Miss Sierra Alexis Bennett

Sierra Alexis Bennett was born at 1:36 p.m. on January 29, 2009. She weighed 7 lbs, 19 inches and is absolutely beautiful. I began having contractions around 1:30 a.m. on January 28, 2009 and I woke Kevin up on Friday around 4:30 a.m. We called our doula on our way to the hospital and she began her trip her into town around 5:30 a.m. to be with us. Kevin and I spent our time in early labor playing Wii Bowling, typical us. We went to the hospital at 4 p.m after laboring in a room outside of the hospital and I still wasn't very far along, so we went back to our room. After 4 more hours in our room we went back to the hospital and I was admitted. At that time, we continued to work through the contractions. At the end of the day, we had been in labor for 30 hours when Kev and I were told that the baby is doing great, but I am not dilating appropriately and the baby isn't moving down. So our desire for natural labor was just removed from our birth plan and replaced with an epidural and pitocin to speed along my contractions and dilation. While the epidural was taking affect, I was able to get a little bit of rest before we started pushing again and it was wonderful sleep after 30 hours of natural labor. I begin pushing 2 hours later, for the next two hours. After a total of 4 more hours, I was checked, and Miss Sierra still hadn't moved. Now Kevin and I had to make another decision. We could either use forceps, the vacuum extractor, or a C-sections. Kev and I discussed it and I couldn't imagine the risk of using the forceps or vacuum extractor, if we had the choice. We decided to have a C-section because we were more comfortable with the risk, than putting our baby in danger. The surgery and recovery took another 2 hours, total labor was 36 hours and I would do it all over again.

Kev was able to be with me while my C-section was occurring and was able to announce the gender of our baby. Our baby had flipped from my last ultrasound and was in a head down, face-up position, which is not ideal for natural labor and causes back labor. Kev's fingers and knuckles were sore the following day after pushing on my back to relieve the pain for so many hours.

Once Kev announced that Sierra was born, he was with the baby from that moment on. He was able to show me my baby girl, but I couldn't hold her, yet. He followed her out of the operating room to have her final checks, shots, and he even changed her first diaper. My mom and dad were also able to be with Kevin and Sierra while she was going through the "newborn" stuff.

I was beyond excited to hold our beautiful baby, Sierra, for the first time. She took to breastfeeding without a problem, even though we weren't able to start right after birth. Below are pictures from the hospital and going home.

My first nap after 30 hours of labor with my epidural. I'm so pretty....


All bundled up and looking cute!!!


Sierra in her car seat.


The new Bennett family. Mommy looks rough, but Daddy and Sierra both look amazing.




The next pictures were taken in our home.

Sleeping in bed with Mommy and Daddy.


Sierra and her fist pair of adidas shoes, storm tropper style. Yelp, too big, but we had to see them on her.




Sierra hangin' out in her bouncer.


Sierra talking to Papaw.


Sierra sleeping on her Mamaw.


The next 3 pictures show the little personality Sierra already has, I think she takes after her Daddy. Sierra was laying on the floor with a blanket over her, but for some reason her little "piggies" were hanging out. After we(Kev, Mamaw, Papaw, and I)noticed her "piggies" were out, Daddy and I were about to fix it when she pulled them in on her own. Daddy put some slippers on her feet and right back out her covered little "piggies" came, and stayed for the rest of her nap. Here are the pictures of her silliness.






The next pictures are of my wonderful husband and beautiful daughter Sierra.



I want to thank our doula who attended our birth and another helper during our birth. I know Kev and I wouldn't have been able to labor naturally without their expertise and continual support. We may not have achieved our birth plan, and we had to make several modifications to our wishes, but at the end of the day, we had an absolutely beautiful, little angel.

I need to thank Mamaw and Papaw for being with us after Sierra's delivery and when we went home. Their help can't even be described, but Kev and I really appreciate all they have done for us.

Kevin has been the most amazing husband anyone could ever ask for through labor, surgery, and all of my post-surgery needs. There is not one more thing he could do for Sierra or me at this point and is taking all my limitations in stride each day. I loved him with all my heart prior to the birth of our little girl, but I can't even explain how much I love him now for all of his support and care he has provided to me and Sierra.