Liviana is Here!

Liviana Grace Price arrived at 12:54am, January 18, 2008. She is doing GREAT!

My water broke in the morning which was new for me. In a "normal" situation I would stay home and wait for contractions and labor to begin. Given Livvy's condition I was feeling anxiety at home so we decided to head in although I knew we would face the issue of augmenting with Pitocin since my water was broken. Our doctor was great and went against his own patterns with me. We tried everything for hours and hours and I still was not getting any contractions. LIviana was doing great and was happy as a camper inside her new environment. We walked and walked and walked, sat on the birthing ball and used the breast pump and....nothing. Around 6pm or so I started running a temp which nobody wanted or was comfortable with. It was still low (99.6) but we recognized that we could not wait around for contractions to begin on their own since our membranes were ruptured. Close to 8pm I was started on a low pitocin drip. Given how quick my labors are we did not expect it to take much time. I was so worried for Livvy and how it would effect her, I felt like I had failed her since I wanted to avoid any and all interventions.

I labored for 4+ hours with no pain meds or epidural. I began telling them I was feeling pushy and my biggest concern was getting the team there from NICU awaiting Livvy. I told my doc I was ready to push and kept saying "Come on people" because nobody was ready yet. I held off through a couple of pushing urges while the NICU team and my doc got ready. When I was finally given the go ahead (I still had a small anterior lip) Livvy was out and crying in about 1.5 pushes.

Her cry was great, completely normal. I got to touch her and talk to her while they suctioned her, wiped her a little and cut the cord. She was taken to the warmer where about 8 people including Dr. A. were waiting for her. They intubated her and when they were done and ready to go downstairs to NICU Dr. A. wrapped her up and brought her over to Brad and I to hold briefly. She is SO beautiful and so perfect. She is the Minnie Me of Brad!

I was up and around to see her soon after her birth. She was doing great. Her blood gasses were below 50 and she was actually breathing over her vent. It kept going off alerting everyone to that fact. While this is a great sign they want to keep her from overextending her lungs too. They placed several lines (I know all you CDH moms know what I'm talking about), took x-rays and were doing a heart scan when we were there. She was sedated but I had the chance to kiss her sweet little head and tell her how much mommy loved her.

This morning we spoke with Dr. M., another one of her Neonatologist. He is very pleased with how she is doing. They are planning on doing her sugery on Monday if all holds steady as it is now. They will plan on a scope surgery unless the hernia is too large, at which point they will do the traditional approach. At this point they cannot forsee a reason we would need ECMO. We are still in the "honeymoon period" but they said that 24 to 48 hours is the crucial telltale time period for these little ones but so far she is doing just what they want and hope to see. I got my lessons on what all of the machines mean and are doing to help Livvy. It is a little overwhelming but the CDH moms helped with the process by sharing their stories along the way so I know what to expect.

Oh, the stats. Liviana was 6lbs. 7oz. and is 20 inches long. She was smaller than we all expected but her feet are HUGE and she is all legs. She looks just like Brad and different all together than Miles and Aria. She is a perfect angel.

I think that is all for now. I'm sure I will update often and probably more later. I have wireless in my room right now and I will try to keep everyone informed. Aria and Miles are on their way up right now and I know they are excited to see Momma and Aria is excited to see Liviana.

Thank you everyone for your support, love, caring and prayers. Keep them coming please. These little ones are unpredictable sometimes so we can't get too comfortable with how well she is doing just yet.