Savanah Lynn Reed has arrived!

The last 4 weeks of my pregnancy was filled with doctors appointments and ultrasounds. Our doctors were monitoring Savanah in utero to make sure she was staying healthy and growing properly. After being sent to the hospital 2 times in the last 2 weeks of the pregnancy for possible immediate inductions, on Friday, April 8th we were sent to the hospital for the real thing! 

Our last picture as a "married couple" or as we say the before picture....

We began the induction process Friday evening around 6pm. Going into the induction process I was only 1cm dilated and 60% effaced.  I started out recieving a treatment called Cervidil  which was medication that was placed on my cervix for 12 hours to help the cervix soften. This process wasn't as efficient as my doctors had hoped. At 9 am Saturday, April 9th my doctors decided to go for a more invasive induction procedure called a Cook's Balloon, that was known to be more effective but also know to be more painful at the time of insertion as well as uncomfortable to deal with during the next 12 hours process. They offered my the epidural, but I decided to hold off and see if I could manage without it.  The Cook's Balloon was painful, but seemed to be working as it did give me stronger contractions. I did manage to make it through the next 12 hours without the epidural, but I did take IV pain medication! Saturday night around 9pm the Cook's Balloon had dilated my cervix to 4cm and 80% effaced.  It was finally time to start the pitocin, break my water and time for the epidural! 

 The epidural procedure went well but  the after affects from the epidural made the next 3 hours the most difficult time for me out of the entire birthing process. Most of my symptoms were common such has nausea, vomiting and uncontrolable shaking of my body. Low blood pressure is common but my blood pressure was dipping extremly low causing great concern and I had developed a fever as well.  At times I was extremly scared and at other times I was incoherent. After 3 or 4 hours and dozing in and out it, I started to feel better and  was able to calm down and get some rest.
The next morning I was still 4 cm. contractions were getting much more intense even with the epidural, doctors were checking my cervix as little as possible trying to reduce the risk of infection. I started to feel pressure and when the doctor finally checked me around 2pm on Sunday, April 10th to their surprise and mine, I was 100% dilated and more than ready to begin pushing.  They paged my OB to come in and instead of having me do practice pushing they decided to have me wait until my OB arrived since the baby's head was so low. They didnt think I'd have much pushing to do!

Getting oxygen while waiting for the dr. to arrive, almost time to push!



My OB, Dr. Chorzempa and Resident Dr. Doug Weber in the background who actually deliverd Savy!

I began pushing around 2:40pm and Savanah Lynn Reed made her debut appearance at 3:22pm on Sunday, April 10th 2011.  Savanah weighed 5lbs, 12 ounces and was 18 inches long. 

Our first picture as a family, or as we say the "after" picture!

Daddy's first time holding his daughter!

Our other favorite labor and delivery nurse Rachel who was in the delivery!



The beautiful view from our room!



Due to the fact Savanah was smalller than average, had a fever at birth, and possible infection from my water being broken for so long we knew Savanah was going to be taken to the NICU. However we did not expect to come across other possible complications, therefore Savanah's stay in the NICU became more than just a routine visit and became more of a cautionary measure. Her doctors were monitoring her sodium, potassium, glucose and electrolyte levels.  They were worried that she may have a problem with her adrenal gland that affected her ability to regualte those hormone levels. She stayed in the NICU for 5 days.  I was discharged on Tuesday, so leaving Savanah at the hospital alone for the night was very difficult. Scotty and I just kept reminding ourselves that it was the best thing for her, if in fact she did have an emergency and needed immediate help. We visited Savanah daily spending 10-12 hours with her in the NICU!  It was very important for us to continue to breast feed her so we did our best to be there for all of the daily feedings and then I pumped milk for her to have from a bottle during the night. 

Hanging out with Savy in th NICU

Every day that went by Scotty and I kept recieving better and better news and her test results were all positive and were exactly what the doctors were looking for!

On Friday April 15th, when we visited Savanah we recieved the best news ever....Savanah's results for her very important and final test had come in and  her doctors felt it was safe for us to take her home!

Baby's  first car ride! Savanah's in the car and on her way home!