Monday, May 12, 2014

Baby Brother

Four days before Emeric was born
I realize I haven't updated my hoards of readers since (gasp) winter! And so many things have happened in our little lives in the meantime. I will start with the most recent life changing event--the birth of Antonia's baby brother, Emeric! He is now a week old, busy being a baby: sleeping, guzzling mama's milk, growing, and pooping and peeing like a champ. It is my first day alone with him since Guillaume was here taking care of us all last week. Antonia is at school wearing her shirt that says "Best Big Sister" and I am taking in the calm with a cappuccino while it rains outside.

The birth story:
(Skip down to the pictures if you are squeamish about this sort of thing.)


First, a bit on timing... Since his due date was May 6 and I tested negative for cholestasis of pregnancy this time (which is what I had with Antonia and therefore had to be induced 2 weeks early), there was no telling when he would come, exactly. However, I think we can safely say he has the kindest temperament not to mention impeccable timing since he waited until after I turned in my full dissertation to my committee and was hooded at the graduation ceremony. Since I have my dissertation defense on May 29th, I was worried he would be 2 weeks late and I would be hardly able to walk/sit in time for the defense. I voiced this fear to my advisor, who, as it happens, IS squeamish about these sorts of things.

I was also worried about logistics with Antonia. Since we have no family in town I had worked out Plans A, B, and C for what to do with her when I went into labor. Our dear friends the Gillefonds had agreed to be on call night and day to take care of her until my sister arrived. (Hip hip hurray for being great friends!) Last week we had joked about going into labor on Saturday would be most convenient for all parties, and so I should try and shoot for Saturday morning. Which is what I did. For two days I pulled out all the stops, and even watched Antonia's birth video to induce through "visualization." Emeric was paying attention.

I woke up Saturday morning at 5:15 from the gush of my water breaking. We had our friend Stacy staying with us Friday night and I had joked with her that I hoped we wouldn't have to abandon her in the middle of the night. But because the contractions hadn't really started, I managed to take a shower, pack my bag, eat breakfast, and get Antonia to Tilly's house all the while thinking, this is not so bad! We made it to the hospital around 8:45 a.m. and that's when the contractions really started. By then my sister had booked a flight and Antonia was happily watching Toy Story with her bestie, Tilly.

Haha the calm before the storm!
Just my luck, the labor and delivery rooms were all full (all these May babies!) so I had to labor for almost 4 hours in triage. My vision of having the shower/bath and birthing ball at my disposal quickly vanished and I was screaming and cursing as parts of the stretcher kept falling out from under me. Let's just say I wasn't the zen mom walking and breathing calmly through contractions. Guillaume was a CHAMP, knowing just how to deal with me. I finally decided (against my original birth plan) to get the gosh darn epidural but had to wait until we got into a L&D room. Once a room opened up around 1 p.m. they whisked me over to it only to have us wait in the hallway as a tour was finishing in my room (to which my reaction was: f*ehpc%$#*&ck out of my way!!!)

By the time the anesthesiologist got there I was basically a monster. I had originally decided not to get the epidural because last time it had temporarily paralyzed my lower half and I wasn't able to feel contractions or move. I wanted to avoid that and thought that since 2nd births usually go faster, I would be able to handle the "couple" hours of labor. (Antonia was born after 4 hours of labor and 12 minutes of pushing).

This time the epidural only dulled the pain and I was still able to walk, squat, and feel contractions, so I'm very happy that I made the decision to get it. I ended up pushing for 3 hours and since the baby was face up, we weren't making progress very quickly. Also, his heart rate kept dropping and I would have to wait 10-15 minutes in between pushing to let him recover. There was a long, tense period of time in which the doctors were thinking we'd have to do a C-section because of his heart rate and the fact he wasn't low enough in the birth canal to help him out with forceps or the vacuum.

But in the end he recovered enough and made it low enough that they were able to help him out with a vacuum suction and the remainder of my energy. My baby boy was here! I immediately got to hold him skin to skin and knew it was love.

8 lbs 7 oz (3825 g) 21.5 inches (54 cms)!







At Magee they keep you in recovery for 2 hours after giving birth and don't let you eat. With Antonia and the Midwife center I was fed a warm meal immediately. I patiently waited the 2 hours (starving) and then started demanding dinner. But I couldn't get dinner until I got into the maternity unit (which was full). Between having to be cathed twice, the nurse forgetting about us, and dying of starvation, I rate the time in "recovery" zero stars. The delivery nurse, Claudette was great for the birth, but once the baby was out it was like I was a common citizen again. She even assured me at one point that I was going to be "just fine" without eating a while longer. (I had told her it was a life and death situation). Easy for her to say! Fast forward 5 hours and a lot of complaining (bitching) and tummy grumbling and I finally got into a recovery room and was served the most disgusting/delicious dinner I've ever tasted. I know it's not really their fault, but the constant waiting at Magee definitely tainted the whole stay.


Emeric's first sponge bath. He loved it. 

It turned him BRIGHT RED.

Thank goodness for boobies.


The next morning. Emeric had slept most of the night but I was so wired I couldn't get a wink of sleep. Monster turned zombie. 



Guillaume went home early to pick up Antonia and Ossi and bring them to meet Emeric. He had to finagle the street closures since it was the day of the marathon! (Don't worry, I heard my fair share of marathon jokes) but they made it back with flowers and balloons. As Antonia walked into the room I burst into tears.

The most amazing feeling I've ever had (times a gazillion).


Antonia was so sweet with Emeric, showing a little jealousy but was mainly proud. She kept saying "I'm a big sister now!" and was in a great mood. Emeric got her a doll as a gift, and she got a ring pop at the gift shop, which helped. On Saturday she had had a big day playing with Tilly and when my friend Cari came to pick her and my sister up, she was really exhausted. I facetimed with her that evening and she just kept sobbing, which broke my heart. Thank goodness she had Cari and Ossi to take care of her until Papa could get there in the morning! 


Proud big sister. "This is MY baby!"


Reading I'm a Big Sister with Ossi

I can tell what he's going to look like at 79 years old. 




As long as big sisters are still the center of the universe, everyone is happy

Sara stayed with me on Sunday night and I got a couple hours of sleep in between episodes of Chopped. 
Getting dressed for the trip home!


He was a little jaundiced but had only lost 6% of his birth weight and so we were cleared to go on Monday morning.

So ready to leave! Staying true to their image, we had to wait about 2 hours to get the wheel chair and be discharged. 
First car ride!


I see the future


Champagne apero!





Two cute videos of the animals meeting Emeric and Antonia showing her priorities: