Adelyn Mae

Our little lady just couldn't wait until March. Adelyn Mae decided to make her debut at 4:49am on Monday February, 7th. She is absolutely beautiful and already has Mommy and Daddy in complete love. She was born at 34 weeks and 3 days. Saturday evening I left work early to go to the hospital and get checked out for some cramping. I was having contractions between 1-5 minutes apart, but they were not accomplishing anything at that time. So I was given some medication to stop the contractions and told to go home and rest. Sunday morning the contractions started again, and I took more medication that eventually stopped them again. The contractions started happening again Sunday evening, they were much less routine but more intense. We debated for a few hours whether to go to the hospital or wait until morning to go to the doctor. After a very strong contraction we decided to go in, completely unprepared for what was to come. Upon arrival they notified us that at some point during the day my water had broken, I was dilating and effacing. So we were informed we would be admitted and having a baby in February as opposed to March. By the time we were in the labor and delivery room, I had dilated another 2 cm and ready for the epidural. I was debating on if I wanted it right away or to wait, thank goodness I didn't wait. By the time the epidural was in place I had dilated another 4 cm. After the epidural I was able to rest for the last 2 cm and enjoy the calm before the storm. After less than an hour of pushing, Miss Adelyn Mae was born. We arrived at the hospital at 9:20pm and she was born at 4:49am the following morning. She weighed 6lbs 15 1/2 ozs and was 20 1/2 inches in length. Her head was 13 1/4 inches for those that thought she would have a big head. Since she was early they had the NICU team available to take her to the NICU to care for her. Once she was delivered we were able to hold and love her for a while before they took her upstairs to the NICU. Her first cry was music to our ears!

Her first day of life was pretty eventful. Her apgar scores were good at 7 and 8, but while she was in the NICU she was having to work a little harder to rid her body of carbon dioxide. She started on oxygen through a nasal cannula, then CPAP machine, and finally was intubated so her lungs didn't have to work so hard. After some cuddle time with Mommy & Daddy yesterday, she was doing so well. She was only intubated for 24 hours and needed one dose of surfactant, and her levels improved. She is now back to CPAP with the doctor's anticipation of going back to the nasal cannula and then room air. They are saying she is very strong and doing really well. Today she was started on breast milk and they will continue to increase how much she gets until she is able to breastfeed. Today we were able to cuddle with her more and she was making more sounds, making faces, opening her eyes to daddy's voice, and moving her mouth in a sucking motion.

This unexpected early arrival has put us into a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but we are leaning on each other for support as well as our amazing family and friends. It is a little difficult walking back to our room without her, after spending time with her in the NICU. However, it has also been nice to allow myself to recover while we know she is being cared for around the clock. She is also allowing us to get things ready for her at home. The plan is for us to go home tomorrow evening, and continue to have Adelyn in the NICU until she is well enough to go home. We were told prior to her birth she could need to stay until her due date, but most of the people we have spoken with have said probably closer to when she is 37 weeks. We are just hoping to be pleasantly surprised when she gets to come home. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and well wishes, she could never have too many!

With Love, Tim, Emily, and Adelyn!