Friday, January 11, 2013

Happy Birthday Annalee Rose!


On Tuesday, January 8th, at 8:58am little Miss Annalee Rose made her big debut into the world.  She weighed in at 1810 grams (.2 gram shy of 4 lbs) and let out a small cry of protest upon delivery.  We made it to 32 weeks and 1 day...a very important threshold for premature babies.

Early morning on Saturday, a sudden gush of fluid woke me up.  It didn't test out to be amniotic fluid and an exam revealed that I was only 2 cm dilated.  I was rather pleased with such a small change considering I had been on a spell of bad contractions over the previous few days and hadn't been checked in weeks.  Although several more similar incidences happened between Saturday and Monday, each time the fluid did not test like it was from ruptured membranes (ie...baby's amniotic fluid.)

Monday morning I had an ultrasound to check on baby girl's weight and her fluid levels.  She measured 3 lbs 11 oz and it looked as if fluid levels were low.  The tech also noted that her head was extremely low in my pelvis.  I could have told her that without the ultrasound!  The doctor called and asked if I wanted to be examined that day or the next morning before I was discharged to go to CAMP.  I asked to wait until the morning since I had just managed to get the contractions to ease up a bit.  I didn't want to make them worse.

With the exception of the fluid loss, things didn't seem unusual.  The contractions were painful but that was pretty typical of my 'bad days' so I didn't think much of it.  I went to bed, slept until the nurse came in to take my vitals at 4am, then tried to drift back to sleep.  Around 5am, I was crying.  Not because things were worse, but because I felt like my body just couldn't take many more days of contracting.  We waited until the doctors rounded.  I told them I felt bad but that the contractions weren't regular.  As he came in, I discovered just a speck of bloody show.  Seriously.  Just a speck.  The exam seemed to take longer than usual and when he finally announced that I was dilated to 9 cm, I couldn't believe it!  He said, "We're probably going to have a baby today!"

Getting ready to go down to Labor and Delivery.

Things progressed quickly at that point.  I called Michael and told him that he needed to get to me as fast as he could.  My mom was already with me since she was planning to help me move to CAMP that day.  The nurses worked on getting my chart organized and the Labor and Delivery room ready while I tried to manage the contractions...which picked up in intensity after the exam.  By the time they got me to Labor and Delivery, they were very painful and very regular.

My biggest concern over the last eight weeks has been that we would have enough time for the magnesium sulfate and the rescue steroid shot to become effective before her birth.  Magnesium sulfate is used for neurological protection and the steroid shots help the lungs.  We needed 4 hours for the magnesium sulfate to become effective and 24-48 hours for the shots.  Unfortunately, we didn't have time for either.

We didn't even have time to switch from my regular hospital bed to a delivery bed!

The magnesium sulfate had just finished running into my IV about the time someone from anesthesia came in to give an epidural.  Annalee was sitting SO low by then they gave me the epidural while I was resting on my side.  As they were pushing on my back, I felt another gush of fluid and this time, Annalee slid further down.  My doctor (Dr. Wendal) came in and held my hand through a few contractions and to say that he was really happy that we made it as long as we did.  Then the resident came in, checked me again, and it was suddenly time to push.  The epidural didn't have much time to take effect but it did take away some of the worst of the pain from the right side of my body.  I was extremely happy that Dr. Wendal was there to coach me through the pushing!  It only took a few pushes for her head to crown.  I was horrified when her heart rate suddenly dropped.  But he was great...when I asked if she was okay, he very calmly told me that we needed to get her out as soon as we could.  Two pushes later, she was out.  I had been anticipating a cry, so when I didn't hear anything I said, "She's not crying!!!"  Right on cue, she let out the most pitiful little wail.  Then they whisked her away to give her the respiratory support she needed.

For the next half hour, I received updates on Annalee.  They eventually decided to intubate her, give her surfactant, and then extubate again.  After that, she did much better.

Michael arrived.  I hate to think of how long that 3.5 hour drive was for him.  He was relieved that we were both okay, but very sad to have missed her delivery.  He did get there just as they brought her back in to see us!  I was not expecting to be allowed to hold her, so when they told me I could, I started bawling.  It was such a special moment and I'm so glad that we were given that experience despite her early birth.





Annalee is doing well.  She is requiring breathing support via nasal cannula and is beginning feeds.  I'll give a better update on her very soon...but for now, this momma has to get some rest!

Sweet baby girl has quite the cone-head (she's been so low for so long!) and a head full of dark hair...just like Samuel did at birth.  I have no doubt she will be beautiful like her older brother...just give her some time!  :)

26 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your new baby girl. She's beautiful. Hope she is able to come home soon.

