the surprise entrance of B!
this is our story – it is a must read for any pregnant women also!
we’ve had quite a weekend here! we were thinking we still had a couple weeks or more until meeting our little one but were proved wrong friday.
it was a good day – i was feeling energetic and walked 1 hour in the morning then did 1 hour of yoga in the afternoon. isseki had a show that night so we were enjoying dinner together before the show when suddenly i had some flashing lights/blurred vision only in the right corner of my right eye. i felt fine otherwise but get nervous as usual so we called the clinic and were told that without any other symptoms it was probably nothing related to the pregnancy and headed to the show.
after the first band i thought i wanted to sit down but all of a sudden my pants felt so tight and uncomfortable and i started feeling a lot of pressure low in my abdomen/pelvis. at first i thought i just needed to go to the toilet but started feeling worse so decided to leave (around 9pm) before isseki’s band and head home. there i tried going to the bathroom again, sitting in a hot bath, and lying down but nothing relieved the constant pressure/pain. i had been waiting for her to move all this time also to reassure me that everything was okay but no such luck.
isseki called when he finished and rushed home when i said i wasn’t better and was worried. we called the clinic for the 2nd time (me feeling totally like i worry too much and am being a pain but also knowing that this constant pain didn’t feel like contractions should and that something wasn’t right.
they told us to come in so we headed there (11pm) and they put me on a fetal monitor. her heart rate was a bit weak and showed a couple signs of what looked like contractions but i couldn’t feel the change in pressure/pain – it all felt pretty constant to me. like menstrual cramps accompanied by a backache. so they checked me internally but there was no bleeding and they couldn’t find anything amiss. finally they took a look at the baby on the ultrasound and after searching all around the uterus the doctor kept looking concerned at one spot.
there was a protrusion in the uterine wall that no one had seen even at my exam a few days before. he explained that this could be a benign tumor but they should have seen it before now. otherwise, it usually means that the placenta is separating from the uterine wall which, once happens, is fatal to the baby and could be also to the mother. usually this kind of thing is accompanied by bleeding but due to the blood clot’s placement, it was concealed – pretty rare. he said we should do an emergency cesearan as soon as he could call in staff to do it – in about 1 hour!
as you can imagine, this isn’t at all what we planned. we wanted a natural birth, we wanted to come in and just be told everything is okay and go home in an hour or so. we wanted to have more of a warning before the baby came. time to pack my hospital bag, etc, to shower…isseki was exhausted after a day of work and a show and still smelled of tobacco and alcohol. this wasn’t how it was supposed to be. i started crying and he phoned his mom (who had been up all the previous night with his sister while she was in labor).
of course we really didn’t have a choice but we had to sign papers “concenting” and i was brought away to begin preparations. by a little after 1pm i was given an epidural and soon was cut open.
i was mortified. i hate operations and i hate anesthetics. isseki was next to my head and i tried to not pay attention to the nurses calling my vital stats and the sound of my heart monitor (some of you know i have an irregular heartbeat and that makes it even more nerve wracking) and keep the conversation light. soon she was pulled out but the silent wait for that first cry felt like ages. they sucked all the fluid out of her mouth, etc. and we heard her voice for the first time! i cried…i was so exhausted.
then they started sewing me back up – i started to feel sick and like i couldn’t breathe. i tried hard to take breaths and relax but just started dry heaving – god how i wanted that to be over. eventually it was and i was hoisted like a big hunk of naked dead flesh onto another bed, out of the operation room and into the “delivery room” – all rooms were taken that evening so that is where i stayed, half conscious while a machine massaged my legs and i tried to be excited about my baby but just wanted to sleep. i remember someone putting her to my breast for a bit but i could hardly keep my eyes open. isseki held her for a few hours and finally tried to sleep too.
now i’m recovering slowly – i finally was able to walk and use the bathroom this afternoon. we are struggling with feeding – my nipples are raw & she wants to feed for 15 mins, sleep for 15 and feed again for hours at a time. it’s exhausting but i am just SO HAPPY she is here with us – that we didn’t wait to come to the clinic and that the dr. found the blood clot. a high school friend had the exact same problem but with no bleeding the dr. sent her home without an ultrasound and the placenta separated. she lost her darling child and almost died herself from post-op complications.
