Labor and Delivery: What to expect, and what to pack in your hospital bag!

By my 4th son, I was an expert at labor and delivery. However, back in 2003, my experience was much different. I was a terrified 19 year old, and I had no idea what to expect. After I gave birth, I felt like I had been hit by a train. I wasn't prepared, and spent the better part of three days in a hospital gown in a daze. The whole experience was very surreal, and came with a lot of unexpected surprises. So, sit back, and relax while I explain the process of L&D, the good, bad, gross, and ugly truth.

First things first, what to pack:

• Comfy socks
• Big cotton underwear, buy a 6 pck, and plan on throwing them away
• Nursing bra
• Nursing tank top
• Comfy pants (yoga, sweats, etc..)
• Zip up hoodie
• Breast pads & nipple cream (you can buy these at Target, or Babies R Us)
• Toiletries, pony tail holders, hairbrush, and make up, tooth paste and brush
• Chapstick
• Cell phone charger 
• Camera
• Breast pump

For the baby:

• Baby blanket
• Hat 
• Going home outfit
• Diapers & wipes (the hospital will supply these during your stay)
• Burp cloths
• Boppy to help nurse
• Several onesies, nightgowns, and socks. The baby will spit up, poop and pee through several outfits a day.
• Carseat            

Am I in labor? As you near your due date, you will be obsessively asking yourself this. Trust me, when it's time, you'll know. Some women lose their "mucus plug". It looks exactly as it sounds. A yellowish, sometimes blood tinged clump of mucus, however, with all 4 pregnancies, I never saw mine. I DID feel increasing pressure down there. With every step, I felt as though the baby was going to fall out on the floor. I also had "bloody show." When I wiped after using the bathroom, there was a bloody/mucusy substance on the toilet paper. Don't be embarrassed if you rush to the hospital expecting to deliver only to be sent home. Better safe than sorry, and most of us seasoned moms have made many a trip to L&D only to be told it's not time yet. 

Prepare the husband.
Prepare your hubby ahead of time. Explain exactly what you want, and expect. Men aren't that great at anticipating and guessing needs. This is just a man thing. 

 My ex husband, bless his heart, was the worst birthing coach ever. He slept through both of my labors, and when my 2nd son starting crowning, I was literally throwing things at him to get up and run and get the nurse. It was horrible. I felt so alone and depressed. 

For this reason, I fully prepared my new Mr. Man for my L&D. I expressed wanting his undivided attention. He delivered 100%. My 3rd and 4th deliveries were amazing. Mr. Man encouraged me, fed me ice-chips, and cheered me on when I told him I was too tired to push. The whole birthing process will be an intimate time of bonding for you and your Mr. Man. After I had delivered, Mr. Man helped walk me to the bathroom, put on my lovely ace bandage underwear, the world's largest maxi pad, and helped tuck me into bed. I could not have asked for a better partner.
 

It's time! 
If this is your first delivery, expect it to take a while. You'll get changed into your hospital gown, and you'll have fetal monitors placed around your belly to monitor the baby. If you opt for an epidural, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT look at the NEEDLE! I never understood why my husband got so woozy during this process until I was watching one of those delivery shows, and saw the needle. Yes, it is very long, but trust me, it does not hurt anymore than a normal shot. By the time I got my epidural, I was in so much pain, I barely felt the needle going into my back. You'll need to sit very still while the epi is administered. I recommend sitting on the edge of the bed, with your partner in front of you. You almost hug your spouse, and slightly curl your back. Don't worry, the anesthesiologist with walk you through this. 

(side note: Check, and double check ALL pictures before posting to social media. The next picture which shows my husband cutting the cord, also debut's my lady parts. This was overlooked. I know the well meaning nursing thought she had captured an amazing moment, and she had, we just needed to crop first.)

Pushing is the easy part.
Truly. I hear so many new moms terrified about pushing the baby out. This, my friends, is the easy part. After 9 grueling months of waddling, uncomfortable sleep, pelvic pain, nausea, and the general feeling of discomfort, I couldn't wait to get the baby out. My favorite pushing position consists of having your hubby and your nurse hold your legs, placing your chin to your chest, and pushing like you are about to take the mother of all poops. And yes, some of you may actually poo on the table. It's completely normal, and to be expected. The nurse will wipe it away, and you'll continue pushing. My first son, I pushed for 16 minutes. By my 4th, I pushed 3 times, and out he came. 

