Welcome Anna Henderson Taylor!

Anna Henderson Taylor (aka Baby T) arrived 3 weeks early on September 17th, 2015 weighing 6lbs 9oz and measuring 19 inches long.  We love her so much!  Here's her story so far...

I had it my head that Anna would arrive on 9/17.  I had been thinking this for months- no idea why.  After my last work trip to Charlotte I came home to Cary and began the "nesting." I cleaned every closet, we pressure washed both porches, had a cleaning service come and do a "spring clean" and of course Renny came up and helped us wash all of her clothes and get the Nursery finalized.  I felt ready and most of you know I really did not enjoy being pregnant.  I had started to swell and was "over it."  I went to my 36 week appointment on 9/10 and found out that I was already 3cm and 80% effaced.  I know some people can walk around for weeks like that but I really thought she would come early.  So that entire week I worked out extra, did a few extra squats and lunges (couldn't hurt right?!) and kept telling myself just one more week.  Chris didn't think she would come early, he kept saying he wasn't ready (I mean seriously after 9 months??).

So on the morning of 9/17 I woke up with a slightly upset stomach (they say that's an early sign of labor) but everything else seemed normal.  I went work and then went to my weekly doctor appointment at 9am. I was so excited because I was seeing my favorite doctor, Dr. Chawla.  When she came in I told her I really wanted to have the baby that day.  She did her check and said "ummm you are 5cm, are you sure you aren't having contractions?"  I told her I still just thought I was having a lot of Braxton Hicks and otherwise felt completely normal.  She told me to go ahead and go to the hospital, she thought I would be having the baby that day. This was all working out so perfectly because Dr. Gizzie was currently on call and she was one of my other favorite doctors and then Dr. Chawla was going on call at 5:30pm!  So instead of going straight to the hospital, I drove back to work sent a few emails and packed up my computer.  Then I drove home to get Chris and the hospital bags (I know, I am kind of crazy).  When I got home Chris said "help me understand what is going on here?"  I laughed and said I don't know apparently I am in labor!  He called my doctors office because he really didn't understand.  They told him I needed to go to the hospital... So we went

On the way to the hospital!

Rex was super busy that day- apparently a lot of women had gone into labor.  We drove around for about 20 mins trying to find a parking spot.  We kept saying "this isn't how we envisioned driving to the hospital with me in labor."  We ended up parking pretty far away but I told Chris I was totally fine to walk to the womens center from there.  We finally got there and I checked-in with the nurse.  She asked if I was there for high blood pressure.  I said no, I am here because apparently I am 5cm dilated.  She looked at me like I was crazy and told me not to tell my friends about this!  I was admitted to the hospital and Dr. Gizzie came to check me again.  I was 7-8cm dilated... I was definitely having the baby that day! 

Dr. Gizzie wanted to go ahead and break my water but I asked if I could just walk the halls a little first to try to get it to do it on it's own.  We did that for a few hours but nothing, so finally around 3:45pm  I let Dr. Gizzie break my water.  Eating is not allowed once you are admitted for labor and I was already starving, so I wanted to get the show on the road.  The instant she broke my water contractions started.  I looked at my nurse, Shelly and told her I had not read a single book or taken a class but I wanted to do this natural so she was going to have to help me.  Deep down I knew that I was going to have to be on my A-game after delivery and didn't want to be confined to a bed because of pain medication.  Shelly was onboard with the plan.  I also wanted to be somewhat entertained so we popped in the movie Old School.  After a few contractions I told Shelly I thought it was time to start pushing- she gave me a check and indeed it was time.  I was starting to rethink the whole natural idea but it was too late in the game...I knew it couldn't be that much longer and I could do it.  Chris and Shelly cheered me on and Anna Henderson was born at 5:52pm- just in time for me to have dinner, HA!  Dr. Chawla had arrived by that point (although she barely made it in the room in time because I was so determined to push Anna out quickly) but she did officially deliver her!

Walking the halls

 Last pic as a family of 2

 We did it!

Nurse Shelly and me after Delivery!

Sweet baby Anna Henderson Taylor!

Anna was born with both a cleft lip and palate.  We had known about the lip, but never confirmed during pregnancy if the palate was also involved.  I really thought the entire time that it would be involved, so I really wasn't surprised. She came out crying and received an 8 on her first APGAR score which was great!  She seemed otherwise completely healthy.  After the doc finished up with me, they put me in a wheelchair and let me hold Anna while we went to our postpartum room on the 3rd floor.  We spent a few hours with her in the room- Renny and Ashley came to see her and all seemed well... 

 

Then around 11:30pm Anna had been sleeping in her bassinet and Chris handed her to me.  I immediately knew something was wrong- I screamed to Chris that she looked blue.  I handed her to Chris and flew out of bed and called the nurse to come look.  They came running in, took one look at her, turned her over and started beating her back and ran out of the room with her.  I felt so helpless, I had just given birth and couldn't exactly run after them.  I sat in bed for what seemed like an eternity until another nurse came and got me a wheelchair and wheeled me to the Special Nursery (aka NICU).  Anna was given stimulation and oxygen and it was clear she had a major breathing "episode."  Because of the severity of the episode it meant she would stay in the NICU for at least 5-7 days.  I was so relieved that she was Ok.   Had our room not been the closest to the nurses station, and the closest to the NICU out of all the rooms on the floor who knows what would have happened. I am so thankful that just hours after birth I was able to fly out of bed and get the nurse and for their fast work on baby Anna. We seriously can't thank the nurses and doctors enough.  Anna had quite the eventful 1st day on this Earth.   

 

Thank you to everyone for your calls, texts, thoughts and prayers- it's meant so much to us!  It's been a long but joyful 4 days.  I am planning to use this blog to provide updates on Anna, so feel free to follow along :)