The Leask Family: Introducing Adrienne Mae Leask

Friday, February 26th, 2016

Adrienne Mae Leask

Born February 19th, 2016 @2:12pm

6lbs, 5oz

18 & 3/4 in long

At just 1 week old, we already can't imagine our lives without Adrienne! Below is the story of Adrienne's birth and first week of life for those who are interested and also for us to remember and share with Adrienne when she gets older. This is going to be a long post! :)

PREGNANCY

With a little over a month left in my pregnancy, the doctors were concerned about my small size and ordered an extra ultrasound. At the ultrasound we discovered that Adrienne (who was unnamed at that time) was measuring small and was in the 12th percentile. The doctors said that they get more concerned when babies are below the 10th percentile, but as a precaution I would have twice weekly non-stress tests and weekly dopplers to make sure baby was healthy. Because of my gestational diabetes, the placenta can start to deteriorate early which can cause stress on the baby too. At first I was really upset about this, but I quickly realized that all of the extra monitoring gave me piece of mind every few days that baby was still healthy. Below is a picture of me at one of the non-stress tests. I sat in a giant lazy-boy chair and drank ice water while listening to baby's heartbeat. All of the testing showed great results.

Even though the testing was excellent, the doctors still did not want me to go past my due date and thought it wise for me to deliver a week early at 39 weeks.

We scheduled an induction for Tuesday, February 16th and Josh and I both arranged to take off work a week earlier than planned. However, the hospital ended up being very busy and the induction kept getting pushed back. It was a little stressful to be so ready to go every day and then be told to wait longer, but Josh and I enjoyed our last few days together as a family of two (plus Bruce).

Finally on Thursday the hospital called and told me to come in at 10AM. We were so ready to finally meet her!

BIRTH

Happily, Adrienne's birth was free of any major complications. From the time the induction started to when she was born was about 24 hours with just 20 minutes of pushing. The nurses at St Joseph Mercy were amazing. Josh was a rock throughout the whole process too and never once got woozy watching everything (I cannot say the same for one of the nursing students who was observing!). He cut the umbilical cord and took charge with the first diaper change and swaddling.

After she was born we stayed in the hospital for one night and enjoyed some time with family visitors. Our parents and Matt and Emily were the first to meet Adrienne. And one of these days we will get Matt to hold her:)

At just 6lbs 5oz the doctors were right that Adrienne would be a tiny peanut. However, her size put her in the AGA category (Appropriate for Gestational Age) and she is perfectly healthy. We are extremely grateful.

Being weighed

Snuggles with Mommy

First sponge bath

Heading home from the hospital

First car ride

FIRST WEEK AT HOME

As to be expected, the first week at home has been a series of ups and downs. She had difficulty eating at first but she is getting better at it every day and gaining weight like a champ. Josh and I are still working to figure out how to help her sleep as she tends to prefer to be in someone's arms at all times (we love it during the day, but not so much at night:)

Evening #2 at home and Adrienne experienced her first power outage. We sat around with candles and hoped that it would come back on being that it was freezing cold and we have electric heat. We bundled her up and waited it out and it came back on a few hours later.

Below some of our favorite pictures of Adrienne's first week. My brother warned me that I will need more photo storage and now I can see why. We just can't get enough of this little girl. More updates to come soon!

-Laura