Daisylyn Croff has arrived!!

We had our baby on April 15th at 7:37am. Her name is Daisylyn, she weighs 7lbs 3oz and is 19 inches long. She is a sweet baby.

On the 14th I had a doctors appointment and had my membranes stripped in hopes that this might send me into labor. Earlier that day I went to get a pedicure which I had heard can induce labor, so I thought every little thing can help.

Later that evening Brinton and I went to dinner at CostaVida for spicy food (okay, so it wasn't really spicy, but it sure was good!) and went over to the school to walk laps. From dinner on out I had had some mild contractions.

As we walked around the field a few times we decided to walk around the perimeter of the school due to the cold wind. The weather had turned from nice, to cold and we were only wearing light jackets. Each thing left Brinton commenting, “Maybe this will send you into labor??” As he commented, “Maybe the cold will send you into labor?” He was convinced that she was to be born on April 15th, her due date, Tax day and the Tea party day.

When we got home it didn’t take long before I was ready to head to bed. The contractions were not consistent enough to make me think that labor was soon in the works. I had had several evenings that ended on this note, where I was contracting but no consistent pattern. So it felt like I had experienced before. Although they were not consistent, I had hoped that I would go into labor. I was ready to have this little baby here.

Both Brinton and I really thought it would be nice if we the baby was born on or near her due date as close as possible. I had already began my maternity leave and I really didn’t want to spend too many days baby-less, and in waiting. Brinton had a conference that we really wanted him to be able to attend on Friday, and if the baby hadn’t come by then, he wouldn’t be able to attend. He also has some work classes he needs to attend next week. When I made my visit to the doctor I was still only dilated to a 2 ½ so no change had taken place over the past week. She made an appointment with labor and delivery to induce me on the 24th at 7am if I hadn’t had the baby by then. When I told this to Brinton he told me I had to move it back later because that is the date of his conference he needs to attend for work. I told him I was not moving the date and I just hoped that she came sooner so I wouldn’t have to be induced.... thus our busy evening.

So here’s what ended up happening…..

I awoke at 1am and my water broke, I started timing the contractions and they were two minutes apart and getting stronger by the minute. I called the doctor at 1:45 and asked if I should come into the hospital and they told me to head in. We got to the hospital at 2am. I waddled into labor and delivery between contractions. Brinton managed to bring most of our “many” bags on the first load (that is a whole different blog entry!). They quickly got us checked into a room and asked all the routine questions. My initial plan was to go as long as I could with out an epidural, then if I was feeling it, I would go for it. At one point in my life I thought it I would really want to have my children a la natural. My views have changed over the pregnancy. I really didn’t have any desire to put myself through any more torture than I already had through the pregnancy. I was opting for the comfort version of labor.

After two hours of laboring and not being able to hardly catch my breath between contractions I was happy to have the anesthesiologist accompany me in the labor room and come to my rescue. It took a couple of tries to get the epidural in the right spot. It may have been my wincing as I loudly groaned out every vowel sound, trying to breathe through contractions.

3:30am The drugs were taking effect. I was so grateful. I was only dilated to a 4 at that point.
4:00am they told Brinton and I to sleep for a while so my body could get ready for this birth.
6:00am as they came in the room to check my stats both Brinton and I were grateful for a couple of hours of lofty sleep. I was then dilated to a 9 ½ so they called the doctor and let her know that things were in the works.
7:00am I wouldn’t be able to top off this pregnancy with out a little more nausea. I threw up at this point, and of course it made me feel better. It also gave them indication that the baby was on her way out. They then said I could begin pushing. They got the room prepped and waited for doctor before I started pushing.
7:15am doctor arrived and I started pushing.
7:37am baby Daisylyn made her big arrival. I actually think she got here just after 7:30, but as she was coming out there was all sorts of excitement due to the cord being wrapped around her neck twice that by the time the announced the birth time, it was actually a bit later.
NICU was called into the room to monitor her. She was having a difficult time “transitioning”, so they monitored her and kept her in the warming bed on the other side of the room for two hours. Eventually she showed signs of improvement and I was able to hold her at 10:30am.

Mommy and Daddy are so happy and proud to have their new little girl healthy and happy. She is a good eater and is happy my milk has finally come in today. We are so pleased to be parents and can hardly believe that this day has finally arrived. It is amazing how quickly life can turn. Just one year ago this week we got engaged to be married and here we now have a little family!!