BABY GIRL!

Nikki went into stronger labour on Friday morning. We were admitted to the hospital soon after and we discussed our options with the midwife and obstetrics doctor. We decided to start inducing with a pill. Nikki took one pill at noon and the next at 6 PM. By 10 PM, the contractions were quite strong. Nikki used the nitrous oxide gas intermittendly from midnight to 5 AM. By then the midwife confirmed that she had dilated no more than 3 cm (of the required 10 cm) and the baby's head was not yet engaging the cervix. The doctor felt that moving to a caesarean section was the best option so we told them to get the OR ready for us. In about one hour, Nikki was moved on a stretcher into the Operating Room and within 20 minutes, they had performed the spinal and were ready to remove the baby.

Ten minutes later, using the forceps, the doctor pulled a hefty baby out of Nikki. A girl, which would make her name Winifred Mae Naphan. She is a real porker, weighing 10 pounds, 6.4 ounces. As I write this, Nikki is still paralyzed from the legs down. I got to hold Winnie for about 30 minutes. She just slept but I could tell she is a good baby. It is hard to believe that me and Nikki have a daughter!

The only downside is that our baby might have an infection due to the presence of feces in her amniotic fluid or due to the infection that Nikki contracted due to her water breaking early. Either way, they have our babe hooked up to an IV for 48 hours and so Nikki hasn't held her yet. Soon she will and I'm sure Winnie will take to feeding like fish in water.

Nikki enduring an early contraction


Contractions during the night


Nikki getting moved to the OR


Nikki getting operated on


The new baby


One hour old


Her slightly malformed skull


Three hours old


Curtis holding his eldest daughter


There are more pictures in the Web Album.