Jun 282010
It’s 11 pm, which means that Baby G has now been out of my belly and in my arms for just about 24 hours. And I have yet to sleep!
Jon is asleep on the fold out sleeper chair next to my hospital bed, and G is snoozing in the little bassinet on the other side – which explains why I haven’t yet slept. You see, the hospital where I gave birth doesn’t allow newborns to stay in the room if both parents are asleep. In order for the baby to stay and not be taken to the well-baby nursery, at least one adult has to be awake – with lights on – at all times. And since Jon is asleep, I am fighting sleep myself because even though I’m sure they would take excellent care of her in the nursery, I don’t like being away from her. I know that I’m going to have to cave in soon, though. Even the post-birth euphoria that’s kept me awake this long can’t last much longer.
Since I am exhausted and feeling spacy, I probably can’t manage a truly organized and coherent blog post, so here are some odds and ends from our first 24 hours since G arrived:
- For those who have asked or are curious, yes, I did have a c-section. My labor went from Braxton Hicks contractions to REALLY strong contractions in just a few hours. Brethine and stadol failed to stop or even slow down the contractions. So for several reasons ( I will write a longer birth story later), including the fact that G was transverse breech and the very powerful, nonstop contractions were stressing my previous c-section scar, my doctor advised us to go ahead and have a c-section. Forty five minutes later – at 11:45 pm last night, G arrived via a relatively uneventful surgery.
- G was technically 34 weeks gestation when she was born. She would have been 35 weeks if she had made it to midnight before her delivery.
- She weighed 5 lbs and 7.5 ounces and was 18 inches long. She’s TEENSY. But unlike some babies who come early (including C, who was born at 36 weeks in 2007), she doesn’t look undercooked or like a preemie. Instead she just looks like a miniature, perfectly formed china doll, with sweet little features and quite a bit of wavy, very blonde hair. She is GORGEOUS.
- She needed a bit of supplemental oxygen for a few hours after birth, so Jon and I had to wait to have her with us until 3-4 am in the morning after the c-section. She’s been breathing wonderfully since then. That’s great news because at 34-35 weeks, we weren’t sure how her lungs would be. We’re really lucky.
- That’s the good news. The bad news is that like many late-term premature babies, she is veeeeery sleepy and her sucking reflex is underdeveloped. So breastfeeding is not going well (understatement). She and I are really struggling to get nursing going. Even for me - someone who has successfully breastfed several other children, and who has helped lots of other women get started nursing their babies – this is really a challenging situation. She’s simply too tired to latch on and actually eat. And making matters more complicated, she also has had issues with unstable body temperature and blood sugar levels (both also common problems for late term preemies). So we have to get calories into her. It’s crucial. Without energy, she can’t wake up enough to nurse. It’s a vicious cycle. At one point today, we were warned that if we didn’t see some improvement in her feeding and blood sugar, she might have to be sent to the special care nursery for a day or three to get things stabilized. The thought of being separated from her in an acute care hospital setting was REALLY upsetting to me. So I broke down and explained to the nurse who had taken her blood sugar about recently losing Henry, and she was absolutely wonderful. She told me she would do whatever she could to help us get the blood sugar issue turned around – and she did. This nurse spent the next 45 minutes showing me how to use my finger plus a syringe (to avoid nipple confusion while she;s learning to breastfeed) to get a mix of my pumped milk plus high calorie formula into G’s little tummy. An hour later, her blood sugar reading was the best it had been all day. And since that time, this nurse’s technique has allowed me to keep her well-fed enough to stay out of the NICU. She still isn’t really getting enough, and I’m still not half as good at it as that nurse is, but we’re hanging in there. I also keep G skin to skin as much as possible to keep her temperature up, and so I can try to nurse her every time she looks even remotely awake enough. Unfortunately, I really wasn’t able to get her to latch on even one time today. But I think that if I just keep trying as she grows and becomes more awake, we will eventually get there. Between the pumping, the nursing attempts and the finger-plus-syringe feedings, keeping her fed is a very time consuming proposition at this point. Her weight is now at 5lbs 4ozs, so she hasn’t lost too much. That’s good. Tomorrow I hope to get a clearer idea from the pediatrician of how her feeding will have to look in order for her to go home (I am hoping for Thursday at the latest).
