Let’s get the big news out of the way first: On January 25th, 2004 at 4:42 a.m. the world population increased by one as Samantha Alyse Madigan was born a week ahead of schedule. She weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces measured 20.5 inches long, and has lots of dark brown hair. I estimate her IQ to be somewhere in the high 200s.
I’ve only come back home to grab a few things and take a shower, then I’m headed back to the hospital to stay the night with Geralyn and Sam. So I’ll post the highlights and a few pictures now, then a much more detailed recounting of our adventures in birthing.
Let’s start with the pictures. I have many and will put together a full album, but here’s four good ones. Click on any to see a bigger version.
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As far as highlights go, here’s how it unfolded, starting Saturday, January 24th:
8:22 am — Geralyn’s water breaks, exactly one week ahead of schedule.
10:30 am — We leave for the hospital
11:03 am — We check in to triage and Geralyn is examined.
12:14 pm — They tell us we’re not going back home and admit us to room 305 in the Labor and Delivery unit.
12:45 pm — Geralyn gets her I.V.
2:04 pm — Geralyn is administered Petocin to induce labor (despite having her water broken, she wasn’t having any noticeable contractions)
2:49 pm — Geralyn feels the first “uncomfortable” contraction and they get steadily worse.
6:36 pm — Geralyn is dilated to 8 centimeters
7:01 pm — Geralyn is given an epidural
10:40 pm — Geralyn is fully dilated to 10 centimeters and she starts trying to push the baby out
4:42 am — After six hours of hard pushing and work, Samantha Alyse Madigan is born. We thank God.
Thanks to everyone who has already called, e-mailed, and sent instant messages! A much more detailed report is forthcoming in the next couple of days.
Oh, and here’s the final pregnancy update picture of Geralyn that we snapped right before we left for the hospital:
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Now that I’ve gotten a few hours of shut-eye and things have fallen into a little bit of a routine (change, feed, burp, cuddle the baby, attempt to get her to sleep, repeat) I have a lot of people to thank. First and foremeost, my husband, who was so understanding, compassionate, steadfast, and composed, without his support I doubt I could have made it. Also, my Lador & Delivery nurse, Dina, whose reassuring help was also essentail. And one of my postpartum nurses, Arteria, who convinced me to stay another day in the hospital due to Samantha’s jaundice. This proved to be a very wise decision. I don’t know how I would have survived home a day earlier without the help of the lactation consultants, nurses, and delivered meals! Finally, everyone at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital was great (this hospital is sometimes featured on Discovery Health Channel’s Maternity show), I highly recommend this hospital.