  
 This ain't Hollywood ladies. Now, brace yourself. I'm about to tell you all of the things about after birth that no one told me. After you deliver your sweet bundle of joy, you will need to give another small push to deliver your placenta. Once this is done, the doctor will push and prod, and poke your belly to make sure everything got out, and you will hear gushes of blood falling into a container. If you tore, the doctor will take this time to stitch you up. Focus on the sweet baby.

After you deliver, you'll have the option to try to nurse. I opted to bathe baby after our nursing attempts. We wiped him off, and I put him straight to the breast. He suckled a little, but he was so cold, that it didn't work out. The nurses took him away for a bath, and a little time under the heating light. If this is your first delivery, your labor and delivery nurse with help you attempt to breast feed. She will man handle your breast, and manuver the baby to suckle. Take her help. Nursing is nothing like what you see on the movies. The baby will thrust it's tongue, and move its' head, and you will become frustrated. Relax. It will take a few tries. 

Let the hemorrhaging begin. After you've delivered, and your epi has worn off, you'll be allowed to get up, use the bathroom, and change clothes. Your stomach will still resemble a 5-6 month pregnancy, so pack large clothes. Some hospitals offer you ace-bandage like underwear, take them. Have your husband help you in the bathroom. You'll need to pull on the elastic underwear, and place a huge maxi pad down there. The hospital will supply you with a little water bottle. You'll need to rinse "down there" and you may get soothing foam to place on your maxi pad. (It helps with swelling and pain, because trust me, nothing down there will look the same for a little while.) Thus, begins your bathroom regime  for the next 10 days. Each time you use the restroom, you'll need to rinse, change pads, spray foam etc. And you will bleed. A lot. It's like the mother of all periods. Nursing helps shrink your uterus, so I always bled more while I nursed. Again, pack large granny panties, and big comfy sweats or yoga pants.

 
 I'm so hungry. After I delivered my 4th son, I sent my husband out to get me Chick-Fil-A, and large chocolate shake. I was famished. The hospital will send up a meal after you deliver, but I wanted real food. I think Mr. Man was just happy to have a reason to get out of the hospital for a little while. After I ate, I got baby back from the nursery, and we all slept. During your hospital stay, you will not sleep well. Nurses will come in to check your blood pressure, temperature etc. and your bundle of joy will want to eat often. I could not wait to get home, and get some real rest. Beware of the crazy picture person who will come by and ask if you want newborn shots. Decline. I have never seen a single good infant shot. Newborns, even the prettiest, are not very photogenic that first day, and you will get better shots on your own. I took these when Liam was 3 days old by draping a blanket across the couch.

 
 Nursing
I have a love/hate relationship with breastfeeding.
Myth: Nursing doesn't hurt, it does, a lot, at least the first week. Why else do they make nipple cream? Not to mention those lovely uterus cramps you'll feel the first week or two. Yes, nursing helps shrink the uterus, and you'll feel like you're experiencing L&D all over again.
Myth: Your milk is in, you're just not nursing correctly, except that I am, and drinking your magical milk boosting tea, and pumping around the clock. Unless there's a way to tap into it other than the nipple, it's not there.
Myth: Breastfeeding is so amazing and rewarding! Yes, it can be, but it is also very time consuming, and hard being the only one to feed this precious life.

Notice the disgruntled woman in the background with the breast pump..

My milk never fully came in for my 3rd and 4th boys, and subsequently, I had to supplement with formula. Repeat this to yourself: I AM NOT A FAILURE IF I CAN'T BREASTFEED!!!!!!!! I tried everything to get my milk to come in. Pumped around the clock, drank fenugreek tea, took prescription pills. Nothing worked. I cried and I cried and felt like a failure. I consulted with lactation consultants who assured me my milk was in, I just wasn't nursing correctly. Finally, after my 3rd son was down 1lb a month after birth, my pediatrician told me to supplement. Commence more tears, and "I'm a failure" speeches.

Luckily, by #4, I realized that formula wasn't "poison" and my child would not be "dumb" if I used formula. I nursed for 1.5 mths before I ran dry, and switched over to the bottle. No mommy guilt. Breastfeeding is WONDERFUL if it works for you, if it doesn't, do not be consumed with guilt, and more importantly, do not let other mommies make you feel terrible or like you didn't try. No one gets to Kindergarten and says, "My, he is smart, he must have been breastfed!" 

Crying in the shower.
Beware of post partum depression. Some nights, it was all I could do to wait until my evening shower (yes, you won't shower until your hubby comes home!)  to have my big cry. I'm not sure what I was even crying about, but it sure felt good. Motherhood is hard. Sleep deprivation, bleeding nipples from nursing, and having to attend to one person's every need is exhausting. Take help. 

