Hospital Stay

Once we were settled into our hospital room, my mom and sister left for the night. The feeling that came upon me was remarkable. I looked to my right and there was my wonderful and loving husband. To my left was my beautiful, new baby girl. We talked a little and looked at her a lot. Dinner came and Jeff decided he better get something more suitable. After Au Bon Pan and late night cookies we hit the hay. It wasn't until 3 am that I woke up. My baby nurse came in to wake me, so I could feed Sophia. That is when all the questions started.

I realized I didn't know enough about feeding. How often? How? What position? What can and can't I eat? How long does it take? WHat should it feel like? How much does the baby get at each feeding? I kept asking these questions of my baby nurse, my nurse and my lactation nurse, but I was getting conflicting answers. That's why I hired a lactation consultant. I wished I did it sooner. After I could sit up, day 8, I called Mary. I'll tell you more later.

Thursday was a new day. We were told Sophia had a broken collar bone from the delivery. The worry, fear and anxiety of motherhood came crushing upon me. My baby had a broken clavicle. The pediatricians in the hospital said to let it heal naturally. I immediately called my pediatrician and they said the same, but wanted to see her ASAP after discharge.

We spent the day together looking at Sophia, feeding Sophia and talking about Sophia, OH how this peanut changed my world. My sister came to help with the episiotomy care because the pain was unbearable. I started the percocet and was sure to get a prescription for home.

Friday we went home, and I still had so many questions about breast feeding and her collar bone and my pain, but off we went.
We came as two and left as three. That's magical!

Onto Postpartum

Sophia and I had a nice amount of time to bond. The nurse allowed me to hold her while the cord blood procedure was complete. Once the blood was packaged, my doctor had to close up shop if you know what I mean.

No one explained how many stitches one may receive from the episiotomy. No one told me one could be in excrutiating pain after the episiotomy for weeks. No one told me that one would bleed for a month! Ladies...why haven't we all been honest. I have to say... I would do it all over again to have Sophia, but that recovery was horrible. Almost crippling.

Ok, enough about that. The positive...Jeff and my mom watched as Sophia was weighed and measured. They got to see her get dressed and receive her first vaccine. Jeff caught it all on video which makes me very happy because I was unable to see it.
Right after the nurse was done with Sophia, she made sure I started to breast feed right there! It was amazing. It seemed so natural for Sophia, and yet it was weird to think that my breasts were ready to sustain a human life. Anyhow, more bonding. It was great! Then Jeff and Mommom, and Aunt Maria demanded some bonding time too.

Shortly after they wanted me to get over to my new and beautiful room in the postpartum wing. First I had to go to the bathroom. That was frightening, but I was able to get by with the help of my sister, the nurse. It was at that point that I knew the recovery would be difficult. I had an epidural and local, and I still felt a decent amount of discomfort. Oh No!

Once those steps were successfully completed, we were off. Mom and Maria carrying bags. Jeff pushing Sophia's bassinet and Nurse Vicki pushing me. Sophia went to have her check up in the nursery. My family got me situated into my new room, and the bliss began.

I will fill you in our two day stay and breast feeding in my next post. Sophia is doing great and so are we. Keep reading:)

PUSH

Vicki grabbed my feet, told me to take a cleansing breath, then she said it. "Deep breath in and push!" Before I knew it, I was pushing. It was so empowering. In an instant I was in a place no one else could be. My breath was strong, my legs were limber and my baby was coming. There is no way pushing can be described, so all I can say is that giving birth vaginally is the most amazing experience ever.

After three pushes, my doctor was in and shocked. He couldn't believe how quickly things progressed. I looked up to ask him how long he thought it would take, and his response was, "I don't like being hot." At that moment I realized he was all suited up with his "garb". After watching nine months of a baby story I knew this was minutes away. Breathing and pushing was my only memory. It was easier yet harder than I thought it would be. The only time I entered back into reality was when I felt IT! I could feel the snipping of scissors. The cutting had began, but more about that later. I caught my mother's eye and she was jumping out of her skin and shaking her head yes. Suddenly I knew I was nearing the end. She gave me that last push to push. Like a champ, I gave two more pushes and Sophia was born!

That moment...that moment is like none other. When they put my daughter on my chest my whole world changed. From the trauma of birth, infants are wide awake. Her yes locked on mine and I became a new woman. She was gorgeous. No real cries, just blue eyes, a tiny mouth, a button nose and lots of love. I was a mom. No more pushing or cutting, just me and my daughter.

Birth is a gift!