Simone Clara Tidwell

Monday, March 10, 2008

4 lbs. 10.8 oz

18 inches long

3:59 am

34 weeks, 6 weeks early

Those are the stats. We are so pleased that she is here.




My water broke on Sunday morning at 6:15 am. I was asleep. We got to the hospital, and they decided to wait and see what my body would do. Well, it did nothing. Lincoln had a nice enjoyable day at the hospital. In the evening Christie and Christina came and washed my hair in the sink, gave me a facial, and a hand massage. It was wonderful. My midwife and doctor decided it would be best to induce me the next morning. They put me on a SLOW pitocin drip at midnight. I KNEW when I saw that bag of pitocin that I would have her during the night...and I was right.


I started to have contractions at 1:15 am that kept waking me up. About 2:00 the contractions started to get annoying, and woke my labor coach (Lincoln). Around 2:30 am I was about 3 cm dialated and 70% effaced. This was disappointing news, because I was really starting to hurt and thought I would be much further along. My sweet coach and I kept at it, and at 3:40 am I was at 4 almost 5 cm. (This was actually a lie, my midwife couldn't bear to tell me I was still at 3 cm.) I really felt like I needed to push. Lincoln kept reminding me to breath, and NOT push. I had a few more contractions, my nurse was in the room for one of them. She also reminded me not to push. I said, "I can't wait until I hear the word PUSH!" Lincoln and my nurse laughed, and as she walked out of the room my nurse said," I'll come running in if I hear a baby cry." She was kidding, little did she know that is what she would be doing in a few minutes...



The hospital room was lit only by a computer screen monitor. Lincoln was by my side, and I was tucked in bed. I held his arm. I screamed "The baby is coming RIGHT NOW! SHE IS COMING!" Lincoln scrambled for the nurse call button, but never found it. Our baby girl arrived. Under the blankets. Every nurse on the floor heard me and was in the room seconds later. I scrambled to throw the blankets off me. My nurse got to her first, and she told me she was fine. This is when I started crying. I don't think I stopped for 30 minutes. My midwife ran into the room pulling at the waist band of her pants and tying them up. She said, "Can't I even pee in this hospital?" We all laughed. The baby was doing so well. Breathing beautifully, and screaming at the top of her lungs. I got to hold her for about five minutes and enjoyed every second. They took her to the NICU, and we got to go see her about an hour later.













Her first day was a hard day. She had low blood sugar, was not able to maintain her temperature, and spitting up entire feedings. She was moved to an isolette, and had a feeding tube put down her throat. Her second day was much better. She keep down all her meals (all bottle fed), and her blood sugar level is now steady. I got to hold her so much today. It is pure heaven to have her in my arms. She knows my voice, and will turn her head when I talk. I say things like "Put those scissors away.", "No you can't have a snack, I am making dinner.", and "Pick up your shoes.", so she knows that it is me.


She has the sweetest face. I will take a picture tomorrow of her that shows it a little better. She has long long fingers, skinny feet, lots of dark brown fuzzy hair, baby rosebud lips, and sweet eyelashes.