SHE'S HERE!!!!!

On Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 11:52AM, we welcomed Peyton Elizabeth Maack into the world!! She is absolutely gorgeous and perfect! Stay tuned for the story...it is a little long!!

On Tuesday afternoon, Scott and I went to the doctor for a normal 39 week visit. Dr. Roney said everything was looking pretty good (like usual) but she was still concerned with my measurements. My uterus still hadn't seemed to grow over the last 2 weeks. (I had had this concern about a month ago, but the ultrasound showed nothing to be concerned about.) She then asked if we had time to schedule another ultrasound for Wednesday or Thursday. I said not really because I really wanted to finish out the work week at school (Friday was to be our last day) and didn't want to take any more time off. She then said that she had a break coming up and if we could stay for a little longer for her to do an ultrasound in the office. We agreed.

During the ultrasound, she said the baby looked great (size, weight, etc...along with really long legs!). As she started measuring my amniotic fluid, she was a little concerned. She said it measured a little under 6 and they like to see at least 8. She measured it again and got the same results. She then told us that she would like to induce labor due to the risks to the baby. Those risks included cord problems that could happen so fast and not be able to be corrected. Like the baby laying on the cord or there being a kink in it and that would not allow the nutrients, oxygen, etc. to get to the baby and very bad things could happen. She said we would never know when it happened to be able to stop it. We said, OK, when do you want to do this? She said today...um...OK. She left the room for us to chat (I am soooooo glad Scott was able to come with me that day!!). We decided to ahead with the induction even though we didn't really want to be induced. She assured us that the baby was full term and there were very few risks for the induction as opposed to waiting. She allowed us to go home and get the rest of our lives ready and then come back when we could.

So we went back to my office to tell everyone there and help clean up as much as possible (of course after calling all the grandparents and letting them know what was going on). (Everything had to be cleaned off my desk and ready for summer cleaning.) They told me not to worry about anything...then we all stood in my office and had prayer. It was great. I have a great place to work!!

We headed home, finished packing our bag (that was luckily pretty much packed anyway), put the car seat in the car and headed back to the hospital. We got all checked in and settled in by about 4:30. The pitocin had been started by 5 o'clock and my Foley catheter was inserted shortly after. (The Foley was to help me dialate faster than the Cervadil they usually use because I was only at 1/2 cm when I was admitted. The Foley was to get me to 4-5 cm without any other drug intervention.)

That is when the fun began!! We had agreed to try to be as natural as possible in the birth of our little one, but I had a feeling the pitocin would wreak havoc on that choice. The contractions started out OK in intensity and pain. I had to begin my breathing by 5:30 though. Scott said that the farthest away my contractions were apart all evening was 3 minutes. I didn't get much rest!! The doctor came back about 1am to check the Foley and it was able to be removed, which meant I was 4-5 cm already. The pitocin was not increased because my contractions were progressing well. However, at about 6am, I was in so much pain from the contractions and still at 5cm, they needed to increase the dosage. I then agreed to get an epidural. That was the best decision I have ever made in my lifetime!! That next hour I waited for the anesthesiologist seemed like about 3 hours!! But once it was in, I could really get some rest. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get enough rest to be able to push. A C-section was really off the table in my mind's eye so anything I could do to avoid that, I was willing!!

Apparently the contractions went through the roof after I received my epidural, but I couldn't feel them!! I was able to get some light sleep too. At one point the baby didn't enjoy the contractions, so I was put on oxygen for a little while, but we both recovered and things looked good. By about 11:15, I could feel the pressure of the baby and thought I would need to push soon. I was examined, found to be at 10, fully effaced and ready to go!! A short 20 minutes after I started pushing, Peyton had entered the world!! I did have to have a small episiotomy because her heart rate dropped between contractions while I was pushing and they wanted her to come a little faster. It isn't that painful (and it was not in my plan either), but I'm glad the did it and she is OK!

Scott was absolutely fabulous during the whole thing. He got me through every contraction. He sat next to me almost the entire 20 hours (except for a short break for dinner and breakfast). He either rubbed my les or massaged my hand the entire time as well. (He had raw skin on his knees where his elbows rested from rubbing my hands!) He is being an awesome dad as well. He gets up with us in the middle of the night, changes diapers, and bathtime is daddy time!! (Peyton loves it!)


So here are her stats:


Peyton Elizabeth Maack
June 11, 2008
6 lbs 13.3 oz.
20.75 inches (they said she is VERY long for her weight!)
11:52 am (EDT)


And here are some pics!!