Our Daughter Has Arrived!

Aubrey Leigh Anderson made her debut on Saturday, August 15th 2009, 5:08 p.m. She was 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long.

Ron and I found out Friday at 3pm that I would be induced the following morning. My OB decided to do so because Ron is scheduled to work out of town soon, and although my body was making progress I still was not going into labor naturally. We chose to induce so that Ron would have more time to be home with his family when we needed him the most.

Saturday morning we met my Mom at the hospital and waited for a room to open up. The hospital was BUSY with babies being born! We were finally in a room and the process began close to 8am. Let me begin by saying I am in love with the L & D nurses I had, Kim and Melissa. They were amazing! From the moment we walked into the delivery room they were like old friends. I don't think our delivery would have been as easy without their help.

Kim and Melissa began getting me set up and started the pitocin. It wasn't so bad, really. It started contractions quickly, but they weren't really painful at all. Shortly after 10am my OB came in and decided to break my water. I was already dilated to a 4 and almost completely effaced, so it was time to get the ball rolling. Unfortunately, breaking my water took my contractions to the max instantly! I was really unprepared for the abrupt change in my pain level. I immediately told my nurses I would need pain management after all. (I am a bit disappointed I didn't last through more than 2 serious contractions without crying for an epidural, but it was definitely the right choice for me.)

By this time my Dad, Buddie and Laine had joined us in the delivery room. Ron stayed with me while everyone else left the room and I had my epidural administered. I don't remember the name of the anesthesiologist who did my epidural, but he is a saint. From the time I asked for pain management to the time I had the epidural fully in place was probably less than 20 minutes. Ron was my rock and held me through the contractions as the doctor placed my line. I had been terrified all through my pregnancy of having an epidural, but let me say this . . . they are AMAZING! It immediately gave me relief and I was able to sit back and relax.

What I didn't realize was that those immediate, intense contractions took me from a 4 to a 10 almost instantly. Thank goodness my body was receptive to the medications and responded as it did. Within a few hours I was feeling what I would describe as pressure in the right side of my pelvis. We paged my nurses who came in and said it was time to push! Holy cow!

Buddie and Laine left us for the actual delivery, but my Mom and Dad stayed for the big show. I had my Dad sit at the head of my bed of course, because I was worried about how much would be out in the open for viewing. My mom and Ron took turns coaching me through each contraction and keeping me cool with a wet washcloth. I pushed for quite a while, which was unfortunate. I didn't realize in the beginning how I was not pushing effectively. It took a while to really get in the swing of things.

Finally my OB came in to deliver our baby. At that point, I was exhausted. I think shortly before he was called in, I had started to block out everything going on around me and just concentrate on pushing. I don't even know how long my OB was in the room before Aubrey was delivered. All I know is that at some point my OB started pushing on my stomach like he was squeezing out the last toothpaste from a tube. Aubrey was delivered and being held up for Ron to cut the cord before I even realized what was going on!

Ron cut the cord, which Aubrey came out holding onto, and then put her diaper on. The nurses handed her to me to put her against my chest and snuggle. This was the first chance I had to really look at our daughter and she was amazing! During my pregnancy I hoped for a little girl who looked like her father, and she really does! Aubrey has a thick head of dark, beautiful hair just like her father. Her fingers are a more feminine version of Ron's. She even inherited his mile-long eyelashes! Everything about our little girl is a dream come true.

Having my parents with us for the delivery was the best choice I could have made. My mom and dad were instantly in love with their granddaughter, and rightfully so! While I was being cleaned up and Ron was with me, my parents took tons of pictures and fussed over the baby. I was happy that our child was brought into the world with so many people eager to meet her in the delivery room. My Dad was like a moth to the flame with Aubrey -- he's going to be an amazing Papa.

All in all, I would have to say that my delivery was pretty easy. (Except the pushing, that part was definitely no bueno!) Its true when they say that you forget instantly what you have been through once you see your child for the first time. I had this instant, fierce bond with my daughter that I just can't describe. She is absolutely the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life . . . I am grateful to be given the chance to be a mom.

I'll be updating this later with pictures, and there is a lot more to tell! For now I am going to try snuggling my sleepy little girl back to sleep.