Mariah Rocks the Newborn World

Miss Mariah (you can see more on her blog) who shot our maternity and the birth came up the other day and did Garrett’s newborn photos. I only wish Thomas was here… but hey I can get those done right? They came out so beautifully. The woman is talented beyond measure. But here are some sneaks from that shoot. I have to send out announcements soon and I don’t know which ones to choose!

Daddy and I took some too but I haven’t had a ton of time to edit them. I started “working” again last weekend shooting my client newborns who were all born the same weekend G was born.

Garrett- A Birth Story

I’m already starting to get weepy just starting to write. The long road to get him here.. the pain, the cardioversion, the frustration that my body wouldn’t just handle what Mother Nature wanted her to do. But now I look at him and see his perfection, his easy going demeanor… I guess it evened out in the end.

On July 14 I was scheduled to be induced at 9:30 AM at Maine Med. We arrived at the hospital on time and so ready to get started. But my room wasn’t ready and we waited an hour in the waiting room. The wing was packed with women in labor, c-sections and inductions. 14 rooms, all taken. I was so nervous that my induction would be pushed back because it was so busy ( the rule is inductions are put off if a laboring woman comes in because a doctor or nurse has to be with you at all times). 11 am passed, 12:00, 1:00 and no word on when the pit would be started. Kay arrived around 12:30 back early from her weekend away (Dr. Kathryn Wadland) and got the ball rolling.

A side note about Kay before I say anything else: This OB/Gyn was the best thing that happened to us in this pregnancy. She shares an office with Dr. Anne Rainville, a well known OB/Gyn in Portland and when I called to make an appt all those months ago, the girls at the desk suggested her. BEST thing to happen, the best. Kay has been the most amazing, attentive doctor a girl could ask for… and felt like a girlfriend the whole time. When things got serious and my heart freaked out, she had the best care possible right there for me. She stayed by my side when I was scared, and never made me feel like I was being a baby. During my labor, she sat by my side for almost 10 hours. TEN HOURS. What OB does that? She watched our baby like a hawk and kept him safe. I love her. I miss her already because now I won’t see her every week. Thank you Kay because without you I would have lost my mind. And my nurse! My nurse Sue who was with me when I had my cardioversion was again by my side. As soon as I saw her face I started to cry. She took amazing care of me that night (in CICU) when I could not have been more afraid. And she stayed, past her shift to see my baby born. We kept saying we had the dream team and I couldn’t agree more. These women were amazing and made the experience a beautiful one in the end.

Cont:

The pit was finally started at 1:30 PM and within 30 minutes my contractions were regular and strong. I was still dilated at 2 cm 3 hours later and started to get discouraged but the baby had moved down quite a bit and Kay decided to break my water. That really got things moving and the contractions picked up. I had a shot of Nubain around 4:30 for the pain and it allowed me to focus and get my breathing back on track. Around 8:30 things started to get unbearable and I then asked for the epidural. This is when things started to get a little crazy. I was shaking pretty violently at this point because I was progressing pretty quick. I was about 4-5 cm when I had the epidural, by the time it was done I was almost 7. The epidural took almost 2 hours because the first one didn’t work and I needed to have it removed and a new one in it’s place. It was horrible but I just breathed through it the best I could. I had a window of pain near my bladder and my left leg wouldn’t go numb, but my right side was completely out. After she put in a new one I was fine. The pain was so intense but Andrew kept me ok going though it. I have by far, the best partner in the world. Man I love him… and now he’s the best daddy… EVER. The pit was stopped around 10:00 (its hazy I have no idea) because the baby’s heart rate was dipping after each contraction. As soon as the pit was stopped he went back to normal and my body took over and did the rest on its own. Around 12:00 I started to feel some pressure and knew it was almost time. The baby’s heart started to dip low and I had to be moved from side to side, Kay assumed his cord was wrapped around his neck. My nurse Sue kept me calm and sane because I thought for sure we were about to head down the hall for a c-section. And we were close, but I was 8 cm and having a c after all that would have bummed me right out.

At 12:45 it was time, my body said push… Sue said it was time because the baby needed me to get him out.,.. I didn’t want to. I was so so scared. I was so afraid for him, that he wouldn’t be ok. But my team got my through it. Andrew, my mom, Kay, Sue and my photographer Mariah. Mariah photographed the ENTIRE thing from start to finish. She spent 13 hours with us and got every detail. When we make a slideshow I’ll post it. But it ain’t pretty… trust me.

So I pushed and pushed… and after about 4 sets of pushes Sue said “One more and he’s out” and I did NOT believe her. How? How in 5 contractions could he be out? But at 1:05 I pushed and saw my little man enter the world.

Andrew. What can I say about daddy? All I could hear was his voice and I could feel his love. With each push he lifted my back and pushed me forward and laid his forehead to mine and talked to me and encouraged me. I can’t think about it with out crying.

