Baby Betsy Has Arrived!

Elizabeth Carmichael Bourgeois was born at 7:56 pm on 9/21/06. She weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces and was 18 3/4 inches long. We were surprised that our little girl came 4 weeks early, but we were thrilled to meet her even sooner than we thought we would! She is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Her birth was crazy to say the least. Peter and I went to the hospital on the morning of 9/21, but it was a false alarm. My doctor said that I wasn't close to being ready. Later in the afternoon I began having contractions. Luckily Attie called Mom to come home and check on me because the contractions became more intense as the afternoon progressed. By the time Peter came home at around 430 my contractions were about 4 minutes apart. I was told by the labor & delivery nurse at Ochsner and by my doctor that it was probably false labor and to lie down and rest. After screaming and crying and fussing at Mom and Peter and eventually Attie, we decided that I needed to go to the hospital. As soon as Peter put my bag in the car my water broke. Upon arriving at Ochsner I was in a lot of pain, but I opted not to ride in a wheelchair.

We got to Labor & Delivery at 7:38 pm and I put on a gown in the room and soon afterwards a nurse came in and told me to lie on my back. I refused because I was somewhat delirious and in pain. Another nurse came in and realized that I was about to have the baby. A resident was summoned (my dr. was on his way) and I was informed that there was no time for an epidural! I was not too happy about that. Soon I was told to pant and breathe and not to push. I soon discovered that Lamaze was not for me! I was told to push and within minutes little Betsy was born. She was born at 7:56 pm. Peter and I were very lucky that there was no traffic on the way to Ochsner or he may have had to deliver Betsy! It was the most surreal, wonderful, and exhilarating moment of my life. Words cannot come close to describing the way I felt when I met my little girl. Peter and I are both so in love with her.

We got home from the hospital on Sunday, 9/24/06. We're getting used to being parents and loving every minute of it.