AUGUST 2008 ~ BUMP BUDDIES

[tinaO]

Well, I have not had time to catch up on posts yet, but wanted to let you all know that NOAH IS HERE!!! I have to admit that I had the most wonderful labor and delivery and truly could not have asked for a better experience. I actually said afterwards that I could just do that again the next day. I was truly, truly blessed. I went in for induction around 5:30 a.m. on Wed and my doc showed up to break my bag of water around 7:30 a.m. (not a lot of fun there, but not bad) and started the pitocin. I was already 100% effaced and Noah was already way down. I dilated to a 2 shortly after the pitocin started and then started having some painful contractions, so they gave me some meds for the pain. Made me kind of groggy and then we had friends coming by and I was chatting with some of them until the pain got a little worse, so they went ahead and gave me the epidural, which I thought was not bad at all. Then I FELT GREAT!! I slept for a while and then around 1:30 p.m., I was dilated to a 4. Long story short, my blood pressure had been spiking really high early on which really concerned my doc, but after the epidural, it was smooth sailing. My doc decided not to check me again when he stopped by around 3 p.m., but the nurse went ahead and decided to because I was going to take another nap. Anyway, come to find out I was 10 centimeters!!! She looked at us and said, "Tina, you are complete". We were like, "What does that mean?" She said, "You are 10 centimeters. We are going to get ready to deliver your baby"!!! We were shocked! So, we got ready (nurses were short that day because of so many deliveries) and so my husband was helping with everything and we started pushing and within 30 min, Noah was already crowning and my doc was called. We were watching it all in a mirror which I never thought I would want to do! Anyway, we were all laughing and joking and my doc was showing me Noah's hair and he was laughing and curling it around his finger telling me if I push really hard that Noah is going to come out....and he did! We pushed for less than an hour in total and Noah was born! I actually feel pretty good. The nurses were wonderful and took good care of us. I do have some stitches that will dissove thankfully in 2 weeks. We came home last night and for the most part, I am getting around pretty well. So, there you have it...little Noah finally arrived and weighed in at a healthy 7 pounds and 3 ounces and was 20 inches long. He is beautiful and all the nurses kept commenting on him. He has this beautiful skin coloring and the nurse yesterday said he had the lowest jaundice level she had ever seen. I feel so incredibly blessed. My husband and I are just so in awe of him and working so well together to take care of him. I am definitely having some challenges with breastfeeding, though. Every time I think we have got it, it all seems to come crashing down on us. I guess it is just going to take time and practice. I am hoping it gets better soon.

I hope all my August mommies are doing well and I will catch up more later. Love to all of you!! I will try to go ahead and post a few pics...

Tina

[seltzer]

Tina, CONGRATULATIONS!! I am so thrilled for you. Little Noah is truly adorable. I was a little worried about you since I've heard inductions can be worse than regular labors, so I am really happy to hear everything went so well. And you didn't even have to push that long, thank God for that. Thank God you didn't have my epidural, LOL. If I ever were to give birth again I would request your anesthesiologist. What's going on with the breastfeeding? For my BF issues, see below...

Things on this end have been so difficult. This past week Keira started having trouble nursing, for no apparent reason. She did fine for 2 wks and all of a sudden couldn't latch on right and would pull away from the breast seeming upset. I went to a lactation consultant yesterday, as well as the pediatrician. The baby has only gained 3 oz. in 10 days, which is obviously unacceptable. I am terrified and distraught. I am going back to the dr. tomorrow and Monday for weight checks. The doc said she looks medically fine and very healthy, and she thinks it's a breastfeeding issue. (That said, if she hasn't gained enough weight on Mon. then they will check for a UTI.) The lactation consultant thinks she is not sucking vigorously enough...but as to why she might not be, she didn't say. I am so pissed off, too, like why can't someone give me an answer!? My heart is breaking for my little baby. Starting yesterday I began pumping breast milk and giving it to her as a supplement to the (endless) nursing sessions. I have to weigh her on this ultra-precise scale before & after nursing to see how much she's getting. She hasn't been getting enough (maybe like 1 oz., & she should be getting 2-3 oz.). I am so exhausted it's unreal. I feel like I'm on a different planet, and I just cry on and off all damn day long. If any of you are religious or spiritual or whatever, please say some prayers.

Gotta run for now.

[tryw8]

Hi Seltzer,

From time to time, Cody doesn't want to latch on also. I noticed it was usually depending on the foods I ate which meant he didn't like the taste.

Karen

P.S. CONGRATULATIONS TINA!!!

[tinaO]

Seltzer - Rest assured - you are not alone. Massive problems on my end as well. I will tell you more later. Noah had to go on some formula tonight as he had not peed or pooped in 24 hours and is just not nursing right. He became dehydrated. My milk has not come in and I also have been a mess today. It is SO hard. I have talked to a lacatation consultant and had to page and speak to the pediatrician. I am starting the pump tonight, but my milk has not come in yet. Tough times.....

Just wanted you to know you are not alone and I am thinking about you and praying for you as well.

