Monday, August 29, 2011

The Last 6 Days

Please excuse both my absence and the use of bullets.

The last 6 days have been an absolute dream in ways I could have never imagined. I have learned many things, made many mistakes and had many wonderful moments.

Part 1: In the hospital

- I followed LisainSK's hospital packing list, but since being in the hospital for two extended stays I have a few additions:
* a mini fan if it will be nice weather
* towels - the hospital ones are teeny tiny
* eye mask and ear plugs, a MUST if you are in a shared room
* healthy snacks because hospital food sucks and you do get tired of eating junk food (assuming you don't have GD)

Part 2: All about labour and delivery

- The epidural rocks, but has some side effects that I was not prepared for:
* Some people (me) develop EXTREME itching. Literally I was clawing on my stomach, legs, breasts and arms during labour. Unfortunately there is not much that be given to ease this. It continued to last the remainder of the day even once the epidural wore off.
* Some people (me) develop the shakes. I liken it more †o being in an ice box, although no† feeling all †hat cold. It was more the chattering of lips and teeth and uncontrollable shaking. This wen† away after labour, but for some only starts after.
***Either way the epidural is a must.
- I was shocked that †he urge to push feeling felt like needing to go poo...INSTANTLY. When you push, if you visualize yourself in the bathroom, you will do fine.
- Baby's come out looking squished. I was scared for a moment†, but within a couple of hours she plumped up and †urned into a real cutie.

Part 3: The hospital stay

- Take advantage of the nurses, that's what they are there for.
- In our 4 day stay we learned so much; swaddling, feeding, diapering and overall caring for a baby - so helpful.
- Don't get discouraged if you don't get discharged right away, the longer the more secure you will hopefully be when its time to leave.

Part 4: Homecoming

- IT IS FUCKING HARD
- I have only had one breakdown since coming home on Friday, and it was within hours of getting home.
- Partner up. A and I discovered early on that things go a lot smoother and easier when we work together. This is the first time that I can remember where we are 100% all the time on the same page, i† is so nice and is making life so much easier.
- Limi† your visitors. We didn't do this and I am regretting it now. I'm exhausted. We spent the weekend entertaining family and friends. Even though I took it easy, I'm still exhausted.
- Seriously cannot recommend enough how important rest is. Take naps, it will be worth i†.

Part 5: Breastfeeding

- It sucks. Small and early babies tend to have difficulty. Don't get discouraged and don't blame yourself.
- LMI isn't latching so we are working with a lactation consultant through the hospital. We started off on 100% bottle fed with formula, added in finger tube feeding, breast pumping, and utilizing the aids out there...Med.eala nipple shield is FANTASTIC. It made it so easy for her that now we are doing great. According to our first paediatrician visit today, LMI has been stable with weight gain since leaving the hospital. We would like it †ΓΈ improve and she will continue to be monitored.

Part 6: What I learned

- The last five years were hell on earth, but without them we would not have our LMI and she is the best thing that ever happened to us. Don't get me wrong, I don't understand why we needed to endure so much anxiety, hardship, devastating losses and failed cycles, but at least now, from where I stand, I would do it all again (and may have too) to have another chance of becoming a mom again.
- You will find strength you didn't know existed inside you when you care for your child.
- Your heart will explode with the amount of love you have for your little one.
_ Everything in life worth getting, is worth fighting for.

LMI - thank you for making me the happiest mommy on the block. I love you so much!

-R.

22 comments:

  1. Keep Trying on the breast feeding...Miss Lola really wasn't getting it until almost 8 weeks... I just kept trying. But I always had a bottle handy so she wouldn't get frustrated. But I love it now especially early in the morning when she is the happiest!

    I'm so happy for you all! Congratulations!!!! And you'll be amazed that you will fall deeper and deeper in love as you go!

    All my best to you!

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  2. Grrr...I see blogger is still up to his old tricks!! Awesome post R...so proud of you for keeping up with BF'ing...good on ya! And yeah...raising a newborn gives a whole new definition to teamwork in a marriage doesn't it! I knew A would rock. Get your rest...easier said than done I know! LisainSK

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  3. beautiful, and so true!
    so happy for you, r!

    take it easy, get some rest, love on that little girl, and breath it all in. i know you are already a wonderful momma.

    congratulations again!
    soulshine

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  4. Wonderful! Welcome home and congratulations!

