Monday, November 17, 2008
It's Been One Week
...since our baby girl was born. I cannot believe she is a week old already. It seems like just yesterday I was rushed to the delivery room because I was going into premature labour!
Our little one has changed so much in seven days. She maintained her weight for a bit last week and then lost a bit. Now she's gaining weight again. She was on phototherapy because she had a little bit of jaundice. She looks great and is really active. Her day nurse was gushing over her and saying how well she's doing.
Everyone keeps telling me that I need to take care of myself before I can take care of the baby. Though I know this is true, I find it so hard to not be there with her all the time. I do take breaks. I pump, have lunch, chat with some of the other moms, sneak away into the "parents' lounge" and try to rest for a few minutes. I just hate being away from my little girl.
I met a couple in the parents' lounge who have twin preemies. They were born at 29 weeks gestation and are now 11 months old. They look PERFECT :) They're both doing great. It really gives me hope. The mom and dad chatted with me about what to expect, how difficult a roller coaster ride it is to have preemies...especially in the first few weeks. Their babies look great but are more like 7 month olds than 11 month olds. That is to be expected with preemies. Apparently by the time they are 2 years old they will have caught up with most "term" babies.
I also learned that our little one is not really 7 days old (since she was born 7 days ago). She is "29 weeks old corrected age". That means since she was born at 28 weeks gestation, this would have been her 29th week. There is so much to digest right now. All the medical terminology and jargon kind of go way over my head and I find myself asking the doctors and nurses a million questions about my baby and how she's doing.
I really do admire and respect single parents. It is a lot work physically and emotionally to be there for your child alone. Though I do have a husband, he is not with us right now and it makes things a bit harder for me to deal with over here. Having to talk to all the doctors alone and do everything here alone is really draining and stressful. I think part of me is still reeling from having just had the baby last week.
I did attend a "group night" for parents of preemies tonight. We watched a film called "To Have and Not to Hold". It was about strategies and coping mechanisms for dealing with a preemie in the hospital. I bawled my eyes out because everything discussed really hit close to home. One of the coping strategies was to be able to talk to one's spouse, hold them, visit the baby together...Ummmm, my hubby's 6 hrs away!!! My tears had a domino effect since the room was filled with a whole bunch of hormonal postnatal moms of preemies. *sigh*
Anyway, enough about me. The baby is doing great. Happy One Weekaversary, Little One :)
Oh, and my husband is so funny. After we hung up from our one hour phone call (mostly me crying and telling him I wanted him to come to Toronto NOW because I really don't feel like I can do this whole "hospital every day/learning about what to expect when having a preemie" on my own), he surprised me and called me again before bed. This time, he sang "I just called to say I love you" and then asked me "Honey, where do we keep the cooking oil?" LOL!!! *sigh* Too funny :)
Our little one has changed so much in seven days. She maintained her weight for a bit last week and then lost a bit. Now she's gaining weight again. She was on phototherapy because she had a little bit of jaundice. She looks great and is really active. Her day nurse was gushing over her and saying how well she's doing.
Everyone keeps telling me that I need to take care of myself before I can take care of the baby. Though I know this is true, I find it so hard to not be there with her all the time. I do take breaks. I pump, have lunch, chat with some of the other moms, sneak away into the "parents' lounge" and try to rest for a few minutes. I just hate being away from my little girl.
I met a couple in the parents' lounge who have twin preemies. They were born at 29 weeks gestation and are now 11 months old. They look PERFECT :) They're both doing great. It really gives me hope. The mom and dad chatted with me about what to expect, how difficult a roller coaster ride it is to have preemies...especially in the first few weeks. Their babies look great but are more like 7 month olds than 11 month olds. That is to be expected with preemies. Apparently by the time they are 2 years old they will have caught up with most "term" babies.
I also learned that our little one is not really 7 days old (since she was born 7 days ago). She is "29 weeks old corrected age". That means since she was born at 28 weeks gestation, this would have been her 29th week. There is so much to digest right now. All the medical terminology and jargon kind of go way over my head and I find myself asking the doctors and nurses a million questions about my baby and how she's doing.
