Paige’s vitals:

Born May 8, 2008, 9:10 pm weighing 8 pounds and measuring 20 inches at birth.

Paige’s birth story:

Melissa’s due date was May 1 and that day came and went with no excitement. Her doctors recommended an induction to be scheduled for the following week, May 8.

When we arrived at Inova Alexandria Hospital Thursday morning for the 7:30 am induction, Melissa had already started having contractions on her own (she thinks the contractions probably started in the early morning about 5 am). We discussed with the doctors and nurses about the pros and cons of moving ahead with the induction, so until we made a decision we stayed at the hospital to see if her contractions started to get closer and stronger on their own.

At about 3 pm her water broke but her contractions were still somewhat irregular so we decided to supplement with a small dose of potocin to regulate the contractions. That worked.

Around 7:30 pm the midwife wanted Melissa to start trying to push. Melissa pushed for an hour but the baby appeared to be stuck - the widest part of her head was trying to get through the narrowest part of Mel’s pelvis. The baby had also swallowed some meconium and there was a chance since she was stuck that if she was in there too long she would swallow more and get a serious infection in her lungs.

We all decided a c-section was the best and necessary option to get the baby out as safely and healthy as possible. Melissa went into surgery about 9 pm and little Paige came out at 9:10 pm.

Paige was having some problems breathing and had a good deal of gunk in her lungs so she was almost immediately taken up to the nursery where she was administered some medicine to clear her out and help her breathing. Fortunately, the medicine worked (and spared her from the NICU) and Paige received a clean bill of health.

Melissa was required to stay at the hospital through Sunday - Mother’s Day - and was discharged around 2 pm. We’re all home now and happy and Paige’s lungs have recovered nicely shall we say - just ask Buddy the cat if you can find him!