I'm a GREAT Aunt!!

Hayden Alexander Payne's Birth Story:

As you may have read in previous posts, Hardy's nephew Heath recently got married in May. He and his wife Chelsea were expecting a baby boy this July. They spent the night with us Saturday evening, playing Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and watched some episodes of True Blood Season 2. On Sunday, they left our house around 12:45pm. Afterward, I hopped in the shower and was planning to take a nap since I had a rough night with little sleep.

I must have been laying down for 30mins or so when I got a call from Chelsea, then Heath's mom and Chelsea again. Finally on the third phone call I made myself get up and answer. Chelsea said she thought her water had broke. I asked her to hold tight and I would be over there in a few minutes. We picked them up and headed for Northside Hospital.

She was admitted into the hospital at 3:30. At 4pm, the mid-wife came in and checked to see if in fact her water had broken and it had! She was already dilated 4cm, so they hooked her up to an IV with some fluids and pitocin and the wait began.

Chelsea thought she was lucky in the beginning because even though the monitor was showing some pretty decent contractions, she said she couldn't feel a thing.

(The lowest line is her contractions, they were about 2mins apart here)

At 7pm the mid-wife came back in to check her again, by this time she was 6cm, she also noticed "the sack" hadn't completely broken and that was probably why Chelsea wasn't feeling the contractions as bad. She went ahead and ruptured what was left - it sounded like the Buford Dam erupted (this is exactly what the midwife described it as and quite honestly...she was right!). I would like to say the mid-wife was so informative, kind hearted and supportive. Chelsea really couldn't have asked for a better team. After her water was officially broken, you know...all the way - the contractions really started to show their ugly face. We left the room to give Chelsea some space and time to rest then asked the nurse to prescribe her some pain medicine.

When we returned, which only seemed like 30mins, but by the look on Chelsea's face it was an eternity.  In tears from the progression of the contractions and the fact the pain medicine had obviously worn off, it was time for epidural.  At approx 10pm, they administered epidural, checked her one last time, she was now at 7/8cm and told her to rest. We waited and waited and waited. At 11:55pm the nurse came in and decided to hook up a scalp heart monitor to the baby since the belly monitor wasn't picking up his heart rate as loudly as they wanted it too and so they could keep a better eye on things.

At 12:50am the mid-wife came in, checked her one last time and said "She's complete, oh we need to get the team in here now, his head is right here at the end."  To say we were all shocked was an understatement.  She was just admitted at 4pm and here it is 1am and she's ready?!?

As they set up the room for delivery, they went ahead and had two members of the NICU come in ready to check him out after birth. Hayden was 35 weeks and 3 days which is just at the borderline for automatic NICU admission. This was only the second time in my life, being in the delivery room, the first was with my little brother Trevor and I didn't watch every single thing.

It was quite an experience....it's amazing to see what the body can do during pregnancy, let alone the actual birth. I was happy to have been able to share such a special moment with the two of them. Chelsea did amazing.  Within 20mins and about 10 good pushes, Hayden made his debut at 1:33am 6/13/11!!! 10 fingers, 10 toes and a very healthy 6.7lbs, 19.5" long.

They cleaned him up, handed him to Mom & Dad and then took him off to NICU for further observation.

As of today he's improving, but still has some breathing problems.  Mom and Dad are doing well and are scheduled to come home on Wednesday (let's cross our fingers that Hayden will join them).

Happy Birthday Hayden Alexander Payne

&

Congratulations Heath & Chelsea

I LOVE YOU!!!

Check out his long feet!!

This year has been bittersweet, I've been present for someone leaving this world and someone coming into this world. Makes you REALLY appreciate life