I know I said I'd spare you the details about the events that happened after Evelyn arrived. I mean immediately after. No one really talks about these things, you know? It makes sense, because the focus is the baby and the other things really aren't as important. But I have had requests for the post-birth details. And I oblige my loyal readership, all 10 of you. ;)
So if you don't want to know about the post-birth play-by-play, avert your eyes now! After you look at this picture (taken by my sister-in-law who has a good camera and an even better eye - AND who sent Jonathan's brother over last night with two meals and ice packs and mother's milk herbal tea and all kinds of support... just awesome).
Alright. Before I forget...
We left off at 8:17 AM on Wednesday March 10th. Evelyn was born. A lot of what happened for the next four hours or so is a huge blur to me, so I might not have the facts entirely straight.
** Read at your own risk... and click over to the Wiki links at your own risk! **
I know that she came out really quickly. Maybe 4 pushes. A quick delivery is both good and bad. Good for obvious reasons, but bad because it can increase the risk of tearing because the perineum doesn't have a chance to stretch as much as it could. Because I could feel everything that was happening (no pain meds), I could definitely feel it when Evelyn came out, but it really only hurt for a few seconds, a kind of stretching hurting, and I'm pretty sure that's when I tore.
But before I even knew that I tore, I had to go through stage 3 of labor, which is the delivery of the placenta. I remember waiting for it to be time to deliver the placenta, because I was nervous that it would be bad. I could feel it, but it was really nothing. No problem. And they didn't seem concerned that I was bleeding too much, which was one of my many "I'm going to die in labor" fears.
Alright back to the fun stuff. I had a first-degree perineal tear. Tears are rated on a 1-4 scale, with 1 being the most minor. But make no mistake - a tear is a tear. And tears call for stitches. Some people told me that I wouldn't even feel or notice the stitches after the baby arrived. Not true for me. I noticed the shots when the doctor was injecting lidocaine (sp?) and I felt the pressure/pulling for all of the stitches. I'm not sure how many I have - I didn't ask and I'm not checking. Probably not a ton. But I do remember that since a resident delivered Evelyn and she was the one stitching me up, the attending doctor was also there watching and giving tips - as was the nurse. So yes, the audience remained even for the aftermath of Evelyn's birth.
I was all stitched up. I heard them talking about a hematoma, which is just fancy-pants doctor speak for a bruise. I have a bruise in the same area as the stitches. Makes sense to me. But I guess some people don't bruise. I'm alright with bruising because I didn't really have any significant swelling and... drumroll please... no hemorrhoids! This is exciting stuff, for real.
Next up for me, which is not true for everyone of course, was the last dose of magnesium sulfate to make sure that my blood pressure was still okay for 4 hours after the birth. I was also told the catheter would be re-inserted so they could continue to monitor my fluid output. I asked as nicely as I could to avoid the catheter and the nurse let me try to go on a bedpan. Man did I try. But nothing. It's really difficult to find those muscles right after birth. I was back on the catheter, but thankful that it was only for 4 more hours.
And that's pretty much it for the gory details. They gave me the most giant, blanket-like pads I've ever seen and on top of that put a magical, miraculous invention called the ice pack. It's a magic pad. It has these beads inside and you break it and shake and it gets all cold. So so so nice. These things are placed in some totally attractive mesh underwear and that's what I wore pretty much the whole time I was in the hospital. The reward for going to the bathroom, which sometimes hurt, was that I would get to make myself a nice new cold pack and it would be awesome. I snuck out as many of these packs as I could and I would recommend that everyone do this. Just keep asking your nurses for more packs and take 1 or 2 for every one you use.
Speaking of the restroom... they give you a squeeze bottle to use like a bidet with either hot or cold water. Do this. They give you diaper wipes to use instead of toilet paper if you want to use either. Use them.
You'd think they would be preoccupied enough with manhandling the breasts trying to get the baby to feed, but the nurses still have time to be quite concerned about your bowels after giving birth. They ask almost every time they come to check you whether you've gone yet. And I sat there and thought no, no... never again. I'll just never poop again. The sensation is just too close to the whole giving birth thing and actually trying, on purpose, to push like that again seems like the worst idea ever. But it happens. And when it does, it's cause for some major celebration. I recommend drinking something hot, eating lots of fruits and veggies, and getting something good to read in the bathroom.
Now things as far as my body adjusting to post-partum are going pretty well. We had our home visit nurse come yesterday and she said that all looks to be healing well. She also gave me good news about my abdominal muscles. Some people have a really big vertical split in their abs after they're pregnant, but I only have a teeny tiny split. Yay! This means that there is hope for me to have six-pack abs again in the future. Ha. It does mean that my core should be able to recover relatively quickly from the whole baby-growing process.
I think I've had it pretty good as far as the after birth process goes. And now you all know it in all the detail that you secretly wanted.
So if you don't want to know about the post-birth play-by-play, avert your eyes now! After you look at this picture (taken by my sister-in-law who has a good camera and an even better eye - AND who sent Jonathan's brother over last night with two meals and ice packs and mother's milk herbal tea and all kinds of support... just awesome).
Alright. Before I forget...
