I had my baby! (long) - ***Picture added!!

[Deleted]

Hi girls - I have a few minutes until the next nursing session so I wanted to pop on and say hello!

Abigail Rae was born on 9/5 via c-section (40w6d), after 16 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing to no avail. Turns out my pubic arch is too narrow and her head was too round. Scheduled c-sections from here on out. We were going to wait a bit to do the section since one was already in progress, but her heartrate starting acting wonky so they expedited it. Her cord pH was on the low end and there was meconium in my water (which she ingested) so she ended up in the NICU for about 36 hours. It was pretty scary but she recovered very quickly and they just wanted to observe her for some time in there.

Unfortunately because of what happened, I only got to see her for a few seconds before they took her to the NICU at 3am and then I didn't get to see her again until 9pm the next night. I had a really bad reaction to the epidural and couldn't stop vomitting so they drugged me with something to help me sleep it off...which I did for pretty much the entire day. So I wasn't able to get out of bed for the first time until 9pm that night...poor thing didn't have a name until the next day!

I spiked a fever while I was pushing so they had to give me antibiotics...which destroyed my GI tract. So our first night home was a complete disaster - me running to the bathroom every 30 mins or so...us being paranoid about every sound she made (babies are noisy sleepers - I had no idea!!) and thinking she was waking up made us both crazy. I had so many meltdowns! I am FINALLY feeling better now - but it took until about Thursday to get my stomach situated to the point where I am not nauseous anymore. I think I was in a calorie deficit from the diarrhea clearing out my system and feeling nauseous from lack of sleep and an empty stomach...combined with the fact that she is nursing and I am burning calories like crazy. But things are improving now!

She is doing great with nursing, though I need to use a shield for now until my nips are more drawn out and I'm not so engorged. The LC gave me breast shells, but I am leaking all over the place wearing them...and they are not discreet! I am going to try weaning her slowly over the next week or so. I am scared she will fight me and I will cave, but I hate how the shield makes her feeding sessions such a production. NIP can just not happen with that damn shiels. She is constantly grabbing at it and smushing it against her face or ripping it off (especially when she's really fiesty).

My milk came in while I was still in the hospital, so she was able to gain 5oz overnight before we were discharged. We went to the pedi Tuesday and she gained another 6oz! So she is already 4oz abover her birthweight. She is eating every 3 hours during the day and stretching her overnight feedings to about 4 hours - so we are getting some decent chunks of sleep now, albeit broken. Last night she ate at 12, 4:30 and I had to wake her at 9 to eat again. I actually woke up at 8 in a panic because I didn't hear her stirring and went to make sure she was still breathing! Then I jumped back in bed for another 30 minutes. It was amazing.

I think I attached a picture. I hope it's not ginormous.

PS - I downloaded the Proboards app to entertain me while I nurse...how do I find the GBCN boards?

[justjen]

Congrats! But I can't see the pic

The app is great for nursing-- that's what I'm doing right now. I think you need to c&p the gbcn URL into the app to get here... But I'm not 100% sure on that

[Deleted]

Congrats!!

[Deleted]

congrats

[Deleted]

Congrats! I don't see a pic though :-(

If you can express some BM before feeding it makes a world of difference when you are so engorged!

[pugz]

congrats! amazing that she's gained that weight so far!

the app is soooo awesome for middle of the night feedings! Also the ability to easily see if posts you've participated in have new posts is great.

I can't remember how I found the board though, lol.

[fbf2006]

Congrats!!

[vanillacourage]

Congrats, I love her name.

[MamaMaui24]

Congrats! Sounds like a rough l&d and post partum experience. So glad you are both ok.

Look into the Lansinoh latch assist. That may help you transition off the shield.

[countthestars]

Congrats!!!

[annieh2]

Congrats! Delivery sounds like quite the ordeal, but am so glad that everything turned out well in the end.

When I used breast shields, I used to put a burp cloth underneath (tucked into the band of my bra) to stay dry and be able to NIP.

[jackpackage]

Congratulations!

[karinothing]

Congrats! Sorry your experience wasn't ideal but that is so great that nursing is going so wonderful even with such a rough experience!

[jinnifah]

Sounds like quite the ordeal, glad you're both safe and healthy congrats!

[Ashley&Scott]

Congrats! Sounds like nursing is going very well. NIP will get easier, BF groups are a great way to practice if you have one in your area.

[belovedbride07]

Congrats!

On the Forum page, click to add and then type in the URL (pandce.proboards.com). If you're on an iPhone, I can break it down further if you need more help.

[mie]

Congratulations!

Yes, babies are very noisy when they sleep. That fact surprised me, too.

[Deleted]

congrats

[jenn248]

Congratulations!! Glad you are both doing well now.

[bunch]

Congrats!

[Deleted]

Congrats!

[zeewifeandmama]

That sounds crazy, glad you both are ok! Congrats!

[froggy76]

So glad you are both healthy now! Congratulations!!

[curbsideprophet]

Congrats! Sounds like a rough start, glad things are getting better.

[Deleted]

Congrats! Sorry about the rough L and D but that's all in the past now.

[KaraOrNot]

Congratulations! I am glad that she is doing well!

[huey]

Congrats! Love her name

[Saudade]

Congratulations!!

[galaxy8227]

Congrats!!!

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone! I found the board on my app and finally figured out how to reply

Will look into the latch assist if I can't wean using my hand pump. I'm scared...I don't want to fight with her!