February 2006

Announcing the birth of:

Dallin Luis Snider

Feb. 1, 2006

9:59pm

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital

20 1/2 inches

5 lbs 11 oz

In January my blood pressure had gone up a lot. I was monitoring at home and trying to rest as much as possible. Then they had me stay in the hospital one night for a 24-hour urine test, and also steroid shots to help the baby's lungs develop. I was able to go home. Then at my next appointment, Jan 31, there was too much protein in my urine. Yes, I had pre-eclampsia. They sent me straight to the hospital.

It should have been more scary than it was. After all, I was only 34 1/2 weeks along. But I felt calm and peaceful. Jon gave me a blessing. They hooked me up to monitors and my doctor started the cervix softening process. The next morning, the started pitocin. I was also on magnesium to keep me from having seizures.

I rested for a long time until my doctor broke my water around 5 or 6pm. Then contractions really started. Finally it came time to push and it didn't take long for Dallin to be born! I got to hold him only for a minute before they checked him and whisked him off to the NICU. He was on a ventilator for 12 hours.

In total he spent 10 days in the NICU. During this time my Grandma also died. I should have been pretty depressed, but I wasn't. Jon and our friends and family were so supportive. I felt so happy. Dallin had trouble eating, but with time we figured it out. Dallin had trouble keeping his own body temperature, but eventually it evened out. He also spent several days under the lights for jaundice.

We were so glad to bring him home!!