Re: Clara Owen is here!

October 26, 2001

a,

Let me be the first to say Congratulations, Clara is beautiful. Thank

you for sharing your story, it warmed my heart reading it. Enjoy this

time, it is very special. Your family looks so happy, it was nice to

see the photos.

Welcome to the world Clara!

Kim

Mom to Christian 9 weeks

October 26, 2001

Oh a,

She is such a cute little bundle of joy! I was overjoyed reading your post.

Are you not so happy she is finally here? I know it was a hard process, but believe me, you'll feel better and better every day. And, as I've said to Pam, the breastfeeding routine DOES get better with practice.

The pictures were adorable! I'm so glad you posted them so soon and posted so many! Thanks for the special treat! Well, enjoy your little Clara... she is precious!

{{{HUGS}}}

October 26, 2001

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! She is beautiful! You and sound so in

love with her!

-AmyR

October 26, 2001

a, Clara is so precious... and tiny!! (I always think tiny babies are adorable, remember I have 9+ lb'rs.) Congratulations!!! Amy 38w 1d Clara Owen is here! Stats:Born @ 6:54 am PST6.5 lbs19.3/4"Absolutely adorableWe got to the hospital first thing Mon morning, and the OB started induction with Cervidil. By the time it fell out 8 hrs later, I was feelingctx - the first ones I felt the entire pg, but they were of unproductive kind - I was 60% effaced, 0 dilated and cvx was still high. Actually,the water had broken by this time, but it was coming in small trickles, and OB said it was probably a high leak and not the baby's headbreaking the bag. They started me on pitocin at 5 pm, and promised that it would be 24 hrs before I would see the baby. Originally, Iwanted an unmedicated birth - but by this time I had an IV in my right arm and a pressure cuff on my left - it inflated automatically every1/2 hr to measure my blood pressure. Due to the mild pre-eclampsia I was diagnosed with, I had to lie on my side mpst of the time. Thatwas the worst part of all. Because when real contractions started around 11 pm that night, I just could not get comfortable. We triedwalking around, but that made my bp rise, and they would not let me do that for long. By midnight, I was ready for the epidural(remember my unmedicated birth plan?). The nurse checked me, and I was...... at 1 cm! Boy, did I feel like a whimp! Cvx was still highand all the way back, but when she checked it, the water bag broke for real, with a big gush. We went back to pacing the hallway, whileshe called the OB to inquire whether it was ok to give the epi so soon. I got the epi around 1:30 am, and when the nurse (who was sogreat and supportive btw) checked me again, I was at 5 cm! Hooray, real progress. She predicted I would have the baby by themorning. (At this point, I felt like a science experiment gone bad - I had so many tubes and wires going in and out of my body: pitocin,epi, antibiotics, bp monitor, heart rate monitor, baby's hb and ctx monitors, catheter, and an oxygen mask! How did our grandmothersever do it?) The rest of Clara's birth was very easy. I remember when the nurse came in at 5 am and said it was time to push. I was very calm untilthen, but when I realized the moment I had spent the previous 8 months waiting for, I panicked (and threw up). I pushed for almost 2hrs, but it did not feel that long, and was not so bad either. I always thought all the incredible stretching was the worst part of labor, butthat part is so short, it's over with before it registers (the epi had already worn off, so it really wasn't so bad). I was watching her birththrough a blacked mirror above my bed, mesmerized. The OB said twice, a look down, and I did not even hear him. When I didlook down, there as a wide eyed, speckled new human being carried towards me. After they cleaned her up, she was a perfect littlehuman. Her skin was pink and flawless, not like I expected a newborn to look. A nurse later commented that she looked like a cs baby- no swelling or other trauma (besides the head of course). She seemed so happy to be born! My, this has already turned into epic proportions, despite the editing! I have to finish, or it will take me another two days to finish!Daddy is absolutely smitten. He is so in love! However, she became hungry on the second day, and I am struggling with bf. It is hard notto feel a little resentnment towards someone making such demands on your body. Bf is a real challenge - for me it's much more difficultthat anything else so far. But, we will work it out. is incredibly supportive. I don't know how I could have gotten so far withouthim (and she is only 4 days old, yikes!). We are learning about her, and she is learning about us. I just wish my body did not hurt somuch! Here are some pics of our beautiful tiny little girl: http://home.earthlink.net/~rsross/Clara Can't believe we made it to parenthood!a and Clara (4 days old)

October 26, 2001

a

Congratulations!!! What a little cutie. I am so happy for you!!! The

bf is really hard. If you are still having problems don't feel bad

about seeking help.

