Tuesday the 24th, I went to my regular monitoring appointment at the hospital. Almost every time I went for monitoring (twice weekly) I would have to have what is called a Biophysical profile performed. Basically it is an ultrasound that can take up to 30 minutes and they just sit and watch the baby practice breathe and then they watch for different types of movements. And so it was the same with this appointment. She did not pass the non stress part (just sitting on the monitor watching for heartbeat accelerations) so I went for the bio. She did not pass that either. She was truly being a lazy baby. She did the breathing just fine, but wasn't moving much at all. So, they admitted me for additional monitoring.
Right after that, my dr came in and we talked for a few minutes and he said that he really didn't think anything was wrong with her, but he couldn't be for sure. He said that he would feel badly about sending me home only for me to come back in a few hours if something really was wrong. So, he said that he thought that delivering right then and there was a good idea. He said that he was working on getting me in to an OR and he would be back. So, it was a scramble after that to notify all of the parents. It was a little scary because she was going to be so early. I realize that 37 weeks is not THAT early, but it is early enough to effect lung development.
The hubby arrived at 12:30 and by then they were almost ready to do my epidural. So, we did the epidural. Once again it took awhile for me to get numb, but I did get numb. :) At 2:00PM we went into the OR and by 2:22PM Autumn Therese was born. She was 7lbs 7oz and 19 3/4 inch long. She is absolutely beautiful! She did not have any issues at all and did not have to go to the NICU. We have once again been blessed. SO, rather than having a Christmas baby, we had a Thanksgiving baby.
I have posted a few pictures of her below. She did get a little jaundiced, but it was the normal newborn jaundice. It was a little unnerving, but I knew that even if something were to be wrong with her liver as well, we would be in good hands with Ember's liver team. Having her home has been wonderful also. She is just as lazy at home as she was before she was born. She likes to eat and she LOVES her sleep. (a little girl after my own heart!) Ember has also taken to her wonderfully. She is a great big sister! She hugs and kisses her all the time. It is so sweet. I am the luckiest mommy in the world to have two beautiful baby girls in my life. I don't know what I did in my past lives, but I must have done something right to deserve them. I only hope that I can live up to my end of the bargain and be what they deserve as well.
