Madison's Birth Journal and the Days Following

As most of you know, on December 22, 2008 I went in for a scheduled induction at 11 a.m. because I was 8 days overdue and my amniotic fluid was beginning to get lower.  The one favor that I asked of Tim prior to that day was that he keep a journal of the times and changes of my labor and delivery. I knew that I would not be able to remember all of the details of the day as things got more intense.  The following is an exact copy of that journal that Tim kept for me on his computer as things progressed. Since I have some men readers, I will not write out all of the details in between each step along the way. But if you are one of those ladies who are interested in the gritty details, like I always am (to Tim's embarrassment :)   you are more than welcome to e-mail me (juliebaylor@gmail.com) or facebook message me about the experience.

Madison's Delivery

11:00 Registration at the Hospital

11:15 Getting settled and changed in the room

11:40 Hooked up to all the monitors -- blood drawn, sugar water making peanut lively!

12:15 watching TV, more blood drawn, Pitocin starts - dilated

 to 2 cm

12:30 Dad goes to steak and shake

1:30 Dr. Bacalar breaks Julie's water; 3 cm and 80% effaced

3:00 After bathroom break, Julie looses lots of water -- contractions begin to be extremely painful

3:10 We start breathing together

3:20 Julie starts crying; Tim calls for epidural

3:45 Julie gets an epidural

4:15 Dilated to 4 cm; 90% effaced -- feeling much better

4:33 Dilated to 5 cm; 100% effaced; -1 position

5:15 Julie beginning to feel pressure from peanut, decides to try to take a small nap; Tim to dinner

5:45 Julie is 6-7 cm dilated; julie put on oxygen because maddy's heart rate was irregular, probably because of rapid descent

7:35 9 cm and in a +1 position; Drs. think maddy will be here in about half an hour.  Julie is still feeling good but peanut is bearing down on mommy.

7:56 Preparing to push

9:15 Episiotomy

9:25 Vacuum

9:27 Madison is born!  21.5 inches and 7 lbs. 11 oz.  Happy Birthday Maddy!

I can hardly believe that Maddy will be 3 weeks old on Monday. We have certainly enjoyed our time getting to know her and love her more each day! The first few nights were quite difficult. She screamed a lot and we still didn't know what would soothe her, so we were a little stressed and very tired :)  But each night has gotten easier and we are settling into a little groove now. She is eating and sleeping very well. Now just to get her to do more of her sleeping at night :) She actually has had some really great nights (sometimes 4-6 hours at a stretch). But that is definitely not consistently. She has some rough nights too.  Overall though, we are just really loving being parents. We had no idea how much we would love it! 

Tim has been back to work and will start back up with school this week. He only has one class one day a week this semester and will spend the rest of his time writing his MDiv thesis, working for the church, and for Starbucks. He has taken to fatherhood wonderfully. He is such a help to me! I have already started pumping and we have introduced a bottle, since I will have to go back to work mid-march and I would like to continue giving her breast milk. So he is able to help with about a feeding a day to let me take a long nap.

 

We are just loving every day with her and are so thankful to the Lord for her safe arrival, her current health, and for the blessing that she is to our family!