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| Last Belly Shot: 39 weeks |
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| Somehow I managed to smile for pictures through contractions. That's when the nurse walked in and said it was time to crank up the Pitocin. Yikes! |
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| My pretty momma was a great support |
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| The picture says it all |
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| I can't believe she's mine! So blessed to have this little girl. |
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| In this moment all I could think was "Is this real life?" It was the most surreal moment of my life to have the man of my dreams by my side when I was given the most precious gift I have ever received. |
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| Uncle Ben is smitten! |
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| I'm guessing she's screaming, "ROLL TIDEEEE!!!" |
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| My sweet friends came to visit! |
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| He was wrapped from the very first time he saw her :) |
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| Obsessed with this little hat |
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| This is the same dress that I came home in almost 24 years ago! My mom made it for me, so you can imagine how excited she was to see it on her first grandbaby. |
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| We were so ready to go home! |
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| Granny and Gramps |
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| She's all mine! O my goodness! |
Scarlett Kennedy Chandler: A Baby Story
I went to the doctor Monday, April 8th, 2013 for my 39 week checkup. He examined me and told me my body was very ready to have the baby. He said I would be going into labor very soon and asked if I would like to be induced the following morning. I was shocked! I am the ultimate planner and very Type A, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to have her in such a convenient way. I called Alex and then all of our parents. They drove to Nashville that night, so they wouldn't miss anything.
The following morning, Tuesday, April 9th, I was admitted at 6am to be induced. When they hooked me up to the monitors, they realized that I was already contracting regularly and was in early labor with contractions 4-5 min apart. I didn't even feel them! The doctor came in at 7:30am to break my water and start pitocin. I was at 2.5 cm dilated and very effaced. I was told that I was in active labor by the time I reached 4 cm dilated and that could take a very long time. They expected it to be well after lunchtime before I was there.
The nurse checked me on a regular basis and told me that I could get some pain medication at any time, but couldn't get my epidural until I was 4 cm dilated. She said if I wanted pain medicine that I have to be examined first, so I told her I would try to go as long as possible because I hated being checked.
The contractions weren't really bad all morning even when the nurse kept turning up the pitocin levels. I was actually smiling and laughing with everyone in the room. The nurse said that had to change, so she turned it up even higher. By 11:30am, I was feeling very overwhelmed because the contractions were coming faster and stronger. I was so tired and I felt like I could barely work through them. That's when my attitude changed! I went from smiles to tears pretty quickly. I still didn't want the pain medicine yet because I was afraid I had not progressed enough. I finally caved in at 12:10pm and asked for the pain medication. The nurse checked me and I was at 5 cm dilated! I was so happy that I far enough along to get my epidural. That's when the worst part of my labor occurred. The hospital was extremely busy and I had to wait an ENTIRE HOUR before I got my epidural. By the time the anesthesiologist got there I was in so much pain and was literally growling at anyone and everyone. After I got the epidural (which was sooooo easy and DID NOT hurt), I was one happy girl! O and by the time I got the epidural, I had progressed to 7 cm.
After the epidural, I was all smiles again and it just took a couple more hours to reach fully dilated and effaced. It then took 20 minutes of pushing and I had my sweet baby in my arms! It was the happiest day of my life and I am still in disbelief that I have such a beautiful baby girl. Alex and I are blessed beyond measure.
