It's A GIRL!

Brynlee Drew
December 21, 2009
4:39 pm
7lbs 14oz
20 inches

The delivery:
It was very interesting! There were some signs on Sunday night that something wasn't right so I called the hospital and they said to go ahead and come in to get checked out. It was a VERY good thing that I did. I was admitted around 3:00am for severe preeclampsia. My blood pressure was 146/102 and I had protein in my urine. This was a concern since early December, all of the swelling was a major sign. My labs Dec 1st were perfect but my labs after getting admitting were "not good at all," said the nurse! I of course freaked a little knowing that it can lead to eclampsia causing me to have seizure activity! They started me on Pitocin immediately to get some contractions going. Around 9:30 they broke my water and started Magnesium Sulfate. After getting an epidural around 12:45 my blood pressure was bottoming out at 80/40. They stopped Pitocin and Brynlee's heartrate started to drop. Pitocin was restarted and they were pushing Ephedrine to get my pressures up. They said that they were giving me 2 hours to progress and if nothing, we were heading to the Operating Room! Really I think they were just waiting for some better blood pressures. Within an hour and a half we were heading for the c-section! One of the NICU nurses came and was able to care for Brynlee right after delivery! I was so relieved that she was there and knew that Brynlee would get amazing care! She was letting me know everything that she was doing to keep me as calm as possible! I am SO thankful that a co-worker was able to be there, she truly kept me completely relaxed!

Brynlee is named after both Andrew and myself. She has us both wrapped around her finger, so I would say her name fits perfectly! She is absolutely incredible! We really enjoyed our first week as a family along with celebrating our first Christmas with her! She was definitely the best gift we ever could have asked for! She eats every 2-3 hours during the day and about every 4 through the night! The love is just unbelievable! Absolutely indescribable!

Daddy Update:
Andrew had to go back to work Tuesday and of course it tore me up! I cried, but waited until after he left! I wish he could be home all the time! He is an AWESOME Dad already! He always wants to change diapers and feed her if I'm not ready to nurse. He just watches her and laughs hysterically at the faces and sounds she makes! He is a HUGE help and I am SO thankful for him! He even wants to get up through the night to feed her, but I told him while I'm off of work there is no sense in that, he needs his rest! So in the evening she is all his!

Mommy Update:
I am doing fabulous! Just cherishing every moment I have with this miracle of mine! I am up and moving better than I was before I had her! I feel great and was never in extreme pain from the section. I did however fall in the shower the day we got home from the hospital and think I pulled a muscle. Occasionally that hurts but other than that, nothing! I had gained a total of 42lbs throughout the pregnancy and have about 9 left to lose! Shows how much was extra fluid!

Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas! And have a Happy New Year!