My mom came and stayed a week with me after I had my 4th. I was phenomenal. She cooked, cleaned, and told me my only job was to watch over baby. I wish I had done this with all of my births. I was able to focus all of my attention on my new bundle of joy without worrying about all of the other responsibilities. Enlist a girlfriend, or mother in law, or mama or whoever you can to come help! If you're still feeling the baby blues, talk to your doctor. It is 100% normal, and chances are, all of your mommy friends have gone through the same thing! 

There it is girlfriend! Did I miss anything? Each story is unique and special! What made your labor and delivery unique? What was your absolute must? Remember, while the first few days and weeks are hard, looking into those sweet little [sleeping, for the love of mercy, please sleep] faces makes it all worth it! <3 Suzzy
 

 

Greatly outnumbered and in need of an extra extra large

5:30am, Mr. Man's alarm goes off. Mind you, I had stayed up quite late last night, thinking I would be sleeping in. I lie in bed thinking I should tell him there's leftover casserole in the fridge; an entire casserole to be exact. My breakfast casserole I took to MOPS was left untouched, except for 1 mercy piece my girlfriend Marfa took. (Martha, but being that my 3 yr old called her Marfa, it's what we call her) I hear Mr. Man turn on the shower. I think of how I should be doing a yard sale today. I keep telling my mind to turn off, and try to roll back over. I manage to bark, "There's leftover breakfast casserole in the fridge!" I'm up. 6:00am.

The boys are in rare form today. They are fighting, and bouncing off the walls. I will myself out of bed to shower and blow dry my hair. Bless my beautician, but when I told her I wanted "layers" she took it to the fullest extent. I must now blow dry, and straighten my hair to get it to resemble somewhat of a non-redneck cut. We load up and head to our local barber shop. We have been going to the same shop since we moved here. (They are the only barber shop in town.) The shop is run by the original owner, and his grandson. It's roughly the size of my master bath, and the decorum resembles it's original late 60s glory, with the exception of a flat screen tv that is turned just so that the barbers can watch. It is busy. We wait for nearly 45 minutes to get cut. Again, old man barber does not cut my boys' hair. Somewhere in the nearly 7 years we've been going, I've offended him, and only his grandson gives the boys a trim. We sit. The boys talk loudly. They run amok. They fight over kindles, and dsi's, they ask to use my phone. They loudly complain that people are "cutting in front of us" when they are not. 

Two hours later, we emerge. It's way past lunch. My plan of dieting is shot. This morning, I ate a "FULL BAR" with 2 glasses of water. I don't know about it making me feel full, but after all of the water, I felt quite nauseous, so I guess it did its' job. We stop at Sonic. An entire cup of water gets spilled on the van floor, and a random sweatshirt soaks it up, but I am determined to follow through with our day. I'm obsessively researching decor to redo my house. I want to check out several stores.

Store One.The two oldest boys are talking loudly and grabbing each other. I make them wait w/ the cart while I take the smallest one to the bathroom. I tell him, "I am about to tinkle my pants!" He tells me very seriously, "Mommy, you go first then! I can wait." I come out to find #3 missing/hiding. This is his new game that he find quite hilarious. He will continue this game w/ me for the rest of the day, only emerging when I call to him in a panic stricken voice. The oldest two continue to wrestle, yell, and do everything but walk with me. I give up trying to look at any breakables, and search for a blazer. My mom (who has told me on many occasions that I "dress like an old lady") has ordered me Lucky magazine. Blazers and skinny jeans are in this season. I try on a cute black and white checked blazer and remark that it's a bit tight around the bust, and wish there was an X-large. Cam remarks, "Or an X-XLarge for you!" We leave.

Store Two. The youngest lets loose and runs through a myriad of glass vases and plates. He refuses to hold my hand, and we leave the store with him screaming, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I DON'T WANT TO GET A SPANKIN!" 

Store Three. My nerves are shot. I feel numb. I have given up all hope of being able to leisurely window shop, and tell the boys they have 10 seconds to pick out Valentines for their class. A woman walks by and tells me how "brave" I am to be shopping with 4 boys. I tell her, "Stupid more like it." I realize this sounds harsh, and laugh and smile at her. As we take groceries to the van, I rip the bag containing the juice boxes, and have to carry them across 2 parking lots to our car where we parked at Store #1. My nerves are shot. By this time, all of the boys have been grounded, and have been told upon arriving home, they will be going in the back yard to run off their energy. 

