Hanna Laura
Born: Sept 11, 1998
Time: 12:50 a.m.
Weight : 4lbs 9 oz.
Length: 17 3/4 inches

Through out most of my pregnancy I had blood pressure that was normal to the high end of normal. In September of last year (1998), Grant and I attended a wedding, and I was swollen, very swollen. On the Monday after the wedding weekend, I worked and then went for my routine bi-weekly check up on Tuesday (I was about 8.5 months). When I went to the doctors, my blood pressure was very high. So I was informed that I was to quit work immediately and go onto strict bed rest only getting up to go the bathroom and eat. I hated that, but it was important.

I went back to the doctors on Thursday and my pressure was even higher. I was then informed that I would be going to the hospital. I, of course, started to cry. I was only joking when I said I wanted the baby now, and I didn't want to wait anymore. I can wait, I can wait. LOL! So I drove my self home and tried to find someone to take me to the hospital and sit with me until Grant could get there. The doctor said that I had to go home, make the phone calls and get to the hospital. I wasn't allowed to pack a bag or do anything. I, of course, didn't cause I was scared something terrible would happen.

I was checked in the hospital by noon, my mother in law left work and came right away. God Bless Her. They hooked me up to a least 4 IV's, doing lord only knows what. I know that one was to try and bring the pressure down. The OB came in and introduced herself, (my doc, just a regular doc, turned my case over to her) and told me the game plan. Since my pressure wasn't coming down, she wanted to remove the cause of the high blood pressure, meaning time to induce. I guess the oxytocin drip started around 2pm. Many hours passed and not much happened, I was progressing normally I assumed.

Around 8pm that night, I was getting contractions a lot faster and every time I did the babies heart rate dropped. So they turned the drip off and let things settle down again. At about 10pm they decided to try the drip again. This time things were going very smoothly. My OB had gone home had some supper and was coming back. She arrived at my bed side just before midnight and told me what to watch for, or should I say feel for. That I would feel pressure at my butt when it was time, she figured I had about hour before it was show time, and she was going to take a nap.

Well no sooner did she leave the room, and I felt the pressure, I told the nurse and I am sure that she thought I was making things up, so she went out of the room and talked with the doctor. I then felt like pushing and I made Grant go and get someone. They all came back in the room and sure enough it was time. Ha, I was right. Hee hee. Half an hour later and 5 really good pushes, Hanna was born. We were warned that Hanna could come and be not breathing, breathing but not responding, or just fine.

Well she is nothing like her mother, ya right, she came out kicking and screaming and surprised everyone in the room. That's my girl! Grant got to cut the cord and hold her. He put her on my chest as I was being "repaired", and then suddenly I asked Grant to take the baby, he looked at me funny and didn't take her. I asked again slighter louder now, take the baby. He still wasn't moving and finally I screamed at anyone who would listen to take the baby. I think they all thought that I was post partum, and rejecting my new born child. Suddenly my pressure went from really high to really low in a matter of seconds. It was very strange, I could hear everything, but I couldn't open my eyes or move any of my body except my head, and only a little. I could hear the panic in everyone's voices. Grant told me that my lips turned a bluish color. Nice eh? I guess it took about an hour, but I came back around. It was a concern because with the high blood pressure, there is still the risk of me going into a coma or having seizures for up to 72 hours after birth . I went home after 5 days, and Hanna came home after 13 very long days. Not bad for 6 weeks early. The rest is history.