Pam

October 27, 2001

a,

Clara is beautiful, I'm so happy for you and dh. The bf will come with time, just try to be patient. Try to enjoy this time with her, the newborn stage is so short, but ever so sweet. Before you know you will be celebrating her first birthday. Keep the pictures coming, I love seeing all the pictures.

Love & hugs,

Jo-Ann

Clara Owen is here!

Stats:Born @ 6:54 am PST6.5 lbs19.3/4"Absolutely adorableWe got to the hospital first thing Mon morning, and the OB started induction with Cervidil. By the time it fell out 8 hrs later, I was feelingctx - the first ones I felt the entire pg, but they were of unproductive kind - I was 60% effaced, 0 dilated and cvx was still high. Actually,the water had broken by this time, but it was coming in small trickles, and OB said it was probably a high leak and not the baby's headbreaking the bag. They started me on pitocin at 5 pm, and promised that it would be 24 hrs before I would see the baby. Originally, Iwanted an unmedicated birth - but by this time I had an IV in my right arm and a pressure cuff on my left - it inflated automatically every1/2 hr to measure my blood pressure. Due to the mild pre-eclampsia I was diagnosed with, I had to lie on my side mpst of the time. Thatwas the worst part of all. Because when real contractions started around 11 pm that night, I just could not get comfortable. We triedwalking around, but that made my bp rise, and they would not let me do that for long. By midnight, I was ready for the epidural(remember my unmedicated birth plan?). The nurse checked me, and I was...... at 1 cm! Boy, did I feel like a whimp! Cvx was still highand all the way back, but when she checked it, the water bag broke for real, with a big gush. We went back to pacing the hallway, whileshe called the OB to inquire whether it was ok to give the epi so soon. I got the epi around 1:30 am, and when the nurse (who was sogreat and supportive btw) checked me again, I was at 5 cm! Hooray, real progress. She predicted I would have the baby by themorning. (At this point, I felt like a science experiment gone bad - I had so many tubes and wires going in and out of my body: pitocin,epi, antibiotics, bp monitor, heart rate monitor, baby's hb and ctx monitors, catheter, and an oxygen mask! How did our grandmothersever do it?) The rest of Clara's birth was very easy. I remember when the nurse came in at 5 am and said it was time to push. I was very calm untilthen, but when I realized the moment I had spent the previous 8 months waiting for, I panicked (and threw up). I pushed for almost 2hrs, but it did not feel that long, and was not so bad either. I always thought all the incredible stretching was the worst part of labor, butthat part is so short, it's over with before it registers (the epi had already worn off, so it really wasn't so bad). I was watching her birththrough a blacked mirror above my bed, mesmerized. The OB said twice, a look down, and I did not even hear him. When I didlook down, there as a wide eyed, speckled new human being carried towards me. After they cleaned her up, she was a perfect littlehuman. Her skin was pink and flawless, not like I expected a newborn to look. A nurse later commented that she looked like a cs baby- no swelling or other trauma (besides the head of course). She seemed so happy to be born! My, this has already turned into epic proportions, despite the editing! I have to finish, or it will take me another two days to finish!Daddy is absolutely smitten. He is so in love! However, she became hungry on the second day, and I am struggling with bf. It is hard notto feel a little resentnment towards someone making such demands on your body. Bf is a real challenge - for me it's much more difficultthat anything else so far. But, we will work it out. is incredibly supportive. I don't know how I could have gotten so far withouthim (and she is only 4 days old, yikes!). We are learning about her, and she is learning about us. I just wish my body did not hurt somuch! Here are some pics of our beautiful tiny little girl: http://home.earthlink.net/~rsross/Clara Can't believe we made it to parenthood!a and Clara (4 days old)

October 27, 2001

a, I am very happy for you and your dh, thank you for sharing to lovely pics. Clara is so cute. Congrats!!

October 29, 2001

a,

Congratulations on Clara!!! She is absolutely beatiful and I love her name!

