Baby is Here

My baby boy was born 8 days ago. Wow. What a weird experience. I went in at 6:30 in the morning and was induced by about 8:30. Shortly after that I began to feel contractions. Unfortunately, I was hooked up to an IV so I couldn't really move around very much. My stomach was pretty upset so I kept having to drag my IV rack thing to the bathroom with me. Not pleasant.

Within an hour I was feeling the contractions pretty strongly. They were PAINFUL! Really unbearably uncomfortable. So I asked for an epidural at about 10:15 and got it around 11:00. I squealed a tiny bit when the needle went in my back, but I was so happy to get relief from the contractions that I'd do it again a hundred times over. By 2:00 I was dilated fully so I began pushing. I really had no idea how to push and couldn't feel anything below my waist, so I had no idea what I was doing. I think the nurse was probably getting annoyed by how much time it was taking, but she was really nice and positive. Unlike my doctor who came towards the end and told me gruffly that I wasn't pushing hard enough. Two hours of pushing later, I finally got the baby's head out of me and then quickly the rest of him. I tore a bit, but I guess not too badly, according to the doctor.

The whole time (epidural onward) it was like the experience wasn't even happening to me. I had a mirror and it was like I was watching a movie. My body was doing all these things and I couldn't feel a thing. It would have been neat to feel not quite so removed, but if the choice is between extreme pain and an epidural, I'll pick the epidural any day.

I was moved up to to the post delivery wing of the hospital a couple hours later, where I waited for the epidural to wear off. By night I could move around and the IV came off, thank goodness. Baby E cried the whole night which was tough on both Mike and me. We stayed one more night, through which he again cried the whole time. By 2:00 A.M. that second night, I had my emotional breakdown and I started sobbing because I couldn't do anything to help the baby. I was convinced he was hungry, but I had no milk or colostrum that I could detect. So poor Mike had both E and I sobbing and was trying to comfort both of us at the same time. We probably should have just sent the baby to the nursury, but I didn't want him to just be lying there sobbing for a few hours all by himself.

We checked out the next day after an incredibly long wait for the doctor to give us the ok to go, and it's been better ever since. My mom is with us and has helped with some of the night time fussiness. My milk came in by day 4 or 5, so at least I've been able to feed him recently. I was really worried for a few days that he wasn't getting enough food. And overall I think he's a really good baby. I feel a bit trapped at the moment since I have to feed him every 2 1/2 hours or so, and I'm tired from having to constantly wake up and feed him, but I'm sure things will get better within a few weeks. Mike's been really good with him, as well as my mom.

So there's my birth story. Not highly eventful (thank goodness). I think I'll be willing to do it again... in about 3 years.