Tina

[2ndtimer]

Hi Guys,
I've still been lurking around the site -just no time to actually write a post, which I'm sure everyone can relate to.
CONGRATS!!!! to everyone. Has CT Michelle had her baby yet?
Sheri, I sure hope you are recovering from the pneumonia! I can imagine how unpleasant it has been for you to have that right after a c section. Please continue to take good care of yourself and remember it is just temporary.
Tina, I was so happy to hear how wonderful your birth experience was! I'm sure the breastfeeding will get easier and if not, just keep supplementing with formula. I fed Connor formula the first day he was home because I was concerned that my milk had not come in yet. If it doesn't end up getting better with the breastfeeding, then just switch him over to formula and know you tried your best.
Seltzer, I'm so, so sorry that poor little Kiera has not been doing well. Did you find out if she has a UTI? Please hang in there, I know you are a good mom! Hopefully this is just a rough patch. I also wonder if she just doesn't like breast milk? Maybe it's just not her thing?

Baby & I have been doing well except for the burning, stabbing debilitating back pain that I am still suffering from. I guess almost no one gets out without a few war wounds. I've seen a chiropractor 3 times, my reg MD,and a PT. Tomorrow I see my acupuncturist. My MD has put me on prednisone and that seems to be helping a little. At least now I can actually lie down without pain.
Tomorrow I'm going to start pumping breast milk like crazy to get a little stored up. DH has really been wanting to feed the baby and it would be foolish not to help him to help me.

Hang in there guys!
Rebecca

[CT_Michele]

tina- what a wonderful birth experience you must have had! I am glad it went so well, but I am sorry to hear about the breastfeeding problems. i do hope it gets easier soon. Honestly, that is one of the reasons I have decided to just go right to formula. I know my body and I don't think it will be right for me, and I have heard to many bad stories about people just ending up on formula anyway.

Rebecca- Sorry to hear about your back pain. I am hoping any pregnancy pains I have had will go away and I will retunr to my normal self, but I guess that is just hopeful thinking rather than realistic. i have not had little Ella yet, if she remains breech, I will be having a c-section this tuesday, in just 2 days. I think she is still breech, so I am expecting a birthday party on Tuesday.

I will update you ladies as soon as I can, right now I am off for a pedicure, my feet are killing me!

[sharishu]

Hi,
I just posted some pics of Elia on photobucket. Check out the cutie!

Rebecca,
Thanks. Please G-d, I seem to be recovering from the pneumonia. I was on 2 different antibiotics plus a bunch of other stuff for the cough. The meds ended yesterday, and the doctor said if I still have any fever by Wed., they'd run more tests. So of course I've been checking my temp. about every hour. It's nerve-wracking!

Tina and Seltzer,
Your babes are adorable! Enjoy all the cuddles and kisses, I know I am.

Michele,
Good luck, as your blessed day seems to be fast approaching.

I need to rest. Be well.

xo,
Shari

[tinaO]

Hello! Had our first appt at the pediatrician and thankfully after 1 1/2 days on formula with me pumping (although basically hardly anything is coming out), Noah is back to peeing and pooping normally and his weight check went fine. He was down to 6 lbs and 12 oz which the doc said was fine. I got him to latch back on today and that was a relief, but we are still using the formula in the mean time also as I am expressing such little milk. It is draining right now to try to feed him and also pump, but we are doing much better now. My husband has been amazing in every way. I swear we are so in love with each other right now and so supportive of one another. It is wonderful. Our little guy has just brought us that much closer together which is just amazing. I just wish the breastfeeding would get better....

Rebecca - Thanks for the words of support on the breastfeeding. I am at a point where I think formula is in our future and we will at least just try to get as much breast milk out as we can. I just have to accept this and do what is best for Noah. I also am still having back pain. I am hoping it will get better on it own. If it were not for that, I feel great...well, except for the lack of sleep of course! I am your back gets better soon.

Seltzer - Hope you are hanging in there. Breastfeeding is sooo challenging. Have you thought about supplementing with formula? It takes the edge off for both you and Keira. That way you know she is getting enough to eat which relaxes you and her. It has made it so much easier today with Noah now that he is well fed. Just a thought. Hang in there, though!!! We are always here for support if you need it.

Michelle - Good luck!!!!! I am sure you are nervous and excited!!! It will be wonderful!!!

Karen - Hope you and Cody are doing well.

Shari - You poor thing! Hopefully the pneumonia is all gone! I can't imagine dealing with that on top of everything else!!

Ok, better run. Never enough hours in the day.

Take care all and good luck Michelle!!

Tina

[CT_Michele]

Well ladies, this will probably be my last post before I am officially a mom!

