Friday, March 14, 2008

1:39 AM

Our daughter was born on Thursday March 6th at 1:39 AM. What can I say, as I write this I feel like crying tears of joy. I can tell you that it really really doesn’t matter that she started with another egg than my own. She is our daughter. The soul chooses the parents it wouldn’t have mattered anyway how we had her she’s still be her. If that makes any sense any at all. So right now being a DE mother feels like just being a mom (I can’t believe I am finally writing the word mom for myself)…as far as I can tell at any rate. We went to the pediatrician this morning and when he asked about family history I said she’s a DE baby and gave him the medical information I have that’s probably the most eventful difference between me and someone with a 100% bio baby, at least for the moment.

As for the birth nothing went as planned but it was wonderful experience anyway and I kept remembering the forest for the trees. My husband at my request had found some photos online of woods, meadows and trees in Oregon and thereabouts which I looked at often during the 22 hours of labor to remind myself about what we can and can’t control. In the then end she was a floating baby meaning she never dropped. I was induced 10 days after our due date and despite 20 hours on petocin without an epidural I never dilated or effaced, although my water broke. I ate like a fiend the entire time: chicken, pasta, eggs, apples, almond butter, quinoa…after 20 hours the doctor and doula agreed I should try an epidural to see if my muscles would relax enough to let the babies head come down. It didn’t work. So we ended up with a C-section and I’m grateful for it as she simply wasn’t going to come out any other way. What we did do is keep her with us during the entire surgery and she came intro recovery and latched on. So yeah, not the experience I’d planned but still a good experience. Forest trumps tree!

Thank you for your thoughts – I am happy to report we are all well. I will check up on everyone in the next weeks, just trying to adjust to everything at the moment. I hope everyone is well.

11 comments:

Sue said...

Congratulations! I'm glad she arrived safe and sound. You always have such a great attitude about everything no matter what challenges life brings. I think it will make you a good mom.

Anonymous said...

"We went to the pediatrician this morning and when he asked about family history I said she’s a DE baby and gave him the medical information I have that’s probably the most eventful difference between me and someone with a 100% bio baby, at least for the moment." -- Honestly, that, and feeling odd when someone says my daughter looks like me, are the only things that I've noticed that are different, and my daughter is three and a half now. Enjoy your little one!

m said...

Hoooooraaaay!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

OH that is so wonderful!! Thank you for sharing your story. I feel like it is a privledge to have been along on your journey. My heart is warmed by the thought of your family together at last. Big squeeze! Daisy

Summer said...

Congratulations! Reading this brought tears to my eyes.

Kami said...

Ahhh, such a nice story. I'm sorry you didn't get the birth you had wanted, but it sounds like you were a trooper though out. I have never had pitocin, but I have heard it gives you killer contractions - much worse than "natural" so you are one tough cookie.

It is just wonderful to hear how happy you are that YOUR daughter is in your arms. Music to the ears to a (hopefully) soon to be DE mom.

Congratulations!

One View said...

OH my gosh... I'm in tears reading this and so so incredibly happy for you. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Sounds like you had quite a journey with the birth of your precious daughter (yes you are quite the trooper) but I'm glad everything is well.

Anonymous said...

WOW! YEAH! So glad to hear you are officially On The Other Side. Congratulations to you and your family... post a hand or foot shot? I always love those... Take super good care of yourself and thank you for sharing your story with us all.

Anonymous said...
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Drowned Girl said...

Congratulations!

Smiling said...

Another congradulations...

... and images of Oregon are a huge source of comfort for me too. It isn't all that often I hear of someone seeking out photos of that area (which surprises me a bit given how lovely it is), and it just made me smile to thinking of someone gazing upon images of Oregon as they experience labor.