Allow Me to Introduce...

Hannah Lynn

Our new addition was born last week and we of course couldn't be more excited! Of course she decided that she had to make a dramatic entrance so for those of you who have yet to here the story, here's how it all went down. It's a long post, so only if you feel like a long read...

I was due on Saturday, April 30th, but even after a membrane strip a few days prior, nothing was happening so I figured I would just be induced the following week. In a moment of what I consider complete inspiration, my doctor decided that I go in for a Non Stress Test instead of another doctor's appointment (a few days after my due date) since he didn't have any clinical visits that week. Anyway, I went in for my test and after being hooked up to the machine for less than 10 minutes, Baby Hannah's heart rate pretty much fell off the monitor for a few minutes. The next thing I knew the nurse was calling for a wheelchair and telling me that we were going downstairs to Labor and Delivery. I thought that they got the baby's heart rate back on the monitor because it was beating so fast, but soon realized it was just mine because I was freaking out. The nurse told me Hannah probably leaned on the umbilical cord for a couple of minutes, but I'm trying to stay calm while I'm freaking out on the inside. I'm calling Dustin to come to the hospital, again, trying to stay calm since I'm really not sure if I'm overreacting on the inside or not. He of course, was ecstatic so apparently I didn't make things sound too serious. Next, I'm calling my mom to get on a plane and calling my sister who luckily came into town a few days before to let her know she'll be spending the day with Taylor.

The rest of the day remained interesting. They got me into a room right away and hooked me up to a monitor. When I heard the baby's heartbeat, I felt at ease again. They started me on the pitocin and it was around 930am. The doctor assisting my doctor was supposed to break my water around 1130am. Dustin was asking her if that was what it was supposed to look like since it didn't seem like anything came out. She was kind of snotty and said yes, so Dustin didn't question anymore, I mean what did we know.

4 hours went by, every time they increased the pitocin, Hannah's heart rate would drop and my contractions still weren't that strong. That's when my doctor came into check on me and asked how the epidural was going. I told him I didn't have strong enough contractions for an epidural yet. He was surprised, asked about my water being broken. So, he double checked and realized that in fact my water hadn't been broken. When he broke my water, that was a little more what Dustin and I expected would happen when my water was going to break. I don't think any additional details are needed there.

It didn't take too long after that for the contractions to increase and the pain to set in. However I didn't realize that I just had to ask for the epidural. I thought I would get checked to see if I had dilated to a certain point or maybe the nurse would ask. After a couple of hours, I was in some serious pain and told the nurse and she finally asked and I was like “I can have the epidural?” And she was like “Of course, didn't you know that?” Apparently, not... Anyway, once that happened, life was much better, at least for about an hour or so. Except for the fact that my doctor informed me that he had been on call all night the night before and he asked if it was okay that he not be there for the delivery. No, it wasn't, but who was I to say that? At least I was familiar with the doctor he was handing me off to, but sad he wouldn't be delivering my baby.

My mom had just arrived and Dustin's parents took Taylor to get something to eat. I was almost fully numb when my nurse came in telling me that there were going to be a lot of people coming into the room. Apparently Hannah's heart rate had once again dropped off the map, but this time for a long time again. So when my nurse came in and realized that I was fully dilated, the next thing I knew there were what felt like 20 people in the room. 10 nurses, 2 NICU doctors, an OB and they were paging the doctor who was supposed to deliver my baby, but she hadn't quite made it yet. They were putting an oxygen mask on me and then getting me ready to push because they needed to get Baby Hannah out as soon as possible. Apparently, when I would lay on my side her heart rate would go up. So after another dose of epidural since we thought I might need a c-section, about 45 minutes of pushing and a forceps delivery, Hannah Lynn was born at 758 pm. All 5 lbs, 2 oz and 20 inches of her. When she came out, she was white, almost grayish, and limp. Her eyes were wide open, but I swear I thought she wasn't alive. They had Dustin cut the cord and then they took over to the NICU doctors within just a couple of minutes, she was crying. We later found out that the cord was wrapped around her neck and apparently that was causing most of the problems. It wasn't until talking to the pediatrician the next morning that I found out that they actually had to resuscitate her. But through all of that, it of course could have been worse, but in our world, she turned out perfect and only gets more beautiful every single day.

Taylor has been a champ. I was going to post a month or so ago about her terrible two's that I have been enduring, but she has been just amazing since Hannah has come. She just wants to hold her and feed her and burp her. Sometimes we have to make her keep some distance for Hannah's own safety, but it's amazing how she seems so big now and how it feels like she has grown up months since Hannah's arrival. I think that Quique has taken it the hardest! And then there is Dustin who finds it nearly impossible to sit still for more than 5 minutes. And yet he sat by my side in the hospital from first thing in the morning until late at night (thanks to my mom and sis for taking Taylor) just holding Hannah, doing work and never complaining. I seriously feel like the luckiest/most blessed mom alive (but I know that there are many of you out there that feel the exact same way). She has already changed a ton since we left the hospital so I guess it's time to take some more pics and post them...