Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Our BIG announcement!

I mean, really big. I mean 9.5 lbs. big!!! :-)

Audrey, minutes after birth. Look at that wild hair!!


Yesterday, I was feeling guilty because I was opting for an induction of Miss, "I'm too comfy in here for my own good". She had been measuring small at her 20 week u/s and although a later u/s showed all was well with her growth, I was still convinced she was going to be small. For one, I felt like my belly was a lot smaller than with previous pregnancies, for another, I had only gained 24 lbs., and, previously, I've NEVER gained less than 45.

I came to the hospital at 7:00 this morning. I am VBAC, so the doctor didn't want the Pitocin high at all. He came in about 9:00 and broke my water. By noon, I was in a really great labor pattern and really starting to feel the contractions. I had an amazing nurse who let me move around and was fabulous about getting me things to try. I sat on the birthing ball, walked the halls, used a rocking chair, etc.... Soon after my labor was really going strong, we decided to stop the Pitocin and see if I would stay in labor. At this point I was a 6. Happily, my contractions continued and I discontinued the Pit for the remainder of labor. The rest of labor was spent using a squat bar. I highly recommend this bar that attaches to the bed. It gives you something to hold onto and pull or push against to counter the strength of the contractions. I didn't 'squat' with it at all, but It helped me immensely (and helped Warren's poor fingers, as well!) About 2:00 I began feeling the need to push, the doctor was called, and we began the process of bringing this baby down. Even though I was fully dilated, Audrey was pretty high. Eventually (with a lot of screaming on my part! LOL!) I pushed her out. Her shoulders were pretty stuck, but I DID IT! :-) Once they weighed her, it was clear why she was a little difficult to push out. She was 9 lbs. 8 oz. and 21 inches long!!!! I couldn't believe it! That's 9 oz. bigger than Jake, my largest previous baby.

I am so glad I chose to induce, as I'm not sure I could have delivered a baby who was much bigger! Also, I am thankful I was able to labor without an epidural. I REALLY don't think I could have pushed her out if I was numb from the waist down. It took every bit of my effort and concentration to deliver her!

She is so sweet with black CURLY hair, big chubby cheeks and she already has rolls of fat on her arms and thighs! I'm not convinced she would have ever come out on her own, LOL! She was pretty comfy in there, and obviously eating well!

Audrey, about 8 hours old - she has a BOW although it is blue........ maybe I'll get a pink one tomorrow! :-)

19 comments:

Kristin said...

You are the best! Congrats on the beautiful baby girl! I am think she looks wonderful with the blue bow - baby girls never get to wear enough blue! (hehehe - this is from someone who dressed her daughter in head to toe purple on her first day home!) Love to you ALL! Kristin

Tara Bergsjo said...

I have been checking your blog all afternoon!!! She is sooooo beautiful! You are so awesome! No epidural!!! I can't wait to see her! Congrats to all of you!!!!

Dina said...

She's beautiful! Congratulations!

Lindsay said...

Wow, that's wonderful news! Congratulations! What a doll. I just want to pinch those cheeks.

Jamica said...

i just happened to check your family's blog tonight to see what was happening with your family (It's been awhile since I'd checked in) What great timing! I am SOOOOO happy to hear that you have a little girl! Congratulations! And I'm very happy to hear you survived a 9 pound baby! Bryan says HI and Congrats!

EmilyCC said...

9.5 lbs with no epidural? Amazing!

Audrey is so cute (and has a great name to match)!

Jeff & Erin said...

You are amazing!! Congratulations, she is beautiful!

Deborah said...

Congratulations! She is so beautiful. I guess she had to be so big so she can fend off all her brothers.

Jessie said...

Aw, you get a baby with a bow! She's so darn cute! Congrats again. And wow, I'm glad your tiny self was able to push her out. I also went natural with my 9.5lb-er, but my LARGE body had no trouble pushing him right out.
I'm glad it went so well, and that she's here and healthy! I'm definitely going to look into the squatting bar thing.

Katie said...

She's beautiful! Congratulations!

The Uffens Family said...

We're so happy for you! She is beautiful, and the hair is ADORABLE! I'm glad it went so well - I'm sure the boys are already spoiling her rotten!!

just dandee said...

Hooray! She is here! I have been wondering and checking your blog for some time. She is beautiful. Wow! What great hair and her face is so precious. I am very proud of you for theno epidural thing. And how did you fit 9lbs in that little body of yours? Well, I guess you did fit 2 babies in there at one time too.
Congratz. You done good.

Handsfullmom said...

CONGRATULATIONS! And without an epidural, too! You are amazing. She's adorable and I'm so glad everything went well!

Chan said...

Congrats!!! She is a pretty baby. You are a tough woman to go natural. Hope you are doing well. It's the only time in life when rolls of fat are considered precious. :-)
By the way, we have lived in Hooper for almost 10 yrs.

Heather (momotwinsmom from TS) said...

Congrats! She is absolutely beautiful!! And yes, newborns an be cute. Audrey is proof of that!

Mindy said...

Congratulations!! She is so adorable! I hope you have just as much fun with her as you've had with your boys. Girls are a lot of fun (well I don't know anything else), but we have fun. Good luck with all that hair, it will be fun to play with.

Laura said...

Ali!
She is BEAUTIFUL! Yes look at those chubs! Wow!!!!!!!! So beautiful. I think she is a really pretty newborn if I do say so myself. Congrats! I am glad that things went so well. I love that hair! YEA!!!

MeghanM said...

Is her birthday the same day as this post! If so, awesome birthday (June 2nd is my b-day too!) and WOW for posting this update on the same day! And WOW for such a big baby! My first was 9 lb 5 oz, 21.5 inches long and I also had a med-free birth. I've actually heard that the chubbier the baby the easier the birth because they are too big to get stuck in an awkward position. My 2nd baby was 8 lb 7 oz and I thought he was a little harder to push out.

CONGRATS! She is a cutie. Love the hair.

ShEiLa said...

Allison

When I was born I was my Mother's first... 11 pounds 8 ounces. That should have been against the law.

My biggest baby was 9 pounds 4 ounces... close.

Audrey is precious!

I love her hair. It reminds me of my little Yvette as a baby. The one that is up at USU for university and home in the summer.

ToOdLeS.