Sunday, September 7, 2008

The sweetness is here!

This will have to be quick, since I'm losing precious sleeping minutes right now.

Short version: Labor itself--pretty much a breeze, delivery--not so much, breastfeeding--ouch!

Had my first contraction at 12:45 Wednesday night and apparently they were quite real! I woke Mr H up right after posting on here (is it bad that you all knew I might be in labor before my husband did???) around 3:45. He was amazing through it all though, I'm so impressed with him. Around 5:45 I called the drs office, contractions were super variable, sometimes coming as close as 2 minutes apart, other times 8-10 and lasting anywhere from 20 seconds to 2 minutes. He said since I live right between his office and the hospital, why don't I swing by right before the office opens, he'll check me out and save me a trip and getting sent home if I'm not far enough along. And then of course he ends with, if it gets worse, feel free to go to the hospital. Well little before 7 I decided to go. Things were still super variable timing wise, but they were just getting SO intense I was having a hard time breathing through them. When I wasn't contracting, I was fine though. So I was figuring I'd get sent home.

Arrive at triage, they call doc to tell them I came in, doc asks them to check me. Apparently I'm at 8 cm already. No one believes that I could possibly be at 8 and still be joking and carrying on conversations aside from the contractions so all 3 triage nurses end up checking me (lovely, right). They all agree, I'm at 8. They admit me, doc is on his way, and I put in my immediate request for the epidural. Doc gets there in a little bit, I'm already at 9. Says he's going to change real quick and we'll be pushing in a few. Anesthesiologist gets there, asks if I can staystill. I was still fine outside of the contractions so we went with it---most amazing thing EVER!!! And I love that he set it low enough that I could still recognize when they were coming, very helpful for the pushing part. Doc comes back, breaks my water, and we started pushing at 9:04. He was VERY glad I did not wait to go into the office ;)

Pushing sucked--my family has pretty big head's and this kiddo is no exception. What also sucked was that for some reason I was having crazy long contractions (2+ minutes and he said usually they are about 30 seconds) followed by a 5 minute break or so. So I would end up doing 2 sets of pushes per contraction. And then we'd chat about vacation destinations in between...a little surreal. Two hours later Thursday morning at 38 weeks 5 days, with the help of the vacuum, (her heart rate was going way too low since the contractions were so long), The Sweetness arrived! 6 pounds, 15 ounces, 19 1/2 inches of sweetness ;)

She is beautiful and amazing and I pretty much cry every time I look at her. Breastfeeding went amazing at the hospital--not so much at home. Tomorrow we have a pediatrician appt (she's not really eating at all plus she's developed a bad rash on her back) and I am scheduling a visit with the lactation consultant. I've decided that I just can't nurse at all out of one side--it is way too painful and they said that once it starts to bleed, that'll just give her an upset stomach.

Anyway, just wanted to update. Thanks for all the good wishes the last few days. Aside from the expected craziness, since she was early and I was REALLY planning on having this weekend to do some hard core nesting, we weren't as ready as we wanted to be. But it'll all work out. Now, fingers crossed, she's still asleep upstairs and I can catch a few zzz's.

36 comments:

K @ ourboxofrain said...

Congrats Meghan!!! And welcome to the world, sweet baby girl!

I can't believe how easy the labor process proved to be for you -- that's awesome. And I'm sorry breastfeeding isn't going better, but hopefully the pedi and the LC will have some good suggestions for you.

Congrats again!

HereWeGoAJen said...

Congratulations! That is wonderful news!

AwkwardMoments said...

Congratulations on the sweetness! Amazing

Good luck with the appointment and the LC. You can always try a nipple shield to see if that helps you any.

Rachel said...

Congratulations! This was such a sweet post to read.

Geohde said...

:)

Congratulations, and lots of them.

Enjoy your little one for a few days and then more details!!

J

KE II said...

CONGRATULATIONS, wow, you were so great, can't believe you even got an epi when you made it to 9cm!! You're the poster girl for breathing thru!! Can't wait to hear more about little sweetness.

Adriane said...

Congrats!! What fabulous news - and such a long time coming. I am so happy for you! I can't believe you were an 8 upon arrival! Looking forward to seeing pics of your little sweetness.

Hope you get some sleep. It's 3:45AM where I am - maybe we'll sleep in 2009. :-)

The Clam said...

