Sympathy pains?

[akmom]

I've never had a C-section myself, but I know quite a few women who had VBACs that were rather unpleasant. I don't think natural delivery is always quite the same if you've had a previous C-section. That said, she should still be able to breastfeed. Definitely see a lactation consultant. They know all those challenges and can help make sure breast-feeding is well established.

A U-shaped pillow (boppy) is great for breastfeeding and especially helpful if you have a big baby after a C-section, because you're not supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds, including baby. You might also want to pick up a nipple shield. It suctions to the real nipple, and makes it feel like a plastic bottle nipple. Our first baby didn't feed as vigorously as the nurses wanted so they bullied us into giving her a bottle of premixed formula for the first day. Then she didn't want the real nipple at all. The nipple shield helped with that. I took it home and used it for several days, occasionally trying to nurse her without it, until she finally didn't need it any more. Also google "football hold" as a breastfeeding position great for newborns, especially smaller ones.

 

[ValleyGal]

So jealous... sigh... it's not fair that we only get one life and one chance to have babies I wish I could do it again lol.

Many years to have babies, though....and then we get rewarded with grandbabies! ....Praying my son meets someone so I can have a couple before I'm too old to remember their names! lol

 

[DZoolander]

I've never had a C-section myself, but I know quite a few women who had VBACs that were rather unpleasant. I don't think natural delivery is always quite the same if you've had a previous C-section. That said, she should still be able to breastfeed. Definitely see a lactation consultant. They know all those challenges and can help make sure breast-feeding is well established.

A U-shaped pillow (boppy) is great for breastfeeding and especially helpful if you have a big baby after a C-section, because you're not supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds, including baby. You might also want to pick up a nipple shield. It suctions to the real nipple, and makes it feel like a plastic bottle nipple. Our first baby didn't feed as vigorously as the nurses wanted so they bullied us into giving her a bottle of premixed formula for the first day. Then she didn't want the real nipple at all. The nipple shield helped with that. I took it home and used it for several days, occasionally trying to nurse her without it, until she finally didn't need it any more. Also google "football hold" as a breastfeeding position great for newborns, especially smaller ones.

That's my primary concern... That the progression will be "Baby needs to eat immediately to be tested due to mother's gestational diabetes, mother is unable to feed due to medication, baby therefore gets introduced to bottle, baby therefore never takes to nipple."

That's what happened with our first.

 

[.chrys.]

I hope the breastfeeding works out for your growing family! Breastfeeding was not an option for us...

...but the kids turned out alright.

 

[Inkachu]

Many years to have babies, though....and then we get rewarded with grandbabies! ....Praying my son meets someone so I can have a couple before I'm too old to remember their names! lol

But for someone like me, who spent most of those young-woman years single... I didn't have many years to have more children

I am sooooo excited at the idea of grandbabies. Way too early, too lol. I think I've got some regrets and mid-life longings, nothing atypical, but since I can't do anything about it, I'm jumping forward to grandmotherhood in my head lol.

 

[akmom]

I wish I had more kids too. My husband says we can have more, but I'd have to quit my job, and I'm not sure I can handle starting over again in 5 years.

 

[Inkachu]

I wish I had more kids too. My husband says we can have more, but I'd have to quit my job, and I'm not sure I can handle starting over again in 5 years.

This. I'm not "too old" for kids, but I've already got a 13 year old, cause I had him very young, and to start over with a newborn right now would not be very do-able for us lol. I lost the majority of my youth to being a mother, and I'm not trying to stretch that out for another 18 years and never get any portion of my life for my own pursuits Better later than never, I think!

 

[DZoolander]

Heading out now - wish us luck!

 

[Inkachu]

So excited for you!!!! Keep us posted!! I know CF will be THE LAST thing on your mind today God bless!!!

 

[mkgal1]

Heading out now - wish us luck!

You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Excited for you to see your little one.

 

[HannahT]

How Exciting EZ!

The H ate along with me during pregnancy. We teased him about rubbing the 'Buddha' belly, and he would snicker when people asked his due date! I would have preferred his method of weight loss compared to child birth for mine, even though mine was quicker.

Praying for all of you!

 

[Inkachu]

OK it's been three days, we need pictures

 

[DZoolander]

Son was born on Friday, 8lbs, 2oz, 20" long.

