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Ditto. I can't wait to graduate!

I will post soon!

@LazyLightning: Sounds like a pretty emotionally and physically tough labor! Good job!! You are a strong lady for what you endured. Glad to hear you are hangin in there and baby girl will be home with you this week. I bet you cannot wait!

I haven't posted my birth story yet, but hope to soon! I had a second degree tear--colace, dermaplast and tucks are also my best friends! Thank goodness the hospital started me off with a healthy supply! You are much braver than I am for looking down there with a mirror! I am way too scared to see the damage. I may have made it through labor with no epidural but I am such a wuss about the sight of blood/stitches/open wounds!

I agree that a guest post on drying up your milk would be a great idea--and especially welcome for the mamas who don't have a choice in the matter about breastfeeding. And I would venture to guess there may be more than you think!

@tlcbaby: We have two cats but no dogs. Probably can't compare, but for what it's worth, our cats were really scared the first day we brought S home. (And they don't easily get scared normally). Since then, they have been curious but pretty subdued around her. It's working out better than we expected so far because they are normally pretty rambunctious!

Hi ladies, just wanted to stop by and join the thread! I plan to write my birth story but the short version is my water broke and I never went into labor, so ended up with a pitocin induction. I couldn't get an epidural because of my platelet count, and was able to deliver vaginally after about 12 hours of pit. I unfortunately ended up with a fourth degree tear, but am not doing too terribly from that - ditto the others on the hospital supplies - critical!. Otherwise I feel pretty well.

Baby girl is doing well. We plan to EBF and she latches great. I'm almost 72 hours out from delivery and just waiting for milk! Starting to get anxious about that but the pedi said her weight loss is within normal limits and I should expect it in the next 24 hours.

Because we're still waiting on milk she is feeding ALL THE TIME, especially at night. I think I essentially nursed her for 8 hours last night. Finding the sleep deprivation to be the hardest part, but learning I have to nap when she's napping during the day.

@LazyLightning: @bisous: sounds like things are going relatively well for you ladies also!

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of the June babies and mamas!

@LazyLightning: Wonderful news! You must be so happy!

@GreenThumb: I didn't find out about the platelets until after the induction started. Apparently I was border line low thru pregnancy but didn't know it. I had planned a med free biethtso maybe they didn't tell me. I was very close to the cutoff but too low for the anesthesiologist on duty that day. Good luck to you, I hope you get the birth you want. To be honest, I would 100% have gotten the epi in the midst of active labor, it was so intense, but now I am so glad I got through without it.

@grizz: That is very encouraging Our dogs are very barky - I said that the baby probably thinks its name is Harper or Foster because I yell their names so much!

@grizz: Aww, I'm sorry I think the LC visit will make a big difference - that is what I have always heard. Will they want you to clip the tongue tie or is it something you can work around?

@LazyLightning: Congrats on bringing home your baby girl!

Went to baby's second appointment today! She is already back to her birth weight at 11 days old. So relieved. It was a nice validation that things are working the way they should.

@grizz: It's good the shield is working! To keep her awake, I have been doing some variation on the following-tickling her feet, rubbing her palms/soles of her feet, stroking her neck/jawline right below her ear, putting lotion on her ankles (she's had dry skin there since her birth). I also sit her up to burp after about five minutes...and sometimes I will change her diaper in the middle of a feeding in hopes of waking her back up.

Feels nice to be on the other side! I'm only technically post-op day 1, but I am so ready to break out of jail. I've been here since Tuesday! They pulled my epidural after 24 hours, and I feel surprisingly well on just Motrin. I tried taking percocet last night, but I was so groggy I could not even pick up the baby. Never again!

@grizz: regarding breastfeeding: Amen sister! Ethan is only a day old, and I know it is supposed to be hard at the beginning, but dang if it is not frustrating. It seems like he latches great, but he hasn't quite figured out how to hoover. Thankfully they are getting a lactation consultant to come see me even though they do not make rounds in this hospital.

I'm keeping a positive viewpoint, but I can see why some women would quit. And it is too early for my milk to have come in, especially after such a drawn out labor and then surgery.

Unfortunately, he is getting his bilirubin levels checked today, which might mean we have to supplement with formula. I'm so thankful I saw an article recently about a study that used formula sparingly in the first few weeks and mom/babe still had a successful breastfeeding relationship after they did not require formula anymore.

@tlcbaby: I haven't heard of it, but I will check it out. I'm trying not to let myself get too stressed, because his Bili levels are borderline high. So not only do I have to feed him every 2-3 hours (with no milk, just colostrum) and I also don't get to hold him (b/c of the phototherapy). I just want to be able to feed and hold my baby. The intangibles of post-partum are tough...

@grizz: I'm sorry you had to go through it too, but it means so much to hear those words of encouragement and to know that you've already seen some light.
Right now I'm trying to get him to consistently latch and suck (he gets so tired and/or distracted!!) and then pumping as much as I can and mixing whatever I get into the formula. Did you have to supplement your LO?

@Espion: Glad to hear you're home and sorry to hear about the jaundice and bf struggles.

@grizz: I'm glad the LC is helpful! I saw a few in the hospital and had a good latch, I think, but I've been having some more trouble since my milk came in. I've been trying some other positions today to see if it helps. I may contact an LC on Monday.

@bisous: Great news about being back to birth weight!

We are settling in pretty well. I feel more mellow about everything today - yesterday felt a little intense for the first time. I think the adrenaline of birth is wearing off. LO slept a 4 and 3 hour stretch two nights ago, and then was up every 2 hours last night with one close to 3 hour stretch of sleep.