Motherhood: Week One January 15, 2012

Frances Gloria made her way into the world on Monday, January 9th at 12:39 PM. She was 6 pounds, 15 ounces and 20 inches long. She is just perfect. We didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl and we were both sure she was going to be a little boy. When Jami told me she was a girl, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Best surprise ever.

Her arrival itself was a bit of a surprise – I had a regular midwife appointment Monday morning, and when I went in I had elevated blood pressure and protein in my urine – signs of preeclampsia. My case was pretty mild, but the midwife wanted us to go to the hospital for evaluation and said it was likely that I would deliver today. Indeed, at the hospital, my blood pressure remained high and the bloodwork showed that I was beginning to have some liver enzyme abnormalities, so, since Frances was full term, it was time to get her out.

We had known for the previous week that Frances would be delivered via c-section (after the external version was unsuccessful in turning her), and while it was sooner than we expected, I think it actually worked out for the best because I didn’t have time to stress or obsess about this surgery I was about to have. Our midwife appointment was at 8 AM and we had a baby at 12:39 PM – things moved quickly. A c-section wasn’t the birth I wanted, but the recovery hasn’t been as bad as I feared. The pain was the worst the day after surgery, but has greatly improved and is now being controlled by Advil. I’m taking it as easy as possible to help myself recover faster, and it’s definitely helping. Every day I’m a little more mobile than the day before.

As is the case with most c-sections, we stayed in the hospital for 3 days and have now been home for 4. Every day is new with Frances. The biggest focus of our time and energies as far as she is concerned is feeding. Every feed is different, sometimes she latches easily and feeds well. Sometimes she fusses and squirms and can’t latch. Sometimes she’s too sleepy to be interested in food. I am pumping after every feeding and we are supplementing her breastfeeding with expressed breast milk, trying to ensure she gets enough food and is back up to her birthweight, hopefully by her next pediatrician appointment later this week. We closely follow Frances’ diaper changes and marvel over her noisy pooping. I am reminded of this blog post, I read a few weeks ago about parenthood and pride in pooping. I definitely feel like that.

Jami’s mom has been here this week and it has been a real help – running errands, doing laundry, cooking food, and being an extra pair of baby holding arms (her favorite part of the job, I’m sure). She flies back home tomorrow and then Jami and I are flying solo for a few days until my mother arrives next weekend. We are so lucky to have so much help.

Jami and I are making a good team – every feeding is a joint affair. Jami is good at positioning Frances and much better than I am at burping her. She handles feeding Frances the expressed milk while I pump another round and I can honestly say that I would not be breastfeeding if it wasn’t for her and all her hard work. It’s definitely a team effort. In addition, she is so good about making sure I’m feeling okay, remembering to take my pain medication, making sure I have food, plenty of water, lots of love. I am so lucky that she is my wife.

This week has been both harder and easier than I thought it would be, but so, so good. I feel like we are doing well for one week in and I am so proud of us and of Frances Gloria.

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