Welcome Lucy Joy

Welcoming Lucy Joy to the Javid home. (Daddy's perspective)

Wednesday night I got home from school/work and Stephanie was doing great. Stephanie did wonderful through out the entire pregnancy. She hardly ever complained and was generally positive. She said she hadn't had any contractions today and was feeling very good. She had cooked a fabulous new southern chicken type of meal and we ate and Steph joked on how this baby must be a Sucher baby because it is obviously late.
Well, baby heard her say that and said "NOPE! I am a Javid and will be on time!" and needless to say Steph started having what she thought were contractions at about 6:30pm. We got excited because they were regular, happening every 15 minutes. Stephanie was sure to remind me that these weak contractions can last for days and that they didn't necessarily mean anything. And so we had a good night talking and being with each other.
At about 1:40 in the morning Stephanie woke up and went to the bathroom and then came and got me and said "I think my water broke!" I was like okay but lets be sure so come back to bed and if we still see you are leaking in an hour we will go to the hospital. It didn't take an hour to figure that out. Within a minute we were positive her water had broken.
I had Steph call her mom so she could jump on a 7am flight from Utah and hopefully be here in time for the birth. Then I called the hospital and they told us to come on in. So we took our time packing and getting ready. Steph wanted to do her hair first but then half way through decided it didn't matter. We were both thrilled. Stephanie remained very calm and happy which surprised both of us. It was a very pleasant time driving to the hospital. As we were driving the contractions were happening every 5 minutes and lasted about 40 seconds. We arrived at the hospital at 3:00 AM. When they first checked Stephanie she was 1 to 2 cm and 80% effaced. The hours from 3am to 6am flew by. It didn't seem like it was that long. We had a very nice nurse that took care of us. Stephanie contractions increased to about 3 minutes apart and grew much more intense. Stephanie would pull in and concentrate during the contractions wanting me to hold her hand but not say anything. The babies heart rate was good and the head was already right against the cervix.
At 6:00 AM Stephanie was checked again and she was 3 cm and progressing nicely. At 7 the anathesologist came in for the day and she was more than ready to order that epidural. It was done by 7:30. It was the PERFECT epidural, Steph still had feeling in her legs and toes and still felt the pressure of the baby but the pain was virtually gone. Stephanie also had been throwing up at every contraction for the last hour and a half before the epidural and so they gave her some medication called zofran and she was back to life! For the next few hours she chatted happily and even took two short naps. As it was progressing she started to feel the contractions more and more but she said it was never as bad as before she had the epidural. At 12:45pm the nurse checked Stephanie again and said she was complete and ready to start pushing. Luckily within 5 minutes of pushing her mom and my mom arrived at the hospital. Everyone had their positions. I held one of her hands and legs while her mom held the other to help her push. My mom took pictures and handed her water after each contraction. At 2:04pm little Lucy Joy was born. Stephanie was amazing and we both feel so blessed at how well everything turned out.
Our great doctor (who was so kind to take Stephanie on as a new patient at 37 weeks) quickly sucked out the nose and mouth and Lucy shouted for joy as she saw us! I cut the cord and Lucy was placed on Stephanie's chest. We got to enjoy Lucy for a full hour before they even weighed her. It was amazing because the whole time we were at the hospital Lucy never left the room except for the hearing test which I performed myself! (I am at the hospital every Thursday administering hearing screenings to the newborns) She didn't cry much at all. Just a few tears during her first bath and for the two shots they gave her. But she was tough and shook it off quickly! Stephanie and I love Lucy with all our hearts and are proud to welcome her into the Javid home. (She is sooooooo cute just like Stephanie)