Congratulations! Welcome to the world little sweetness :)

Shelby said...

Yeah!! Congratulations!! Best of luck with bf...but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work (I did both times). Can't wait to meet the sweetness!!

Jendeis said...

Congratulations! Yay Sweetness!

A'Dell said...

Oh yay! I am so excited! And what an awesome labor - I am so jealous. I hope mine is like that!

LJ said...

I can't believe it! It seems like yesterday that we were all around at the Melting Pot!

Leah said...

Meghan, I'm SO happy for you! Amazing that your labor was so easy, but boo! hiss! on the rough delivery.

Breastfeeding is an indescribable challenge, I am here for you whenever you want advice or just for someone to listen to you. The insanity of the hormone crash doesn't help. Nor does the sleep deprivation. But it definitely gets better.

Congratulations a million times over, I can't wait to visit the little beauty when you're ready!

Mindy said...

OH HOORAY! Congratulations.

I hope the breastfeeding gets better quickly! I'm so excited for all three of you. Can't wait to see photos and if you need ANYTHING let me know--I'm right around the corner after all!!!

Ms. Perky said...

Congratulations!

I'm so unbelievably happy for you.

I went through about every breastfeeding challenge that there is with breastfeeding the triplets, so if you need any assvice, let me know. If you aren't getting the answers you need or want from the LC you meet with, find another. The best thing you can do is get good advocates.

I highly recommend Dr. Jack Newman's Book: The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers. It's an excellent book with lots of troubleshooting on how to make things work.

The early days of breastfeeding are not always easy and definitely are not as intuitive as one might hope. Best of luck to you, and definitely do email me if you need any assvice, because I've been there, done that, I promise!

http://chezperky.typepad.com

deanna said...

Yay-Yay! I'm so glad she's here and safe and you're safe and everyone is alright! I can't believe how FAST you went!! Congratulations on your little cutiepie!! *hugs*

Wishing you lots of luck on the breastfeeding. I hope you can get some help at the ped's office and get her into a good routine. (Please post lots of updates! I'll be so glad to hear any tips or advice!)

battynurse said...

Yay!!! Congratulations and welcome sweetness. Glad that she is here and that labor was relatively easy.

BigP's Heather said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Let us know what the lactation person says. I'm getting very curious about these matters nowadays.

sara said...

Congrats! I am so happy you updated - I've been stalking your blog since your last post. Congrats mama...I'm so proud of you!!! And welcome Sweetness, we've been excited for you to get here!

Jen said...

Congratulations!!! How crazy that you were already an 8 by the time you got to the hospital.

George said...

Congrats on your little girls arrival...what a wonderful story of her birth. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. You had quite a remarkable experience!!!

CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!

Not on Fire said...

That is the best news! Sorry that breastfeeding is not going well.

Cynthia said...

Congratulations!! Please some pictures of your little sweetness. :-)

chicklet said...

Congrats:-)

Lollipop Goldstein said...

Congratulations!!! I am so excited for you. And can't wait to meet little Sweetness.

Morrisa said...

YAY! (Does happy dance) I am so happy for you and I can't wait to see pictures!

Julia said...

Congratulations!
Sorry about breastfeeding. Hope it improves for you soon.

Kristen said...

Congratulations!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to hear more about your baby girl! XOXO

Yoka said...

Congratulations, Meghan. I am so excited for you. Welcome to Mommyhood!!! I am sorry the breastfeeding is going so difficult. Hopefully the lactation consultant can help you. If not - bottle feeding is not that bad either and much easier when you are on the road. :-)

maresi said...

congratulations - our daughters share the same birthday! (I mean, literally, last thursday maria was born.) hope BF improves and your recovery goes well.

MrsSpock said...

Congrats! Enjoy your little Sweetness!

sarah23 said...

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! !

I can't wait to hear all about her as she grows and your transition to being a mom!

Are you going to tell us her name? :) :)

Ms Heathen said...

I am so pleased to hear that the Sweetness arrived safely. Congratulations to both you and your husband, Meghan.

In and Out of Luck said...

Yay!!! Congratulations!

Lisa said...

Congratulations!!!

Breastfeeding is tough. Hope that the LC can offer some assistance.

Laura said...

Congratulations!! I am so happy for you and your husband! :)