After 2 sleepless nights home with our little guy, please excuse any spelling errors and lapses in coherency
I'm on top of the moon! He is so sweet, and I'm just in heaven. I had no idea it was THIS amazing! And NO HG!!! It's GONE!!!!! I wasn't even nauseous after general anesthesia! It took me 2 days to eat without thinking "what hellish consequences will this meal bring me!!" I can eat whatever, mixed with whatever else, lie down afterwards, drink whatever, WITHOUT FEELING QUEASY, VOMITING, REFLUXING, INDIGESTIONING, OR ANYTHING! YIPPEEEE! And, I have an adorable little guy to boot! Ah, life is GOOD!
Aidan was born via c-section and general anesthesia (the section bec. of previous surgery, and gen. anesthesia bec. I have a benign growth on my spinal cord that presses on nerves in there, and even though I was perfectly willing to take a small risk and go with a spinal or epi, the docs were dead-set against it. But it was terrifying to think that it could affect the baby's breathing).
But it went well! He scored 10/10 on the Apgar scale, and his lungs were clear when he was born! He gave a lusty scream, and my husband, who was supposed to wait right outside the o.r., ran in and cried and jumped for joy
He was with Aidan thereafter, until I was stable enough for them to come to me 2 hours later.
The staff were amazing, warm and patient, and they put me at great ease. In an emotional moment before they put me under, I pleaded to the anesthesiologist, a woman who is a mom to a 2 year old, to please take care of my baby, make sure he gets help breathing if he needs it, if he's affected by the general anesthesia. She looked down at me with the warmest look and was teary-eyed, and said she and the whole team would absolutely do that. I was quite calm about everything else. I hated the catheter, which felt so invasive. But it's worth it to avoid getting nicked on the bladder. But still, ugh!
When I woke up, the pain came with a bang. I had told the staff not to tell me the gender, to let John do it, but people kept coming in and almost telling me. It was hilarious. I and others kept yelling in Norwegian, "DON'T SAY THE GENDER!" At one point though I thought someone said "you have a gorgeous baby gi..," so was shocked when John came in and announced the arrival of a SON! By then the pain was under control, and Aidan nursed right away. He was alert and curious right away, and the midwife said that in 16 years of being part of c-section teams, she'd never seen a baby so alert, especially one born under general!
I got to my room 7 hours after the birth, and John, Aidan and my mom were there waiting for me. I felt deep joy, and bonded with the baby right away, which I hadn't expected. I thought it would take more time, especially since it was such a lousy pg. And I thought it took time to feel a bond with a little "stranger." Oh no! I guess going in with no expectations about how I would feel was a good thing.
The next few days are a bit hazy. BF was very painful at first, but now it is only painful when he latches on. He's lost over 10 pct. of his birthweight, and my milk isn't enough for him yet so he's getting formula after I nurse. Without it, he sleeps for maybe 5 min. and wakes up screaming with hunger pains.
They are very strict about c-section moms getting up right away, and had me off the morphine pretty much by day 2. I am in agony physically. Peeing burns and cramps me, and the wound is sore! My shoulders, back and butt are SO hurting, and it's hard to get comfortable. I'll need some serious physio-training to get back muscle tone and flexiblity. But all pales and is so worth it for this little treasure!
Ok, this next bit is gonna be GROSS, but is also funny!!! You HAVE been warned! Poopment coming.....!!!
I was seriously constipated by day 4, so I got an enema and got to use the really nice, warmed up bathroom with armposts on the toilet seat. I REALLY needed to go, but not much was happening. Eventually I realized that I was blocked, and there was turd the width of Texas in there, refusing to budge! I panicked, and was gonna call the nurse, but then started digging myself
! Ugh, right!?!! It took over an hour and 3 flushes, but finally, I got it all out! My c-section wound actually felt better after that 
!!!! Hehe! Relief after 7 mo. on Zofran! I had to do it once more at home. I guess things are backed up above the bowels. Man, unreal what Zoie did to my system, as much as the stuff was a lifesaver!
Back to much more pleasant topics.....!!
About his name, we love the name Aidan, and John is Irish so it works nicely with his dad's heritage. I'm Jewish. so Gabriel is a tribute to that culture. It's a name I've always loved. Martin is after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Aidan's due date is on the great man's birthday, so we wanted him to feel a connection to a man of peace and greatness. We'll call him Aidan, when he's good
So, bf is the problem area now. I hope more milk comes in soon. I feel terrible not having enough.
My mom is also a problem area in a way. She has some serious boundary issues, and has been quite invasive. As much as I want to include her, it's taking it's toll on me. Last night she told John that I must set boundaries with visitors (who btw, I invite and want to see!), and that I must learn to say no. HAHA! She's full of advice, worry, etc. Yesterday she said something like, "you have two, and I have no one," when I tried to set a mini-boundary about something. Meaning, because I have John and Aidan and she's alone, I need to be extra sorry for her and include her in everything. She was here yesterday all day, then wanted to come with us to the hosp. to check Aidan's billirubin levels. I wish I nicely told her not to come. I thought I was going to choke. She insisted on sitting in the back with him, and it kept saying that when she's not with him she misses him, and only thinks of him, etc. I love that she loves him, and don't want to hurt her, but I'm choking! Pre-Aidan I was better at boundaries with her, but now that he's here I feel so guilty. Ah well, it'll get better with time. After a few more days/weeks of this if it doesn't get better I will definitely need to set boundaries! She has no life and few friends, so she takes on mine. Argh!
But first and foremost, I had a wonderful c-section experience, as best as one can be anyway, and I'm sooo happy!!!!
Hugs
Sarah
Im so happy the birth went well!!!!! Its funny, although I have no desire to take it, I refuse to part with my zofran and phenergan. It will sit with us until its expired (god forbid we get a stomach virus...lol).
