The beginning of Motherhood!

I still couldn’t get over that I was now a mother, and not just a mother but a mother of a beautiful 6lb 11oz 20 inch baby girl! The overwhelming joy cannot be described until you have one of your own and meet her for the first time. 
I was so thankful that my hubby was able to have the time off of work to be with me while I adjusted to my new life and during the healing process of the caesarean.  I was so grateful to have such a wonderful man by side and a helpful one at that! He would tend to her for feedings, changing and every time she just woke up.  I was trying to breastfeed but found it difficult because of the incision but still tried to do what I could do.  I did find that pumping the milk was the best option for most times because Lloyd was helping out so much.  I did have a hand pump and because I was pumping so much wish I had an electric, but I did love my Medela hand pump overall, it got the job done!
Even though I had Lloyd around to help out for everything I was feeling like I was missing out on the beginnings of motherhood and that bonding time with my daughter.  I couldn’t stay up for long to change her, had a hard time sitting up to feed her… I felt deprived in a sense.  But as time went on everything got easier and I was able to move around more and was able to participate with the feedings, changing and the waking ups more. 
We did end up co-sleeping with our baby, yes they say that it is not recommended but it was what worked for our family in the beginning. More on getting her in her crib exclusively later.  Especially during my initial healing, I was able to wake up with her and help out more, made me feel useful. 
I’ve never undergone major surgery never mind an “emergency” one, so being “tied” down to bed rest was killing me! I wanted so badly to get up and move and feel human again, but it just slowed the healing process that much more.  I think that having major surgery and having a child do not mix well, mainly because there is so much to do with a newborn.  Where as pre-baby I would’ve been able to focus on me and would’ve healed that much faster… BUT we had a baby and I wanted nothing more but to focus on her. 
All this made me realize why so many women lose focus on themselves and forget that they need tending too.  I give my baby all that I can and do tend to lose focus sometimes, but when she is down and sleeping I try to give myself five (5) to 20 minutes for myself.  The small time for me includes catching up on reading (usually only at night), getting the baby’s scrapbook together, or even getting some of the backed up chores that need to get done.  Even Lloyd needed that little bit of time for himself; get in a little bit of his gaming on his PS3 but it was at least something.  The way I look at it, give your baby 110% but always set aside a little time for you.  My “mommy-time” is what has really helped me to stay centered. 

Labour and hospital time!

My contractions jumped so quickly, from one (1) hour apart to 15 minutes to eight (8) minutes and so on.  So my contractions, that I remember, started at seven (7) P.M. and I was at the hospital for 1:30 A.M.
The nurse hooked me up to their machines, gave me a clicker/button to use for when the baby made movement, and blood was drawn as well as the I.V was put in.  The machine was having a hard time reading the baby’s heartbeat and I felt no movement from her either.  The doctor moved me to a birthing room maybe a half hour later to monitor the baby a bit more closely. 
They set me up for an epidural, which is so painful.  The anaesthesiologist gave me the first needle to numb the area for the epidural, but in my humble opinion, it didn’t do anything for the pain that that needle caused me!  WOW! it felt like the needle was being wiggled into my spine and than I felt a very cold serum enter into my spine and ALL of the pain from the needle and the labour disappeared! Sorry I can’t even lie about it…
Shortly after, my doctor was having a hard time getting the babies vitals.  Every time I would have a contraction her vitals would drop, he broke my water and tried to “tease” her to get her to move around and still nothing.  Next thing I know I’m getting prepped for a caesarean.
While I was in the operating room Lloyd had to wait outside until they were ready, I am so happy that he was able to be there to support me and be by my side.  The doctors were in and doing their job and all of a sudden we hear a “Whoa”, all the nurses and doctors were in a sense shocked at what they saw…
Short panic on my end in my mind – is my baby ok?!?! But next thing I know I hear “its a girl!” come from over the curtain and a small wince from babes.  Everything was ok! The whoa was because the umbilical cord was in a true knot and the doctor showed us from over the curtain. Wow! This what was causing the babies vitals to drop every time I had a contraction, and I was so thankful for the steps that the doctor took to take care of me and most importantly my beautiful baby girl!
The doctors were doing a quick clean up of the baby and testing her Apgar Score and they called Lloyd over to see her and to take pictures.  He brought her over to me and all I could say to myself was oh my God she’s a mini-me and absolutely perfect!
It was official, we were parents of a perfect and healthy baby girl – 6lbs 11oz 20 inches long.  I didn’t even think about myself and the upcoming recovery, all I could think about was my new family, the overwhelming feeling for becoming a mother for the first time.  Welcome baby Sachiko (her names means happy child in Japanese and she was named after her great-grandma).
I was so grateful for the actions that my doctor took to make sure that both me and my baby were healthy, and of course to my loving husband for never leaving my side and being the man that I fell in love with.  I can’t forget my little munchie boo; am so grateful to have her in my life and from that point on ward I couldn’t imagine my life any differently! She is the perfect addition to our family and am excited to watch her grow!
This is one job that is the hardest job I have ever had but it is absolutely the most rewarding job that I will never want to give up.  My life is that much more complete with her here!