so – if you are pregnant and feel something is wrong, PLEASE do not hesitate to check it out. if you have bad cramps/pressure that don’t seem to subside – request an ultrasound and have them check for a blood clot – it could save your baby and you.
on a lighter note – she is VERY cute! and very tiny. they guessed her weight at 2,900 grams (about 6.5 lbs) on wednesday but she was much smaller.
so, welcome to our sweet B
Weight: 2,392 grams (5.3 lbs)
Height: 48.5cm (19 inches)
BIG LOVE and THANK YOUS to everyone who has sent congratulatory emails, etc. – sorry i am not able to respond to everyone individually but we are so happy to have your love and support – stealing minutes all day to compose this for everyone π
First of all congratulations! I am so sorry to hear that it wasnt as planned but at least you have a lovely baby girl!!!! After all we said on Thursday night!!!
WOW eh?
Please take care, and thank you for emailing me, even though you are busy.
If you want a reiki, just post it on here and I will give you a ring….it will help all your sore bits heal.
Sending you lots of love and light
Lorraine
Ive looked for some natural remedies for your nipples!
Taro Plaster
Wash 3-4 taro potato roots and peel off the skins. Grate the remaining potatoes and add enough white flour to bind the mash. You do not want the mixture to be too dry. If it is too dry it will lose its drawing power. Add 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger root. Spread mixture on a damp cotton towel or cheesecloth about 1/2 inch thick. Place plaster on affected area so that the taro mixture is directly on the skin. Secure and keep on for 2-4 hours.
Uses: cooling agent to reduce heat or inflammation, reduces trauma induced swelling and pain, helpful in reducing hardness and size of some tumors.
If you have pain, swap a taro plaster for a tofu one
Mash tofu thoroughly in a bowl. You can use your hands for this, or you can use a fork or potato masher.
Step2Slowly add the white flour until you achieve a paste-like consistency. If you add so much flour that the mixture becomes dry and crumbly, add a little water or unsweetened soy milk.
Step3Apply the tofu plaster to a burn. If treating a burn or sunburn, spread directly on the burn and cover with a light cotton fabric.
Step4Use on any part of the body for fever, spreading thinly. Focus on the area that feels most hot, such as the forehead or chest.
Step5Wipe off the plaster with a soft cloth as it absorbs the heat and becomes warm. Reapply the plaster until the hot area feels relief.
Step6Rinse the tofu plaster off with cool water when you are done treating the burn or fever. Soaking in a cool bath or taking a gentle, cool shower is an effective way to end your tofu plaster treatment.
Step7Save leftover tofu plaster in the refrigerator, and use it within the week.
when your pain goes down, use the taro plaster again.
If your skin splits, put pure sesame oil on…pure, not the roasted dark stuff. You can cover the whole area with a bandage as well.
Can someone get you some aromatherapy oil like jasmine, so you can burn it in the room for relaxation?
My macrobiotic books say that you should treat your nipples/breasts but keep feeding as it does actually heal it faster.
Palm healing will work too. Just place your hands over your boobs and baby and give yourselves a hands on healing.
with love
if there is anything else, just post it here and I try and find it for you.
Lorraine
Hey Heather!
What an amazing story and equally amazing that you are able to gather your thoughts and write so coherently and so soon. Well done you! Can’t wait to see photos of the bijou Bijou. Welcome to the world!
She shares her birthday with two of my great frinds. A fantastic day.
Good luck with everything. I am thinking of you.
Sending you a huge virtual hug.
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hi, logan here, i’m, in a hurry to see pics of my new cousin. love you. xooxx
You did wonderful–I’m so proud & so happy to welcome my first granddaughter! What a time you’ve had, but you are handling it so well! Love to you each of you! x0x0x0x0x0
oh my god, I am sitting here rocking back in forth as I type this and I am trying to keep from crying–what an experience!!! I’m flabberghasted and I really don’t know what to say except “wow”. You are Wonder Woman to me.
