Saturday, May 5, 2012

Vivienne Rose has arrived!

Forgive the brevity and lateness. Between new baby girl and internet and laptop issues, this is the first chance I've had to get online (seriously).

Details and pics to come later, promise.

For now though, vital statistics:

High blood pressure that refused to go down led to 24 hour collection, which I was told was negative, but actually did contain protein - enough for a 'mild pre-eclampsia' diagnosis. Even higher blood pressure led to overnight admission for monitoring and another 24 hour urine collection (increasing proteins) on Friday night/Saturday by a fill-in doc of the practice, followed by release to strict bedrest and follow up with my doctor on Monday.

That resulted in admission to the hospital for induction. My doc said that if she hadn't been on vacation, I would have already had the baby because she wasn't thrilled with the developing pre-eclampsia, no matter how mild it appeared to be.

Cervidil was started around 4:30 pm on April 30, exactly 39 weeks. There is a really funny (to me, anyway) story I'll tell later about my labor/delivery and how it was rather precipitate for what we had planned.

Vivienne made her debut at 8:17 am on May 1 after about an hour to an hour and a half of pushing. I was on mag sulfate, and between that and the sertraline in the last tri, they had NICU pediatriacs standing by in case of breathing difficulties. She was taken directly to the warmer where she scored a 6 on the 1 minute apgar (points removed for color and tone). Her breathing was fine, but no crying or fussing. At 5 minutes, her apgar was 8 (again, points removed for color and tone) and it was 9 at 10 minutes. They handed her to DH and finally told him it was normal for mag babies to be a little pale (he was getting really concerned). She pinked up fine and hasn't stopped moving or flailing since.

She weighed in at 7 lbs, 9 oz (ha! where was my monster baby?!) and she was 21 inches long. Initially, breastfeeding went well, subsequently we've had difficulties latching, which have been resolved by pumping and supplementing with formula (making all three of us much, much happier and more relaxed). We are trying to catch up sleep - the hospital, lovely as it was, wasn't conducive to it, since I had to spend an extra 24 hours on mag in bed in L&D (which isn't really designed for that, tbh). My mom came in the day she was born, my in-laws visited soon after. We have some awesome pictures. She's absolutely delightful in every way, and we couldn't be more in love.

Gabriel is very present in my mind, as I trace her gorgeous little face and see the familial similarities, as I hold her and remember holding him. The joy is undiluted, but the sadness is also present. Vivienne does not replace him, never would we dream of asking her to, but the hole in our hearts and lives is differently shaped now - stronger in some areas and more raw in others.

Still, our girl is wonderful, and we are existing in exhausted amazement.

22 comments:

Emily said...

Wonderful! Glad to here things went well.

Michelle Claire said...

*tears* Yay!!!!! Congrats on your baby girl! I can't wait to see pictures. I've traveled this journey with you for so long and I am so very happy that you have a perfect little baby to hold and love on. :)

Angela said...

Congratulations!! Beautiful name, just lovely. I can't wait to see pictures!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! I too have been following your journey and I'm always over here cheering for you. I'm so happy to know that you welcomed your baby girl into the world and that she's doing well. Good luck to you and congrats again!

Sarah said...

Congratulations! I am so very happy for you.

Womb Raider said...

i'm so incredibly happy for you guys! hooray for happy endings!

Sarah said...

Wonderful news! I, too, have followed your story for a long time. I am so relieved that she is here safely. Of course you wil still grieve Gabriel, she can never replace him. May his memory be eternal.

juliane2004 said...

Congratulations :)

ERG said...

Congrats on your baby girl!! I have followed your story for many years, and I am overjoyed that your little girl is finally here!! I can't wait to see pictures!

Mandi Fisher said...

Congrats! I have been monitoring the blog waiting for the good news. Can't wait to see pics of sweet baby, and hopefully you guys can catch up on some sleep soon!

mtendere said...

Congratulations! I'm just so happy for you.

Anasara said...

Congrats! So glad you're both doing well.

sloaneclearv said...

i've been lurking for some time, and just wanted you to know that i'm so, so happy for you. i had my son in august 2009, which is why i don't comment (too many bad memeories for you, etc.) very, very happy for all of you!

Stacy112699 said...

Yay! Congrats!

Erin said...

Congratulations!! I am so thrilled for you. (ibis here!)

Beth said...

I am so, so, thrilled for you and so relieved that she is here safely. I can't wait to see pics either :D

Brad & Rachel said...

So glad she arrived safely! Congratulations! I love the name, especially the middle name! =)

shawnandlarissa said...

Congrats!!!!

Meegs said...

Yay!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for pictures! Congratulations!

gallerygirl said...

Love love love this update! Congratulations to you and your beautiful family!! :)

Kristin @ What She Said said...

Congratulations! I've been following your story since our days together on That Web Site That Shall Not Be Named. I was six months pregnant myself when you lost Gabe and I ached for you in every way possible. I'm so thrilled for on the birth of little Vivienne Rose! Beautiful name - I have a Vivian, too! Mine little girl's name is Vivian Faith. :)

Best wishes to you and your little family.

Aoife said...

Eliza - I'm so sorry I'm only getting to this now, but just wanted to add that I am so relieved and happy for you on the birth of your beautiful girl. I know exactly what you mean about her arrival bringing Gabriel to the forefront again... I feel the same way about my two.

Heartfelt congratulations. Welcome Viviennne Rose - you are a very very special little girl.