I really do admire and respect single parents. It is a lot work physically and emotionally to be there for your child alone. Though I do have a husband, he is not with us right now and it makes things a bit harder for me to deal with over here. Having to talk to all the doctors alone and do everything here alone is really draining and stressful. I think part of me is still reeling from having just had the baby last week.
I did attend a "group night" for parents of preemies tonight. We watched a film called "To Have and Not to Hold". It was about strategies and coping mechanisms for dealing with a preemie in the hospital. I bawled my eyes out because everything discussed really hit close to home. One of the coping strategies was to be able to talk to one's spouse, hold them, visit the baby together...Ummmm, my hubby's 6 hrs away!!! My tears had a domino effect since the room was filled with a whole bunch of hormonal postnatal moms of preemies. *sigh*
Anyway, enough about me. The baby is doing great. Happy One Weekaversary, Little One :)
Oh, and my husband is so funny. After we hung up from our one hour phone call (mostly me crying and telling him I wanted him to come to Toronto NOW because I really don't feel like I can do this whole "hospital every day/learning about what to expect when having a preemie" on my own), he surprised me and called me again before bed. This time, he sang "I just called to say I love you" and then asked me "Honey, where do we keep the cooking oil?" LOL!!! *sigh* Too funny :)
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About the Blog Author
City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
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10 comments:
Love your post keep it up.
Keep your head up for the sun to shine on you. Just worry about one day at a time.
Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but doesn't get you any were.
Your loving Hubby
PS I will see you as soon as I can.
Look out, the man is cooking! I really feel for you both right now. I know it must be killer for you to be there alone and learning and pumping and being there for your daughter, and it must be hard for hubby to be alone and continuing to run the farm and other businesses too. I know he would much rather run to your side to hold you.
Please remember to give yourself a big hug. And keep breathing! You need to get stronger everyday just like your daughter.
Thanks for the updates. Does your husband have a trip out to the big city planned any time soon to visit you and the baby? Hang in there! You're doing great.
xo
chrissy- this post was the one that made me cry!
you are so strong and are doing great. Keep up the pumping too- it will get easier.
I got all teary just reading this. And I'm in no way postpartum. I'm so sorry you're having to tread through these new, unknown waters alone out there. You are a smart, strong woman, and I know you're coping as best as you can. Hang in there. I hope your hubby is able to break free for a visit soon. *hugs*
I know how hard it must to be going through these last few days without the hubby close by, but know that everything will work out and in no time you and the little one will be baking cookies in your kitchen at home.
You are doing so well and being so strong. Keep being positive.
We're all thinking about you.
~ humps
Oh, your hubby is so sweet. :) C, you are a strong woman, you are capable of doing this yourself for now ~ and you know hubby will be back in your arms soon enough. :)
We are thinking of you,
xoxo TellingMom Brood
Wow C, I'm bawling at my desk. Your an amazingly strong person. I know maybe you don't feel that way all the time, but you are. Listen to your wise hubby. What a sweetie!!
xoxo from Cali
Happy 29th week to baby girl.
Chrissy, I've been thinking about this...I don't know, but what if you were to spend a night or two a week at the McDonald house, so you wouldn't have to commute every day? Would that make you too lonely, to be away from your family? It might be worth a try, and if you hate it, don't go back. ;)
I think it's so important to take good care of yourself, not just physically, but to try to have some fun. 3 months is too long to spend worrying. And if you schedule it, like once or twice a week, you're still getting in lots of time with the baby, and have something to look forward to.
Another thing that helped me when I was in Alaska with my mom was getting out and taking a walk every day. I just took my iPod and went out and walked around, and getting the fresh air was a real help, especially in the middle of the day.
I can't imagine what you're going through...I was a bit of a wreck one week after Maya was born, and she was 2 weeks late! Those hormones are crazy!
If I seem bossy, forgive me. :) I wish I could be there to help you through some of this. I wish your loving Hubby were able to be closer. I'm so glad that you have family and friends there with you, and that your baby is doing SO WELL.
It was interesting to hear about the terminology used when referring to a Premmie's age.
We have triplets living across the road from us - they were premature and were in hospital for about three months. They are now nearly 2 and seem to be doing all things that 2 year olds do.