- Today J (staying with her dad and stepmom while I am hospitalized) and C (staying with Jon’s wonderful parents) both came to meet their new baby sister for the first time. It was magical for me to see each of my girls with G, and to realize that I am now the lucky mother of THREE beautiful daughters. J came to the hospital with two of her best friends, and I loved seeing the big girls oohing and aahing over G. J seemed so proud, and loved holding her new baby sister. C came into the room yelling “where is my baby sister!?” and was absolutely THRILLED to finally meet Georgia. She couldn’t keep her hands off of her, but I could tell that she is also a little stressed. We’ve had so much happening in our family lately, and she’s had to spend more time away from her mama than any two year old should. But her grandparents are so amazing and she is so close to them that I think she is mostly doing okay. Still, I can’t wait to get home, get the kids home, and try to settle in as the radically reconfigured family that we are.
- E still doesn’t know that G was born last night! I tried several times today to get him on the phone at camp but wasn’t successful because he was out hiking all day. I think we now have a plan where he’ll be calling me first thing in the morning so I can tell him. He is going to be SO EXCITED. (He will probably be equally excited to hear about the surprise baby guinea pigs)
- G’s other hospital visitors today included Aunt Betsy, cousins E, M and NC and Uncle Robert and Aunt Nicole, plus cousins A, H and N (their J is away at camp as well, so he wasn’t here). Dr. Neighbor also came, along with the Hickman grandparents, plus C and M (who are Henry, J and E’s father and stepmother). It was a busy day. All agreed that G is an absolutely beautiful baby who radiates a peaceful, warm vibe that puts a smile on everyone’s face. She’s a special baby; we all sense it.
- Today was an amazing day for me. Starting last night, while I was lying on the operating table just before the c-section, I sensed Henry’s actual presence with me for the very first time since his death. And he’s remained with me all day today, encouraging me to fall in love with his new baby sister, born two months to the day after he was first admitted to the hospital. When I hold G in my arms, I feel Henry with me in a really intense way. It’s extremely comforting and has brought me a level of peace with the loss of my son that I hadn’t experienced even one bit before G’s birth. It’s been an extremely emotionally intense 24 hours, and I love Henry even more than I did before.
94 Responses to “Baby G – the first 24 hours”
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Congrats!
I’d try to convince you to sleep, but I don’t think it would work. (But you should SLEEP! the nursery is FINE!)
I’d try to convince you to let her have the formula and not sweat the breastfeeding right now, but I don’t think that would work either. As you know, there will be months-years of breastfeeding in front of you. Calories are good. How do you have milk so soon?
Sleep! Rest! Recover! Enjoy! She’s gorgeous.
So so so happy for you. Continued peace and happiness and loving thoughts your way. What a lucky baby to have you for a mother.
She doesn’t look the slightest bit undercooked. She is beautiful. Your joy is coming through loud and clear. And I am so happy for you.
Thrilled to read more details of gorgeous baby G’s birth. Thank you so much for sharing.
Congratulations again to all of you. Keep baby G, Henry, and all your family members and friends close.
Much love,
Elizabeth
Congratulations!! She is just so, SO beautiful!! It’s wonderful to feel your happiness and I’m glad you could/can feel Henry with you. G’s arrival is certainly a joyful event for the whole family. Let us know how E reacted there in camp!
My eldest son Kelvin was born early too. He was 5 lbs 4 ounces and he lost a full 4 ounces and got badly jaundiced. He wouldn’t latch on either (only slept) and we did the “finger-feeding” with a syringe for a while. I’m sorry to report that he did get nipple confused even only with the finger/syringe and continued not to latch on.
