Reagan had her first visit to the pediatrician today for a well-check visit. She is now 6 lbs 15 oz and still 20 inches. She is right on target for everything with no jaundice whatsoever. The pediatrician was very patient with Mike and I and our numerous questions. While we were changing her on the table at the appointment, she decided to go potty all over the place. It was quite comical! Reagan goes back on May 8th for her 2 week appointment.

Nana Sherrill has been here since Sunday, helping out and cooking us food and just being awesome in helping every where she can. We would be so lost without her help right now. Next week it’s Grandma Pat and Grandpa Mike turn to be here to see her and help the parents as well. Nonna and Papa were wonderful enough to stay with our dogs and clean out house while we were laboring! We really couldn’t do this without family.

Well the story of our daughter’s birth is neither short nor sweet, but it has a great ending! It started Tuesday the 22nd when the OB stripped my membranes to try and jump start labor. We were reluctantly planning to induce on Thursday due to my high blood pressure but had hopes to go into labor naturally. After the appointment I was feeling crampy and bleeding . I went for a walk with Mike and the dogs and while trying to make dinner, I felt ill. I felt gas pains all over and just felt sick. I managed to eat spaghetti but later it came back up. I was in the bathroom most of the night with diarrhea and vomiting. I managed to sleep a few hours in between bathroom runs. In the morning I still felt crampy in my lower back and front and assumed it was the diarrhea although I was ‘empty.’ About 11:15am my contractions started in my lower back and they were 3-6 minutes apart. I took a shower (it was hard) and managed to get dressed. I started bleeding and that made me nervous. I called my OB’s office and left a message for the advice nurse about whether I should go to labor and delivery yet. I also called the L&D and they said to talk to the doctor or just come in. I talked to my mother and she felt I should go since they were 3 minutes apart and I was bleeding again.

We got to L&D and I was crying as the contractions were very painful. I went into triage, got in the gown and as I laid on the bed, my water broke. They checked me and I was 1.5 cm with wiggle room and 70% effaced. I was having a hard time with contractions at this point and was disappointed to only be 1.5 cm. They admitted me since my water had broken and I had a mild fever of 99.7. This was about 1:30 or 2:00pm. My OB was great enough to ok an epidural for me which I got around 3pm. I couldn’t get an epidural until they could get an IV in me for fluids as I was dehydrated from being sick the night before. It took 2 nurses and a phlebotomist 6 times to poke me to get me started on the IV. I have bruises and track marks on both arms! So they got me started on Saline and anti-biotics for my Group B + marker. I got my Epidural and then Pitocin to increase the labor and I was all set … so I thought!

As they kept checking me, I wasn’t progressing much beyond 3cm. My fever wouldn’t go below 99.5 and it spiked at 102. My blood pressure was high all night as well. They gave me a different antibiotic on top of the other one for my infection. I was also getting magnesium sulfate for my high blood pressure. Around 1 or so in the morning, my epidural stopped working. I was feeling the contractions and it was not good. I was pretty bad at this point so the anesthesiologist came to check the machine and my catheter. We decided to re-do the epidural to see if it would comfort my pain again. I was throwing up hard at this point from the painful contractions and was pretty hysterically crying. I managed to stay still long enough for the doctor to re-do my catheter. This gave me some relief from the contractions for a couple hours although I never went quite as numb down below as I had earlier in the day. Around 4am I started feeling pain in one side of my back. The nurses had me flipping back and forth all night from side to side in hopes the pressure of the baby on my cervix would get it to dilate more. It was getting uncomfortable and I started to feel the contractions as the epidural was wearing off again. I started to throw up and Mike called the nurse. The anthesiologist was beside himself as he didn’t know why I was having such a problem staying numb. He would give me boosts in my catheter and that would work for about an hour. At this time the nurse was saying the doctor wants to check me again at 5:30 and if I haven’t progressed, they may have to do a c-section. I was fine with that at this point as I just wanted the pain to go away. The doctor and Mike really wanted to avoid a c-section because of my fever and infection. I was feeling the contractions as they were one on top of the other with out any breaks. It was very hard and Mike was great being right there with me, telling me to breathe and focus. They turned down the Pitocin so it wouldn’t be so intense and at 5:30am I was 7cm. Everyone was so excited to her that, especially Mike. It suddenly became so real for him. We were going to deliver this baby soon! I got another epidural booster through my catheter and it took the edge off but I was still feeling the pain. I had managed some naps here and there through the course of the day but was still pretty worn out from the fever, infection and labor. At 7:30am I was 9.5 cm so they started to prepare for labor. I really needed another boost so they called the anesthesiologist to come. He came at 8am and took his time giving me the boost. At this point I was feeling the urge to push so the nurse told me to go ahead. I started to bear down with her and Mike coaching me. I was so exhausted that I couldn’t hold the push for the full 10 second count each time, nor could I get a deep breath but I pushed with my might. My OB came in about 8:30 and was coaching me more, telling me how to push. I could see her head in the mirror but it wouldn’t come out. I kept saying I couldn’t do it any more. I was dozing in between pushes and was just so exhausted. The doctor decided I needed help getting her out so he pulled out a pink vacuum. Several pushes later we had our baby girl!! And a second degree tear/episiotomy. Reagan Lindsey came into the world weighing 7 lbs 13 oz and was 20 inches long. We couldn’t be more in love with our little girl.

