Special Delivery

Upon hearing Doctor Soper declare, "Time to push!" Zach sprang into action. He hooked up the video camera, called some family members into the room (who were quite surprised – this was an hour earlier than the nurse was supposed to even check Lauren’s progress), and took his spot at the head of the bed. Lauren's brother's fiancee, Annie, held her right leg and Lauren's mom held her left leg. The doctor was standing to Lauren's right. Zach’s mom was at the end of the bed videotaping.

Each time a contraction would start to show on the monitor, Lauren would be instructed to push for 3 sets of 10 seconds. Between contractions Lauren was laughing, waving to the camera, and making jokes. She was so glad to be able to feel when a contraction was coming, even though she couldn't feel the actual pain or anything.

After about 20 minutes of pushing the doctor called for the NICU team and Lauren gave one more 10 second push and out came the baby, all at once! A beautiful, screaming, meconium-covered little girl! Lauren said, "Oh no baby, please don't cry yet," because she didn't want the baby to breathe in the poop. But the doctor said it was ok, that at least the cries were letting us know the baby was vigorous and healthy. Then the doctor said, "She's a good size baby - a little chunker!"

The doctor quickly clamped and cut the cord before rushing the baby over to the NICU team. Lauren watched from across the room as they suctioned her little baby. Zach was stunned at first and Lauren had to remind him to get over there with the baby! It took about 10 or 15 minutes for the NICU team to be satisfied that the baby was meconium-free and could be taken to Lauren. During that time, Lauren delivered the placenta, which was green from the baby poop. Ew!

Finally the NICU team handed the bundled baby girl to Zach, who was stopped several times by photographing family members as he crossed the room to show Lauren their daughter. "Why am I the only one who hasn't seen my baby?!?" Lauren was hollering from her bed. Zach dodged the paparazzi (ha) and finally arrived at Lauren's bedside. The whole new family was together! Lauren held the baby for a while and laughed because she had nappy dark hair.

The nurse weighed the baby before Lauren started to feed her. 8 pounds, 6 ounces! Not huge, but definitely a good size baby! Lauren stripped the baby down to her diaper and put her to her breast. Instantly the baby because sucking! Smart little kid!While Lauren was feeding the baby, the rest of the family came in from the waiting room with tears in their eyes to meet the newest member of the family - Lorelai Kate aka *Lolli*