The Birth of Peyton Layne Dyer

I woke up on Monday, August 1st not feeling well. I had a headache and stomach ache, but knew I still needed to get some things done at work so I began to get ready. Well, I just didn't feel right so I layed back down for a little bit. My mind continued to think of work, so I just went back to getting ready. I still didn't feel right, so Bill convienced me to lay back down for a little bit and go into work a little later. So I tried this, but wasn't successful and went back to getting ready. I let the dogs out and moved around when I started getting pelvic pain and pressure, which was something I never experienced before. I decided to push through it, but it got worse and worse. I told Bill and we decided to go for a walk. By this time, I was beginning to think I was in early labor and wanted to push things along. We went for a 20-30 minute walk. I was hoping my water would break, but it didn't. I continued to have pain and pressure. So we talked back and forth about going to the hospital or not. I was at 2-3 cms at my appointment on the Friday before and wasn't really having an contractions and didn't want to go to the hospital if I wasn't in labor. So we called Bill's mom and she said they would do an assessment and decide what to do from there. We tossed it back and forth and decided to just go and see what they woud say. We called my mom and told her and after getting ready and finishing our packing, we headed to the hospital around 9:00. After being admitted and checked, I was still only at 2-3cm, but I was having contractions. The nurses called my doctor and said I could go home and let labor continue or go ahead and have my water broken, since I was going to be induced on that Friday (if she hadn't come before then). We decided we were ready to meet our baby girl! My doctor came around noon to break my water. We hoped she would arrive sometime before the night was over.

As the afternoon went on, I progressed slowly. My doctor came after his office closed and checked me and I was only at a 4-5cm. He said it would probably be in the morning, but I was hoping he was wrong. August 2nd is Bill's birthday and that is the only date I didn't want to have her so that they both could have their own days. They uped my pitocin and I was hoping that would make the labor go quickly.

Bill was testing the camera-the warm carrier where baby will be shortly after birth

Filling in the baby book while waiting and letting time pass

We had visitors come that evening, hoping to be there to meet our baby. Well, she had other plans. I started getting some major back pain around 6. All along I was trying to NOT get the epidural and wanted to see how far I could make it and go as natural as possible. My labor wasn't bad, but I was getting more and more back pain. Around 8:00 that night, I decided to get the epidural. The pain wasn't too bad, but I thought it might get worse and I thought that maybe if I got the epidural, I would dialate sooner and faster. My dad, Bill's mom, my sister and brother-in-law, and Bill's best friend and daughter all came and stayed until about 10:00 and then went home. My doctor came back about that time and said everything was fine, but that it would be morning before she would be here. I turned and looked at Bill and said," Well, I'll never have to get you anything for your birthday again!" We knew Peyton was going to be born on his birthday!

Around 2:00 am on August 2nd, the nurse checked me and I was still at 5-6cm. She seemed a little concerned, which scared me. She said she was going to call the doctor and let him know of my progress. It was then that I prayed that I wouldnt' have a c-section. This was something I didn't want all along and I was afraid it was going to happen. She came back and said the doctor just wanted to up my pitocin some more and move me to my side to keep checking the babies heart rate (I had to keep doing this throughout my labor). I believe that was the trick because I then went from 5-6cm to 7-8 in about an hour.

I had finally reached 10cm at 5:40 am and was ready to push. Since I had an epidural, I wasn't sure how well I would be able to push or for how long, which was something else I feared. Once I started pushing, my doctor told me that the baby had the cord wrapped around her neck. At this point, my husband, who had been so calm, began to freak out, even though the doctor had reassured us everything was fine. I only pushed for a little over 30 minutes. At 6:23 am, Peyton Layne Dyer was born! The doctor immediately untangled the cord from her neck, which was actually wrapped TWICE! Bill and my mom were both in tears, while I was making sure she was still a girl!!! When the doctor held her up for me to see, I began to have tears run down my face as we were granted our miracle and our prayers were answered. The nurses began cleaning her off, while Bill and my mom went to tell Bill's mom and my dad. She didn't cry much and I just sat there and adored her.

Absolutely beautiful

Not too happy, but we sure were!

Finally, Bill came back after telling everyone that she was here safety and what her name was, since we kept the name a secret. I always wanted him to hold her first and it sure brought tears to me eyes to see my love holding our new love!

Bill holding his daughter for the first time

My Loves

After Bill held her, I was able to hold her. It was so special and is something I can't describe. It was so special and I was filled with so much joy to finally be a mommy and so blessed to be given such a gift. Peyton was then taken to the nursery to be weighed, run tests, and given her bath. My family went and got some breakfast while I ordered mine from the cafeteria. I hadn't ate anything, besides jello and popsicle, since Sunday night so I was ready for a meal. Biscuits and Gravy sounded wonderful at the time, but about 5 minutes after I ate it, my stomach didn't agree and it came back up. I still think I had some of the epidural medicine in me and that is why I got nausated.

Once we got into our regular room, I was curious to know how much Peyton weighed. I only gained 9 pounds throughout my pregnancy, so I wanted to see how much of that was Peyton. I figured she was 7 or 8 something, since she had such long arms and legs. My mom came and told me that she weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce! I was shocked! She was so much smaller than I had ever thought! They finally brought her down to my room when they were done. I was so excited to see who she looked like, since I only saw and held her for a few minutes. I also wanted to see how long her toes were, etc. She definitely looked like me, had such long arms and legs like my dad, and had very little hair.

Still in the fetal position

My mom checking her hair out

So peaceful

Already sticking her tongue out at people!

The board in our room

After feeding her and when my parents left, Bill and I were exhausted and ready for some rest! We were so happy to be parents, but needing our rest before our rollercoaster began.

More pictures of Peyton to come!

Whitney