...the arrival of

Alexia Hope Wescott

heretofore referred to as Cindy Lou Who or CLW for short. You can see a pic and sign the guest book here:

Baby Gallery

Thursday afternoon, we called the OB because I thought some amniotic fluid might be leaking. They had me come in to test it, and it wasn't AF. However, when they put me on the monitor, contractions were coming very regularly. Even though I couldn't feel them, the doc didn't want me to go home. He was afraid things would go too quickly since this is baby #5.

So, I spent the afternoon on the monitor. They finally let me get up and walk after three hours!!! I walked the floor for an hour and came back to get on the monitor for another hour. We did this a few times and things finally started picking up ( I started to actually feel the contractions) around 2am.

At 2:45, I was dialated to 4.5 and my water broke. There was meconium in the fluid. (I became very concerned because I have a friend whose baby was in NICU for months after aspirating meconium stained fluid.) I tried not to think about it and prayed for protection for CLW. In the meantime, contractions started coming fast and furious. They called the OB and told him to head on over at 3am. He didn't make it.

The nurse, an old friend from a church we used to attend, delivered her. The room was full of people, the neonatal care team, extra nurses to monitor CLW, Cat in the Hat trying to be there for me while being worried about the baby. At one point, her heart rate dropped and they put me on oxygen, hoping to help her.

She was born in two pushes at 3:05am.

Susan, my nurse friend, suctioned her quickly before she was able to inhale the fluid, cut the cord, and then turned her over to the the nct, who did their thing (I couldn't see but sent CitH over to watch and let me know how she was doing). The OB arrived at 3:08 and delivered the placenta.

It took a little while, but they finally handed her over to me and I finally got to meet my little girl! She was beautiful, and thankfully, hadn't been effected negatively by the meconium in the fluid. Thank you, Jesus! Her apgars were good 6 & 8. She nursed like a pro and was very alert. She has "angel kisses" all over her face, just like all her siblings did.

We arrived home this morning and I've just been enjoying her all day! Ying and Yang will be coming home tomorrow, Ying called me and asked me if I'd be alright to take care of CLW until she could get here to help me in the morning! Isn't that sweet?!

Well, that's enough for now. I need to get her to bed. Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts.

Good night.