Here's a quick recap of Julia's birth story!

On Monday the 29th of Dec., I went for a sonogram to estimate the baby's size. They thought she was somewhere around 9 1/2 pounds, AND, they said she was breech! Surprise!! Doc had been telling me this lump in my upper belly was her butt, but it was her HEAD! So the doc said that the potential size, plus a bit low amniotic fluid, and the fact that I was one week away from due date made an external version (turning baby) very difficult. So she suggested a c-section, either Wed the 31st or Fri the 2nd. We figured we'd get the tax deduction! (DH was SO pleased ;-) and went on Wed.

I was DREADING this, and cried most of the day Monday and Tuesday. My Mom and Dad flew in on Tue. p.m., and they and DH all went with me to the hospital Wed. a.m.

It was NOT AT ALL BAD, and in fact, quite a family centered and joyous situation in all. The nurses were lovely and supportive, the anesthesiologist was jovial and informative, and my folks and DH sat in the labor room while I got the epidural and kept me company, talking to nurses and docs. They wheeled me into the operating room to prep me, and DH came in a few minutes later to sit by my side.

They didn't "strap" down my arms at all. Just wrapped them in towels over the armboards to remind me not to put them near the sterile area of my belly, but I never felt restrained. So the thing I was really dreading most wasn't even a problem at all.

All I felt was jostling in the belly, except when they sewed me back up, and I felt a bit green and woozy, but all in all, I've had a worse time at the dentist. DH was WONDERFUL through the whole thing, and I saw the baby right away, they cleaned her off, and the neonatalogist checked her out, and while I was feeling a bit peaked at that point, I loved watching DH cooing and loving up the baby as she was cleaned up and such.

It was so quick. I'd arrived at the hospital at 9 a.m., went into the operating room at 10:10 a.m., and was in the recovery room by 11. I was a tad bit nauseous at that point, so DH was feeding me ice chips and such, while my parents held Julia for a few minutes. Once I felt good, they gave her to me, and wheeled me up to my room in maternity. I was in the room, and breastfeeding (Julia is a little Hoover machine!) by noon.

Worst pain of all? Trying to pee the next day! :-) Honestly. After they took out my catheter, I had some spasms and such, and had to sit in the bathroom shower stall on hands and knees listening to relaxation tapes in order to pee.

We had total rooming in, and never left the baby with anyone. DH even went with her for baths and weight checks at the nursery. We were released Saturday, and happy to get out!

C-section pain has been mainly getting up/laying down, and I'm off everything but ibuprofen now.

But beyond all that, everyone who counseled me was right. It was a birth, not an operation. And now, it matters not a bit to me how this little one came into the world. I just adore her, and since the docs all agreed this was the safest way to bring her into the world, I'd do it again 50 times.

My doula was disappointed she didn't get to do the labor thing with me, but has been coming over doing at-home breastfeeding support and general sanity checks for me, and that's been FABULOUS!! I'm suffering the standard sore nipples and sleep deprivation and such of all new moms, but no major complaints!

That's all for now!

Hugs to all!

Mary, and Julia (12/31/97)

P.S. To anyone whose never b-fed before, I STRONGLY suggest the "My Brest Friend" nursing pillow. It's a godsend!