(no subject)
Miss Lily Grace made her appearance on August 19th, 2010 at 1:41 a.m. She weighed 8lbs 8oz and is 20.5 inches long.
After finding out at my appointment that I was 5 cms dilated, I was so paranoid about having her at home. I made it through the day without completely freaking out and having Joey come home but when he called to let me know he was on his way home, he suggested maybe we come to the hospital just to see if I was having contractions and not feeling them. Sounded good to me! If nothing else, they'd send us home because I wasn't doing anything. They hooked me up and the monitor wasn't really picking up any contractions but I was dilating so the doctor on call decided to keep me. I really didn't think they'd keep me at all. I thought we were just being silly and wasting everyone's time.
After progressing to 8-ish 9-ish cms with my waters still in tact, the doctor gave me a few options. I really liked her because she wasn't pushy about anything and she was on board if I wanted to go natural. Anyway, she offered a few options but I chose to just leave everything alone. Oh yeah, they had asked me if I wanted an epidural when I first got there and I said I was going to go as long as I could without so everything was done under the assumption that I was going natural. Even being so far dilated, I was hardly feeling anything other than some pressure of her making her way down so I just didn't ask for anything. A little later the nurse did have me try to push my waters out (lol that sounds funny but I'm on drugs right now so it's okay). They were bulging. There was a pop of fluid but she said my water didn't break. It had been a while and the doctor came in so I finally said she could break my water. They were starting to think they'd maybe have to hook me up to some pitocin because my contractions weren't a pattern that would be good for pushing. That's why I agreed to breaking my water. They said that might help get things moving along. I think I've said the same thing like 5 times now so moving on. There wasn't much to break so I guess some had broken but not all or something. I don't even know. I don't know if I mentioned this but I still wasn't feeling much of anything. There was pressure and all but it really wasn't that bad. There came a point where I felt like I needed to push. Not hardcore pushing or anything but I just felt like I could do some practice pushing. They weren't going to let me since I wasn't fully dilated yet but then they said I could. I had a few pushes and the pain was getting more intense because she was finally moving down. Oh, when they had last checked me I was at 0 station. That's another reason they didn't want me to start pushing because they thought I'd be pushing way too long if I did that. They were wrong though. I had a few practice pushes then the nurse told me to stop. I couldn't though. I could a little but I was still pushing a little. She got on the phone fast and called the doctor and another nurse. Joey and the nurse kept telling me to stop pushing and to calm down because I was freaking out lol...they kept making fun of me because when I was pushing, I kept freaking out then between pushes I would laugh and joke about something stupid (usually about how I was going to be a pooper). Anyway, it only took a few pushes then Lily was out. I still can't believe I did it without any meds. I wasn't passionate about not having an epidural but I did want to try if I could just to say I did it. I would not do it again lol but I am very glad I was able to experience it. And now I'm done. I feel like I've accomplished what I was meant to accomplish. I have that feeling of being complete. I was starting to reconsider the decision to stop at two and while I will miss pregnancy, we're just done.
So, that's the birth.
I sort of would rather make a separate post about the breastfeeding but I don't want to post twice in a row so I'll put that in here.
Breastfeeding. It isn't as uncomfortable emotionally as I thought it would be but the sensitivity is as bad as I thought. It's worse in my left nipple. I can deal with my right nipple pretty well. I saw the lactation consultant today and she helped. I still have a lot of trouble getting Lily onto my left nipple properly BUT Joey has been suprisingly helpful. I guess he was watching when the LC was helping me because when it came time to feed on the left, I got upset and tense. When he brought Lily to me, he placed her where she should be and he let go so I could give it a try. When I was struggling with it and getting even more upset, he had me grab my boob and he helped me get her on. He's been soooo supportive and helpful. I didn't expect this at all from him. Not that I thought he'd be unhelpful, I just didn't expect him to be actively supportive like this. The nurses are so amazing too, oh my gosh. The one that's on tonight is so helpful.
We were going to be released tonight but when they weighed Lily, she had lost too much weight so they're keeping us another night. She lost 11% and they said we should supplement. With how they've been about our breastfeeding, I trust them so we are supplementing. The nurse said to give anywhere between 15-30 but she recommended only doing 15 because there's less of a chance of it messing with our breastfeeding relationship. I'm offering boob every 3 hours then when she's done with that, I offer the formula. I'm very comfortable with this. I know it's not something that makes the BFing community very happy and I know it can cause issues but I'm comfortable with it. The nurse checked to make sure stuff was coming out of my nipples and she also checked to make sure Lily was latched on properly and neither of those were issues.
One thing's for sure, I have a new respect for breastfeeding. I didn't think it was easy or anything but I definitely didn't realize how tough it really can be. There's nothing even wrong with me or Lily. All of the nurses have commented on how perfect my equipment is and how wonderful Lily's latch is. Even with these perfect conditions, I'm still having trouble. It's scary and it's a lot of work! I can't imagine doing this without the support I've had.
