Mallory Faye
June 11, 2008
7lbs 9oz
19 3/4 inches
We made it home!!! We have had quite a week as Mallory was born with wet lung. I guess it isn't uncommon with "cold cesareans" (ie. C-sec with no labour); what happens is the baby isn't able to bring up all the fluid in their lungs. They rushed her to the NICU where she spent 2 days in an incubator, was attached to a heart monitor, IV and was in an O2 tent. It is truly heartbreaking seeing your new baby attached to all that stuff and gasping for breath. DH spend 5 hours straight with her the first day and couldn't even talk about her without tearing. I didn't get to see her until later when she was in an oxygen tent and breathing a little better. I think that is a blessing in disguise. The hardest part about those first few days is that Mallory was so sick and refused to let anyone touch her. I couldn't stand not comforting her but every time you'd try, she'd cry and pull away.
On Friday she started turning around. She could breath without O2, they took her IV out, started feeding her small amounts and put her in a crib. She had to stay in the NICU until she was on fluids for 48 hours. We were basically "on call" for feedings but at least was could hold and cuddle her.
We got the okay yesterday to bring her home and it was the most amazing moment for us. Katie *finally* got to meet and hold her new sister. She had been begging us all week to see her but since she wasn't allowed in the NICU the best we could do was a quick peek the window.
BFing started out ruff. They gave her a soother and a bottle in the NICU so I'm having a hard time getting her latched. We are using a nipple shield and now she goes on like nothing. I have to offer a bottle after (pumped) because they don't always get enough with the shield and then I have to pump (you can dry up if you don't, not enough stimulation) so it is an hour long process. I have an apt with a lactation nurse on Monday who will show me how to get her off the shield but I am SO HAPPY with how things are working out. She will be a nursing champ!
(p.s. I'm doing great. Still on drugs but recovering easily...too busy to be sore!!!)
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I had to pump and bottle feed my older daughter for the first 2 months and she finally figured out how to latch after that. It was exhausting but definitely worth it
Sorry to hear about your scare; that must have been so hard. Glad to hear she's made a complete turnaround; hopefully all will go smoothly from this point on.
Kim 
