On February 10th, "The Due Date," Mommy was admitted at three centimeters. It was only 11:15am and labor pains were still a walk in the park. At 3:30pm I received the news and was flabbergasted on meeting my first grandbaby who was my first girl after having and raising four boys. At 10:pm my boys and I arrived at the hospital and still no baby but the labor pains were now unbearable and one on top of the other( which I thought was a good sign for the cervix to open more) but mommy called out for her lifesaver, that good old epidural! This seemed to slow down the process as the monitored showed that the contractions had decreased and fell far behind! But hey it put a smile on mommy's face even though labor went on for a total of twenty four hours and a half hour of hard forced pushing.
Finally baby arrived and we were all so over-joyed but mommy was left exhausted. In my opinion this anesthesia prolonged mommy's labor and caused her to go into distress during pushing. There was Lot's of vomiting and exhaustion. I would have rathered allowed the hard labor pains that would play a role in opening up the cervix quicker as it did with my last child. I was a victim of this drug and the side effects were a lasting memory. I had horrendous headaches, could not bond with baby due to my reactions and fatigue. I would not recommend this at all after my experience and witnessing this prolonged labor that could have ended much sooner. I know every labor drives us women into mental breakdowns but to have after effects that prevent one from caring for baby is even worse!
It was finally over and I have had the privilege of finally holding my new granddaughter. She is just so amazingly adorable! I have also been able to observe my son at becoming a father and the look in his face locked into a mother's heart forever! My son was amazing with his partner, he was so supportive, loving, and most attentive--all the nurses complimented his fine and charming work.
Today we are dealing with the breastfeeding! It has been a challenge trying to separate my grandmother role from my parent educator role! As a grandmother I wanted to just role all my knowledge that I have studied over the years for this moment! A moment to pass on to my next generation but as a Parent educator I had to take a breath, sit back and allow mommy to gain some experience in order to use for observation later on. I loved the way she made eye contact immidiatly with her newborn and her soft spoken voice that assured my granddaughter mommy was here. It was most challenging but I allowed for mommy to be mommy and her mommy to support what they new thus far. I went over to model some healthy cooking with my son ( daddy) so that mommy can gain energy, nutrition, brain food and drop the weight she put on ( like most mommy's). I herd my granddaughter becoming very frustrated and crying with anxiety for over fifteen minutes. I walk in to see that the new mommy was really trying to force feed her on the other breast after she had just completed fifteen minutes on one breast and had a bowel movement. Grandmother ( the other) was saying it's normal for them to cry just let them get tiered enough so that she would finally latch on! But I was reading the cues that were saying, "I'm full and done-no more please!"
I finally was able to calm baby down during changing her diaper than needed to let mommy be mommy and left for class. This was so hard holding back what I new but having to be sensitive to mommy gaining the experience she needed for later. I have since than refreshed myself and given the new parents the evidence based studies on proper breast feeding! The problem was first the nurses telling mommy to make certain that she feed for fifteen minutes on each side but failed to explain, the length of feeding time at no amount of rushing or forcing! Mommy was terrified that baby was loosing weight ( which is normal) and thought she had to rush the two breast into our princess mouth immediately one right after the other. So tell me dear followers did I do right in refraining my info to mommy or should have just intruded! What is your input on breastfeeding experiences! Please share.. Thanks!
Finally baby arrived and we were all so over-joyed but mommy was left exhausted. In my opinion this anesthesia prolonged mommy's labor and caused her to go into distress during pushing. There was Lot's of vomiting and exhaustion. I would have rathered allowed the hard labor pains that would play a role in opening up the cervix quicker as it did with my last child. I was a victim of this drug and the side effects were a lasting memory. I had horrendous headaches, could not bond with baby due to my reactions and fatigue. I would not recommend this at all after my experience and witnessing this prolonged labor that could have ended much sooner. I know every labor drives us women into mental breakdowns but to have after effects that prevent one from caring for baby is even worse!
It was finally over and I have had the privilege of finally holding my new granddaughter. She is just so amazingly adorable! I have also been able to observe my son at becoming a father and the look in his face locked into a mother's heart forever! My son was amazing with his partner, he was so supportive, loving, and most attentive--all the nurses complimented his fine and charming work.
Today we are dealing with the breastfeeding! It has been a challenge trying to separate my grandmother role from my parent educator role! As a grandmother I wanted to just role all my knowledge that I have studied over the years for this moment! A moment to pass on to my next generation but as a Parent educator I had to take a breath, sit back and allow mommy to gain some experience in order to use for observation later on. I loved the way she made eye contact immidiatly with her newborn and her soft spoken voice that assured my granddaughter mommy was here. It was most challenging but I allowed for mommy to be mommy and her mommy to support what they new thus far. I went over to model some healthy cooking with my son ( daddy) so that mommy can gain energy, nutrition, brain food and drop the weight she put on ( like most mommy's). I herd my granddaughter becoming very frustrated and crying with anxiety for over fifteen minutes. I walk in to see that the new mommy was really trying to force feed her on the other breast after she had just completed fifteen minutes on one breast and had a bowel movement. Grandmother ( the other) was saying it's normal for them to cry just let them get tiered enough so that she would finally latch on! But I was reading the cues that were saying, "I'm full and done-no more please!"
I finally was able to calm baby down during changing her diaper than needed to let mommy be mommy and left for class. This was so hard holding back what I new but having to be sensitive to mommy gaining the experience she needed for later. I have since than refreshed myself and given the new parents the evidence based studies on proper breast feeding! The problem was first the nurses telling mommy to make certain that she feed for fifteen minutes on each side but failed to explain, the length of feeding time at no amount of rushing or forcing! Mommy was terrified that baby was loosing weight ( which is normal) and thought she had to rush the two breast into our princess mouth immediately one right after the other. So tell me dear followers did I do right in refraining my info to mommy or should have just intruded! What is your input on breastfeeding experiences! Please share.. Thanks!