Maybe you could use a Medela SNS (Supplemental Nursing System) at the breast instead of the syringe? It is more time consuming, but it’s helpful. I pumped exclusively for a whole month for Kelvin until he finally got the hang of breastfeeding. We used a syringe for two weeks, then a cup and I actually only used the SNS in the last ten days, over the insistence of my husband (I spend an average of 16 hours a day between the 40 minutes of each SNS feeding + pumping 7-8 times for 20 mins), using the football hold and that’s how Kelvin finally learned to latch on (I tried every day for a few minutes without the tubing).
I hope baby Georgia does not get jaundice (which makes babies even more sleepy) and can figure out breastfeeding way sooner than Kelvin did eight years ago. My heart just aches when I hear stories about rocky breastfeeding beginnings like ours! Hopefully things will improve quickly for you and your baby.
Reading your birth story brought tears to my eyes, particularly as you spoke of feeling Henry and being at peace. How wonderful for you! I hope G’s feeding issues resolve quickly, and that you get to go home soon. Congratulations!!!
Wonderful update! Thank you for letting us share these experiences with you in such a transparent way. And glad to see that you are arriving at some sort of peace with Henry. You had a close and special relationship and I’m sure he’ll always be with you and the rest of the family.
So very, very happy for you…thrilled that G is bringing you comfort and allowing you to feel Henry’s presence. May your heart continue to be comforted…
Also – will be thinking of you and baby G as you work through breastfeeding issues. I also had a late preterm infant in March – born at 35 weeks. We had the same issues – low blood sugar – vicious cycle of too sleepy to eat… I remember all too well those very, very long early days of finger feeding my sleeping boy. It will get easier…He is now 3 months old and is doing beautifully. He breastfeeds like a champ now.
But, I know those early days are hard – so I am sending many warm wishes your way…
Katie, S had the same issues…but she had to go to NICU. and it effected the nursing, but i was pumping…are ya ready?
DUDE! 4oz
FOUR OUNCES….yeah i rock.
anyway, when we got home we had to work really really hard at nursing.
what changed it all?
the football hold. it fixed it and we are still nursing almost 3 years later.
ps…call me if you want to talk about the nursing.
My children were all born at 41 weeks. The eldest didn’t latch on until the 4th or 5th day, when I got home. He slept most of the time. His blood sugar was so-so and he was fed formula a couple of times (after much trying… he was simply asleep all the time) at the hospital. I was really worried but experienced mothers who visited said it would turn around if I did not give up. He lost about 10 p/c of his weight during the first week. After he latched on for that first time at home he never took formula again. At 1 month old and from then onwards til now (he’s 10 years old) has ALWAYS been on the 100 percentile for height and the 90 percentile for weight…
You are an EXPERIENCED mother, even if G is just 35 weeks. In two or three weeks you wont’t even remember your breastfeeding struggles with her… she’ll be fully latched on and gaining weight.
Anyway, she’s beautiful, just like all your kids.
And I’m really glad and happy you are feeling Henry so close to you & Baby.
Warm wishes and congratulations!
Marta from Lisbon
So glad to see a picture of YOU, Katie! With a smile on your face, no less. What a magnificent piece of work you just did, sister. I can almost see Henry with his arms around you, gazing lovingly at his sister. Almost.
I am an IBCLC lactation consultant and LLL Leader. In my experience (8 years since I was accredited as a LLL Leader), bottles are very useful in breaking that vicious cycle of underfeeding and sleepiness. Since she has proven that she can latch on and suck, nipple confusion is unlikely, but if it were to occur, a nipple shield would help bridge the gap between artificial teat and bare skin. In fact, you could try a nipple shield now; research by Paula Meier has shown that preemies get more milk while using a nipple shield. They don’t have to work as hard because the shield keeps the nipple erect and firmly stimulating the palate, generating strong sucks.
