Birth story

Went in for the scheduled induction on 9-20 (my due date) at 7:30 am... started pitocin about 9:30... shot of nubain around 10:45.... epi at 11:45... 7 cm at 12... started pushing around 3:45.. Payton was born at 5:06 pm... I have a 4th degree tear... held Payton on my stomach for about 15 seconds then was stitched up while they suctioned her.

Payton was born with spontaneous pneumothorax, which is a buildup of air in the space between the lung and the chest wall. As the amount of air in this space increases, the pressure against the lung causes the lung to collapse. It resolves on its own over time. She went to the nicu and I wasn't able to hold her until Friday and that was only for a few minutes before they put her under an oxygen tent. They were concerned with fast breathing, but it was resolved and she came out of the O2 tent on Saturday.

I was released on Saturday and Lane and I stayed in a hotel so we could be close enough to go feed her in the middle of the night. They took out her IV on Sunday morning and she was released Monday morning!!!

We're home and doing well. The doctor's say this happens in about 5% of newborns and it goes undetected. She's a totally normal newborn and is as healthy as ever.... just a little bit of a rough start, but she's completely perfect.

We're tired to say the least and I'm emotionally drained.

almost 40 weeks

Well, I'm 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. We go in tomorrow morning at 7:15 to get hooked up to the IV and pitocin will be started... she'll also break my water. She did say I can have the epidural whenever I'm ready for it. Such a tough call. In a strange way, I want to experience some contractions, but everything I've heard about pitocin contractions make me not want to. I'm also nervous about the epi wearing off before she's here.

We'll post pics soon and look for an email from my mom or Lane.

Since I know Parra has been wanting to ask me to post a pic, here's one from last week... at 39 weeks exactly... trying to keep Payton from coming until Lane was able to make it home from Alabama.

Update!

Saturday morning Lane and I went to the hospital since I thought I had been contracting and the nurse checked me. Said I was a good 4, almost 5 cm dilated. I asked if I was staying and she said she just needed to call the doctor (not my OB, but another in her practice), but most likely yes. She came in a few minutes later with all the "stuff" to start the IV. Guess I was staying!!! I called my mom and dad, Lane called his family and as overwhelming as it all was, we were so excited that Payton was coming!! I made it through about half the bag of IV fluids and the doctor made it up to the hospital. She checked me very roughly with her man hands and said I wasn't in labor, was barely a 3 and not even 50% effaced. Funny, since at the appointment on Thursday, MY doctor said I was a good 3 and 75% effaced (and had been for 2 weeks). The nurses felt so bad since they started the IV, etc....Contractions have been coming on and off Saturday and yesterday.

This morning I had every intention on going into work to wrap everything up because if Payton isn't here in the next 3 days, I'm being induced on Thursday morning at 7:30. Cross your fingers that these contractions that I'm having now are the "real" thing and continue to get more painful and more regular (never thought I'd be wishing for pain)... they definitely hurt worse than what was going on on Friday and Saturday.

39 weeks

Just wanted to let yall know... I was able to move my doctor's appointment up to today just so we could give Lane some notice if there was major progress.

I'm a "good 3cm" dilated and the OB said is just a waiting game at this point. She said that the best way to keep Payton in for as long as possible is to lay on my left side and drink lots of water and DON'T walk! Thank goodness my parents are here and that my mom doesn't work... otherwise I'd be going crazy.

I'm hoping to talk to Lane before he leaves for the visitation and tell him I need him to come back either very late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Just continue to keep the Chamblee family in your prayers - I think it's going to really hit them at the visitation tonight and also keep praying that I won't go into labor until Lane is able to fulfill his family obligations and then get home to us.

Induction scheduled!!!

If Miss P hasn't made her arrival by September 20th, we're going in at 7:30 am to be induced! The doctor is confident that if we make it to this point it will be a successful induction. I would love to go into labor on my own before next Thursday. I have faith that it will happen the way it's suppose to so Payton and I are both healthy.

Labor and Delivery

Saturday morning started as a normal day for us... we slept in, went to breakfast and came home to watch college football... I ran to the store to pick up and few things and our friend Jeff came over with his daughter Reese to watch the Alabama game with Lane. I made cupcakes (I guess since the house is spotless, the nesting is now concentrated on cooking) while Lane made lunch for us. To spare everyone the details, Elaine needed to go to the ER, so Lane and I watched Reese so Jeff could meet her there. Kristin came over to hang out with us since we hadn't seen her in forever!

I kept noticing a very wet feeling and then once I thought about it, I couldn't remember the last time I felt Payton move. I drank a big glass of orange juice and sat on the couch to see if I was just too busy earlier to feel anything. After an agonizing 45 minutes of nothing happening, I decided to call the doctor. She wanted us to come in, so off we went to L&D.

They immediately found Payton's heartbeat (answered prayers) and then tested to see if it was amniotic fluid I was feeling. The first test was negative, but the nurse did say I was 1-2 cm dilated (progress!!). They continued to monitor Payton's heartbeat and my contractions. After about 45 minutes and another negative for fluid, they sent us home.

We're now just waiting for a big gush of fluid or contractions to really start. I'm getting very impatient, but know Payton will come when she's ready.

** Just a disclaimer... if you call and I don't call you back, don't worry... we'll let you know when something happens, either by text message, phone call or email. **

38 week update

On Labor Day, I was having contractions every 5-10 minutes for about 2 and a half hours. After talking to the on-call doctor, we decided to wait and see if anything progressed.. it didn't, but I've been having contractions every day since.

The contractions are doing something... at the doctor today I'm 1 cm dilated and 75% effaced. We're waiting for a call back on an induction date in 2 weeks. I would rather have it on the calendar and not need it, then need it and have to wait. Most likely it will be her due date and hopefully it won't be 24 hours of labor. Just continue to pray that we won't need to induce! The doctor doesn't think I'll make it to the 20th and I really hope she's right.

Update from 37 week appointment

I'm measuring 38 weeks (completely normal and nothing that says I'm too big or she's too big), but no additional progress from last week. Still a fingertip dilated and 50% effaced. The doctor said all I need are some contractions to get her to move down and help me dilate. I've been feeling crampy and just generally icky.. some say that's how they felt before they went into labor.

About 1:30 in the morning on Saturday, I woke up to terrible pain in my back and across the left side of my stomach. I went to the bathroom and then laid back down to see what would happen. The pain finally went away and I decided not to wake Lane unless it came again.... unfortunately it didn't.

Start sending prayers that there will be progress at the appointment on Friday AND that she'll come soon... my feet can't take it! I was doing great with minimal swelling, but that has totally changed this week. As I was getting dressed for church yesterday, I quickly found that I have 1 pair of dressy flip flops that fit my fat feet. If you know me at all, you know this was a sad day in the Chamblee household. I'm so ready to be able to wear my normal shoes and buy all the cute Fall clothes that are showing up in the stores.