Ava Joy- 6/22/12- LABOR & DELIVERY

INTRODUCTION

I decided before Ava Joy was born that I wanted to start a blog to document and remember all the incredible moments in her life. I have some friends who have done this and I just think it is such a great way to record these precious times. I know it will go so quickly and want to treasure every moment. I am going to try my best to update weekly.

Labor & Delivery

I would say it all started at my 38 week check up when my blood pressure was elevated. This was the first time all pregnancy that it had been and my doctor instructed me on that if I developed a headache, blurred vision, etc. to go to labor and delivery. Well the next night we were at Publix and I took my blood pressure and it was very elevated. I called my doctor the next morning and he told me to go into labor and delivery to be monitored. Jordan and I were there for about 3 or 4 hours and they eventually sent us home and told me to take it easy and rest.

The following week, Wednesday, June 20, at my 39 week check up my blood pressure was once again elevated. My doctor is on the first floor of the hospital so he sent me up to labor and delivery to be monitored once again. Once we were up there the doctor came into talk to us and said all my blood work and such was fine but he was worried about why my blood pressure was so high. After a long conversation and many questions he told us he thought it was best to induce me. At 12:00 am they started me on a 12 hour dose of cervadil. At 10 am on Thursday, the 21st, the doctor checked me and there wasn't too much progress. I was beginning to have some contractions but he decided to give me a 4 hour dose of cylotec. I ended up having 3 doses and at 2:50am they started me on pitocin. I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes yet disappointingly when they checked me around 9 am on Friday, the 22nd, I was still only 2.5 cm and 60% effaced. At this point our doctor told us he was concerned about the amount of contractions I was having and that Baby Girl could go into distress. We told him all we wanted was for her to be healthy and asked what he thought the best choice was and he said a C-Section. While this was so not what I wanted I just wanted my Baby Girl to be healthy.

My C-Section began at 11:53am and Ava Joy was born at 11:57 am on Friday, June 22, 2012. She was 7 pounds 10 ounces and 19 inches long. Hearing her first cry was the best sound I have ever heard. My parents, Jordan's parents, and my sister Blair were actually able to watch through a viewing window which was very cool. In the operating room they handed me Ava Joy and put her skin to skin. Then Jordan carried her over to recovery to wait for me. The three of us spent the next two hours in recovery and it was such a special time for the three of us. While this was so far from my birth "plan" it was still so perfect. Our beautiful Baby Girl has completely stolen our hearts.