We had our pre-op appt at the hospital today. Our room is all ready and the nurse answered all our questions and told us the plan for tomorrow. We have to be at the hospital by 8am and our c-section is scheduled for 10. They said when we first get there they will start an iv and begin monitoring the baby. She said my doc's will show up between 9 and 9:30 and that is when they will do the ultrasound to do one final check on position. Then they will put a catheter in(which I am not looking forward to) and prep me for the surgery. We met with the anestialogist who made us nervous. He said that when someone is a bigger person (like myself) that sometimes it is hard to get the spinal in the right spot, and if that occurs, I would have to be put to sleep, which would be worst case scneario. I really hope that doesn't happen, but I think he was just telling us b/c he had to, not b/c he thought it would happen tomorrow.

They also told us that after the c-section, dh will get to hold her for 20-30 minutes while they finish and he could bring her close to my face. They said when we leave the operating room that the baby will go to the nursery for 5 hours of monitoring, so I will probably not have her in my room and in my arms until close to 5 pm. It will give me time to recovery, nap and prepare for the visiting who will all be banging down the door to meet Ella.

I will make sure to update you all as soon as possible. If they send us home I will post by noon to let you all know it did not happen. If you don't hear from me, you can assume I am delivering. We will have our laptop at the hospital, so I will post news and pics soon!

Thank you all for the best wishes!

[unexplained infertility]

CT-Michelle- how are you? how is your Ella? I keep checking this forum...
Hope all is well.

[CT_Michele]

Hey Ladies!

Ella Michele is here and she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life! She came via c-section yesterday morning at 10:33 am, she weighed 6 lbs 3oz and was 19 3/4 inches long. It was amazing. The c-section itself was not as bad as I thought it would be. The catheter was my nemesis and the anestitialogist almost was unsuccessful with the spinal. He said he was on his last try until I had to be put out completely. I did not want that, so I held still and arched my back hard and it went. Then dh joined me and all was great. It went so fast and when I heard her cry, I cried too. Dh has taken hundreds of pics already and both of us are in this euphoric state right now. It is so unreal and I can not wait for all of you to experience your births.

I am already up and on very little pain meds for the c-section. It felt great to shower today and I am looking forward to more friends and family visiting today to meet our precious girl.

Dh, as I said, is going picture crazy and he already set up a website for Ella. It is ellamichele.shutterfly.com. Please go check out our beautiful girl! I will be around the next couple of days. We are in the hospital until Saturday morning, but we have our laptop with us and I am feeling good, so you all will probably here from me again. Thanks again for all of the well wishes and I hope you all enjoy the website.

[sharishu]

Michele,
Many congratulations on the birth of Ella Michele! I am so glad your C-section experience and recovery seem to be going so well. I will take a look at the website of your daughter as soon as I get a chance. I am sure she is just precious. Enjoy this time!
Shari

[Neffi211]

Michele-- Wow Congrats! Ella is beautiful! All those pictures are just wonderful, and it was nice to put a face with a name to you as well! You must be so overjoyed. I am glad everything went smoothly for you. So you get to stay at the hospital for four nights? Thats a lot! I hope you get so sleep and relax before you take your little one home! Congrats again!

[tinaO]

Michelle - Congrats!! I am so gald everything went well and you are feeling good! Enjoy these precious moments - they go by so quickly and those first couple of days with your baby are magical!

Seltzer - How are you? How is the bf going? I spent 2 hours with a lactation consultant today who came to our house. Long story short, the result was what I had begun to expect. I have a very, very low supply of milk. Definitely not enough to sustain Noah. I believe it is hormonal and goes back to my history of not having regular menstrual cycles, inability to get pregnant natutally, etc. It was hard to hear, but we are ok with it. We will formula feed and supplement with the little supply I do make. There are really not any other options, other than these herbal supplements that have proven in many women to improve their milk supply. We are going to try them - they are called a Mother's Love with goat's rue - not sure if anyone has heard of them. The consultant also gave us this great nipple shield that had really helped Noah to latch on easier and makes it less confusing than going from bottle to nipple. So, there you have it. It was at least good to understand and begin to accept the issue. The important thing is I have a beautiful little boy that I love with all my heart and will take extremely good care of him. We will figure the rest out.

I hope everyone else is doing well. Shari - hope you are continuing to feel better!

Tina

[seltzer]

Hi everyone,

it's 3:28 a.m. and I am up pumping breast milk. Ah, the joys of breastfeeding, LOL.

Michele - Congratulations! Ella Michele is beautiful!! Thank you for sharing the website & pictures. I am so glad the C-sec went well and you now have a happy, healthy, beautiful little girl. Like Tina said, the first few days are incredibly magical...enjoy every moment.

Shari - Feel better soon! I am glad you are doing a little better. I love your son's name, by the way. How is everything going w/him?

I am way too tired to post right now; Tina, I will definitely respond to your BF questions, etc. Will do so tomorrow. Tina, hey, you do what you can do RE BFing and feeding in general. I am sorry to hear you cannot exclusively BF, but like you said the important thing is that you have a healthy & beautiful little boy. He will be fine on formula. Good thing you met w/ the LC and discovered the issue now rather than pulling your hair out trying to exclusively BF and not getting anywhere.

Gotta run, Keira is crying...and I have these damn pumps attached to my boobs!