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Mem401's Pregnancy
My Due Date: October 7, 2018I have given birth!
Age: 40 years old
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Birth Story (Elaborated)
By Mem401 » Posted Sep. 26, 2018 11:37pm - 744 views - 13 comments
Hi everyone! Sorry it has taken me so long to post. I tried to do the birth announcement a few days ago from my phone, but couldn't add a picture and was too tired to type the birth story.
Last Wednesday morning at 12:01 am I was checked into labor and delivery. I was dilated 3.5 cm. My OB gave me Cytotec at 2 am to dilate me further, but it triggered powerful contractions and back labor before I was dilated enough to push. At 6 am I was given an epidural then the pitocin was started. By 8pm I was finally dilated 9 cm and began pushing. My contractions would not increase in frequency or strength despite hitting the limit on the Pitocin dosage. I would push 4 times every contraction. I labored from 8 pm until after 1 am with her head not making it past my pubic bone. So after much debate I decided to agree to an emergency c-section. At 2:39 am on September 20 Maggie was born. She was perfectly healthy, 6 pounds 10 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. Beautiful baby. I finally got to hold her 45 minutes later. We spent Thursday through Sunday in the hospital. We were supposed to be released Saturday, but Maggie developed jaundice and spent Saturday night/Sunday morning under UV light. I was discharged at midnight Saturday night/Sunday. I had tried breast feeding, but my milk dried up even with feeding her every 2 hours. (Or trying to...) So she is now on formula and I'm working hard at pumping so we can transition back to breast milk. I'm up to collecting 10 ml per day, so it's progress.
My recovery has been super hard. Essentially I am recovering from both vaginal birth and a c-section. I was up and about the day after giving birth, but I do have a lot of pain. I have a c-section incision, hemorrhoids, and my pih hasn't resolved yet-even a week later. I go back to the OB Friday because they used a wound vac on my incision and I have to get it changed. I'm planning to talk to her about the pih too. It's kind of scary that it didn't resolve as that was a big part of the reason we induced Maggie at 37 weeks.
Maggie is AMAZING by the way! Even with not feeling well because of the jaundice, she is easy-going and just an easy baby over all. She dropped quite a bit of weight since birth, but they tell us that she is still within the normal range. She weighed 5 pounds 10 ounces today. We've had 2 pediatrician appointments this week due to the jaundice, but we received the all clear today because her bilirubin numbers are dropping and she is gaining weight. So now we have a week before we have to go back. She's having some reflux too so we switched formulas today in hopes that it solves the problem. I'm also hoping to establish my milk supply and transition her back to exclusive breast feeding, which I think will be easier on her stomach. Anyway...like I said, she is such a sweet, easy-going baby and just rolls with things. She had a rough start to life, but you wouldn't know it. She's such a little doll baby!
I'm over the moon happy, so is my husband. Our family feels complete. :)
My Journal
Birth Story (Elaborated)
By Mem401 » Posted Sep. 26, 2018 11:37pm - 744 views - 13 comments
Hi everyone! Sorry it has taken me so long to post. I tried to do the birth announcement a few days ago from my phone, but couldn't add a picture and was too tired to type the birth story.
Last Wednesday morning at 12:01 am I was checked into labor and delivery. I was dilated 3.5 cm. My OB gave me Cytotec at 2 am to dilate me further, but it triggered powerful contractions and back labor before I was dilated enough to push. At 6 am I was given an epidural then the pitocin was started. By 8pm I was finally dilated 9 cm and began pushing. My contractions would not increase in frequency or strength despite hitting the limit on the Pitocin dosage. I would push 4 times every contraction. I labored from 8 pm until after 1 am with her head not making it past my pubic bone. So after much debate I decided to agree to an emergency c-section. At 2:39 am on September 20 Maggie was born. She was perfectly healthy, 6 pounds 10 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. Beautiful baby. I finally got to hold her 45 minutes later. We spent Thursday through Sunday in the hospital. We were supposed to be released Saturday, but Maggie developed jaundice and spent Saturday night/Sunday morning under UV light. I was discharged at midnight Saturday night/Sunday. I had tried breast feeding, but my milk dried up even with feeding her every 2 hours. (Or trying to...) So she is now on formula and I'm working hard at pumping so we can transition back to breast milk. I'm up to collecting 10 ml per day, so it's progress.