We got home a little after noon and fed the little one and tended to her needs. We took a nap with her and are getting ready to feed her again. I am slowly working on the lengthy birth story with hopes to have it posted soon. We want to thank all of you for the wonderful wishes and thoughts you have sent our way. We are truly blessed and are so in love with our daughter….more to come later ….

-Proud Uncle Michael Here- Mary and Mike went to the hospital yesterday morning. Mary was not feeling too well and was up all night Tuesday. When she arrived, they deterimined she had a fever and was indeed in labor. She was given an epidural and an antibiotic. Labor slowed down and Mary was able to rest on and off. This morning she was ready to push and Reagan Lindsey was born at 8:54 AM, weighing 7 lb 13 oz. She is 20 inches long and had an APGAR score of 6 and 8. Mary is extremely exhausted, but very happy and Mike is a VERY proud father, having lots of tears when Reagan was born.

We’re getting induced this Thursday!!!

I haven’t felt well all day and went to the OB at 3:15pm. My BP was 160/106 when I first got there. I laid down on my side and they retook it, it went to 130/80 like it had been. He checked me and I was still about 1/2 cm. He made me go up to 1 cm (very, very painful) so we’ll see if that jump-starts anything. We could have induced today but we agreed to wait a couple days to see if anything happens on it’s own. We are to call the L&D at 6am to see if they’re ready for us and go in when they tell us to.

Well we had an exciting yet disappointing day. Started by going to breakfast with friends and then to walk around the swap meet for an hour. Went to Home Depot and on the way home, at about 12:30 I felt a gush of fluid. I raced home to check and I had soaked through to my pants. So I called the hospital and they said to come in and get checked out.

We got there around 2pm and went to triage. They used a special q-tip to check for amniotic fluid and it seemed to have registered on my undergarments. So I was strapped to the fetal and contraction monitor. My BP was 191/96 so they were very concerned about that and set me up to have it recorded every 15 minutes. It took an hour or more to come down and it never got below 136/81. They drew blood to check for the onset of pregnancy induced hypertension. That took an hour and half to get back and they said they were ok. The on-call doctor advise to send me home as I was not leaking any fluid and hadn’t in the 3.5 hours I was there. My contractions were sporadic and not consistent. I am 1/2-1cm dilated and 70% effaced, so there has been some progression since Wednesday. I had a couple painful contractions while there so they think I could be in early labor but not enough to admit me.

We’ll keep everyone posted if and when anything changes.

Had my weekly appt with the doctor today. BP was high again 130/90 so once again I had to lay down and it dropped to 120/80. No changes in the cervix which prompted the doc to say that when it happens, it’ll be the real thing. It won’t be a long process. There is the chance I will go past my due date and the doc doesn’t believe in inducing first time moms unless they are ready (dilated) or there’s a problem. Think happy thoughts that this baby comes out next week, please!

As for me, still have numb hands and am getting achy all over. No symptoms of labor as of yet. Just casually waiting each day for Dad to get home from the tournament so that we can start trying to jump start this labor!

Just returned from the doctor’s. Gained a pound (probably since I just ate before going.) Blood pressure was high again so he had me lay down for a few minutes and it dropped to 120/70. He listed things to watch for (extreme headache, sudden swelling) for signs of toxemia. He checked my cervix and it’s very soft. She’s at a -2 and he could feel her head very well. Still not dilated but that’s fine. We’re still progresssing beautifully! He’s very pleased at the status.

Yesterday we attended our crash course birthing class all day. It was very informative yet scary at the same time. We feel we are pretty ready for the big day to happen, although not too soon. Dad just left for Clearlake for 2 weeks so we need her to come on time or late (much to Mommy’s discomfort) Other good news is our friends bought our crib mattress and Grandma and Grandpa Crean bought the bedding so our nursery is pretty complete and ready for the little one to arrive!

I’m feeling very tired today, slept all morning until about 1pm. My hands are still bothering me and my fingertips are numb. I’m getting bigger with each day as well.

Just returned from my weekly visit to the OB. No weight gain (yeah!), blood pressure was 122/84 but they didn’t make me lie down to re-take it. Checked my cervix and not dilated yet but I am 50% effaced and he could feel her head (she’s down low) He said I could have her between now and the next 2 weeks. I had hoped he would talk about inducing as my carpal tunnel is so debilitating. I go back on the 9th.

In other news we bought the swing yesterday with the gift cards we had received. We ended up buying a different one than the one we registered for because the new one matches the bedding and is the same price! I will get the mattress and bedding this weekend and then can put up new nursery pictures.