Introducing our newest little Mumaugh!

Rachel Genevieve Mumaugh was born at 9:54AM

on December 16, 2009, weighing 8 lb 13 oz and was 20 inches long.

She is very lucky because she gets to share her birthday with her daddy!

(Daddy is feeling pretty lucky too)

After a little scare (that was really nothing), she was ready to come meet us! She is so alert and just seems to be taking everything in.

Her birth story:

We decided to let the doctor induce me a little early (3 days) because of a need for antibiotics at least 4 hours before delivery. Given my history of quick labors, we didn’t want to take the chance that she would arrive without that window.

We arrived at the hospital at 4AM on Wednesday. Dr. McMahon ordered penicillin every 4 hours until delivery. They started the first dose around 4:30AM. We just sat and tried to stay awake for the first 3 hours or so. At 8:20AM, the nurse came in with the pitocin (mean, horrible, terrible drug! – just my opinion). Around 8:40AM, Dr. McMahon came in and broke my water. The nurse had me get up and start walking after that. We walked the halls for what seemed like a while, until Mom and Bryan decided I wasn’t going to “last” much longer. Then we went back in the room, and I laid down. After that, things get a little blurry.

Around 9:50AM, I was allowed to start pushing. Rachel seemed to decide that if she was getting evicted, she was leaving quickly. She was born after only two short pushes.

Because she came through the birth canal so quickly, she had “fast baby syndrome,” which means she was very bruised in the head and face, and she had some trouble transitioning to the outside world. Katie also had the bruising, but she didn’t have trouble with the breathing. They tried a couple things in the room, but when she was still having a little trouble breathing, they took her to the nursery to “work” on her. Bryan said they percussioned her back and did some other things. She bounced back just fine, and we were able to hold her by 11:15AM. It was longest I have gone before starting to nurse my babies, but I know how blessed I am that she did bounce back and that she is just perfect! She has wasted NO TIME making up for that lost hour and has been nursing like a champ ever since.

We spent the full 48 hours at the hospital so that she could be monitored for infection. She “passed” all her tests, so we came home Friday afternoon.

The kids were so happy to finally meet her. Due to the H1N1 virus, they weren’t allowed to come to the hospital (strict visitor policy). Mary had a little adjustment period, but she says we should keep Rachel now! She has been a wonderful helper. All of the children have been so helpful, making sure I don’t do “too much.”

Daddy has been amazing too, of course :). We have such an amazing support system, family and friends. We are so incredibly blessed. (thank you, everyone!)

What a way to enter the final week of Advent as we go speeding toward Christmas and the birth of the most blessed baby ever!