Presenting...

Amari Nicole Hammond

Birth story (read at your own risk!):

I was pretty stinkin miserable for the past month! I was having contractions that were doing nothing along with sciatica and joint issues. I went in to the doctor on the 7th for an exam and discussed being induced. The doctor said he would call me sometime that day with a date and time, because I wasn't making much progress. So I waited for a call all day, nothing. Around 8pm I had 2 really sharp pains in my lower abdomen. I told Jess that something didn't feel right, but it went away. Jess went to work around 2am. I woke up around 4am bleeding. I was TERRIFIED! I called the doctor and he said to go to the hospital, easier said then done, Jess is over an hour and a half away and I am home alone with the kids. Luckily Pam Binger (yes the same one who Pantera wants to join her family) was sweet enough to be on call for me and came right over. My mom told me to call an ambulance and go.

Jess met me at the hospital. I guess we were the only ones that concerned about the bleeding (it was NOT normal), they tried to blame it on the exam the previous day, uh huh. Then they tell us that they may or may not send us home. I am 39 weeks, bleeding, and going to be induced anyways, needless to say I was a mess. But after 4 hours or so of letting us worry, they decide to admit us! They start me on Pitocin around 9:30am. At about 5 cm I get my wonderful epidural. Around 1:45 I force Jess to go get food for himself. I was only at a 7 and I figured I had plenty of time. I decide to call Meredith because I was bored, while I am talking to her I have a contraction and that pushing feeling...what?!?

I call the nurse and Jess. The doctor checks me and guess what, the babies head is about to come out! Once everyone is gathered I push once-there's her head, another partial push-the rest of her body. The resident was so impressed, really it helps that Amari was only 7lbs 2oz with a tiny head. Pantera was 8lb 12oz and Zeke 8lbs 4 oz. But I still felt like a delivery room superhero. They kept telling the students who were observing "This isn't how it usually goes, it's not normally that easy!" She came out just perfect and beautiful. She is doing great and nursing like a champ! I feel great, I don't feel like I just had a baby, I guess little babies are the way to go!