We left off at 8:17 AM on Wednesday March 10th. Evelyn was born. A lot of what happened for the next four hours or so is a huge blur to me, so I might not have the facts entirely straight.
** Read at your own risk... and click over to the Wiki links at your own risk! **
I know that she came out really quickly. Maybe 4 pushes. A quick delivery is both good and bad. Good for obvious reasons, but bad because it can increase the risk of tearing because the perineum doesn't have a chance to stretch as much as it could. Because I could feel everything that was happening (no pain meds), I could definitely feel it when Evelyn came out, but it really only hurt for a few seconds, a kind of stretching hurting, and I'm pretty sure that's when I tore.
But before I even knew that I tore, I had to go through stage 3 of labor, which is the delivery of the placenta. I remember waiting for it to be time to deliver the placenta, because I was nervous that it would be bad. I could feel it, but it was really nothing. No problem. And they didn't seem concerned that I was bleeding too much, which was one of my many "I'm going to die in labor" fears.
Alright back to the fun stuff. I had a first-degree perineal tear. Tears are rated on a 1-4 scale, with 1 being the most minor. But make no mistake - a tear is a tear. And tears call for stitches. Some people told me that I wouldn't even feel or notice the stitches after the baby arrived. Not true for me. I noticed the shots when the doctor was injecting lidocaine (sp?) and I felt the pressure/pulling for all of the stitches. I'm not sure how many I have - I didn't ask and I'm not checking. Probably not a ton. But I do remember that since a resident delivered Evelyn and she was the one stitching me up, the attending doctor was also there watching and giving tips - as was the nurse. So yes, the audience remained even for the aftermath of Evelyn's birth.
I was all stitched up. I heard them talking about a hematoma, which is just fancy-pants doctor speak for a bruise. I have a bruise in the same area as the stitches. Makes sense to me. But I guess some people don't bruise. I'm alright with bruising because I didn't really have any significant swelling and... drumroll please... no hemorrhoids! This is exciting stuff, for real.
Next up for me, which is not true for everyone of course, was the last dose of magnesium sulfate to make sure that my blood pressure was still okay for 4 hours after the birth. I was also told the catheter would be re-inserted so they could continue to monitor my fluid output. I asked as nicely as I could to avoid the catheter and the nurse let me try to go on a bedpan. Man did I try. But nothing. It's really difficult to find those muscles right after birth. I was back on the catheter, but thankful that it was only for 4 more hours.
And that's pretty much it for the gory details. They gave me the most giant, blanket-like pads I've ever seen and on top of that put a magical, miraculous invention called the ice pack. It's a magic pad. It has these beads inside and you break it and shake and it gets all cold. So so so nice. These things are placed in some totally attractive mesh underwear and that's what I wore pretty much the whole time I was in the hospital. The reward for going to the bathroom, which sometimes hurt, was that I would get to make myself a nice new cold pack and it would be awesome. I snuck out as many of these packs as I could and I would recommend that everyone do this. Just keep asking your nurses for more packs and take 1 or 2 for every one you use.
Speaking of the restroom... they give you a squeeze bottle to use like a bidet with either hot or cold water. Do this. They give you diaper wipes to use instead of toilet paper if you want to use either. Use them.
You'd think they would be preoccupied enough with manhandling the breasts trying to get the baby to feed, but the nurses still have time to be quite concerned about your bowels after giving birth. They ask almost every time they come to check you whether you've gone yet. And I sat there and thought no, no... never again. I'll just never poop again. The sensation is just too close to the whole giving birth thing and actually trying, on purpose, to push like that again seems like the worst idea ever. But it happens. And when it does, it's cause for some major celebration. I recommend drinking something hot, eating lots of fruits and veggies, and getting something good to read in the bathroom.
Now things as far as my body adjusting to post-partum are going pretty well. We had our home visit nurse come yesterday and she said that all looks to be healing well. She also gave me good news about my abdominal muscles. Some people have a really big vertical split in their abs after they're pregnant, but I only have a teeny tiny split. Yay! This means that there is hope for me to have six-pack abs again in the future. Ha. It does mean that my core should be able to recover relatively quickly from the whole baby-growing process.
I think I've had it pretty good as far as the after birth process goes. And now you all know it in all the detail that you secretly wanted.
Comments
And yes, the mesh underwear is kinda strange but I was thankful to not have to try to squeeze my postpartum body into any kind of fitted underwear. Oh stretchy mesh underwear of gods. Oh, and yes the squirt bottle is awesome. There was a time shortly after giving up my squirt bottle that I tried to convince Adrian we needed a bidet. He wasn't convinced.
-Abby
Thanks for sharing! I love reading birth stories.
Also, re: breast feeding> Patience, patience, patience. It's so hard. Your hormones are all over the place. You haven't slept. It's horrible. And eventually iy will be excellent. In my experience that took a whole lot longer than I expected. But you (and Evelyn!) will get there! Drink a beer! Be kind to yourself!
Also, re: breast feeding> Patience, patience, patience. It's so hard. Your hormones are all over the place. You haven't slept. It's horrible. And eventually iy will be excellent. In my experience that took a whole lot longer than I expected. But you (and Evelyn!) will get there! Drink a beer! Be kind to yourself!