The Hospital
Our stay at the hospital lasted from Thursday at 4pm to Monday just after noon. Aside from Tommy's sleeping arrangements (see photo at left), it was pretty comfortable. In our Pavilion room (the last available single in the whole hospital), we ordered our meals off a real menu (the fruit plates were amazing and we had real tablecloths and napkins) and received outstanding nursing care. Since I had avoided an epidural, I was eager and able to do walks around the postpartum ward three times daily as recommended. The nurses laughed every time I passed their station and called me "the marathoner." Grandpa and Grandma Stone visited on Saturday, and were delighted to have a chance to hold their granddaughter for the first time.
Healthy Baby
Hope's only medical concern in the hospital was slightly elevated levels of bilirubin (a product of the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver) that can result in jaundice. She measured a 12 on the day of discharge, but after exposure to sunlight and lots of feedings and diapers at home, she dropped to a 9 two days later when we saw the pediatrician for the first time. After two weeks, she's nearly back to her birth weight, and she has a check up in two weeks to be sure she continues to gain. The pediatrician remarked that she is amazingly healthy, with strong limbs and a head so perfect she must have been a c-section!
Progress with Breastfeeding
We had some initial problems with breastfeeding that were eased somewhat when a lactation consultant gave us a plastic nipple shield and a pediatrician clipped Hope's frenulum (a small fold of tissue under the tongue that is inherited and restricts the tongue's movement). We were lucky that a doctor was available at the hospital to do this relatively painless procedure as there are very few in the Philadelphia area who do. Although we were nursing regularly upon leaving the hospital, latching on was still extremely painful for me and we attended a breastfeeding support group the day after being discharged. No other mothers showed up, so we had the lactation consultant's full attention, and she gave us tons of tips for pain relief, advice for the future, and confirmed that our latching and breastfeeding technique (jokingly dubbed "froggie-style" by the nursing staff at the hospital) is actually a new trend in the field. I'm planning to continue attending the breastfeeding support group weekly, and hope that many of the mothers who delivered in late May and early June decide to join me.
Adjusting to Life with a Newborn
We were so lucky to have my mom come stay with us for our first week at home. Upon arrival, she immediately went to work, cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming the cat hair off the couch, starting the laundry, and beginning a string of delicious meals that would last us until even after her departure. Our neighbors brought lasagna and spinach dip in a thinly veiled attempt to spend as much time cuddling Hope as possible. They're in the early stages of starting a family, and we can't wait to see our little ones toddling around together in the courtyard. One of the side benefits of being induced 10 days before Hope's due date was that her Grandparents Barker were able to make the trip from Massachusetts to meet her before Grandma's scheduled surgery.
Week One
My only job that first week was to recover physically and make sure Hope was eating as much as possible. Tommy is in charge of diapering, swaddling, and calming Hope between feedings. This, combined with cheering me on through a few painful and exhausting nights of breastfeeding, have once again proven to me that I found the chose the perfect partner for this adventure. [Which reminds me--we're planning to celebrate our 3-year anniversary next week with a nice meal while Grandpa and Grandma Stone babysit.]
Week Two
Now in our second week, with Tommy back at work, Hope and I have settled into a little routine at home during the day, and between her naps and the Moby wrap given by a high school friend, I've been able to do laundry, cook some meals, and even do some household organizing. We take walks daily, and yesterday we headed to the zoo, where we've got an annual family membership. Although Hope slept through the whole trip, my legs were glad to get some exercise, and all the way through the exhibits I envisioned us making the same trip with her as a toddler.
Although I can't help myself fast-forwarding in my mind to all the delights that await us as she grows, I am striving simultaneously to be as present as possible in each of these moments of her earliest days. Her brilliant eyes seeking out the brightest light in every room, her contented sighs as she falls asleep, the hilarious faces and gestures she makes when she's feeding, and yes, even her blood-curdling screams while her diaper is being changed, all of these are treasures I'm storing up in my heart. I know I've only just begun, but so far, motherhood is pretty darn cool.
