Pregnancy Update

as of Sunday 8/17/97, 7:10 e.s.t.

As you may already know we had a girl today at 11:42 am! Here are some faqs whenever a baby is born:

Name: Melanie Robin Shackleford
Weight: 7 pounds, 6.6 ounces
Height: 20 inches
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Baby looks like: Her mother
Health of baby: Fine
Health of mother: Tired but quickly bouncing back

It was a long and hard labor. At 8:00 am on Saturday they tried to induce labor. At 4:45 pm, 15 minutes before they were going to send us home because nothing was happening, Jen's water broke. Previously they had given her something for the pain that she had a bad reaction to. I don't know if that was the only factor but she was throwing up and easily falling asleep the entire time. Once they pain relief was wearing off they gave her an epidural.

Sometime the next morning they announced that she had dilated to 10 centimeters and it was time to push the baby out. After over 2 hours of pushing they got out a suction cup tool to help pull the baby out. Once they tried that the baby came right out. The moment of birth was an unforgetable experience that can not be described in words.

Thanks to all who have been sent words of encouragement and those who kept us in prayer. Check back in about a week, I hope to post some pictures by then.