Austin - 5 days

Austin had his first drs appointment today, since leaving the hospital. He has significantly decreased in birth weight to 7 lbs 13 oz. (45th percentile). His height has increased to 20 3/4 inches (75th percentile). His head circumference is 14 inches.

Austin also has his first broken bone - his collar bone on his left side appears to have broken during his trip through the birth canal. The doctor is not alarmed and said that this is not unusual. The bone should heal itself.

Austin - 3 days

Grandma and Grandpa Hansford and Aunt Dawn, Uncle Erik and Regina all came to visit Austin today. He slept the ENTIRE time - no matter how much Uncle Erik tried to tickle him, he slept right through it. Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Dawn got to see Austin right when he was born, but only for a brief time, but for Uncle Erik and Regina, this was the first time that they met Austin.

Austin - Birth

Austin Finley Hansford was born today, April 2, 2009 at 5:57PM at Spectrum Hospital (Dr. Werkema of West Michigan OB/GYN).
8lbs 3 oz
20.5 inches

Delivery

After the cytotex pill that I started with last night at about 11pm, I was given my first round of Pitocin at around 6am. It didn't take long for the contractions to increase (the monitor showed that I was already experiencing contractions, but not enough to be considered active labor). About every 1-2 hours, my dilation increased 1cm, from the beginning dilation of 3cm. After using a "labor ball" (similar to a large exercise ball) for about a half hour, my waters broke. Active labor, with contractions right on top of each other, started at around 4pm, at which time I received the epidural. With Brian and my mom at my side, I had a successful traditional birth with only 1 hour and 45 minutes of active labor.

Delivery

We had another doctor's appointment today and it was quite a shock to Brian and I. My blood pressure fluctuated between 155-165/90s, protein continued to show in my urinalysis, my vision was showing signs of seeing spots and my edema was at an all-time extreme. With all of these symptoms together and the fact that we had cleared the point of being term (we are 37 weeks and 3 days), the doctor decided that it is imperitive that I be induced in order to prevent the complications with preeclampsia (losing too much blood, seizures, stroke, etc).



He set the appointment for induction at Spectrum Hospital for 930pm tonight. Though we are in a state of shock, we are pretty excited that we are going to see our son soon.



The doctor said that it would be okay to eat, so I decided that my last meal would be a quesadilla from El Burrito. After dinner, we will grab all of our bags and head to the hospital where we will meet my mom and Brian's mom and dad.