Oh man, I love skin to skin btw. After Lily nurses, I just hold her. We both love it. She'll sleep like that forever. It was so cute...I had her against me on the right and she scooted herself over to be closer to my heartbeat. I don't really feel any sappy feelings when she is nursing but when she's done and we just cuddle...that's what I like :)
Pictures on facebook :) I have at least one cute nursing shot that I'll post here later. I miss Noah and the dogs soooo much :-/
After finding out at my appointment that I was 5 cms dilated, I was so paranoid about having her at home. I made it through the day without completely freaking out and having Joey come home but when he called to let me know he was on his way home, he suggested maybe we come to the hospital just to see if I was having contractions and not feeling them. Sounded good to me! If nothing else, they'd send us home because I wasn't doing anything. They hooked me up and the monitor wasn't really picking up any contractions but I was dilating so the doctor on call decided to keep me. I really didn't think they'd keep me at all. I thought we were just being silly and wasting everyone's time.
After progressing to 8-ish 9-ish cms with my waters still in tact, the doctor gave me a few options. I really liked her because she wasn't pushy about anything and she was on board if I wanted to go natural. Anyway, she offered a few options but I chose to just leave everything alone. Oh yeah, they had asked me if I wanted an epidural when I first got there and I said I was going to go as long as I could without so everything was done under the assumption that I was going natural. Even being so far dilated, I was hardly feeling anything other than some pressure of her making her way down so I just didn't ask for anything. A little later the nurse did have me try to push my waters out (lol that sounds funny but I'm on drugs right now so it's okay). They were bulging. There was a pop of fluid but she said my water didn't break. It had been a while and the doctor came in so I finally said she could break my water. They were starting to think they'd maybe have to hook me up to some pitocin because my contractions weren't a pattern that would be good for pushing. That's why I agreed to breaking my water. They said that might help get things moving along. I think I've said the same thing like 5 times now so moving on. There wasn't much to break so I guess some had broken but not all or something. I don't even know. I don't know if I mentioned this but I still wasn't feeling much of anything. There was pressure and all but it really wasn't that bad. There came a point where I felt like I needed to push. Not hardcore pushing or anything but I just felt like I could do some practice pushing. They weren't going to let me since I wasn't fully dilated yet but then they said I could. I had a few pushes and the pain was getting more intense because she was finally moving down. Oh, when they had last checked me I was at 0 station. That's another reason they didn't want me to start pushing because they thought I'd be pushing way too long if I did that. They were wrong though. I had a few practice pushes then the nurse told me to stop. I couldn't though. I could a little but I was still pushing a little. She got on the phone fast and called the doctor and another nurse. Joey and the nurse kept telling me to stop pushing and to calm down because I was freaking out lol...they kept making fun of me because when I was pushing, I kept freaking out then between pushes I would laugh and joke about something stupid (usually about how I was going to be a pooper). Anyway, it only took a few pushes then Lily was out. I still can't believe I did it without any meds. I wasn't passionate about not having an epidural but I did want to try if I could just to say I did it. I would not do it again lol but I am very glad I was able to experience it. And now I'm done. I feel like I've accomplished what I was meant to accomplish. I have that feeling of being complete. I was starting to reconsider the decision to stop at two and while I will miss pregnancy, we're just done.
So, that's the birth.
I sort of would rather make a separate post about the breastfeeding but I don't want to post twice in a row so I'll put that in here.
Breastfeeding. It isn't as uncomfortable emotionally as I thought it would be but the sensitivity is as bad as I thought. It's worse in my left nipple. I can deal with my right nipple pretty well. I saw the lactation consultant today and she helped. I still have a lot of trouble getting Lily onto my left nipple properly BUT Joey has been suprisingly helpful. I guess he was watching when the LC was helping me because when it came time to feed on the left, I got upset and tense. When he brought Lily to me, he placed her where she should be and he let go so I could give it a try. When I was struggling with it and getting even more upset, he had me grab my boob and he helped me get her on. He's been soooo supportive and helpful. I didn't expect this at all from him. Not that I thought he'd be unhelpful, I just didn't expect him to be actively supportive like this. The nurses are so amazing too, oh my gosh. The one that's on tonight is so helpful.
We were going to be released tonight but when they weighed Lily, she had lost too much weight so they're keeping us another night. She lost 11% and they said we should supplement. With how they've been about our breastfeeding, I trust them so we are supplementing. The nurse said to give anywhere between 15-30 but she recommended only doing 15 because there's less of a chance of it messing with our breastfeeding relationship. I'm offering boob every 3 hours then when she's done with that, I offer the formula. I'm very comfortable with this. I know it's not something that makes the BFing community very happy and I know it can cause issues but I'm comfortable with it. The nurse checked to make sure stuff was coming out of my nipples and she also checked to make sure Lily was latched on properly and neither of those were issues.
One thing's for sure, I have a new respect for breastfeeding. I didn't think it was easy or anything but I definitely didn't realize how tough it really can be. There's nothing even wrong with me or Lily. All of the nurses have commented on how perfect my equipment is and how wonderful Lily's latch is. Even with these perfect conditions, I'm still having trouble. It's scary and it's a lot of work! I can't imagine doing this without the support I've had.
Oh man, I love skin to skin btw. After Lily nurses, I just hold her. We both love it. She'll sleep like that forever. It was so cute...I had her against me on the right and she scooted herself over to be closer to my heartbeat. I don't really feel any sappy feelings when she is nursing but when she's done and we just cuddle...that's what I like :)
Pictures on facebook :) I have at least one cute nursing shot that I'll post here later. I miss Noah and the dogs soooo much :-/