She’s Arrived!
Adeline Joy Bennion was born this morning at 3:35 am. She weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounces and is 20 1/2 inches long. Her APGAR score was a nine and everyone is just amazed at how alert she was right from birth.
I could not ask for a better baby. She sleeps for 3-4 hours at a time, and managed to pick up nursing about 15 hours after birth.
Labor lasted 26 hours, I managed 19 without any pain medication thanks to the help of my loving “hubby” Jess, my doula Beckie, and my WONDERFUL mother. After 19 hours I was so exhausted that everything was shaking… more like convulsing, and I couldn’t catch my breath between contractions. The downfall, I was only dilated to a 5. I got the epidural and after 4 attempts, it finally worked! I was in heaven! However Addie was not, with each contraction her heart rate dropped lower and lower. Dr. Kasteler came in and advised me that if her heart rate did not improve, they would have no choice but to do a C-Section. He called in the high risk specialist who suggested we monitor the contractions internally and start Pitocin to “help her along.” After about 4 hours, I was dilated to an eight and her heart rate had finally picked up. Another 4 hours and I was ready to push. After only 6 contraction I had the most amazing child lying on my belly and looking at me with wonder and amazement, enough for everyone in the room.