Also, make sure to frequently hand express on Day 2, and start frequent pumping (8x/day) on Day 3.
I am so glad you have felt Henry’s presence! What a gift!
Congratulations! I wish baby G easy winds and smooth and happy sailing through this life, may she be happy and healthy. All the best to you all.
Oh my god. She is perfection! you’re right, she’s like a tiny doll. What a sweet girl. Congratulations Katie
The pictures are priceless. Thank you so much for sharing them! And I’m so happy you can feel Henry with you. He’ll be guiding you, all his parents, and his brother and sisters. I’m sending so many good thoughts to all of you!
Hi Katie,
I second Anonymous recommendations.
I too have similar credentials and what she has offered you is the most current research to help baby G feed.
There is also a video from Stanford hospital by a Dr Jane Morton.
It shows a better technique that makes hand express of the colostrum so much easy.
http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/HandExpression.html
Again, Congratulations!
Wow, Georgia is an absolute beauty. All of your children are beautiful! Congratulations!! So glad all went well for you and now G is in the loving arms of her family. Wishing you only the best.
Wow, the final point absolutely had me in tears. What a blessing after all the hardship you’ve been through lately. Congratulations on the beautiful new addition to your family
Wonderful pics you have added. She looks like her younger sister.
I’m so happy that G’s arrival has helped you find some peace!
That look on C’s face with her hands on G…so precious. Congratulations on your new little daughter. Her face reminds me of C’s.
G is beautiful, you are beautiful, and your whole family is beautiful!
The football hold rocks for the little ones!
I’m so glad you are feeling Henry. He loves you sooo much and I sense that he’s excited to be able to help you.
Blessings upon you mama!
What a wonderful post- thanks for the pics. Because of my daughters Down Syndrome she had trouble latching on and we used a little contraption called a finger feeder- a latex receptacle that is held so gravity assists milk that you pump to flow down a latex tube taped to your finger which they feed on (it helps with the sucking learning and to latch on later). We loved it! best to you and your family!
Congratulations on G’s arrival! She’s lovely! And I’m so glad H has been with you.
I’ve been lurking and archive-surfing after arriving here from someone’s retweeting a post of yours.
SO happy for you! Baby G is beautiful beyond words! She is truly a miracle. And C is just so funny and so adorable. Rest. Enjoy.
She’s lovely as can be… She looks a lot like C, I think.
I love C’s and J’s reactions. So glad they are doing well. Can’t wait to hear E’s reaction to the news.
I’m sure you will work out the feeding logistics.
Try to get some sleep, too!
Beautiful, Katie and Jon! Congrats to the whole family!
I’m so happy for you and your family. I’m also glad that Henry is with you.
I’m so happy for you all. I am also glad to see the picture of Jon with G. I have been wondering how he has been during all of this. I actually dreamed early this morning, that I called your house and Jon answered, I told him neither you or him actually knew me but I had been reading your blogs for a very long time. I asked him if I could do anything and he said no, that he had put rocking chairs on each floor (3) next to the bathrooms ( I have no idea why) then he let me speak to J and her cousin E who were fixing up G’s room. I know this sounds strange but it was a very comforting dream. Hope you are all home by Thursday. You did good Katie!!!
Congrats guys! I can’t wait to meet her. Love you all.
I am so happy that G is here, healthy and spreading peace and happiness to you guys. Perhaps that was her purpose all along. And Henry – I knew you’d feel him at her birth. It only seemed appropriate: your firstborn welcoming your newborn. What a bittersweet gift for you.
Your family is lovely. Many blessings to you all!
Baby Georgia is just BEAUTIFUL! She looks like C’s “Mini-me”. They will be a great team
Yeah for you guys! My daughter was born with the same suck/swallow issue. I bottle feed and pumped for 4 weeks and then went to nursing which was great. No nipple confusion (I think that is a farce). I am just saying this because you can do it!
