The Details...

I promised the details... so here they are...

I came into the hospital yesterday morning at 7am. I was hooked up and ready and received my dose of the devil around 8:30am. Contractions remained steady and strong all day. However, my body did not progress as much as I was hoping. By 1:15pm I was only to 3 cm. But my doctor gave the okay to get my epidural so she could break my water. Finally, at 3:30pm the doc broke my water. She checked me again at 6pm before heading home for dinner and I was only at 5 cm. I was so disappointed! It seemed like the process was taking forever!

But by 7pm I was starting to feel a ton of pressure and despite the epidural I was in pain! So my lovely nurse, Paula, decided to check & I had progressed to 7 cm. Not what I was hoping, but close. Within 20 minutes I found myself in tears from the pain of trying to hold the baby in. She checked & sure enough I was 9 1/2 cm. Paula called the doc, who lives only 7 minutes away... But the pain was absolutely terrible.

The nurses started talking about bringing the ER doc up in case mine didn't make it. But my amazing doctor knew that I was ready to push, so she hurried over here, and instead of waiting for the elevator, she ran up the stairs. Out of breathe she sat down & I was finally allowed to push. Four minutes later, yes you read that right, 4 minutes later, out came Tatum.

She seemed so much smaller than Spencer! But after cleaning her up, measuring & weighing her... She was 21 inches long (same as Spence) and 9 pounds 4 ounces! Smaller, but only by a pound. Not bad for being a week early! Good thing I got induced, or I would have given birth to another kindergartener! I don't know what my deal is. I guess I just like big babies. ;)

Tatum is beautiful though. She looks just like her big brother did when he was born, but she's my delicate flower. So far she is a very mellow baby. She nursed for over an hour and just sat & stared at me afterwards without crying. Last night she slept from 10-3 am and woke up without a peep. I didn't even realize she was awake until I turned the light on to find her eyes were open. She nursed another hour & a half and went back to sleep without fuss. The only reason I'm blogging right now is because she's still asleep but snoring! Not to mention I'm starving & the food service doesn't open until 7am! I can't wait for Spencer to wake up & get her to meet his brand new baby sister! I'll add more pictures of her later when she wakes up...