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January 2014 Moms
kteeswei
member
KatiesWei Birth Story (PIP)
kteeswei
member
DH is watching my LO, Quinn, so here goes nothing! I'm a half zombie so I apologize for any word vomit, egregious grammatical errors and potentially an entire birth story that doesn't sound coherent. This is probably some of my worst writing but I trust you'll forgive me.
I was admitted twice for pre-eclampsia observation before they decided to induce the night before I was 37 weeks. The induction didn't go well, they tried misoprostol but my contractions would go on for minutes at a time causing Quinn to decel. They hoped to 'restart' the pattern with pitocin but it just got worse. They stopped my contractions with terbutaline and that was AWFUL. My heart was racing, I was shaking and it felt like the world's worse anxiety attack. I felt like I was dying. I also hadn't slept at all in almost 48 hours so I'm sure that made it worse. Even as the contractions took a more regular pattern (of 1.5 minutes and then a 2 minute break) Quinn continued to decal so they made the call to do the c-section. I was just happy to avoid a crash c-section with general anesthesia- we came very close to that several times with his decals.
I avoided magnesium because it was contraindicated with my muscular myopathy (causes muscle weakness)- they had it on hand for emergency use- but I was spared that misery!
I was only nervous about the spinal not taking. It took, Thank God! The c-section was uneventful and he was born 5lbs, 5oz at 6am on 12/15. His apgar was perfect and despite being SGA (small for gestational age) I thought we were going to avoid the NICU.
He had low blood sugar and the second night he was admitted to the NICU. The 5 attempts to get his IV broke my heart in a way I didn't know it could break. They drew his blood hourly and we eventually got used to this but I hated it. I hadn't slept (like I mentioned earlier) and this all sent me into a post-partum hysteria. I was naked and crying for days (I was only naked because I was constantly pumping or skin to skin). The first night he was in the NICU they gave me ativan and forced me to sleep. DH stayed with him. We were in the NICU for a few days and I am so grateful that they supplemented him with donor milk while I waited for mine to come in and that they gave us a NICU suite so we could stay with him when I was discharged. It was a shitty bed but I got to take care of him all night, work on breast feeding, do skin to skin and pump.
He is home now and still doesn't have the stamina for EBF. I try to BF first, he will latch with the nipple shield but tires after a few minutes on most attempts. He is going for longer stretches on occasion so I'll continue trying. I'm pumping every 2-4 hours around the clock and it is exhausting. Our night time routine is breast feeding, make him a bottle (my milk), burp him for a half hour or so (some of this is just laying him on his tummy or sitting him up), diaper change, and then pump. By the time I'm done, I have little to no time before he's ready to eat again (often every 1.5 hours). He was down to 4lbs in the NICU so we can't let him sleep through a feeding yet. He is gaining weight but he sees the pediatrician every week to make sure this continues.
DH has been taking him in the morning and watching him while I sleep (in between pumping). He goes back to work on Monday and I'm afraid I'll lose my ever loving mind.
Things I wish I had known before:
- Bring two pillow cases! My pillow case was covered in all sorts of bodily fluids by the end of day one and DH grabbed a white one from home. He was too sleep deprived to remember to grab anything BUT white.
- I asked for Emla cream because I was so sick of getting IVs - my amazing nurse found some and they used it for every blood draw as well. I was so anxious about the IVs.
- After having an awful nurse during my last stay on L&D, I spoke up and requested the amazing male triage nurse. He was AMAZING. I remained calm through everything because of him. I never thought I'd want a male L&D nurse but he was such a life saver.
- My c-section pain was entirely controlled with the meds, I never felt like I was in a great deal of pain.
- The post c-section swelling was horrific. My legs were 4x their normal diameter and I had to get larger pants to fit my legs into for the first week. My maternity clothes were all TOO SMALL. The swelling hurt, I was sure I'd have stretch marks everywhere with how tight my skin felt. I was a balloon and bending my legs was impossible. They told me it could take 6 weeks to improve. 13 days PP and it is very mild and no longer bothersome.
And finally- some pictures!
Sleeping on daddy in the NICU
Telling me a late night story
First bath at home!
First Christmas!
The picture of him in his carseat before coming home is in my siggy!
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This discussion has been closed.
Re: KatiesWei Birth Story (PIP)
PCOS diagnosed secondary infertility
BFP #1 (letrozole 2.5mg + ovidrel) February 2016, MMC April 2016 @ 7 weeks
BFP #2 (letrozole 5mg + ovidrel) July 2016, Beta #1 359, Beta #2 745, Beta #3 11484
EDD April 9th, 2017
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Married October 2009. Me 29 H 28.
After 1 year of infertility, our little miracle was conceived via our 3rd IUI on May 5, 2013.
Holland Sophia was born Jan 24, 2014.
I'm sorry about the Nicu stay, but glad all is well . Thinking of you!
My cat can read EKGs, can your human do that?
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TTC since 8/2010 (off BCP since 8/2009) Unexplained Infertility
12/10/2012 U/S #1 6w4d - heartbeat EDD 8/1/13
1/18/14 2:11am Abigial Morgan is here! 5lbs 14oz and 18 inches of pure cuteness!!!
I'm so happy for you and man is he precious! The swelling was bad for me as well because of all the fluids they give you for surgery. I'm not trying to hijack your story but we have so many similarities I had to tell you. I hope you get some sleep, mama.
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Proud Mommy of my Chloe Cat
Jan 14 Mom's January 2014 Siggy Challenge: Post Delivery Indulgences
Due Date 11/10/16
I can't wait to meet you Neva Margaret Rebecca
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sibling love
Good luck to you with breast feeding. It sounds like you are doing everything right and eventually it won't be so hard. Keep it up, Mama! You're doing wonderful
SAHM to 4 kiddos... K (5/05), N (4/09), C (11/10) and Baby A 1/13/14