After he was born - they noticed some irregularities with his breathing. He was making little grunting noises when he would breathe - and had a really high respiratory rate. Turns out there's a percentage of c-section babies that due to the lack of the stresses of "normal" birth don't properly expel the fluid from their lungs. As a result - he had a lot of fluid in the lungs - and his lungs were partially collapsed.

So - for the first few days he was in NICU (natal intensive care). Thankfully each day he's made a lot of progress - and has been "bumped down" on the level of care needed. First day was pretty disconcerting - because he had a baby cpap type machine hooked up to him. But now - his lungs are at full capacity and he's got a normal respiratory rate.

So - he's out of the woods on that stuff.

They're still holding on to him (we got discharged today) for a few more days to watch his eating patterns to ensure the setback didn't cause any unforeseen issues (like lack of a desire to eat/lack of willingness/etc...because he actually didn't eat at all for the first day and a half). But - he's got a pretty ravenous appetite now that he's eating - so we're thinking he should (God willing) be back in our hands to take home by Wednesday.

I'll upload a few pics once I get them downloaded on to my computer from our camera Finally had a chance to sit down just now.

 

[Inkachu]

Do you have the option of staying in the hospital with him? I can't imagine being "discharged" with my newborn child still there, and them actually expecting me to leave the building lol.

 

[mkgal1]

That must have been so difficult, but I'm glad he's improved (and that they're just monitoring him a bit). Prayers for you all.

 

[DZoolander]

 

[DZoolander]

Do you have the option of staying in the hospital with him? I can't imagine being "discharged" with my newborn child still there, and them actually expecting me to leave the building lol.

NICU is actually pretty interesting...as there are different stages of it.

The first stage he was in - which was the most severe (with the baby cpap machine) - no. Had he remained in there - there really would be no way for us to have stayed there with him. MOSTLY that area is for preemies from what I gathered...all along the spectrum.

For example I was talking to one lady that I met in there - and she had delivered her baby at 25 weeks. Consequently - her daughter had been in there for 15 weeks (would have actually been full term this weekend)...and she had to spend that entire time trucking back and forth. I can't even imagine how difficult that was.

The lower the risk - the more leniency they have. The next level down - they had a foldaway bed in. So - say he had remained in there for a prolonged period of time - yes - a parent could stay in there.

The level he's in now is actually kinda amazing. He's basically got a full suite to himself...with an armchair - and a sofa bed. My wife is staying with him until he's discharged. I would be as well - but we don't have anyone to watch our daughter. So - given the desire to breast-feed/etc - we decided I'd stay at home with our daughter and keep her company/take her to daycare - and then truck over there in the afternoons until he's released.

 

[Inkachu]

OH he's a handsome little guy, even with all he went through! I know, C-section babies tend to be prettier cause they don't go through the whole "smushed face and pointed head" of a vaginal delivery lol.

 

[DZoolander]

That must have been so difficult, but I'm glad he's improved (and that they're just monitoring him a bit). Prayers for you all.

 

[Inkachu]

NICU is actually pretty interesting...as there are different stages of it.

The first stage he was in - which was the most severe (with the baby cpap machine) - no. Had he remained in there - there really would be no way for us to have stayed there with him. MOSTLY that area is for preemies from what I gathered...all along the spectrum.

For example I was talking to one lady that I met in there - and she had delivered her baby at 25 weeks. Consequently - her daughter had been in there for 15 weeks (would have actually been full term this weekend)...and she had to spend that entire time trucking back and forth. I can't even imagine how difficult that was.

The lower the risk - the more leniency they have. The next level down - they had a foldaway bed in. So - say he had remained in there for a prolonged period of time - yes - a parent could stay in there.

The level he's in now is actually kinda amazing. He's basically got a full suite to himself...with an armchair - and a sofa bed. My wife is staying with him until he's discharged. I would be as well - but we don't have anyone to watch our daughter. So - given the desire to breast-feed/etc - we decided I'd stay at home with our daughter and keep her company/take her to daycare - and then truck over there in the afternoons until he's released.

Whew, I'm glad to hear that. So glad she's there, he's not with a bunch of strangers, etc. Poor little fella! What's his name??