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  5. congratulations!

    i loved reading this post...i think your advice/ideas etc are great and it will be good for you to look back on. i might steal your idea and try to post something similiar.

    i had an epidural & spinal block combination and i too got the shakes...they were awful! not uncomfortable...but it was awful not being able to control it.

    i also feel your pain re the itchiness...but i don't think mine was as bad as yours. my anesthetist was great and sat by my side through the entire procedure, and it was nice to be able to talk to him about the things i was feeling and have him explain what it meant and why it was happening.

    i agree with you re the visitor thing. i had a mini break down on day one when my hubby was lining up visitor after visitor...and i was stuck in bed, hadn't had a wash-down yet, looking like a mess and feeling drugged out. i burst into tears and made him call back one lot and change their visit date.

    congratulations again! *hugs*

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  6. So well said. The visitor thing is something that is hard to understand until AFTER you are home with the baby. The first weeks are just overwhelming. The good news is that they pass in the blink of an eye and you settle in to a routine.

    Most of the first 3 years is filled with change ... They are changing and growing so fast that just as you get used to something (or decided that you don't like something) ... it changes and they are on to something new.

    Such a great post !! Congratulations, again...

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  7. Sounds like you are doing great! I had the itchiness too-- they thought it was an allergic reaction to the fentanyl which was part of the epi. You are a wonderful mama, so glad to see you so happy.

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  8. I am so happy for you!!!! Your story is so amazing, and I am so thrilled that you have reached the "other side." Great job, Mama!!!

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  9. All so true! I am just still so happy for you, you are clearly taking to mommyhood just like i knew you would. these first few weeks are quite the learning experience - about LMI, about you, about hubby, about life. Enjoy every moment, and nap. The best advice ever: nap.

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  10. Congrats again, and thanks for the hospital tips. I will have to remember them.

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  11. So lovely... I was not prepared that they would lose weight right after being born. Breast feeding is hard and if you get sore, there are some nice rings that you can buy to put on your breasts. It helps with engorgement and sores.

    T

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  12. Glad you're pulling through--hang in there!

    Just a disclaimer for your post... you can get the shakes without the epidural too. I had a last minute epidural with my daughter, but I got the shakes a good hour before that point, and they didn't go away for about twelve hours after her birth. I'm sure the epidural does cause the shakes in many people, but I wonder how many times it's blamed for it when they would have had them anyway....

    Good luck with the breastfeeding! And with keeping up with your sleep!

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  13. So happy for you! Newborns will teach you a lot about yourself as a person and a parent. Almost everyone I know who has breast fed has had some sort of issue at one point or another. Ours was thrush and clogged a duct 2 or 3 times. Glad she's learning how to latch. It's pretty amazing when you try and can do it.


    *I tried to leave comment on your last post but after 3 tries I gave up b/c blogger/google was being a jerk.

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  14. so, so happy for you to be home safe and sound. Sending much love your way

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  15. Hooray for being home and being IN LOVE! Enjoy every minute of it!

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  16. Oh man. I got the itchies with my epidural, too, but they gave me something for it that stopped it within five minutes!!

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  17. So happy for you!!! Enjoy and cherish every moment!!

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  18. Congrats! You sound so happy...and I'm so happy for you! Welcome home!

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  19. What a beautiful way to close your post. Congratulations on the birth of your LMI and her first week!

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  20. *sob*

    !!!!

    The wisdom is instant. You sound like a pro. Dont you ever doubt that you have it - it shines through this post like a blinding light.

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  21. So very happy for you my friend!!!

    I got the shakes after delivery from my epidural, also threw up (once we had visitors in the room of course, scared my dad enough he went to get the nurse but didn't bother me) but I still agree that the epi was still totally worth it! Right there with you on the breastfeeding too, so hard but the nipple shield made a huge difference for us as well.

    Can't wait to see some pics of LMI, hint hint. So thrilled to hear she's doing so well and that you seem to be doing so well too!!!

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  22. I am so beyond happy for you. I hope the breastfeeding gets easier - it was pretty painful for me at first, but got a lot easier and now is pretty much a breeze - very convenient!

    I also got super-itchy from my spinal - it lasted for days, very strange.

    I hope you are enjoying every minute. It just gets better and better!

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