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Week by Week

Abigail Jeanette Horkins

name - Abigail Jeanette Horkins
d.o.b. - 2/16/96
weight - 5lbs 13oz 18 1/2 inches
time of birth- 6:31 p.m.

After a rather difficult pregnancy my labor was induced on 2/16 due to high blood pressure and starting to spill protein in my urine - it was almost three weeks early. I checked into the hospital at 11:30 a.m. and they broke my water at 12:00. I was already 2 centimeters and 50%. My contractions which had been every 3 to 4 minutes continued at the same pattern. They were not painful and not really considered labor. At 3:00 they decided to start a pitocin drip (which I was not thrilled about). My contractions started getting heavy at 3:30, they were coming every two or so minutes and lasted 60 seconds. I was unable to get out of bed because the baby's heart rate kept going down with every contraction. I spent my entire labor either on my right side or on my hands and knees. I also had to wear an oxygen mask most of labor. This made it extremely difficult to concentrate on breathing and "natural childbirth". Luckily my husband and I had decided to use a doula and she was incredible. With her help I was able to stay on top of my contractions and focus, which is hard to do with pitocin.

At 5:15 my OB checked me and I was at 3 centimeters and 90%. I was starting to think about getting an epidural and my OB was thinking about a C-section because the baby wasn't doing very well. By 6:00 my husband and bestfriend decided to go get some food and left for the cafeteria. My doula stayed with me which is a good thing because about twenty minutes later my contractions changed and I felt this incredible pressure in my low back and I knew I had to push. My doula saw me pushing and yelled at me to stop because everyone thought I was still at 3 centimeters. The nurse ran into the room and checked me and ran for the doctor because I was at 10 and 100%. I noticed a lot of people coming into the room and panicking because no-one was prepared. My doctor finally let me push and with one push her head was out and without another push the rest of her came right out. They discovered the cord was around her neck and that was why her heart rate was so low with contractions. I had one very small tear, which required only one stitch. My husband and bestfriend walked in as she was being cleaned and checked over. Boy were they surprised that in the twenty or so minutes they were gone I delivered the baby.

Pitocin made my labor very short but also a lot more painful then my first labor which was 13 hours. Still it was worth it in the end and I had a healthy baby girl with apgar scores of 9 and 9. What a difference no pain medicine and no episiotomy made in my recovery time. I felt great just a few hours later.

Mommy, Daddy, Big Brother Jesse and Baby Abby are all do just great!