My recovery has been super hard. Essentially I am recovering from both vaginal birth and a c-section. I was up and about the day after giving birth, but I do have a lot of pain. I have a c-section incision, hemorrhoids, and my pih hasn't resolved yet-even a week later. I go back to the OB Friday because they used a wound vac on my incision and I have to get it changed. I'm planning to talk to her about the pih too. It's kind of scary that it didn't resolve as that was a big part of the reason we induced Maggie at 37 weeks.
Maggie is AMAZING by the way! Even with not feeling well because of the jaundice, she is easy-going and just an easy baby over all. She dropped quite a bit of weight since birth, but they tell us that she is still within the normal range. She weighed 5 pounds 10 ounces today. We've had 2 pediatrician appointments this week due to the jaundice, but we received the all clear today because her bilirubin numbers are dropping and she is gaining weight. So now we have a week before we have to go back. She's having some reflux too so we switched formulas today in hopes that it solves the problem. I'm also hoping to establish my milk supply and transition her back to exclusive breast feeding, which I think will be easier on her stomach. Anyway...like I said, she is such a sweet, easy-going baby and just rolls with things. She had a rough start to life, but you wouldn't know it. She's such a little doll baby!
I'm over the moon happy, so is my husband. Our family feels complete. :)
Comments for this Journal Entry
 | Comment from Mem401 » Posted Sep. 27, 2018 3:32pm Thank you both! We love her squishy cheeks too! :) The lactation consultants at the hospital couldn’t find a problem with Maggie’s latch; they seemed to suspect it was something to do with the birth trauma to my body, like it was in shock or something. I am eating laceration cookies, drinking a fenugreek/blessed thistle drink and tons of water. Just going at it like i do everything, which is full steam! Thank you both again! I appreciate it! |
 | Comment from calvingirl » Posted Sep. 27, 2018 3:17pm Congratulations! She's beautiful! I could just eat those cute cheeks up! Sounds like you are attacking the bf'ing problem in just the right way. My mom's last baby (my little brother) born when she was 43 had problems feeding and then she had supply issues, so he was supplemented for a couple of months - but she was determined. She kept at it, nursed him first every day, drank fenugreek tea, ate oatmeal cookies, drank lots of water, pumped and she got him exclusively breastfeeding within a few weeks and he nursed for two years. So you keep at it - never too late and every drop she gets from you is like a vitamin shot, so good luck! |
 | Comment from FlamingoGirl13 » Posted Sep. 27, 2018 3:02pm Congratulations! I'm so happy you have completed your family. Maggie sounds like the perfect addition and ready to roll with life. Best wishes for getting your breast milk to come in and the pih to go away. <3 |
| Comment from Mem401 » Posted Sep. 27, 2018 2:32pm Thank you all! Maggie is worth every single thing I went through to conceive her and give birth to her. I pumped 10ml in one session this morning, so I’m on cloud 9! Yesterday 10ml was all I got for the DAY! I am putting her to the breast first, then pumping. She gets super frustrated because she can’t get enough milk, but she loves the breast milk over formula, so I am hopeful she will adjust well as soon as my milk really comes in well. Anyway...thank you all again! (Would you believe that picture is one of the hospital pictures?!?!) We are all so happy to have our little caboose! |
 | Comment from Starmama14 » Posted Sep. 27, 2018 2:09pm She is BEAUTIFUL! I honestly have tears in my eyes I am so happy for you! And wow...recovery from my first c-section was rough...I couldn't imagine having to recover from a vaginal one at the same time. You are one tough mama! Thanks for sharing :) |
| Comment from Libelula264 » Posted Sep. 27, 2018 12:14pm Wow, is she ever a beauty! Congratulations, mama! |
| Comment from Angela18 » Posted Sep. 27, 2018 11:53am Congratulations on your beautiful little daughter! Sorry you’ve had such a rough go of it, having to heal from c-section and vaginal birth, I hope you heal quickly! As far as BFing, you should be able to bring your supply up. I will tell you though, you will build it up quicker with mouth to nipple contact as it stimulates production much better. In the past, I’ve had to use nipple guards and even those would slow down my production. I’d try nursing first then formula (which you may be doing) because the hungrier she is the more she will stimulate your milk to come back in. Just my two cents. Wish you the best with it all xo |
 | Comment from Newlyjg » Posted Sep. 27, 2018 6:49am She's so adorable, congrats mama |
