Sarah Lois Reed has joined our family, and we can't stop smiling! She was born on September 9, 2010 at 5:19pm, weighed 5 lbs, 15 oz and measured 18 1/2 in long. She's a tiny, beautiful, and calm baby, and we just adore her. Last Wednesday, when I went in for my 39 week check-up, she was measuring quite small, as if I were only 33 weeks where the previous week, she was right on track. My doctor was concerned and didn't know if she had just dropped and was curled up real tight, if she was losing weight, or if there was insufficient amniotic fluid. So he ordered an ultrasound ASAP. When Wade and I went in 8:30am on Thursday morning, the ultrasound doctor thought it might be best to induce me that day and called Dr. Stowers, my OB, to get his opinion. I originally didn't want to be induced since I had been practicing with Hypnobirthing for months and planned on a natural birth. Dr. Stowers said even if he gave me pitocin to get me started, he would be happy to support me in going unmedicated the rest of the way. So Wade and I decided to do it. I mean this could be our baby's birthday. We were really excited!
I checked into Labor and Delivery at 9:30am, and then they spent the next 2 hours trying to regulate my blood pressure, which had sky rocketed out of no where. It was high enough that the doctor would have wanted to induce me that day anyway. Once my blood pressure went down at 11:30am, the nurse started me on pitocin. 
At 1:30pm, Dr. Stowers broke my water. And that's when my contractions started getting more and more intense. Wade and my good friend, Christine, who acted as my doula, helped me relax and breath through my contractions. It felt amazing to overcome each one. I didn't feel pain until transition because I somehow lost my focus and relaxation. I wanted to give up for those 15 minutes, but my nurse, Brittany, assured me I was in transition and that it was now time to push. What a relief! I pushed for about 10 minutes and she came posterior at 5:19pm. What a beautiful experience to feel my baby as she emerged from my body! 
Words cannot describe my joy, and I know Wade feels the same way. I was able to have skin to skin contact immediately with Sarah after she was born. That was really special. She even latched on to breastfeed for several minutes. We cuddled skin to skin for about 45 minutes before the nurse took her to be weighed. 
At 1:30pm, Dr. Stowers broke my water. And that's when my contractions started getting more and more intense. Wade and my good friend, Christine, who acted as my doula, helped me relax and breath through my contractions. It felt amazing to overcome each one. I didn't feel pain until transition because I somehow lost my focus and relaxation. I wanted to give up for those 15 minutes, but my nurse, Brittany, assured me I was in transition and that it was now time to push. What a relief! I pushed for about 10 minutes and she came posterior at 5:19pm. What a beautiful experience to feel my baby as she emerged from my body! Words cannot describe my joy, and I know Wade feels the same way. I was able to have skin to skin contact immediately with Sarah after she was born. That was really special. She even latched on to breastfeed for several minutes. We cuddled skin to skin for about 45 minutes before the nurse took her to be weighed. My team with little Sarah
Thank you so much Christine and Wade for your incredible support! 
Emily holding her baby sister for the first time
