Friday, August 8, 2008

Everything was going so well...

A few random pictures of our sweet girl:




To all those moms out there - a voice of warning!

NEVER NEVER mention the word 'easy' when talking about your pregnancy, labor, or delivery.
I made this mistake when talking about my pain free 6 hour stint in delivery...and apparently the pregnancy gods were listening....

And they struck me down. One word for you all: MASTITIS. Apparently everything balances out in the pregnancy world! I have never in my life gotten so sick so quickly. I had felt a little achy/flu like symptoms for about 24 hours, but they were totally managable with the help of my friend extra stength Tylenol. Unfortunately, by 4:00 yesterday I was delirious with pain. I couldnt lift my arms up, even to hold Brigitte or nurse her. And the second she latched on - I started crying. I have never felt fire like that before - OUCH! My thoughts turned to my sister in law Mitzi, who was stricken with Mastitis not once but TWICE ( I blame her 'easy' pregnancy!) before throwing the towel in on nursing forever.

I ended up sitting in a doc in the box for two hours, wrapped up in a sad BYU blanket - even though it was 102 degrees outside. And because I'm so completely post-partum I couldnt stop crying once I started so I sat there like an unstable housewife until the doctor could finally see me. The worst part was that there was a screaming baby in the waiting room with me, and my body auto responded to its crying by immediately filling up with more milk of fire! It was pretty traumatic.

Thankfully, 24 hours later I feel 110% better. Thank goodness for potent antibiotics and anti-inflammatories ! This whole nursing thing has been such a bad experience. And yet when Gabe gives her a bottle, even though its still breastmilk - I feel like I have failed her! And I feel so furious that I have to share her during 'our' feeding time. Just another perk of being hormonally imbalanced :)

So being incapable of taking care of Brigitte, and with Gabe having to work today, we called in backup in the form of 'SuperGrammy'. My mom came over at 9 this morning and stayed until Gabe got off work. I laid in bed sleeping and watching desperate housewives as she spoiled the baby and tried to work the remotes to the TV. I emerged from my room only to hand off milk or clean the pump...and at one point I found them in the bathroom having 'spa day'. Brigitte was laying on a throne of towels, with the lights dimmed, receiving a sponge bath and massage with her expensive baby products. She looked totally relaxed and wide awake - I seriously couldnt believe how much she was enjoying the whole experience! What this confirms is my belief that Brigitte is going to be extremely high maintenance. And that we are all way too willing to accomodate! Shes just so adorable and fun, I cant help it! Thanks to Mom, who has been her biggest fan and has now become her willing slave! I would have DIED without your help since she was born!

Gabe has been such a good sport, and completely supportive. Hed gladly give her formula and help out with feedings. In fact, I think hed love to be a stay at home dad and hog the baby 24 hours a day! Im lucky to have him. I know a lot of guys who fear the newborn stage, and Im just glad he is totally confident and capable of taking care of her without me having to tell him what to do.

If only he could breastfeed her :) Mastitis is the DEVIL

15 comments:

Unknown said...

I am so sorry you got sick!!! I got a plugged duct with Macy but fortunately I had all of the NICU nurses to help me so it wouldn't turn into mastitis and even that was horribly painful! That sucks! Hang in there, ti gets easier, I promise!!!

Jana said...

Mastitis is wretched, I'm so sorry! She's darling - I love the picture where her one little eye is closed a la Popeye :)

Amber said...

She is soooo stinking cute I can't get over it!!! Man and I thought I had a hard time breastfeeding!!! Grace wouldn't latch on very well but the milk of fire still filled em up!!! BUT I never got mastitis!!! Yikes. Well you are a trooper and I'm so glad you have family close to help!!! And I'm so glad your sweet hubby is helping you out so much too... that makes such a huge difference!!! :) Things really do get easier... that first month (5 weeks to be exact!) was really hard. I remember after 5 weeks something hit me and I was like, I can do this! And things got way easier!!! :)

Brittany said...

Ugggh! Mastitis IS DEFINITELY the devil. I got it twice too. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Yuck. At least nursing helps you loose the baby weight faster. (And of course it's good for the baby yada yada yada)

Thanks for your comment on my blog, you're so sweet.

Brittany said...

Oh, I forgot to tell you Brigitte is really, really cute. Seriously.

Erin Boyle said...

Christy,
congratulations! She is so beautiful. We are thrilled for you guys.

Anna Beal said...

I'm so sorry about the Mastitis! I got it with Dejah, I was home alone (in Laramie), no family, Alex at work and I felt like I had been run over by a semi-truck!! I was bawling...I knew no-one and I had to drag my sorry butt to the Dr. baby in tow. This just following the Serious Spinal Headache that had me down for three weeks. Lets just say I know exactly how you feel. Don't let it get you down if you don't want to nurse. A happy mom makes everything so much better.

Erin said...

Im so sorry you hurt so bad but I too love the meds and am so grateful for them. I know this sounds crazy but I know a girl who cut cabbage in half and put one half on each boob and it totally helped. I know that sounds crazy but it is something. good luck.

The Fago Family said...

So sorry! I had two infections... one that came with hives (for two weeks) after they prescribed me the wrong medication, and the second, mastitis! Avenleigh was under 4 months during all of it too! And I still had to nurse through it which was SUPER painful, as I know you can relate! Hang in there! I remember pumping for every feeding for awhile because it was too painful, but it got better! After all the drama, it was easy, relaxing, and such a wonderful bonding time. It just takes practice and time! It's so neat that Gabe loves to be involved! Travis is the same way and I truly appreciate him! I just wished I would have let him help a lot more in the beginning! : ) He would totally be a stay at home dad if he could! He has her every Friday and LOVES that special time. So happy for you guys! She is SO beautiful!!!

Sherry said...

I'm so glad you're better! I can't believe you got off your death bed so quickly! Here I thought you were sleeping all day Saturday or you could have come over and helped watch Grace, Caroline & Lila with Grandma & me. I did enjoy taking care of Brigitte Friday. She is such a little doll! We did enjoy Brigitte Spa Day!

Diana & CJ said...

I don't think I've ever seen a baby that young smile so big. That really is a frame worthy photo. She is at such a sweet age. I'm already starting to forget how cuddly & delicate they are at that age.
I had Mastitis too twice or maybe three times I forget but it was always in the same boob. It was awful-as you already know, something aside from the antibiotics that helped me was hot baths & massaging them. Hopefully you don't get it again like I did.

Diana & CJ said...

PS
Your mom rocks!

Jennifer said...

That's horrible! I'm glad I never got and I'm sad you did. That seriously sucks! Brigette is freaking beautiful though.

Kristy said...

Poor Christy! I feel so bad for you. I have never even heard of Mas... whatever it is called. I hope you are feeling better! It's amazing all the things we don't know about having babies! I think everyone forgets all the pain and yucky stuff when they are sharing the details. Brigitte is soooo darling, I can hardly stand it!

Shawn AND Chelsey said...

Hey thanks for tracking us down and saying hi! It was so fun to see the cute pictures of your beautiful little girl.
Actually... we don't have any babies yet! The pictures were of our good friend's baby... wish she could pass as ours- she's too cute!
Aren't blogs so fun... great way to stay in touch! Where are you guys living now... still in boise?