Clarks.: Baby Eva

Eva Ann Clark entered this world on Sunday, August 9th, 2009 at 3:37 pm. Eva was born 2 weeks and 1 day early and weighed in at a whopping 5 pounds and 6 ounces and was 18 inches long.

After battling with a mild case of preeclampsia for about 1 month my doctor decided it was time to induce me. My body was not ready to go into labor so we knew it was going to be a very long process. The induction started Saturday morning, August 8th. Around midnight on Saturday is when they started pitocin. I started having contractions pretty soon after the pitocin was started and Eva did not like the contractions one bit. Every time I had a hard contraction her heart rate would drop. So for several hours the pit was on, and then off, back on, and then off again. Sunday morning my Doctor broke my water and I got an epidural a couple of hours after that. Eva didn't like the epidural either. The second the epidural was in and taking effect her heart rate dropped again and this time it dropped low and for a little too long. My nurse and anesthesiologist quickly lowered the dosage on the epidural and gave me some medication to help get her heart rate back to where it should be. A few more hours passed of trying to get the pitocin to kick in and then finally, around 2pm on Sunday, my doctor decided it was time to do a c-section. A quick hour and a half later Eva was here.

The c-section went very well thanks hugely in part to great nurses and a great Doctor. JP was there and was able to watch Eva take her first breath in this crazy world. My sister Diane is a nurse in American Fork Labor and Delivery and was able to be in the room for the c-section. Diane was also around for most of the rest of the labor part. It was so comforting knowing that I had a great sister there to help take care of me!

Wednesday morning JP and I were able to bring our sweet little angel home. Eva has been nearly perfect for this first week of her life. She rarely cries and is as close to perfect as I think a newborn baby comes. When we brought Eva home she only weighed 4lbs and 12oz. By Friday she had gained a few ounces and was up to 4lbs and 15oz. She has nearly another week to be back to her birth weight.

Mother is recovering quite well and getting back to feeling normal fairly quick. JP and I are loving being parents. Having such a perfect little baby seems to make the time we waited to get her here so worth it.