baby levi is here!

[nitemarehippygirl]

on wednesday, 5/4/05, my water broke at about 3:00 in the afternoon. i went to the hospital at around 4:00 pm. baby levi was born just after midnight (at 12:16,) on 5/5/05. he weighed 7lbs, 4 oz, and was 18 inches long.

several things didn't go as planned...too long of a story to type out right now...the short version....horrible episiotomy, and fourth degree tear.....trouble breastfeeding...bad lactation consultant...baby couldn't/wouldn't nurse.....got too engorged....mastitis...i got really sick....got to a point where i wasn't even able to pump any breastmilk out with a pump....baby's jaundice got worse, presumably from not enough fluid intake...baby had to stay longer in the hospital....i ended up formula feeding...tons of guilt at not being able to make it work...*sigh* it's definately been a learning experience. i now know of some things i'll do differently next time around.

at any rate, the thing that matters is that i have a beautiful, perfect baby. despite being nearly a month early, he was healthy (except for the jaundice). i never imagined how quickly or how much i could fall in love with someone. he's amazing.

here is a link to a few pictures of him.

http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=3281...=SYE/otsi=SALB

[darkstar]

Congrats MAMA!!! Hope that everything works out well. I had mastitis with dd and it was awful. Are there any other lactation consultants around?


darkstar

[edamommy]

Originally Posted by nitemarehippygirl

on wednesday, 5/4/05, my water broke at about 3:00 in the afternoon. i went to the hospital at around 4:00 pm. baby levi was born just after midnight (at 12:16,) on 5/5/05. he weighed 7lbs, 4 oz, and was 18 inches long.

several things didn't go as planned...too long of a story to type out right now...the short version....horrible episiotomy, and fourth degree tear.....trouble breastfeeding...bad lactation consultant...baby couldn't/wouldn't nurse.....got too engorged....mastitis...i got really sick....got to a point where i wasn't even able to pump any breastmilk out with a pump....baby's jaundice got worse, presumably from not enough fluid intake...baby had to stay longer in the hospital....i ended up formula feeding...tons of guilt at not being able to make it work...*sigh* it's definately been a learning experience. i now know of some things i'll do differently next time around.

at any rate, the thing that matters is that i have a beautiful, perfect baby. despite being nearly a month early, he was healthy (except for the jaundice). i never imagined how quickly or how much i could fall in love with someone. he's amazing.

here is a link to a few pictures of him.

http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=3281...=SYE/otsi=SALB

Are you bf'ing now? You certainly could be! And, of COURSE, CoNGRATS on baby levi!

[annakiss]

Congratulations on your new baby boy!

Yes!!! You could still breastfeed!!! Find another LC or call your local LLL... Here's a link to LLLs in Texas: http://www.lllusa.org/TX/ It's not too late.

[Rainbowbird]

Congrats on your beautiful son. I also had a 4th degree tear with my first. Not fun. I know the pain but it DOES get better.

Hope you find a new consultant. Are you still lactating? If you get someone good it could work! I know how you feel b/c I had terrible trouble with latch with my son and we never did get off the ground. I ended up pumping for awhile and then quit. The right person to help can make all the difference. Good lucK!

Keep takin' those sitz baths--they really do help the tear to heal!

[mamamillie]

Congratulations on your beautiful boy!
Wow, he has a head FULL of hair! I can't believe that he has so much hair especially born a month early! What a cutie.
Please do not give up on the breast feeding; your baby needs YOUR milk. Even if you do not have milk now, you can relactate. Put him to your breast as often as possible. Get in touch w the LLL or find another LC but do not give up! Your baby being early really needs the benefits that only your milk will give him. Please be sure to give him lots of skin to skin contact; preemies especially need to be on mama basically constantly. Sorry you had a less than ideal birth situation, but congratulations on your precious baby. Please do not give up on nursing him; you CAN do it.

[Aeriane]

Awwww Levi is just GORGEOUS! Congratulations and so sorry for the troubles! I got mastitits despite a very eager nursing baby... I know it can be hard (no pun intended). Rest when you can and enjoy that sweet thing! He is really just beautiful! Kitty