Baby Girl

Sarah Kathleen Turner

February 26, 2010

6 lbs 9 oz

20 inches

• Sarah came a week early via c-section. Emmy was a c-section (she extended her arm out the birth canal) so I had debated vaginal versus repeat c-section for my whole pregnancy. Sarah was due on March 5 and I had decided to schedule a c-section for March 9 if I didn't go into labor before then. On February 23 I went to the doctor for a routine check. The measurements of my tummy showed she hadn't grown for three weeks. I had an ultrasound and she was small for one of my babies, but everything looked fine. My doctor wanted to see me twice a week and do stress tests on the baby to make sure everything was okay. Or, he said, he would do a c-section that Friday. The night following that appointment was full of stress for me. I didn't sleep very much, I laid awake making sure my baby was moving. Greg and I decided that the best route, the thing that felt right, was to have the baby sooner than later. I was worried that since my babies have all been late, she would stay in me and not grow for two more weeks. So, Friday afternoon we went to the hospital ready to have our baby.

• It's a weird thing, having a scheduled c-section. I got my hair done that morning, ran a couple of errands, then came home and packed a bag for the hospital. We went to the hospital, filled out admitting papers, and got settled in a room. The nurse put in my iv (after two painful attempts - you should see my bruise) and I was all prepped for the surgery. I was nervous, but I knew it would be okay. I guess the biggest difference between a scheduled c-section and a vaginal delivery is when you are in pain. C-section - your pain comes after and lingers a lot longer. Natural delivery - the pain comes before and I think is more intense. Greg remarked that for him, there aren't huge differences - he is the supporting role either way.

• So the three days prior to the delivery I had worried and worried about our baby. Then suddenly it was time. I laid on the surgery table and heard the sweetest sound in all the world. My sweet baby crying, gasping for breath. Tears ran down my face as soon as I heard her and knew she was okay. My doctor said, "What a scrawny cord! It's a good thing we got her out today." The cord was around her neck a couple of times, so it was likely that my attempted vaginal delivery would have ended in a c-section anyway.

• Sarah was hard to name. I had been wanting to name her Rose and call her Rosie but I couldn't ever get Greg to come around to that name. The couple of days before her birth we really agreed on the name Claire. I really thought that would be her name but when we saw her she just wasn't a Claire (or a Chloe or Jane or Julia). Sarah had been on our list of 20-30 names we liked, but it didn't float to the top until after she had been born. But Sarah just fit her - so Sarah she is. Kathleen is my mom's name. I had some different middle names I was toying with as well, but my cute husband insisted that Sarah be named after my mom. How could I argue? And the more I thought about how much my mom has given me and sacrificed for her kids, I thought, how could we not name this baby after her?

• We are in love with our baby Sarah. Every last one of us. She is perfect. She is beautiful. She was meant to come to this crazy little family of ours. We are so happy.