Hannah Victoria Downin arrived August 9, 2005 at 2:45am. Weighing in at 4lbs 13oz. As a result of her arriving early (impatient - just like her dad) at 33 & 2/7 weeks she is in the NICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. It was a long and scarry journey but it's finally over - and yet just beginning! Hannah, Tammy, and I are all doing well - just a little short of sleep.

For those interested in the details, well, we ended up in our local hospital this past Sunday evening when the terbutaline pump that Tammy had was unable to stop her contractions after taking several doses and monitoring. So off we went. The local hospital tried mag. sulfate which didn't work either... So then it was steroid time to help mature baby's lungs. So at 3am she took a ride by ambulance up to JHH in Baltimore (with me following). Still couldn't get the contractions to stop... But there was little cervical change (only measuring at 3cm). So, she got one more shot of the steroid, and at about 11pm on Monday her water broke. So, they went to check her and noticed a LOT of blood. So, they wisked her right off to the ER to do an emergency C-section thiking she had placenta abruption. I wasn't allowed in because they were going to put her out. After a VERY VERY scarry 30-45 minutes of hearing nothing (they told me she'd be out and baby would be taken out all in about 3 minutes)... they wheeled her back out and back to the room. Turns out they didn't do the C-section and never put her under the general anestesia. What had happened was that at the same time her water broke, her placenta partially seperated which released a little blood that when mixed with the other fluid looked like a LOT of blood and really bad. So, the plan was to still try and deliver normally and just watch things very closely... This time she was given an epidural in case she still had to be taken to the ER, at least she'd be awake and I would be able to be present. They then started her on pitocin to try and get things moving along - but the baby wasn't tolerating the medicine and her heart rate dropped after each contraction. So, it was finally decided the best thing was to go ahead with the C-section - this time not in nearly as an urgent thing. About 30 minutes later Hannah Victoria Downin was brought into the world.

She is doing wonderfully - she is breathing on her own, tommorow we get to try and feed her. She swallowed a bit of mommy's blood during delivery so she has an IV with antibiotic and they are waiting for her to have a diaper with no blood in it before they try to feed her. And she appears to be holding her own temperature wise. So she may get out of the NICU in a week or so. We have both been able to hold her (and I got to cut her cord). She is just totally amazing...

Picture at - http://www.risingsonrecords.com/news/data/upimages/hannah_victoria.jpg

Dave, So glad everything went OK in the end and that you can all now relax and enjoy being a family. Take care. Louise.

Dave,

Congrats to you and Tammy!

Dave,
Congratulations to the new poppa, mama & lil Hannah Victoria!
Ya'll went through SO much! Rest when ya can!
Enjoy that precious darlin'!!
Ruthie

Congrats & glad the baby is doing well. She's a cutie...

Hannah, congratulations on your new parents... you sure gave them a few scares! To Tammy and Dave, I'm so glad everything worked out so well.

What a cutie! So glad she arrived safely into this world. Congratulations!

What a perfect little doll she is!! Still sending strength and growth vibes to Hannah!!!

Best wishes to all three of you!

Wow I am so glad that she is here safely and do so well, sending vibes in hope that you get some sleep (I really do know how that feels) and for a fast recovery and journy home.

((Hugs))
Bev, Alan, Javan and baby Arlo.
<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

...welcome to the world, Hannah....
...congrats Mom and Dad.....

Super Cool!! She is beautiful. Vibes still a comin'.

congrats to Hannah and her mom & dad.

omg! Can you just imagine the first time hannah goes out on a date, and dad warns the 'boyfriend' that he's got an itchy missle-trigger finger!!! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/eek.gif" width=15 height=15>

Congrats! And what Arnie said about the missles and stuff! I'm a Bluncle!!!!( I think)

Congratulations, Dave. She's just beautiful.

Woo Hooo <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif" width=31 height=31> Congrats to Dave and Tammy!!!! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>