Alayna Rae Pratt

I feel inclined to write down the experiences leading up to and following Alayna's birth.  Not so much for your enjoyment...I mean come on what labor and delivery story is really that enjoying...but more for posterity's sake and for my own remembrance.  Who knows maybe Alayna might enjoy reading about this special day about 25 years from now when she'll actually have an interest.

The baby's due date (January 17) had come and gone and although it might have totally been psychological, I was SO DONE being pregnant.  I didn't think I could endure another pregnant and uncomfortable day.  I went to my doctor's appointment on Tuesday, the day after the due date, and she gave me the option to wait it out another week or she was willing to induce me anytime before then.  I immediately said, let's get this baby out ASAP!  She called over to the hospital and the earliest they could get me in was at 11:30 the next day.  I said, let's do it!

On the way home I fell into a somber mood.  I started thinking about how many times I've told other people that I'd never get induced that I felt strongly babies come when they're ready.  I also thought to myself what difference would it make if I just waited it out.  I was feeling uncomfortable but it wasn't unbearable.  I didn't want to make the wrong decision for my baby and regret it later.  When we got home I laid down on my bed and a rush of emotion came over me and I couldn't hold back the tears.  I kept thinking why won't this baby just come already that way I wouldn't have to make a decision about inducing.  Then the fear of strange complications and side effects started haunting me.  But then the thought of finally meeting her already and starting our life with her in our family sounded so good to me...to finally be done!  The doctor had reassured me that she is fully developed and that there would be no harm to the baby if I had her that day verses 7 days from then.  The only difference would be her size.  So then I kept thinking about pushing out a 9 pound baby and that didn't sound very enticing at all!

After a few hours of deliberating I finally came to peace with the decision to be induced.  The next morning I took my time getting ready.  I checked and re-checked my hospital bag and made sure I had everything the baby and I needed.  I wasn't a bit nervous, I wasn't anxious, I was totally at peace with what I was about to embark.

We got to the hospital right on time and my nurse (Connie) got me all ready and hooked up.  I had to have a dose of penicillin since I'm strep B positive.  They typically administer the antibiotic 2 times (4 hours apart) during the duration of labor.  Holy cow did that hurt!!  Talk about burning and pain intermixed with dizziness and ringing in the ears and clouded vision.  THAT was NOT pleasant!  She also started the pitocin (the medicine that induces labor) around 1:30.  I started feeling some contractions but nothing too uncomfortable.  Shortly after that my doctor (Dr. Wright) came in and checked me (5 cm dilated) and broke my water and said to notify her when we were ready.  By 2:00 or so they administered the epidural.  I felt a few more contractions during that process but still nothing too strong.  By 3:00 I started feeling some pressure and notified nurse Connie.  She checked me again and I had progressed to about 7 cm.  She left the room and I swear not 10 minutes later she came back in to input something into the computer and I told her I was really feeling some pressure and some burning.  Not to mention the uncontrollable shakes.  She then checked me and sure enough I was ready to go!!  The baby was not crowning yet so she said let's see how good of a pusher you are and on the next contraction I gave it a push and immediately she said, stop, stop, stop!!  We need to call the doctor.  Everyone scrambled to get the room ready and we waited for Dr. Wright to come in just in time for me to push about 3 times and then there she was!

Baby Alayna was there right on my chest crying hysterically as if to say, I DIDN'T want to come out!!  I am not happy about this AT ALL!  She was all purple but beautiful at the same time.  I regret that I didn't cherish those first few minutes more but I was still in a lot pain and I had to push out the after birth which was very painful for me (I don't remember it being painful with the other two).  They cleaned her up and gave her back to me and assured me that she looked healthy and was doing well.  What a miracle!  7 pounds 12 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long.  She was finally here and I was finally able to meet her and hold her and hear her SCREAMING!  She screamed for about an hour until I was given the OK to feed her.  Charlie and I kept looking at each other and just laughed because of how loud she was crying.  I'm telling you she really wanted to make it known that she was not ready to come out yet and she was making sure we (and everyone in the hospital) knew it!

Later the kids came with Grandma and Grandpa to meet their little sister.  They were so sweet with her and gave her kisses.  Dallin was very inquisitive and asked a lot of questions about how it all went down and was very curious when it was time for her to eat...mixed with lots of giggling.

                                                                                                                                                          

We stayed in the hospital 2 days since we only had time to administer one dose of the penicillin before she was born.  The doctors felt they needed to take every precaution to make sure she didn't contract a virus during birth.  So even though I really wanted to come home the next day we had to stay another.  But it was all good.

I feel so fortunate to have a healthy baby.  It's truly a blessing to have her in our family.  It's still so weird to think I have THREE kids!  How blessed I am.