After I birthed my daughter, I pretty much was like, "Now what?" My mom went home and was told she didn't have to come in to work. KJ and I were exhausted, but I didn't want to miss any moment of our new baby. I adored her cries. I called her a little T Rex from the way they sounded, and I knew I would be able to pick them out of a crowd of babies. All of the nurses from the old shift came to see her. The postpartum nurse bathed the baby and cooed happily at her while scoring her Apgar test. My epidural was removed and I could walk again (because I really had to pee.) I was surprised that there was no pain in the bathroom really. Especially with all the horror stories out there. There was, however, so much blood I felt like my insides were the new Coliseum.
Staying in the hospital after birth is kind of relaxing, unless you get the room that looks like a prison. Kat even had an ankle monitor that went off if someone tried to take her past the safe points. KJ was being a total diva because they were supposed to get us a suite. While he complained, I had my first attempt at pumping milk. I didn't really get any help or advice at all except 'put on this level for ten minutes every few hours.' Someone new would come into my room to check me out and see how well the baby is eating. Kat are less than an ounce and kept throwing up maternal fluid. On the big whiteboard was the name of my attending nurse and my pca who would bring me whatever I needed. It also recorded my pain level and what meds I could take (either Motrin or Tylenol).
Kat received visits from my godmother and my best friend, her godmother/aunt.
We sat in the prison room until night when the nurses switched over. KJ expressed his concern for the room as baby Kat slept on in her see through bin on top of a chest of drawers full of diapers, wipes, blankets, little bottles of formula, t shirts, nipples, and nose bulbs. The woman immediately found us a suite and moved us. Yep, it was the high life from then on. The suite was huge and gorgeous. There was a table with four chairs, a fridge and a microwave, and KJ had a nice chair bed. Kat was comfortably positioned between us, and I watched her as much as I could.
Now, there are a few things they give you for your own maintenance. First, there's a little bottle you have to rinse after you use the bathroom because you can't wipe yet. Then there's the mesh underwear that you line with a large folded may thing that you in turn line with two elephantine ultra absorbent pads. They check these to make sure you aren't hemorrhaging. Then there's these witch hazel wipes that are for if you get hemorrhoids, but it's for soothing everything really. There's a no rinse cleansing soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, towels and washcloths, and a couple of other toiletries you can use if you didn't bring any. For clothing, you put on a hospital gown in the front, then a little overcoat from the back. For food, you can call food service, but KJ brought me food a lot. The hospital food was disgusting EXCEPT for the pancakes.
Kat's first night at the hospital, the nurse told me the crust let in her hair was 'coochie juice' (yeah she went there) and that she was going to show me how to bathe a new born. This chick was so rough with my baby and combed a chunk of her hair out! It was the only time Kat has cried during a bath and it pissed me off, but she gave her a new Halloween hat that was the color of candy corn. The same woman damn near ripped my IV out, causing me to bleed heavily everywhere. Times like those were when I was grateful to have KJ and his lack of a filter. He got the nurse back down to me right away to fix me. Kat, meanwhile, awoke every three hours to eat, and I changed her diaper just as often.I chose to vaccinate her with the hepatitis shot. I was too terrified either way. Parenthood was getting amazing, but in the back of my mind I wondered if KJ though I was hogging her. He slept like he worked on the chain gang all day, but when she cried I didn't give him a chance to react. I jumped up and grabbed her.
Day two and still no milk, no colostrum, no nothing. Every time I pumped, someone new came in. Doctor, nurse, research student, pca, room service, birth certificate woman, insurance people, and visitors. She received and passed a hearing and jaundice test and got her blood drawn for a series of tests that would check for any defects. My brothers came to visit, as did KJ's adoptive mom and my mom. My brothers brought pizza, my mom brought gifts including a stuffed toy, a card, some Halloween candy, and some sparkling juice in mini glass bottles. Kat was great at having her large eyes wide open and at holding her own head up! I also took my first shower which was as heavenly as it was painful.
That night, she got professional photos taken and we purchased a slideshow that made me cry. I still did not get any milk until about 5 am the next day. I was so upset and stared at my little one while pumping. Colostrum finally came out and I fed her anything I could pump, no matter how little. Her attending pediatrician checked her out some more and the doctor checked me out. It was time to go home, but not without a few worries. For starters, Kat and I had blood incompatibilities, so she needed to be watched for jaundice. I asked for information and I kid you not, the nurse gave me a printout from Yahoo answers!! I was so scared as was KJ because there was the potential that my baby could get seriously ill. KJ packed went to get the car seat while I showered again and waited with the baby. When we were discharged, another pca taught us how to properly place her in her car seat. I was wheelchaired downstairs to pick up my prescriptions (birth control, Motrin, and colace) and we were able to leave. We just rode, relishing in our new feat. We stopped by KFC before we got more visitors at home after I set up the bassinet.
It wasn't as easy as placing the baby down to sleep and that's the end. I was so terrified that she would stop breathing that I eventually just held her all night. She's been sleeping with us ever since… Can't be too careful with my beautiful bundle. It comes with the territory, the constant concern over your child even though there's usually nothing wrong. It's okay though. Being a mom so far is amazing, and I will do anything in my power to make sure my little love bunny is safe.
By the way, yes, you still look about 6 months pregnant, but it will get back to normal in a couple of weeks. For realz.
