Introducing Laura Lynn

Laura Lynn Benson made her arrival at 3:32pm on Wednesday, November 18th. She weighed 7lbs. 11 oz. and was 21" long.

Once she was born, they took her over to the baby work area in the room and cleaned her up, did her Apgar test, took her temperature, etc. I sent Jamie over to snap some pictures (since I couldn't get out of the bed. )

When they had her cleaned up and wrapped up, they brought her to her me. It was love at first sight! She was so perfect! What a blessing that Heavenly Father has given to me and Jamie.

She knew immediately she was in her mama's arms. She calmed down and just let me ooh and ahh over her.

So, here's the details of the birth. We went in that morning around 5:30am to be induced. After about 45 minutes of questions, blood being drawn, and being hooked up to the iv, we just had to wait on the doctor. He usually comes in around 7am, but it wasn't until about 8am that he made it in the room. At that time, he checked me (I was only at 3 1/2 cm), broke my water, and had the nurse start the pitocin drip. My nurse's name was Eloise. She was great!

I really wanted to try and see how far I could go without an epidural. I always feel like in the past that I am pressured into getting it sooner than I want it. So, we told the doctor and nurse up front that I didn't want to be pressured. I know some may think I'm crazy not wanting it, but I just don't like the feel of it all. The needle in my back, the pressure while they're putting that needle there, my blood pressure that usually drops drastically when I get the epidural, the slow down of labor, etc. Well, with my last 2 babies I've always jumped from 5 to 10 within 45 minutes to an hour. So, I thought if I could get to 5, it wouldn't be long. I didn't want labor to slow down. However, this baby had different plans.

Around 11am, the pain wasn't too bad, but I was only at 4cm. It wasn't going as fast as I thought. I still proceeded with no epidural. Around 1pm, the nurse checked me again and I was maybe 4 1/2cm. She told me the baby was kind of diagnal. She said that if she would turn straight down, it would go quicker. She tried to push her, which hurt like crazy!, but she wasn't ready to be messed with.

Finally around 1:45 or 2:00pm, she checked me again and I was at 6cm, but the baby still was diagnal. I was in huge pain and decided to heck with it, I'm getting the epidural. So, the nurse started calling in the order and giving me lots of fluid so that maybe my blood pressure wouldn't get too low. The nice little anesthesiologist showed up around 2:30 and we got it started. It took him about 15 minutes or so and it was all done. He stayed for a few more minutes to make sure it was evenly working in my body--and it was. I was definately tingling through my legs and feet. The nurse checked me and I was at 8cm. She said that now that I was relaxed, the labor might go faster.

Sure enough, I was dozing off a little bit after she left and within 1o minutes, I told Jamie I felt a lot of pressure down there. Even though she had just checked me 10 minutes before, he said it was better to be safe than sorry and went and got her. She checked me and the baby's head was there and ready. She called the doctor and we started pushing. It took 15 minutes and she was here!

I definately have to say that Jamie is super supportive during labor! He supported me in whatever decision I made. He was right there feeding me ice chips as the pains got harder and let me squeeze his hand really hard! He also was the one who would go and get the nurse if I needed anything and it was his wise decision to have her check me again even though it had only been 10 minutes! He's awesome! I'm very grateful for him!

Well, anyways. Enough details. Later that afternoon, my Daddy brought Eli to see us and then Nana brought Katie and Ginny to see their new little siser. They were all very happy to see her. Jennifer and the kids came up to see us and Joey, Andrea, and Logan visited us that evening. It was a very relaxing evening and she slept wonderfully.

She's a great eater and is just wonderful!