 4:00, the nurse checked me and I went from a 4-7-complete within about 1 1/2 hours! I also started feeling some pain with contractions so I pushed my epidural pump. I was SUPER numb when I started pushing. I was afraid it would affect my ability to push baby out. Not the case.
Since my first birth, I really kind of dread having to push. I pushed with Rachel for 2 1/2 hours and I knew that once you start, you can't stop. Lauren I pushed for about 1 1/2 hours. I started pushing and did not feel like I was making much progress because I couldn't feel anything. The baby DID NOT like me pushing and her heartrate kept diving. I had to wear oxygen for a little bit. After 5 contractions and pushing for 10 minutes, the nurse yelled for me to stop! The head was coming out and we didn't have a doctor!!! The nurse held the baby's head in and we waited for the doctor...to say it was awkward was an understatement. The doctor came in and at 4:30 in the morning, Hannah Grace Hester made her entrance. She weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. She did have a hard time breathing at first and the NICU team had to come and suction her. They said she was okay. She had apgars of 8/9 which is what all 3 of my children had. She was perfect and had HUGE cheeks!!
She is now 2 1/2 weeks old and is doing well. She is breastfeeding like a champ and sleeps okay. We had newborn pictures taken by a friend from church and they turned out great. Here she is at 10 days old!
One last thought...I know many of you have heard me say that I am finished having babies but now that I am not pregnant anymore, I just can't imagine NOT doing it again. So, will there be a #4? Not for awhile but I am not ruling it out. :P
My blood pressure did pretty well this pregnancy until about 36 weeks and it started going up and down pretty inconsistently. On Saturday, October 15, I went to labor and delivery for a blood pressure check to see how things were because I had been having some consistent high readings. They ended up sending me home with instructions to follow up with my doctor a little earlier than I had planned that week (Thursday). I was scheduled for induction on Friday, October 21.
I went to the doctor on Tuesday afternoon and my blood pressure was really really high! I think the lowest reading was 158/106. I was having some MAJOR pitting edema and did have protein in my urine as well as some visual disturbances. To the hospital I went. I was a bit nervous because I was only 37 weeks along and it wasn't when I had scheduled. Needless to say, God had everything all worked out!
I was at the hospital for awhile and my BP did go back down some but I was contracting regularly. I was also dilated to a 3 with some effacement. I ended up getting admitted to the hospital for what I thought was going to be antepartum until the 21st. The nurse got me in a room and the lab came to draw blood and the nurse came back in and said, "Change of plans. We are going to have a baby now."
I have to say, I was a little alarmed. I wasn't quite sure if something changed or what the deal was but the nurse explained with my history, regular contractions and a term baby, they didn't want to take any chances. I labored by myself for a little while and then pitocin was started.
There were several things that were going through my mind...wow, 37 weeks, I really hope that the baby is okay. I was very hungry - I hadn't eaten since about 1:00 the previous afternoon. I was VERY tired and I kept thinking about how tired I was going to be by the time the baby was born (whenever that would be).
I also want to point out something else really quick. I was SUPER nervous about having the baby that day because of who the doctor was. I knew I would be okay but if I had to choose, I would not have chosen her. After I got to the hospital I was BEYOND relieved to know that it was a different doctor on call that evening. It was a doctor that only works about once a month in the evening. I ADORE her!! It absolutely was a "God thing" that she was there. If I couldn't have my doctor deliver, I could not have hand picked another doctor who would have been more perfect!
I labored for awhile and dilated to about a 4. I decided about 2:00 that I would go ahead and get my epidural to see if I could get a little sleep before having to push. I got the epidural and it was a WONDERFUL experience. The best epidural experience I have ever had. I still didn't dilate much more and the doctor came to break my water. That was about 3:00. She said I had a lot of amniotic fluid. At about 4:00, the nurse checked me and I went from a 4-7-complete within about 1 1/2 hours! I also started feeling some pain with contractions so I pushed my epidural pump. I was SUPER numb when I started pushing. I was afraid it would affect my ability to push baby out. Not the case.
Since my first birth, I really kind of dread having to push. I pushed with Rachel for 2 1/2 hours and I knew that once you start, you can't stop. Lauren I pushed for about 1 1/2 hours. I started pushing and did not feel like I was making much progress because I couldn't feel anything. The baby DID NOT like me pushing and her heartrate kept diving. I had to wear oxygen for a little bit. After 5 contractions and pushing for 10 minutes, the nurse yelled for me to stop! The head was coming out and we didn't have a doctor!!! The nurse held the baby's head in and we waited for the doctor...to say it was awkward was an understatement. The doctor came in and at 4:30 in the morning, Hannah Grace Hester made her entrance. She weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. She did have a hard time breathing at first and the NICU team had to come and suction her. They said she was okay. She had apgars of 8/9 which is what all 3 of my children had. She was perfect and had HUGE cheeks!!
She is now 2 1/2 weeks old and is doing well. She is breastfeeding like a champ and sleeps okay. We had newborn pictures taken by a friend from church and they turned out great. Here she is at 10 days old!
One last thought...I know many of you have heard me say that I am finished having babies but now that I am not pregnant anymore, I just can't imagine NOT doing it again. So, will there be a #4? Not for awhile but I am not ruling it out. :P
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