Congratulations SadGirl, you're a mom!

[U2Girl416]

Congrats (belated!)!!!!

[bonocomet]

Aww what a nice name congrats!

( And for all the U2 fans waiting to know if Mercy will be on the next album, I suppose you could get a pic of her on it )

[Sad_Girl]

Thank you all so much for the congrats and well wishes! I know I haven't been around here much lately, but I know I can always count on you all for a round of support and good cheer

Here's the details in a nutshell: last Thursday I went into labor but was progressing slowly so I spent that night at home - then Friday night was admitted to the hospital (Along with several other moms-to-be; we were in the middle of some severe weather/thunderstorms and for some reason that seems to trigger a chain reaction! The doctor delivered a bunch of babies throughout the weekend!)

I told them I would eventually want an epidural for pain relief, when the contractions got stronger so they drew blood for blood tests and it's a good thing they did because my white count was elevated and I had a fever - something I had not even noticed because of the excitement of being in labor. I was started on IV antibiotics immediately.

Saturday morning they told me it was finally time to push - and push, and PUSH! There was some speculation about the epidural I had interfering with my ability to push, but the Dr and nurses were all of different opinions about whether that was a genuine issue or not. Anyway, after the LONGEST three and a half hours of my life Mercy's heart rate jumped up to an unsafe level and the doctor intervened with forceps.

She was finally delivered, but she had evacuated her bowels during the hard delivery and swallowed a lot of the nastiness. If a baby breathes that stuff into her lungs it can be very dangerous and cause aspiration pneumonia, and her breathing was shallow so I only got to hold her for a minute before the staff took her away to the special care nursery. After the doctor had taken care of my needs and I had a chance to try and rest (Not an easy thing to do without her there!) and the pediatrician saw to her, I was wheeled down to the nursery to see her. I'll never forget seeing her like that - oxygen tubing, IV, monitors stuck to her little chest. It was not the way anyone expects to see their newborn. Still, she was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on.

Luckily, she did NOT breathe in the fluid, although quite a lot of it had been suctioned out of her stomach. Her breathing was getting better, she was receiving antibiotics for the infection/fever which she also had, and all there was to do after that was to wait.

I spent most of that night in my room recuperating impatiently. The next morning I was greatly relieved when the doctor told me she could soon join me in my room and I could finally feed her. The oxygen tubing was gone, though she was still tethered to her little bed because of the IV and monitors.

Breastfeeding was difficult – partly because of all the wires, and partly because of the delay. She had not eaten yet and she was nearly 20 hours old. It took her a few days to figure out really how to eat, and then it was only out of a bottle instead of being breastfed. The IV supplied what she needed, and so she had no drive to eat. When they took the IV out she still had a hard time learning and her blood sugar had to be checked before every feeding. I hated watching them poke her poor little feet to get blood – it was awful; but I am glad that they were thorough and watching out for her carefully. It was late Tuesday evening when the doctor made a special trip back to the hospital after office hours to check on her and finally release us to come home. Once we got home she started to eat – and eat and eat! She’s making up for lost time, I think. We had a visit to the Drs office today and she’s doing great.


It’s been a long week, but as trying as the physical pain was and as frightening as moments were I’ve truly never been happier. The entire world changed the moment she was born – and I’ve never been happier in my life.

[bonoishot]

SG!!

Wow SG that sounds scary but i'm glad everything turned out ok. It was great they were so thorough with checking her and you are both at home now and shes enjoying eating.

I'm so happy for you and Mercy.

[youvedonewhat]

Sorry about the crap you had to endure SG but you'll agree it was all worth it in the end. Nothing will ever be the same again. It took me ages to adjust to it being an 'us' instead of 'me' if that makes any sense. And my mum took ages to get used to me pushing a pram! Lol. She'd walk passed me in the street and not recognise me because '...I can't get used to seeing you with a pram..' lol.. Things get so different when you're a mum. I got more outspoken! hee.

Anyway, congrats on babykins. May you both have a strong and happy relationship.

[bonocomet]

oh so happy everything turned out so good. Best wishes to you and little Mercy always!

[Acrobat Angel]

Congrats SG! Mercy is such a beautiful name!

Wishing you and your precious baby girl a very happy and healthy future

[Alisaura]

SG So glad you're both doing well and everything was okay! Congrats again, I'm so happy for you both

[Dismantled]

HOLY COW! Did I miss something huge!

Congradulations, she must be beautiful!

2 days of labor...I hear ya it's worth it though even it can get very very very very very scary. Breastfeeding wasn't like how I imagined it, it hurt! Let me know if you need anything

[BonosBaby12]

[BonosBaby12]

Im so happy that Mercy is doing well now That had to be quite scary going through all of that. Thankfully though everything is alright now and you can enjoy time with your precious baby daughter Looking forward to seeing pictures!

[zuropa_fit]

From 'Much Ado About Nothing' by William Shakespeare

DON PEDRO
...To be merry best
becomes you; for, out of question, you were born in
a merry hour.

BEATRICE
No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there
was a star danced, and under that was I born.
Cousins, God give you joy!

[kafrun]

So so happy for you, SG I'm glad everything turned out ok

[dazzledbylight]

WOW, what what EXTRA Scary Stuff you, and Mercy went thru!

How great that the hospital staff was so thorough in yout treatment!
SOOO glad you & lillte Mercy are NOW in good shape!


Here's to your's and Mercy's ~~** Good Health, Good Circumstances, and MUCH Happiness & Good Relationship through the decades & decades ahead!!!

[JCOSTER]

Originally Posted by zuropa_fit From 'Much Ado About Nothing' by William Shakespeare DON PEDRO ...To be merry best becomes you; for, out of question, you were born in a merry hour. BEATRICE No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there was a star danced, and under that was I born. Cousins, God give you joy!

Very nice