Late, but extremely welcomed

Well, she's here! Carolynn Lee Gibson arrived early Thursday morning, June 25th. She was a week late, but that week seemed to do her good because she's doing extremely well.The new happy family, a few hours after birth

After several frustrtating days of waiting, multiple attempts at self-induction (Castor oil my butt. I tried it three times!), and a LOT of walking, I finally called my doctor to see if we might be able to come in and discuss possible medical induction--something I was not keen on as I was planning on an entirely natural birth experience. We had an appointment for Thursday afternoon, but we never made it. Wednesday night, at about 11:30 my water broke as I was on my way to the bathroom (I actually thought I had wet my pants, and was quite embarrassed. But I just changed and went to bed.) Then, at 1:50 am I woke to minute long contractions coming five minutes apart. Daniel, my mom, and I loaded up the car and sped to the hospital. It was a good thing it was so early in the morning because Daniel was driving 90 mph to get there. We checked in and I was dilated to 4 cm. My best friend/doula arrived ten minutes later, and forty minutes later I was dilated to a 6. Twenty minutes later I had the urge to push, and I was indeed fully dilated. The nurse told me I couldn't push yet--the doctor was still on his way. So for about twenty more minutes I struggled until finally Doctor Tanner arrived. The nurse was literally holding the baby in! After about four or five pushes, at 4:52 am, out popped Lynny and they placed her on my chest. Daniel got to cut the cord and we had just a moment to share with her before they took her to give her some oxygen. She had swallowed some meconium and was having a hard time immediately adjusting, but a few minutes later she was handed back to us and we were able to start nursing. Total time of labor: three hours and two minutes.

It was easily the most incredible experience of my life. It really couldn't have been more perfect. Lynny weighed in at seven pounds, eight ounces and twenty-one and a quarter inches long. She has beautful dark hair with a slight curl, and her feet are close to twice the normal size expected. But she's amazing.

We're both doing extremely well. Nursing is taking a little bit to master, and we're still working on it, but she's eating well. We were out of the hospital by three thirty the next day. I was terrified that after such an easy pregnancy my labor would be long and arduous. That was hardly the case. Everything in my birth plan was followed--thanks to our incredible nurse--and I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Just after birth, still kind of mucky with meconium.

My mom was able to be there for the whole thing, which was really neat for all of us.

Lynny, after she'd been cleaned up a bit. She had kind of a "rug burn" on her face from coming out so fast, just like her uncle Doodie when he was born.

Sleeping Lynny.

One gigantic foot. They really are kind of comical.