Baby Politisaur is (finally) here!

As you all know, my little one did NOT arrive on her due date of September 2nd! Nor did she arrive in the week following... And I DID try EVERYTHING! So, take it from me, NOTHING works. Spicy food? Nope. Sex? Nope. Walking? Nope. Nipple stimulation? Nope. NADA!

So I was induced!

I had mixed feelings about that. I was looking forward to the excitement of going into labor on my own, having my water break, rushing to the hospital... But my doctor assured me that since I was a week late, induction was fully appropriate.

So we went home and gathered our bags. Had one last dinner with my family. My parents and sister had all flown in a week prior for her birth. We ate enchiladas. Then DH drove me to the hospital. We spent the night while I had a pre-induction procedure (Cervidal). At 7 a.m. the next day, my doctor broke my water and started the Pitocin. But by 4 p.m., still no progress.

So I had a C-Section!

My contractions were not coming on strong enough -- they were small and coming every 30 seconds to 1 minute. So my doctor said that if I wanted a vaginal delivery, my best shot would be to crank up the Pitocin. However, if the contractions were too strong and too close together, as had been the case with my contractions all day, it could put the baby into distress and mandate an emergency C-Section. Our other option was to go straight to the C-Section.

We reminded ourselves that our #1 goal was a healthy baby -- NOT a vaginal delivery -- so risking putting her under distress was out of the question. Hence, I braced myself for a C-Section. Less than 30 minutes after we made our decision, I was strapped down in the operating room, scared out of my mind, on the verge of tears, staring into DH's eyes when I heard my baby cry for the first time... I started bawling. I was so happy. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! My baby! Here at last! Real. Really happening. Scoring a 9/10 Apgar! My BABY!

Alexa Leilani

Born 9-9-09 at 5:14 p.m.

7 pounds, 12 ounces

19 3/4 inches

I was in the hospital for another four nights. By the time we were discharged, my milk had come in. I learned what it meant to be engorged. Ouch! Luckily, sweet little Alexa is a sucking machine. So by the time she was 12 days old, she had regained her birth weight!

My parents just left yesterday. It's been a whirlwind. I have not slept more than 3-4 hours at a time because I need to feed Alexa every 3 hours. I have learned that when people say "Sleep when the baby sleeps," they really mean SLEEP WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS! I have also learned that you can do A LOT of things with only ONE HAND (while holding baby with the other)!

It's also been amazing. I had no idea. I just stare at her and marvel at her perfect little eyelashes. Her eyebrows. Her little fingers and fingernails... My perfect, beautiful little baby! It blows my mind that she GREW in my belly... That she became this amazing little being from a ball of cells... Wow!

For more details of her birth, click here. For the full story of her name, click here. For hospital pictures of Alexa, click here and here. For photos of us bringing Alexa home, click here.

Finally... A few random thoughts!

-- Best diapers for newborns is Pampers with the line that turns green when the diaper is wet!

-- I looooove the Aden & Anais swaddling blankets! And the Ultimate Receiving blanket!

-- I have not used the baby mitts at all. Useless.

-- I looooove my baby sling! I have a black Hotsling. Love it!

-- I also love our infant bouncer seat. We have the Fisher Price my little lamb bouncer.

-- I am sooooo glad we got the bassinet!

-- If you have a changing table on more than one floor... Get two diaper genies!

-- DEFINITELY get newborn photos! Click here to see ours...

I promised to check back in on what we used at the hospital, so I'll be back soon with that post! Now, I've got to feed Alexa again...