All because two people fell in love...: Reagan's arrival

Our little Reagan, much like her brother and sister, made her debut right on time. She was born on November 29th (the day after her due date) at 2:15 pm weighing 7 pounds 11 oz and 20 inches long.

Between my 3 deliveries, her delivery was by far the most painful yet non dramatic at the same time. I went into labor on the morning of the 29th around 2:30 am (although I must mention I had been having contractions off and on for a few weeks). I was woken up by dull cramps which quickly transitioned into painful (aka couldn't lay in bed, had to be up swaying) contractions. They were 5-7 minutes a part until about 4:30 when they started coming around 3 minutes a part. I made the decision to go to the hospital when they were this way about an hour. We called my parents around 6 to let them know it was baby day!! Paxton and Brinlee were so excited. as were we :) We dressed them in their big sister/big brother shirts and in between contractions I helped tie shoes and do Brinlee's hair. The car ride was relatively easy - we got to the hospital and took these last family photos before we checked in!

In triage I was hooked up to monitors - contractions were consistent and strong and I was checked and was only 4 cm - I was shocked and disappointed. I just knew they would tell me I was more than that as I had been walking around at a 2 for a month and laboring at this point for 5 hours. They wanted me to walk and progress a cm in one hour to stay. I made sure they knew once my water broke I had babies fast but they didn't really care so I did what they asked... we walked and walked and walked for an hour. I was contracting consistently and they HURT... I would have to stop and sway and just breathe to work through them (HELLO EPIDURAL PLEASE - but no, we're not even sure you're staying). I could feel the intensity build and build - max out and then slowly relax. I knew things were happening and was confident at that point I would stay. I was checked after an hour and boom - 5 1/2 cm. I also learned I was GBS positive (shouldn't I have already known this from my doctor? 1st timer out of 3 pregnancies) and had to have IV antibiotics, at least 2 doses 2 hours a part from one another.

I was consistently contracting every 2 minutes and was so ready for an epidural so that I could rest a bit from being up since 2 am. They wanted to break my water since my contractions were so active but because they wanted me to have antibiotics they couldn't. They went ahead and started my antibiotic IV while we were waiting on the anesthesiologist and I didn't think it would be any big deal. I soon realized I was wrong and that IV antibiotics were painful and took up to 30 min to go in. OMG. My whole arm felt like it was on fire (eventhough the medicine itself was cold) and that it was going to explode. I'm not even joking, the antibiotics were worse than the contractions and they were happening simultaneously. I'm not being a baby here - I was combating active labor and this arm pain like I had never felt. I was so uncomfortable between having to lay down from the antibiotics and contracting laying down (which sucks). Matthew was so sweet during this. There was literally nothing he could do but hold my hand. When that anesthesiologist walked in I could have cried - actually I think I did. At this point it was about 9:30am and by 10 this was me...

I was able to rest with an epidural and have a bit of reprieve from the antibiotics. I got to visit with my parents and see the kids ...

Baby Day!

Around 11 or so I got round 2 of antibiotics - which sucked - again!

Dr. Westmoreland came in around 1 and was upset they hadn't broke my water yet. I was contracting very regularly and was good on antibiotics so she checked me - I was a 7 - broke my water and left! Around 1:30 I felt pressure - had them come back in and I was a 9 (told you my babies come fast when my water breaks) They called Dr. Westmoreland and she headed back and this happened... supplies and lights!

I knew my body was ready, and around 2:15 the party started. 3 contractions, about 6 pushes later and beautiful Reagan James was born! I'll never forget Dr. Westmoreland commenting on her hair - she told me to reach down and feel it she had so much!

When she came out she was placed on my chest where she stayed for at least an hour. This was such a calm and peaceful time. Matthew cut the cord and we just marveled at how perfect she was. Overwhelmed with how blessed we were with our baby girl. She latched on and nursed pretty quickly and we just fell in love with our sweet girl. There is no greater relief than to have your precious baby born and breathing and healthy. I don't take that for granted and I am thankful for the overwhelming peace that came soon after knowing she was here!

Hi Daddy

Just like my other 2 births my blood pressure dropped pretty significantly pretty quickly and they kept pumping me with something to help keep it up. Matthew got lots of snuggles with her and once we were over that hurdle my parents and the kids came in and got to meet her.

So proud!

Hi Pammie! My mom and Reagan had an instant connection - I think it was the dark hair :)

Hi Opa!

It was soon bath time for Reagan and it was nice to be able to have the kids in the room to see it. She screamed her little lungs out until they washed her hair - she liked that part :) Something people don't realize is that as great as it is to have babies born quickly - the baby doesn't get a great squeeze and so she was real spitty and gurgly for a while (days). Crying was good for her little lungs as she didn't give a real big cry when she was born.

she loved this!

Womb wrapping - the nurses at memorial hermann always do this and its magic. After her bath her temp dropped quite a bit so they put her under the warming lamp and got her nice and toasty again.