Emily is Here!

Well, we ended up going back up to the hospital on Thursday evening because my blood pressure was high again. They admitted me for observation and monitored my blood pressure. Early Friday morning the doctor came in and told me that my blood work didn't look good and that they were going to induce me. Yikes!

They hooked me up to the Pitocin and then an hour later came in and broke my water. The contractions started getting stronger, but I was able to handle them. Then they hooked me up to Magnesium for my blood pressure. They gave me a bunch of medicine in a short amount of time which caused me to feel sick, tired and very hot. I remember seeing Rob walking around wrapped in a blanket while I laid there sweating. They had me lay on my left side because of my blood pressure, so when my contractions got stronger, I couldn't move around or switch positions. I ended up asking for an epidural, which only worked on half of my body. The anesthesiologist came back in and gave me something else that worked for a little while.

I got to have three coaches with me to help me throughout labor--Rob, Kelly, and Mom. I feel so lucky to have been able to have them there helping me and encouraging me. I'm so proud of Rob--he cut the cord!! He did so great during the whole thing. He didn't gross out or anything! What a trooper.

Emily arrived at 6:01 pm weighing in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and head full of brown hair. She is beautiful.

Exciting Day

I had my 39 week checkup yesterday and the nurse noticed that my blood pressure was elevated. My doctor said that if my blood pressure was still elevated when I see him on Tuesday that he would induce labor. He said to have my bags packed and in the car just in case!

Then around 9:30 last night I started to feel bad. I was afraid that my blood pressure was high so we had a doctor friend come over and take my blood pressure. It was even higher than this morning. I called the on-call doctor and told him what my blood pressure was and he said to go to the hospital to have it checked out. Rob and I scrambled around and packed our bags (which should have been packed already in the first place!) and drove to the hospital. I went through the ER and my blood pressure was even higher still. I was wheeled to the OB floor and admitted for observation. The nurse assigned to us was extremely nice and made us feel comfortable right away. I was hooked up to monitors to measure my contractions, my blood pressure, and Emily’s heart rate. I had very regular contractions—5-6 minutes apart—for about an hour or two and then they stopped when I got up to use the restroom. The contractions didn’t hurt but I am now dilated to a 1. When I had seen the doctor earlier, I wasn’t dilated at all, so progress…yeah!! Emily’s heart rate was great. The nurse even commented on how great she was doing. The baby moved around the entire time I had the monitors strapped on (she really hates those straps!)

We stayed at the hospital for a couple of hours and my blood pressure came down to a normal level. They sent us home with instructions to go in to the doctor’s office on Friday for a blood pressure check and a re-check of my labs. I feel good this morning—just tired. Not many contractions…at least none to write home about. So, there you have it, my exciting day.