Cereal for dinner. I am drained. The drain to the kitchen sink is plugged up. I tell Cam (who's job is to load the dishwasher) to stick his little hand down there, move the silverware, and running the garbage disposal. I run a bath for the two little boys. I come back to find Dylan and Cam using a plunger on the kitchen sink. The same plunger that was used to unclog the toilet this morning. Cam insists he'll "run the garbage disposal after" he plunges. I going in to wash hair. Kieran wants to know why they can't stay in and play. I reply, "Because, it has been a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day." As I'm soaping up his hair, Kieran says, "Well, at least you didn't slip in the mud like Alexander." 

We get through tubbies in 30 minutes. I guess the boys know I am at my breaking point, because none emerge from their room. Quiet house. I am not surprised when Mr. Man calls at 8 to tell me he is going to be late, and still has paperwork to finish. He calls back at 9:50pm to tell me he is on his way home. I tell him, "I cannot talk. I need to blog."

Do you all ever have days like these? Days where you hope and pray that sleep will wash your mind clean, and you'll be able to wake up and do it all over again? Well, you're not alone. I do too. And while the thought did cross my mind that "this is why animals eat their young," I am happy to report no such cannibalism, occurred today. And that my friends is all she wrote, for tonight at least. <3 Suzzy

Two minutes to Midnight...

Last week, I came home to a pile of boxes stacked against my back door. Thinking it was finally my Zulily order from 2 weeks ago, I told the boys to grab a box. As we opened our packages, I found fabric, fabric and more fabric. A small card was attached from someone I had never met telling me they hoped I could use this fabric for African dresses. "Huh...well, Lord," I thought. "I really wasn't planning on making anymore dresses, but if You sent me fabric, you have a purpose for it." Around this time, mom stumbled upon this website: http://www.newlifenicaragua.org/ She called me. Sounding a little angry, she was telling me how it sickened her seeing these little orphans running around in dumps without shoes. "I KNOW they have shoes in Nicaragua. We BUY shoes from Nicaragua." Mom emailed the orphanage and asked if they needed shoes. She also told the woman that I had just received 4 boxes of fabric, and did they have a need for that too? The owner replied she had just been in a meeting talking about the "fabric situation" and how God was "right on time." Some local women are trying to get above poverty and need it for a little business. (It gets better! Isn't God good?"
 Well, next, we ran into shipping problems. How would we get these shoes & fabric down to Nicaragua? (Oh, yes, did I MENTION, we're collecting shoes for orphans now?) A friend of a friend in mom's town is traveling to Nicaragua, and offered to deliver it. I am always amazed at how the Lord orchestrates these things. Mom, still confused on where this fabric came from, called me this morning. 
"So, how do you know this person?"
I don't. My friend Debbie told her about the African dresses.
"And you know Debbie from where?"
Oh, we met online a few years back. I've never actually met her, but I know her.  
Again, is this not just God sized? Now, onto 2 minutes to Midnight...   

I was upstairs this morning cleaning the bubbies room. Legos, Kynex, and various other small items scattered their floor. Remember my cleaning system for the boys rooms? Well, apparently, I didn't either. I had my phone on KLove listening to music, and stewing over various things in my head. I was feeling angry and hurt. Someone close to me is going down the wrong path, and it's breaking my heart. Lately, I've been so angry at them. Now, let me preface this by saying, I am the queen of second chances. I have been the black sheep, worn the scarlet letter, and sunk so far deep into sin, I didn't think I'd ever crawl back out. One day, I pray the Lord gives me the courage to share my FULL testimony, but I'm not ready yet. My own insecurities, and worries of others judging me and thinking less of me hinder me from sharing it. However, a few times, I have run  into someone who is at a rock bottom place, and the Lord allowed me to share my stories of grace and forgiveness with them. 

Sin is a slippery slope my friends. It will end up breaking your heart, and everyone who loves you. My great grandmother used to say, "Sin will keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay, and take you further than you ever wanted to go." As I was talking to the Lord, I told Him I knew He could help this person, because He pulled me from the depths of my own sin. He made me clean. He forgave me. I realized, this anger I had been directing at this person was hurt, the kind of hurt that burns so badly that the only way you can handle it is by putting a bandaid of anger over it. I heard this song, and immediately broke down in tears. Maybe my heart breaks so much, because I know the regret and pain this person will feel when she realizes how she's grieved the Lord. I still feel anguish over my sin and the pain it caused my family and friends. 
Here are the lyrics: "Who You Are" by Unknown

