Ryan William McAfee Has Arrived!

So it finally happened. I had a baby. Yes me-the one who doesn't like hospitals, needles or anything similar to those. I always knew someday I would want to be a mother but then the thought of all the pain and pricks of needles I would be enduring among many other things I would always question if it was something I really wanted. But truthfully, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is one of the most amazing experiences a person can go through. They say you haven't truly experienced life until you have brought one into it- it's cliché, but seriously so true. I cannot stop staring!! Honestly the whole experience was an adventure and honestly worth every pound of extra weight and every hour of sleep I will never see again!

After having an ultrasound done to try to determine how big he would be since I was measuring smaller than what I should have, the doctor determined it would be best to induce when I was 39 weeks along. We were told he would be about 6 lbs and the doctor was worried there might be something wrong with the placenta not giving him enough nutrients and oxygen causing him to be small and putting him in the 23rd percentile of growth causing both of us to have worries. Little did we know we were in for a big shock.

We arrived at the hospital at 12:30am 11/15/08 to be induced. After what seemed like forever of filling out the admission paperwork and answering their much unneeded questions we were finally placed in the induction room. After being hooked up to all the monitors to keep an eye on me and him, it was time to receive the gel to start moving things along. In just a few hours I had gone from 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced at the doctors office to 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced before the gel was even administered. The nurse said I most likely would have gone in labor on my own in a couple more days. After an hour, I was 3 cm dilated. The contractions were getting closer together and since things were moving along faster than expected for a first-time labor I was moved into the delivery room after only a couple hours. Since things were moving so fast, I was only given one dose of the gel instead of the normal three. At 5:30am I was given the epidural. Within 5 minutes, I was in heaven. I couldn't feel a single contraction. Now was the time to just relax and wait it out.

Finally, at about 12:45pm I was dilated to 10. It was finally time. There was no turning back now. It was happening whether we were ready or not. After pushing for about two hours with not much luck, I was given a dose of Pitocin to help make the contractions stronger and closer together, since the contractions seemed to be getting weaker. At 2:42pm our lives were completey changed. He was perfect. 7 lbs. 9 oz and 21" long. Shocking us all, even the doctor. He definately looks like his daddy but he does have my calmness and easy going personality, at least for now. It was definately worth it all though. Let the good times begin...