Contractions started at 8:00pm Wednesday evening. Sal and I went the the hospital at 4:00am Thursday morning. At that point I was only 1 centimeter dilated and they sent me back home. By 10:00am the contractions were very painful and we were off to the hospital again. I'd planned to have a drug free birth, but after 14 hours of contractions, I opted for an epidural which was the best decision I could have made. I rested comfortably in the hospital until I began pushing at about 10:00pm. Less than an hour later she was here. So beautiful and the most precious gift. I'm told that less than an hour of pushing is a pretty impressive feat for a first time mom with an epidural especially when delivering such a big baby.
We've been home now for a week and a half. I wish we could say that we settled into some sort of schedule, but not yet. Soon I'm sure. The biggest challenge to date has been the breastfeeding. How can something so natural be so difficult? I wasn't producing enough for Rianna and she lost a pound. That was heartbreaking news.....I wanted so badly to provide her everything she needs. I'm glad to say that after seeing a lactation specialist, we are doing great now. In fact Rianna is up to 9 lbs. 8 oz. as of today. She has surpassed her birth weight. The pediatrician told us today that babies of her age average a 1oz. per day weight gain. Our little Rianna has gained 11oz. in the past 5 days. That's more than double the average. I think it's safe to assume that she's getting all the nutrition she needs.
Sal has been home with us and is up every minute that we are. I don't know what I would have done if he had not been able to take two weeks off of work. He's a great dad and Rianna will soon realize how lucky she is to have him.
Keep checking the blog. I will post more pictures soon.
1 comment:
I remember another little girl who made nursing much more difficult than it needed to be, hummm, payback!
What a lucky little girl our Rianna is with such GREAT parents. Papa Bear is so attentive and helpful to both Mommie Bear and littlest Baby Bear. And Mommie Bear is such a good mother, gentle and loving. And patient, something not so easy for her.
And Rianna is lucky too to have such a wonderful, big, zany family. She has aunts, uncles, cousins, oh my! And a big brother who's also much loved by all of us. What fun we will all have. We are truly blessed to have so much family love to share. --mara
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