My mom had one leg and was in complete awe and tears most of the time, which made me know it was all going ok

Garrett had his cord wrapped around his neck once, which was ok… Kay handled it with ease. He sort of flew out after that and was placed on my chest. He was so waxy and hairy that it’s assumed he was actually younger than 38 weeks. But he was yelling and breathing and doing great on his own. He had been through so so much this little man, and handled it so amazingly. They took him and weighed him while Kay finished up with me. He was a perfect 7 pounds 10 ounces (um big for a 37 week old?). I was able to breast feed within the first 30 minutes and THIS was extremely important to me. I was driving Andrew crazy talking about it before the labor. I got what I wanted pretty much in every way. It was pretty quick, I only pushed for 15 minutes. But Garrett was blue from coming out so fast, he was bruised up. He’s 9 days old now and his bruises are gone and his head is perfect (although he had a c-section head on day 2).

It’s taking me some serious time to recover. I need to be more patient with my body. I was frustrated when after day 4 I felt like I had the flu and couldn’t seem to get stronger. But I had a long 8 weeks. My heart, my soul, has been through it all. And now the reward… my perfect family of Andrew, Thomas and Baby Garrett. Who could ask for anything more?

So my son, my big son, my oldest… can sing. really really well. I knew he could play guitar but the boy (or man/child as I call him) can really sing. He played guitar for his baby brother all week. I thought it would make the baby sleep but its actually the opposite. He opens his eyes and wants to know where the sound is coming from. He likes it, and its really cool to see. I have the coolest kids.

mamas

Thank you mamas for all your breast feeding advice I can’t tell you how much I enjoy reading all of it and feeling not so alone. Things are getting better, just sore sore sore. He latches on alright. I did buy a few nipple guards today just in case I lose my mind. But I also picked up 2 Adriri nursers. I knew a while back that I wanted to use them and they are the coolest thing! I hope he likes them, I have to start pumping in prep for August when I have 2 weddings and 11 shoots. Its going to be tricky. But my plan is to freeze the bags and use the nursers when I have to work. Shouldn’t be a problem because I am producing like a Maine dairy cow.

breast feeding doesn’t hurt…

UH YUH it does and if I read or hear one more lactation consultant tell me that if it hurts then “I’m doing it wrong…” I may scream. Don’t get me wrong, I do love it… I love the time with him, I love his smell, his noises and his face while he’s nursing but holy crap when he latches on it is for dear life my friends. My left nip may fall off sometime today and I am only half kidding.  He is one strong child. But I’m happy to say that after 36 hours of pure engorged hell, its subsiding and leveling out to a happier more comfortable place. He’s a good little nurser, 15 minutes and he’s out for a couple of hours… but its every 90 minutes for sure. Any advice on where to get a good nursing bra that fits well and doesn’t pinch, pull, or squeeze… or itch?

Ok, I’m up. Its my time

wee man

Everyone is doing well Baby G has a little jaundice but hopefully because he’s nursing well he’ll be ok in the next day or two. So far he likes to sleep all day and be up ALL NIGHT. Last night was a long nursing fest pretty much and today he’s been sleeping on daddy and mommy.

Big brother Thomas and Nana are here for the weekend to help out and Thomas is already crooning to his little brother and playing acoustic guitar (which by the way seems to wake him up even more, I think he likes it).

Now Lily… she goes back and forth. She may need therapy. She’s jealous but curious and tried to jump into the crib twice (eek) and when he’s in his swing you have to sit RIGHT THERE and watch her. Any new baby/dog advice would be appreciated.

Ok, off to rest some more!!!

xoxoxox for all your comments!

He’s Here

There he is

7.10 20 1/2 inches Born at 1:05 AM on July 15 He’s perfect

We are doing ok. Exhausted (although I got some sleep last night) and he’s nursing well. Dad and I have a lot to learn

Thomas is a big brother! More later but we wanted to give you a peek! Thank you ALL for your emails and love!!!

one more day… killling time

Monday 9:30

As long as a laboring mom doesn’t walk in the door as they are about to start my drip. I’ll cry. But hey at least I’ll be in the hospital.

I’m not nervous at all… just ready. I was ready last week. We’ve been walking every morning, I hope it helps gets things moving along on their own. Of course I’m contracting and cramping constantly. I don’t know how that works. I must be tricky.

All the cleaning was done last week, the food is in the freezer. I’m just worried about Lily getting her walk every day and being lonely. Today we spoiled her with a 2 mile walk at Presumscott. She loved it. I think tomorrow we’ll take her to the Brunswick Boat launch so she can go swimming. If anyone want to walk her Tues and Wed please let us know. I’m hoping if all goes natural that I’ll be home Thursday at the latest.

Maybe I’ll have some words of wisdom tomorrow on the eve of baby Garrett’s birth

putting on the brakes

Had the amnio today and his lungs are not mature enough. Induction is postponed until next Monday. Ugh.

american baby part 1

Our last belly shot! Andrew came up with this genius idea for the 4th but I was in too much pain and too crabby.

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow at 9:30 we have our amnio to check Garrett’s lungs. There is a .5% chance the won’t be ready. He is enormous, I’m not concerned… and we had steroids.

Today we cooked so they we have food for anyone who stays here and so WE have food to shove in the oven when we get home. We are as ready as we can be I think…

I’m excited, I can’t wait to see his face… and his hair I guess there is quite a bit of it according to the ultrasounds we have had ($6000 worth of ultrasounds according to Maine Med). By the way we got the bill for my cardioversion… $24K altogether. Whoa.

Off to bed… 2 more days.