Take Care

Kendall

rsross@... wrote:

> Stats:

> Born @ 6:54 am PST

> 6.5 lbs

> 19.3/4 "

> Absolutely adorable

>

> We got to the hospital first thing Mon morning, and the OB started

> induction with Cervidil. By the time it fell out 8 hrs later, I was

> feeling

> ctx - the first ones I felt the entire pg, but they were of

> unproductive kind - I was 60% effaced, 0 dilated and cvx was still

> high. Actually,

> the water had broken by this time, but it was coming in small

> trickles, and OB said it was probably a high leak and not the baby's

> head

> breaking the bag. They started me on pitocin at 5 pm, and promised

> that it would be 24 hrs before I would see the baby. Originally, I

> wanted an unmedicated birth - but by this time I had an IV in my

> right arm and a pressure cuff on my left - it inflated automatically

> every

> 1/2 hr to measure my blood pressure. Due to the mild pre-eclampsia I

> was diagnosed with, I had to lie on my side mpst of the time. That

> was the worst part of all. Because when real contractions started

> around 11 pm that night, I just could not get comfortable. We tried

> walking around, but that made my bp rise, and they would not let me

> do that for long. By midnight, I was ready for the epidural

> (remember my unmedicated birth plan?). The nurse checked me, and I

> was...... at 1 cm! Boy, did I feel like a whimp! Cvx was still high

> and all the way back, but when she checked it, the water bag broke

> for real, with a big gush. We went back to pacing the hallway, while

> she called the OB to inquire whether it was ok to give the epi so

> soon. I got the epi around 1:30 am, and when the nurse (who was so

> great and supportive btw) checked me again, I was at 5 cm! Hooray,

> real progress. She predicted I would have the baby by the

> morning. (At this point, I felt like a science experiment gone bad -

> I had so many tubes and wires going in and out of my body: pitocin,

> epi, antibiotics, bp monitor, heart rate monitor, baby's hb and ctx

> monitors, catheter, and an oxygen mask! How did our grandmothers

> ever do it?)

>

> The rest of Clara's birth was very easy. I remember when the nurse

> came in at 5 am and said it was time to push. I was very calm until

> then, but when I realized the moment I had spent the previous 8

> months waiting for, I panicked (and threw up). I pushed for almost 2

> hrs, but it did not feel that long, and was not so bad either. I

> always thought all the incredible stretching was the worst part of

> labor, but

> that part is so short, it's over with before it registers (the epi

> had already worn off, so it really wasn't so bad). I was watching her

> birth

> through a blacked mirror above my bed, mesmerized. The OB said twice,

> a look down, and I did not even hear him. When I did

> look down, there as a wide eyed, speckled new human being carried

> towards me. After they cleaned her up, she was a perfect little

> human. Her skin was pink and flawless, not like I expected a newborn

> to look. A nurse later commented that she looked like a cs baby

> - no swelling or other trauma (besides the head of course). She

> seemed so happy to be born!

>

> My, this has already turned into epic proportions, despite the

> editing! I have to finish, or it will take me another two days to

> finish!

> Daddy is absolutely smitten. He is so in love! However, she became

> hungry on the second day, and I am struggling with bf. It is hard not

> to feel a little resentnment towards someone making such demands on

> your body. Bf is a real challenge - for me it's much more difficult

> that anything else so far. But, we will work it out. is

> incredibly supportive. I don't know how I could have gotten so far

> without

> him (and she is only 4 days old, yikes!). We are learning about her,

> and she is learning about us. I just wish my body did not hurt so

> much!

>

> Here are some pics of our beautiful tiny little girl:

>

> http://home.earthlink.net/~rsross/Clara

>

> Can't believe we made it to parenthood!

>

> a and Clara (4 days old)

>

October 29, 2001

a,

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME CLARA!!

I just got your post and am soooo happy for you and dh.

Clara is adorable and you and dh look and sound so happy.

Enjoy yourself mommy, you have been blessed.

lisa r

November 1, 2001

a!!

Wow!! Congrats!!! I am so happy for you, Thank you for sharing all

the pictures!!! I have a little more time today, so I'm going to finish

going through them. I had to laugh at your description of the science

experiment going bad....I know it wasn't exactly as you planned, but

alls well that ends well. With high risk, (high bp, etc.) I think they

are extra careful just in case you end up having a c-sect, they want all

the IV's in place and even the epidural, so if it came to that they

could do it stat. Enjoy your new little girl! They are sooooo

precious!!

Vicki