I am so glad you felt Henry with you!
I’m curious. Would they expect a mom without a partner to stay awake for her whole hospital stay if she wanted to keep the baby in the room? Stupid rule!
Katie, reading your post brought happy tears to my eyes. Congrats again on baby G’s arrival and I’m so glad that she’s bringing you and your family so much joy.
You have me crying again, but this time with joy! Any chance there’s an IBCLC in the hospital? It’s great you found two who commented here and having one there in person would be very good as well. (Lia, sadly, I know women whose babies suffered nipple confusion which derailed nursing… I wish it were a farce. You were one of the lucky ones.)
Cheryl’s daughter was born at 28 weeks, weighing 2 lbs 12 oz, and had trouble coordinating sucking and swallowing. It sounds like that is not an issue for Baby G, which is very good! Can’t believe that crazy hospital policy – I bet it’s an insurance issue.
Get some rest, heal well, and get yourselves home! Thinking of you xoxoxo She is absolutely gorgeous.
Hey, hang in there mama…. I am so glad Henry’s spirit is there helping you.
I used a supplemental nursing system…. first on my finger and then later at the breast…. to get extra milk into my babies, who both needed it, and then both nursed after that (one for uh, four years)… I am wishing all the best for you on that front. Go gentle on yourself…. you have been through so much.
Wow, she is beautiful and I LOVE all the family pics. I pray that G continues to bring you peace and joy. How wonderful and reassuring that Henry has been with you. I think he wanted to meet his sister too.
I am no expert but I had to give my daughter a bottle in the hospital much to my dismay but once she woke up and was more alert she would nurse. After we left the hospital she never took a bottle again. I nursed til she was 18 months.
Also, I am so glad Henry was there – I knew he would come at some point.
Hugs.
Congrats to you and your BEAUTIFUL family! I wish you all the best with lovely baby G and hopefully you will be settled in at home very soon.
xoxo
George is beautiful. Good luck with figuring out the nursing (again) — If any one can do it, and right, you can.
How lovely! I know things will sort out in time.
That hospital policy is ridiculous! Do they expect you to stay awake 24 hours a day at home?
Congratulations! My daughter was born at 36 weeks and we had those same breastfeeding issues. We did the syringe feeding of the colostrum, and then pumping and bottles until she learned to latch on, which she did about a week later. Hang in there!
She is truly beautiful and looks like little C in the pictures. I was glad there was a
picture of you as well. I’m glad she is here safe and sound. I will continue to pray
for physical and mental healing for you all.
Congrats a million times over for this amazing new person in your family.
As horrible as the timing of everything probably seemed before her birth, reading as you gush about this adorable baby it sounds like her arrival was actually perfectly timed to help your family.
Congrats again!
Wow congratulations to you and J and congratulations to baby Georgia for having one of the most amazing parents on this planet. Your words and your story amazes me every single day. My heart is full for you today! Enjoy your beautiful baby girl.
On a day when my friend’s son is not doing well (cancer), this brought tears to my eyes. I’m glad all is going well. She is so beautiful. I’m sure you have lots of girl friends around to help and give encouragement. My 37-weeker had trouble getting enough the first few weeks. Having my fellow LLL leaders offer advice and just be there was really helpful. Persistence and time for her to grow really helped.Good luck.
Those of us who are strangers have no right to ask for details, but it’s so nice of you to provide them. Baby G is absolutely gorgeous and your pictures are filled with love. Thank you for sharing.
Lisa(Eleanor)Jane
You have me crying again, Katie, but this time happy tears. You’re right – she doesn’t look undercooked at all. She has a most beautiful squishy newborn face. What a naughty numpkins being transverse breech! Your three girls are beautiful, and it’ll be so fun for you to tell E. about all the surprises you have for him!
The LC helped us with finger-feeding #2 as well. Enjoy that sleepy baby!