Does B mean ‘beautiful pearl’? That is such a lovely name!!
Hey hunxxxx Glad to hear that everything went relatively smoothly at such short notice. I’m sure you are so delirously happy and I agree with Frances. You are writing so well after such an amazing couple of days. I’m sure you are exhausted and I’m so proud of you!!!
HUGS to you both xxx And give Isseki a big hug from me too π
Take it easy hun and looking forward to seeing the pics soon XXXX
Hey Love, What a beauty B is. Good for you Heather, for going with your instinct and getting yourself checked out. I am so glad she’s here and you’re well. Much love to the three of you MOM! Wow, I can’t believe my best girl’s a mother…tears are in my eyes for you and Isseki.
Much love XOXO, Vans
Heather! congratulations again… B is so beautiful! I cant wait to see you both and give you a big hug… I felt so worried after I started reading your post… Are you recovered? I guess just seeing your daughter makes all the pain go away.
Take care of yourselves!
Love,
Juli
First, CONGRATULATIONS!! I just heard about your news via MAJ. Not what you envisioned, perhaps, but the end result is fantastic! I’m so happy for you.
RE: sore nipples. Lasinoh is recommended by La Leche League and can be found here in Japan at Akachan Honpo for sure, and possibly other baby supply stores. It is called γ©γ·γγΌin Japanese, and comes in an TINY jar. But it only takes a little, is totally safe for the baby, and works like MAGIC. Ask Isseki to “get thyself out to Akachan Honpo” immediately!!!
In the meantime, take as much time as you need to rest and concentrate on yourself and B. What an amazing job you both did.
Congratulations!!She is gorgeous and love the name and the kanji.So pretty.
So sorry that things didn’t happen as expected with the birth but major kudos to you for getting to the clinic when you did.
On another note,our daugters share the same birthday …Millie was born an hour and 10 minutes after B!.Who’d have guessed that would happen:)
PS Yes,get some Lasinoh as mentioned above.It is amazing stuff.I wouldn’t know what to do without it and it is worth every penny/yen so don’t be put off by the price.
Thank you everyone for reading and for all of your congratulations & wonderful tips!
Lorraine,
You are amazing – those remedies sound fantastic! I hope i’ll have a chance to whip them up sometimes – the Lasinoh cream some have mentioned was given to me by both a friend in the states and the clinic so I am using that for now and it seems to help.
Thank you for all of your support and the reiki while i was pregnant – my aunt and mom did reiki while i was in surgery. π
Frances,
Thank you for sharing the joy – glad she was born on a good day!! π
Logan & Mom,
Thank you! She’s excited to meet you hopefully next year, Logan!
Mom – thanks for the reiki and the support – can’t wait to see you in a few weeks!! xoxo
Krista,
Thank you! It was an emotionally charged evening for sure but it could’ve been so much worse – thank you for always thinking of us!!
Anouska,
You have been so great through the pregnancy and always – thank you! Hugs to you always too!
Vanessa,
Sorry it took so long for us to connect via phone!! All time is stolen right now – good to chat with you for the short time I did though! Crazy, isn’t it how the cards have fallen since Uni – maybe not the apt. in NYC but we are both happy and lucky women!
Juli,
Thank you – we are okay! Sleep deprived and frustrated at times but elated with joy most and doing good. π
Susan,
Thanks for all the great tips and support during pregnancy! Yeah, not what we had hoped for but the end result is wonderful all the same. The clinic did give me Lasinoh and a friend from the US sent some too so I am using it like crazy – I feel like she isn’t latching far enough back but her mouth is so tiny i don’t know how to get any more in!! Hopefully as she grows it will get better – she was gaining weight and soils enough diapers/day so at least she’s getting nutrition!
marianne,
millie is beautiful!! will post on your blog…
LOVE AND THANKS TO ALL!
Heather – what an amazing story! And what a little cutie! I’m so glad you both are Ok and happy. Big Hugs