Namera Brin is Born!

39 weeks (Namera was born 2 days later)

A little backstory. Namera was breach the entire pregnancy so at around 35 weeks my doctor said we really needed to start watching if she was going to flip. So I started doing exercises to try to get her to move and at 37 weeks she still hadn't turned so we went to the hospital to do a version, the manual, external process to try a flip a baby. After an excruciating hour Namera still would not turn so we scheduled a C-section for October 2. After lots of tears and mixed emotions I finally got comfortable, as comfortable as I could be, with having a C-section. One amazing thing about a planned C-section is just that, it is planned, so we knew exactly how October 2 was going to go.

On the morning of Thursday, October 2 we had a family outing to Starbucks

and then, like every other Thursday morning, I took Lucas to swim class.

We then had lunch, well everyone but me because I had to fast that day and a little jam session.

I put Lucas down for his nap and off to the hospital we went to meet our daughter. As soon as we walked out our front door the nerves kicked in and the tears rolled. The only other time I've ever been hospitalized was when I gave birth to Lucas. I've never even gotten stitches for an injury before. 

We love our hospital. It really has an amazing labor and delivery unit so when we got there and our nurse was checking us in, though I was incredibly nervous, I knew I was in great hands. My Caesarian was scheduled for 5:30 pm so we had to be to the hospital by 3:30 pm to get prepared. On a side note while I was getting ready and waiting I got a text that my son had his first kiss! I love that he looks timid.

The 2 hours went pretty fast and a little before 5:30 we walked over to the operating room.

Kevin wasn't allowed in until I was fully prepped so I had to walk in the room without him. I was really freaking out about the surgery and when I got to the room I felt like I was being abducted by aliens. There were bright lights everywhere and "beings" working in silence sterilizing and preparing. It was really creepy. The anastesthiologist was awesome. He let me choose the music I wanted playing during the procedure (I chose country) and talked me through everything. Once I was completely numb and ready Kevin came in.

From there everything moved pretty fast and Namera was born at 5:55 pm. My doctor immediately informed me Namera was fine but that the cord was wrapped around her neck and that is most likely why she never flipped, she couldn't. I also thank God that the version didn't work because we would have been rushed to do an emergency Caesarian right then. It took a couple minutes before I could see her but the first thing my nurse said was that she had a full head of hair:) Kevin said she looked just like Lucas. After they cleaned her and measured her (7 lbs 2 oz, 19 in long) Kevin was able to lay her on me.

She was beautiful! I got to be with her for about 10 min before they had to take her to the NICU for the post delivery exercises they do with babies born via c-section. Kevin went with her and we were all reunited about 1.5 hours later.

In that time I was SO exhausted and then got nauseated and threw up the nothing I was allowed to eat that day. I'm not one who throws up easily so all the meds I was on must have really been quite the cocktail. Once we were all together it stayed that way the rest of the stay. Normally Caesarian patients stay 4 nights but since we had Lucas at home I requested to be discharged a day early so we were able to head home on Sunday, the 5th and made it home before Lucas woke up from his nap. Lucas did visit both of the full days we were in the hospital and Kevin took him home each night to have dinner with him and put him to bed. My mom and sister stayed with me while Kevin was gone.

It was a great system we had.

Happy 1 Month!

Dear Namera,

On November 2 you turned 1 month old. You weighed in at about 10 lbs. I didn't get a chance to measure you but at your 2 week check up you measured 20.5 inches tall so you're still probably right around there. You are wearing newborn and 0-3 month sized clothes. You seem to be in between sizes because NB sometimes seems a bit small but the 3 mo size is just too big, usually. The brands that do 0-3 month are pretty good.

You are sleeping better than your brother did at this point but still have your "issues".  Since birth you get nasaly at night so sleeping on your back is an issue. This is not the case during the day. So, like your brother, you have been sleeping in my arms at night. Sometimes you'll sleep a couple hours on your own at first but then the congestion kicks in and you're done.

The last week of the month we borrowed a swing to see if you would like it and if sleeping at an angle would help. The jury is still out but you don't hate it. 

During the day you will take 30-60 min naps on your own with your longest nap being at lunch, about the same time as your brother (thank you!). The second half of that nap I usually hold you but I will not complain about a 1.5 - 2  hour nap. 

You are also a strange sleeper. You love to be in the most uncomfortable positions. We kept trying to move you but you would wake up so now we let you be. 

You are gaining weight like a champ so I know that nursing is going successfully but you don't make it easy for yourself. You choke almost every time you nurse which makes each session quite the ordeal because you turn blue, finally you scream, then you pass out for a sec and then cry because you're still hungry, than you can finish eating. I know you'll get used to my fast let down soon but for your sake I hope it's sooner than later. You're not on a schedule yet because you don't use me to pacify yourself so we go on command. During the day you cluster feed in the morning and at night but then during the middle you'll go 3-4 hours in between sessions. At night you go about 3-4 hours also if I'm holding you. Only about 1.5-2 hours if I'm not. Oh and you are a loud sleeper! You are always making noises, it's no wonder you can't sleep too long. 

This is probably embarrassing for you but it's funny. You toot worse than an old man! You poor thing, you are so incredibly gassy. Daddy and I can't help but laugh because it's unbelievable that such a tiny being can create such sounds so often. 

You like being held by mommy, tummy time on your mat and getting your diaper changed. I think that last one is because we got you a Tempurpedic changing mat. As soon as we lay you down on there and undo your diaper you relax. You'll lay there happy for 15 minutes if we let you. 

You've been a pretty good little sister too. Lucas doesn't always have the softest touch but you don't ever complain. It will be very exciting watching you two grow together. 

This being your first month of life you obviously have a lot of firsts but two big ones were your baseball team won the World Series! Woohoo!

And you celebrated your first Halloween.

We love you so much Namera Brin! Thank you for making our family feel complete!

Mommy and Daddy