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  2. She is absolutely gorgeous!! Congrats Pope family!

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  3. Aww she is precious!
    Congratulations!

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  4. She is gorgeous :) Congratulations!

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  5. Congratulations on your new baby girl! Love her name!!! So thankful that everything went okay with the delivery! We will continue to pray for baby Annalee and that she'll continue to do well!!!

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  6. So proud of you Sarah! You are an amazing person. So strong willed. God gave you the strength and it's amazing how you persevered through the unthinkable!

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  7. So beautiful! She actually has some fat on her. She'll be home in no time. Congratulations to you all

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  8. Congratulations! What a great job you did throughout all this.

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  9. I know you don't know me but I've been engrossed in your story since hearing of it from Tracey Brown. I have continued to pray for you and am amazed at how good he had been to answer so many prayers during this time. You have been so faithful and strong... and your husband and Samuel holding down the fort must not have been easy, either. I am thrilled you were able to get SO far along in your pregnancy and to see the FAT on this little one! That was my prayer. Take care, all of you, and I will continue to pray for all to be well. God bless!!

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  10. Amazing story Sarah.... She is one very blessed little girl to have such wonderful parents like you and Michael and a sweet big brother like Samuel. God has her in his handsjust as he has this whole time...Now it's just time to sit back and watch his miracles unfold. Praising Him now for all he has done and all that will be done through her, now and in the future. Congratulations Pope family.

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  11. Congratulations Sarah on baby Anna lee. She is beautiful and God is awesome and worthy to be praised that he has seen you through all those scary stages during your pregnancy. I am praying that God stays with Annalee and she gets to come home soon.

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  12. I have said this on fb already but CONGRATS! I bet after seeing that little face it made everything you went through worth it. Prayers for a short short Nicu stay.

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  13. Congratulations! So happy for you that you made it this long!

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  14. She is beautiful...a little miracle direct from God!!! I thank Him that He heard all our prayers and answered them so faithfully. With such a strong, determined and faithful Momma, Annalee is blessed indeed and will continue to be covered in all our prayers!!! Love and hugs to you and Michael and Samuel and kisses for the little princess!!

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  15. CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy that you were able to carry her so long. 4 pounds, wow! That's big for 32 weeks, isn't it? Way to go. Praying for a super smooth and short NICU stay. She is beautiful!

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  16. Many congratulations on your lovely girl's birth. So happy you made it so far. God bless your little family

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  17. So happy everything went fine and that Annalee is happy and healthy. Congratulations to you, Michael and Samuel, who I'm sure is ready to enjoy his new sister!

    Just curious, how did you choose the name Annalee Rose? It's a gorgeous name!

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  18. Congratulations!! What an exciting update! Praying for you all as you enter yet another stage of life!

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  19. She weighs more than I did at birth in the dark ages of 1983...what a precious little angel. I'm so glad you got her to hang in there that long...praying for no complications for the little one. You've earned an easier time this go-round! I hope Samuel is excited to be a big brother :)

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  20. I started following your blog not to long ago, but let me say CoNgR@TuLaTioNsS on your baby girl Annalee Rose & you protecting that life as much as you did even with all the other sacrifices it came along. I am sure all worth it once you meet her again CoNgR@Ts to your little family

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  21. Sarah and Michael, warmest congratulations to both of you on the birth of your precious daughter and welcome to the world to a very special girl Annalee! Hats off to you and well done for keeping her cooking for so long, Sarah, you have done an absolutely amazing job. I hope you can now breath a sigh of relief as Annalee is doing so well, and that you can all leave the hospital soon and never come back!

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  22. Congratulations!!!! I'm so happy for you! What an incredible experience - to hold your baby for the first time! I had tears in my eyes reading this post and looking at those precious pictures. Beautiful baby, beautiful family. And Samuel is a big brother now!!!!
    Wish you all many many more happy moments and smiles!

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  23. Congratulations!!!I love your blog and read hours about little samuel. Hope all is going well! Enjoy your little girl!
    Best
    Holly Arnold:)
    Www.arnoldfamilynews.blogspot.com

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  24. Congratulations, I have been following your blog for a while and been praying for you through this pregnancy! You have done so well through this pregnancy, I'm so glad to hear you and baby are fine :)
    Looking forward to more posts!
    Helen
    ( Sydney, Australia)

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  25. Congratulations Sarah and Michael, I'll repeat what others have said, Sarah you've done an amazing job keeping Annalee inside for so long and you've done it with such a positive attitude and strength. I'm quite in awe of you. Annalee is beautiful and gorgeous Samuel now has the very important (and lovely) job of being a big brother! :)

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  26. I'm so pleased to see that Annalee is here and doing well! Heartfelt congratulations to you all.

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