My sister was sent home Monday evening, exactly one week after giving birth. She called up to let us know, and broke down crying over the phone. She spoke of so many things that didn’t go as she had planned, imagined, expected. But really, how can one ever expect something concrete from an event as unpredictable and out of ones control as is childbirth? Such a thing simply does not exist.
The only time you have some control or say in the outcome is during your pregnancy, taking better care of yourself, and as much as I love my sister, I believe she could’ve done a better job at it.
To compound on her sadness, Mom returned home Tuesday morning.
I’m sad that my sister wasn’t able to experience childbirth as I did, that her child-bearing experience has not been an enjoyable one. A cesarean birth can have so many complications. I’m sorry that she and her beautiful baby boy haven’t had the chance to bond, and to spend quality time, alone, just the one to the other, until yesterday. Baby was finally going home.
Earlier today I stopped by to see how they are doing, see if there was anything they needed that I could do for them. I was greeted with a hug, a kiss, and a smile brimming of pure joy. She looks better, and she seems so happy. Seeing her with that great big smile on her face gave me peace. I cannot imagine what feelings I’d have had to deal with had it been my child, had I been released knowing that my baby would remain in the hospital until notice that he was healthy enough to go home. I would not have left his side. Can you picture me sleeping in the waiting area of the NICU?
Thankfully, baby is home now, cuddling with mom and making up for the time they’ve been apart. Two weeks apart for a newborn and his mom seem like a lifetime to me.
It's great to have a birth plan in place, but believing it will all go by plan is a complete fallacy.
My mother did everything right, and yet, I decided to come out too early, and feet first. She had a caesarian, the old-fashioned way (this was of course a long time ago, before caesarians are the easy ops they are today). She was completely anesthetized and received an incision over a foot long lengthwise to her belly, and out I came, premature and jaundiced. When she came to, her baby was nowhere to be seen. We were both hooked up to our separate machines.
And then, because of the huge incision, every pregnancy after that, she was forced to delivery by c-section. She has now had her belly cut open 4 times, and restapled closed, so her scar is big and ugly and purple. Her last baby was also premature and gave us all a scare.
But in the end, she took home 4 beautiful daughters, and she doesn't regret any of it. Life is full of surprises.
My mom and I went thru our birthing stories during the time she was here. I was too comfortable, and didn't want to come out. I too was feet first. Out of her five pregnancies, her last labor was the toughtest, her body was going thru all the motions to push baby out, but my baby brother was tangled 'round his neck with the umbilical cord. Mom mentioned he was all purple when he was out, and that she remembers all the rush the docs and nurses went thru to make sure he would be ok.
Both my birthing experiences were easy. Both naturally; no Pitocin, no Epidural. And I'd do it all over again. I really enjoyed both of them, even though after giving birth to my daughter I was raced over to cardiology. They still have no idea what was wrong with my heart.
I'm glad my sister is finally with her baby, and that together they may continue healing.
i'm so glad they are home. it's a hard thing to be away from your baby - i know it all too well. Cam and i were apart for 2 weeks after his birth. but i think it's made us a stronger family unit and i know me and Ken treasure every moment we have with the little boy just that much more. send them all hugs and kisses for me.
and gosh golly... next time i'm down there we WILL get together!
Baby is home, sister is relieved and you are breathing again. All in all, a good outcome for everyone.
i'm so happy to hear that they are together now - i'm with you, it would have been too much to bear to be apart from jr. when she was a newborn.
this is indeed, wonderful news!
YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! i am so VERY glad to hear they are home!!!! I'm sure they will be practically inseperable now that they are together. Best wishes for them both!
-G
the sorrows of today are often lost when wrapped in the joys of tomorrow.
I'm glad things are better for them both!
haven't been round in a while, but wanted to say congratz to both auntie and mommy. :)
(have also been there, done that, two babies, two incubators... sorry to hear she had to go through that; thankfully, little ones are tougher than we are most days).
hugz!
L
awwww... My sis had a baby that was 3 months premature and had to stay in the hospital for that long (my niece, not my sis). It was so hard on all of us, but especially my sister. It didn't help that her husband started running around on her and told her during this time-before their baby ever came home-that he didn't love her and he wanted a divorce! This was only months after him telling me that he now had "everything he ever wanted out of life".
Now? he and his new wife-a woman CONVICTED of abusing their daughter-are suing her for child support. There is no justice in this world...
My sister is so strong though, and will never give up on her child or use her the way that they do.
Mothers are amazing people :)
Phew! That was a long way to saying congrats to your sis!