Monday, 11 May 2009

• Our Newest Family Member

   by Mama Elephant 

  

  After an extremely uneventful 35 weeks of pregnancy (so uneventual, I weighed exactly the same as the day I found out I was pregnant), week 36 was full of drama.

  At my 36 week appointment, I was suspected of having Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (preeclampsia).  After two 24 hour urine collections, blood tests, two extra non stress tests, it was confirmed.  Even during the testing, I was placed on strict bedrest.  With an autistic child at home, this really meant just doing as little as humanly possible.  My numbers weren't climbing but they weren't going down either.  At my 37 week appointment, my OB and I discussed the risk/benefit anaylsis and decided together that inducing was appropriate. 

  On the surface, it seemed simple. Go in, get some hormone treatments and have the baby 3 weeks early.  I wish it was that simple.  The first round lasted nearly 18 hours and it was supposed to soften my cervix and help me dilate.  I had the contractions, but the cervix would not budge.  Then came the Pitcoin...same result.  My husband was sent home for the night after being told that nothing was going to happen until the morning. He didn't want to leave but we did have a child at home who needed our care.  He returned the next morning, just as soon as our family friend arrived to watch Alex.  He stayed by my side all day and much of the night, before being sent home again and told to return in the morning.  About an hour after he left, he was called back in.  My blood perssure went from the 140s/80s to the 190s/90s range.  They were going to do a C-Section.  I knew this was a possible risk but I still wasn't quite prepared for it.

  My husband called up his best buddy from work, who is now an unofficial member of our family, and he rushed right back over to watch Alex.  Hubby arrived just in the nick of time to be with me. 

  Leyla Faye came into the world at 11:17pm on April 25th with all the drama I would expect from a daughter of mine.  I was terrified.  I will never know if my husband's tears were from fear or relief or both.  His first words after seeing Leyla were, "She is so beautiful."  Of course, all parents think their kids are gorgeous and few will admit bias.  I am biased and I still think she is just perfect (just not between the hours of 1 and 4 am).

  Leyla Faye was born at 37 weeks gestation, weighing a whopping 7 pounds, 2 ounces.  She was 19 inches long.  Her Apgar numbers were 9/9.  She is the picture of good health.  We are eternally grateful that all turned out as well as it did.

  From all of us at Momaroo - Congratulations Mama Elephant!

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