I  know that look you're givin' like you got something to prove
'Cause I have walked for miles and miles in that same pair of shoes
You refuse forgiveness like it's something to be earned
But sometimes pain's the only way that we can learn
Chorus:
You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far
That you can't get back when you lost where you are
It's never too late so bad
So much that you can't change who you are
Ohhhh, Ohhh
You can change who you are
Ohhh, ohhh.
You believe in freedom, but you dont know how to choose
You gotta step out of your feelings that you're so afraid to lose
Everyday, yeah, you put your feet on the floor
You gotta walk through the door, it's never gonna be easy
But it's all worth fighting for
Chorus:
You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far
That you can't get back when you lost where you are
It's never too late so bad
So much that you can't change who you are
Ohhhh, Ohhh
You can change who you are
Ohhh, ohhh
So let the ashes fall wherever they land
Come back from wherever you've been
To the foot of the cross to the feet of Jesus
The feet of Jesus
Chorus:
You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far
That you can't get back when you lost where you are
It's never too late so bad
So much that you can't change who you are
You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far
That you can't get back when you lost where you are
It's never too late so bad
So much that you can't change who you are
At the foot of the cross you change who you are
At the foot of the cross you change who you are
Ohhhh, Ohhh
You can change
Ohhh, ohhh. 

James 5:16 "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
During this journey, I have enlisted prayer warriors to pray with our family. I know that many times while I was far away from the Lord, prayers of fellow brothers and sisters helped bring me back to the cross. One of my prayer partners wrote and told me to not give up or be discouraged, that the Lord usually works two minutes to midnight. If mom and I ever start our own non-profit charity, we're going to call it "Two Minutes to Midnight." The Lord does all for His glory and His honor. So, for those of you who may need a little encouragement today, remember, His timing is not our own. Do not give up hope. Do not stop praying. The Lord sometimes delivers two minutes to Midnight. <3 Suzzy

Teeth, faux flu, and cleaning in your bra kind of day.

 I'm a big faker. I woke up this morning feeling achy, nauseous and with a pounding headache. (And no, I was not sipping any moonshine last night) I really did feel awful. Mr. Man, and the 10 yr old had headaches too, so we skipped church. Apparently, we're all big fakers, because by 11am, we were all feeling better. Mr. Man headed to the city to pick me up a TEAS test study guide and took all of the boys with him. *Bless him.* In two weeks, I will take my entrance test for Dental Hygiene School, and by May, I'll find out whether or not I'm in. This has been 3 years in the making. Why Dental Hygiene? Well, I like teeth. I can't deal with pee or poo, the pay is good, and the hours better. I blame Mom. Her power of persuasion seeped into my subconscious and thus I began my journey. 

This is a picture of a rootcanal in process. I got to see two of these this past week during my observations. I was pretty much giddy. That's how you really know this is what you want to do. When someone shows you different forms of rotting teething, and you feel all excited. My Mom told me "Believe or not, not everyone loves going to the dentist." WHAT? Say it ain't true!!!! Anywho, onto today....

 
Here's my dirty little secret: my bedroom & master bath are always a hot mess. Today, as I was on the phone looking for a pair of tweezers to get a few stray babies on my chin, I noticed the mold growing on the track of our shower door. 10 minutes later, I was stripped down to my bra and underwear sweating and scrubbing our shower clean. I'm not exactly sure how this happend, but I ended up taking a bucket of bleach water and scrubbing down the baseboards in the bathroom. 30 minutes later, my nose was filled with the smell of bleach, and I lost my motivation to mop the floor. 

Here's a rare glimpse into the least scene room of my house. Our bathroom is the most neglected room. I've never gotten around to decorating it. (6.5 years later) and it becomes of the catch all of "Only wore for a few hours, too lazy to hang it up clothes" and other random items I fully intend on putting away. The first 6 months were in the house, my hand towel rack, and the main towel rack fell off of the wall. Apparently, the previous owners' hubby wasn't much of a handyman. You would think we would have gotten more hardware and put it up. By we I of course mean Mr. Man. I blame him. I don't know what his aversion is to hanging or nailing things. The man will build me shelves, weld a fire pit for the backyard, and manufacture his own moonshine, er, ethanol gas, but he despise having to hang things. After I was done cleaning, tweezers long forgotten, I decided 2013 will be the year we do something with the master bath, even if I have to HIRE someone to re-hang those towel racks.
And dear ones, if anyone has any suggestions on bathroom decor, I'm all ears! I would really like to go for a black and baby blue, or yellow and something. I'm transitioning into happy colors: pretty greens, yellows, reds and blues!