Our stay at the hospital lasted from Thursday at 4pm to Monday just after noon. Aside from Tommy's sleeping arrangements (see photo at left), it was pretty comfortable. In our Pavilion room (the last available single in the whole hospital), we ordered our meals off a real menu (the fruit plates were amazing and we had real tablecloths and napkins) and received outstanding nursing care. Since I had avoided an epidural, I was eager and able to do walks around the postpartum ward three times daily as recommended. The nurses laughed every time I passed their station and called me "the marathoner." Grandpa and Grandma Stone visited on Saturday, and were delighted to have a chance to hold their granddaughter for the first time. Healthy Baby
Hope's only medical concern in the hospital was slightly elevated levels of bilirubin (a product of the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver) that can result in jaundice. She measured a 12 on the day of discharge, but after exposure to sunlight and lots of feedings and diapers at home, she dropped to a 9 two days later when we saw the pediatrician for the first time. After two weeks, she's nearly back to her birth weight, and she has a check up in two weeks to be sure she continues to gain. The pediatrician remarked that she is amazingly healthy, with strong limbs and a head so perfect she must have been a c-section!
Progress with Breastfeeding
We had some initial problems with breastfeeding that were eased somewhat when a lactation consultant gave us a plastic nipple shield and a pediatrician clipped Hope's frenulum (a small fold of tissue under the tongue that is inherited and restricts the tongue's movement). We were lucky that a doctor was available at the hospital to do this relatively painless procedure as there are very few in the Philadelphia area who do. Although we were nursing regularly upon leaving the hospital, latching on was still extremely painful for me and we attended a breastfeeding support group the day after being discharged. No other mothers showed up, so we had the lactation consultant's full attention, and she gave us tons of tips for pain relief, advice for the future, and confirmed that our latching and breastfeeding technique (jokingly dubbed "froggie-style" by the nursing staff at the hospital) is actually a new trend in the field. I'm planning to continue attending the breastfeeding support group weekly, and hope that many of the mothers who delivered in late May and early June decide to join me.
Adjusting to Life with a Newborn
We were so lucky to have my mom come stay with us for our first week at home. Upon arrival, she immediately went to work, cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming the cat hair off the couch, starting the laundry, and beginning a string of delicious meals that would last us until even after her departure. Our neighbors brought lasagna and spinach dip in a thinly veiled attempt to spend as much time cuddling Hope as possible. They're in the early stages of starting a family, and we can't wait to see our little ones toddling around together in the courtyard. One of the side benefits of being induced 10 days before Hope's due date was that her Grandparents Barker were able to make the trip from Massachusetts to meet her before Grandma's scheduled surgery.
Week One
My only job that first week was to recover physically and make sure Hope was eating as much as possible. Tommy is in charge of diapering, swaddling, and calming Hope between feedings. This, combined with cheering me on through a few painful and exhausting nights of breastfeeding, have once again proven to me that I found the chose the perfect partner for this adventure. [Which reminds me--we're planning to celebrate our 3-year anniversary next week with a nice meal while Grandpa and Grandma Stone babysit.]Week Two
Now in our second week, with Tommy back at work, Hope and I have settled into a little routine at home during the day, and between her naps and the Moby wrap given by a high school friend, I've been able to do laundry, cook some meals, and even do some household organizing. We take walks daily, and yesterday we headed to the zoo, where we've got an annual family membership. Although Hope slept through the whole trip, my legs were glad to get some exercise, and all the way through the exhibits I envisioned us making the same trip with her as a toddler.
Although I can't help myself fast-forwarding in my mind to all the delights that await us as she grows, I am striving simultaneously to be as present as possible in each of these moments of her earliest days. Her brilliant eyes seeking out the brightest light in every room, her contented sighs as she falls asleep, the hilarious faces and gestures she makes when she's feeding, and yes, even her blood-curdling screams while her diaper is being changed, all of these are treasures I'm storing up in my heart. I know I've only just begun, but so far, motherhood is pretty darn cool.
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