Hellobee Boards

@JessLC: mine also is a drunken monkey! She falls asleep every time!

Wow – so much action here since I was last able to check in!!!
A huge congrats to @kml636: @ mrsjyw: @mrs. tricycle: @ksnow: @scg00387: @PETUNIASANDPEARLS: @mamamoose:

So many precious babies….I hope I’m not missing anyone!!! So far, I’ve quickly skimmed through, but can’t wait to go back and read more about everyone’s stories.

@highwire: Thinking of you! Not much longer!!

As promised, a few more details on the birth of our little girl. After my doctor appointment last Monday and being told that I had not progressed since the week prior (was still at 1.5 cm and 50%), I was starting to assume we’d be waiting until today, our planned induction date, to meet our daughter. But mothers really do know best, because my mom kept telling me that internal exams can often move things along quickly and that both of her labors came on very suddenly, with no steady build up of contractions. Well, that evening (around 7pm) on our way home from a movie, I suddenly started getting really crampy every 4-5 minutes. After a hot bath brought zero relief and the pain started in my back, I began to think it was real. I called the doctor around midnight and we arrived at the hospital at 1am, at which point I was at 3cm. Things moved pretty quickly from there.

I had originally wanted to skip the pain meds, but later thought that would be a pretty stupid move. Why be miserable if I don’t have to, right? Also, I didn’t realize just how uncomfortable back labor would be. Around 3am and somewhere around 5cm, I said bring on the epidural. Much better from then on...

The contractions slowed and we were then waiting around for a couple hours. At 5:30am and being told that I was at 7cm, my husband left the room to tell my parents it might be a little while longer. But in the 10 minutes he was out of the room and by the time he came back, I was at 10 and ready to push.

The neonatologists were on standby due to some heavy meconium stained fluid. Also, it was shift change for the nurses, so I had double the hospital staff in the room for delivery. I think there were at least 10-12 people in the room. So much for modesty at this point!

After an hour of pushing and going WAAAAY too long without sleep, she finally arrived. The cord was wrapped around her neck so my husband wasn’t able to cut it. Also they had to remove a good amount of meconium from her - but aside from that she was as happy and healthy as can be, scoring a 9 on the Apgar (proud mama moment already!).

We came home Thanksgiving morning and while it was nice to be home, the first few days were pure exhaustion. She would not sleep unless she was held, so we were on shifts for the first few nights. Not fun after already going on a couple days with minimal ZZZ’s.

Breastfeeding has been quite a challenge for us, so I look forward to sharing our experiences and getting some advice from all of you ladies in the coming weeks. I plan to go to the hospital’s mother-baby hour tomorrow morning and want to schedule a follow up visit with a lactation consultant. I met with two in the hospital that gave conflicting advice, and then received two other suggested routes from the pediatricians. At this point, feeding is definitely my biggest struggle and worry.

So, enough of my blabbing….here she is. The new love of my life.

@SLR: She is just gorgeous! Congratulations on such a beautiful bundle of joy.

@highwire: waiting anxiously to hear any updates! I was so, so sorry to hear about your day and the induction but I know all you want is for your little girl to be here soon.

@JessLC: I love the way my son looks after a nursing session. He never gets that same expression after being bottle fed.

@SLR: we are still having some breastfeeding issues (on one side only) and are seeing a LC tomorrow morning. It is kinda expensive ($125/hour session), but I really need some one on one help rather than just going to the group at the hospital. My husband is going with us too as he is a big supporter of my continuing to breastfeed and is willing to help in anyway possible. For now we are getting by with breastfeeding on one side and pumping the other. I also just got a My Brest Friend pillow today and I hope it helps us with our positioning and latch issues. I'm pretty sure my little guy is gaining plenty of weight, which the LC will check tomorrow too.

Anyone else seen a LC yet?

@ChelseaRose: Im still in the hospital (should go home tomorrow) and all of the nurses here are LCs and I cannot describe how invaluable that has been for us. Baby Girl has taken to nursing fairly easily but they've provided so many tips, tricks, latch analysis, etc. that its made a huge difference for us. Definitely would recommend it!

@Highwire: Good luck! Anxiously awaiting your next update!

@ChelseaRose: I saw like 3 different LCs at the hospital and then one today at my pediatrician's (hello engorgement!). They have offered different advice, but it gives me options. I'd submit your LC bill to your insurance - I feel like a broken record here, but the affordable care act provisions require companies to cove LC visits - worth a shot if you think your policy has renewed since 8/1.

@SLR: she's beautiful!

@highwire: enjoy that sleep! Thinking of you!
@ChelseaRose: I've seen loads through the hospital I delivered at. Some fabulous some not so much. They did get me using the nipple shield though and without that I think we'd be exclusive pumpers.

@highwire: it sounds like you're doing great!!!! Hoping you're getting some good rest now or that your little girl is already here!

@highwire: ooo yes. Epis are one of the greatest things the Lord hath made : ) your little lady is going to be here so soon!!!

@highwire: woohoo! 6cm!!! Way to show that Olsen who's boss!!!!

@Mrs. Tricycle: Usually every 2-4 hours, with the 4 hour periods being at night. There are some days when he wanted to nurse every hour, but it was usually only for part of the day in the evening. I think it was somewhere between two and three weeks that this happened. It sounds like your little one is just trying to ensure that you have a good milk supply. I'm sure he will be bigger in no time.

@Mrs. Tricycle: every 2 or three hours, sometimes more. I feel like if she acts hungry, I'm going to feed her but its definitely a challenge!

@highwire: rest up, baby girl will be here soon! Congrats!

Man this breastfeeding stuff is tough!! I have semi flat nipples so trying to get a good latch with her little mouth has been tough. The good news is that I'm producing a lot of colostrum that I can either hand express or pump and then spoon feed her so at least I know she's getting a full belly. The lactation consultant helped us this morning to make some good progress and she thinks we're going to be just fine. Little girl and I both just have a learning curve : )

@highwire: ahhhh can't wait for baby girl!

@slr: beautiful!!!

@Mrs. Tricycle: six days pp and he's a every 3 hour with a 4 hr stretch a night....

@Mrs. Tricycle: I wanted to add I had to start giving her a pacifier... Otherwise she would be nursing 24/7! It wasn't part of the ideal plan but its saving my nipples!

@MamaMoose: @Mrs. Tricycle: We're using a nipple shield too, it's a lifesaver.

@kml636: I'm desperate to give her a soother for this reason but DH won't let me. Bad times

@MamaMoose: my left nipple is flatter than my right. I find that having your boob hang over them when they latch on helped a little bit. It seemed easier for her to get started, like gravity was helping. Leaning over for the first minute or so and then leaning back was my strategy. Not great for your back, but as they get older they learn how to do it on their own.

@highwire: yay congrats!! SUCH a pretty name!