The Manke Family: Pregnancy and Labor & Delivery

We found out we were pregnant on April 19... the day after our second anniversary! I was in total disbelief when I found out... so much so that I took 5 tests within 24 hours! We had our first ultrasound on May 6 at 6 weeks when our little guy was less than an inch long and found out our due date was December 25! We told our parents on Sunday, May 8 which was Mother's Day.

Fast forward 9 months... Overall had a very healthy pregnancy with very few complaints except exhaustion, back aches and nausea. The last 2 weeks were the hardest as I very stupidly had in my mind that I wanted him to come early (before Christmas!) so we could show him off over the holidays. Word of advice to pregnant ladies: NEVER think that... it slowly kills you!! I was also placed on modified bedrest due to an elevated blood pressure, but of course being an antsy person, it was hard making me stay confined to a bed. I did enjoy sleeping as much as possible and watching movies, but I did go stir crazy! Just ask my mom, sister and Trudy... all 3 who fell prank to my fake Santa Clause calls I generated over an internet website!

December 29 around 10:45, Ryan and I had just finished a movie and thought I felt my water start to leak. After calling the nurses at the hospital and them pretty much confirming that's what it was, we headed to the hospital around 2am. Within those few hours, I was able to eat and take a shower, while Ryan took a short nap. When I got there, they truly confirmed my water was leaking and we were there to stay... the disappointing part is that I was dilated to a 1, so the started pitocin and also inserted a small 4cm catheter of fluid to help weigh down my cervix and help me dilate. It was very uncomfortable, but the doctor assured me it would only be about 4 hours or so before I was dilated to a 4. 8 hours later and on my 3rd bag of pitocin, I was at a 5!! The contractions were 90 seconds long and 2 minutes apart, so I opted for an epidural and am so thankful I did!! I didn't feel a thing from my chest down (and looking back I now realize that could've been a scary feeling in the moment...), and was able to take a 2 hour nap before beginning to push at 10:00pm. My mom, dad and sister also made a quick visit up to my room to say hello, which was re-energizing after laying in bed all day!

44 minutes later, Cameron Ryan entered the world and from that moment on, our lives have never been the same!!! He had a full head of hair and very large hands and feet! The first thing Ryan and I noticed were his hands... they looked huge! Ryan was a very proud daddy and couldn't put him down... in fact the hospital team had to ask for him back when they did his vitals, Vitamin K shot, etc.

We stayed at the hosptial until Sunday, January 1, rining in the new year with our beautiful baby boy! We talked about how it may have been the most eventful NYE ever, but just in a different way this year!

Welcome to the World, Cameron Ryan!

8 lbs, 4 oz, 22 in