Welcome Annabel Ilo!!

Annabel Ilo Micheels

June 16, 2012

12:31 PM

7 lbs. 7 oz.  20 1/2 in. 

I'm finally emerging from baby coma and have found a moment to tell the story of how Annabel came into this world. 

I started having small contractions on the morning of Thursday June 14th.  The contractions continued all night Thursday and through to Friday night.  I had planned to work both Thursday and Friday, but called in as the contractions were 5, 10, 20 minutes apart with little consistency.  However, on Friday, Eric had a faculty meeting so we went into the UofS so he could attend and assure there was quorum and I sat in his office in case we needed to head to the hospital.  Eric got lots of points for that as few faculty bring their wife to the university to attend a faculty meeting when she is having contractions.  Thankfully my water finally broke at home at 7:30 Friday night.

Heading to the hospital.  What a wonderful sign of God's Promise!

The hospital was very quiet that Friday night.  We arrived at the hospital around 8pm.  I was admitted around 10 pm.  Contractions were increasing and the epidural process went well, but then all night I never progressed past 6-7 cm.  The doctors "called it" about 11 am on Saturday and we had Annabel Ilo via c-section at 12:31.  She was 7 lbs. 7oz and 20 1/2 in. long.  I couldn't believe she was a girl!  And I couldn't believe she had a full head of auburn hair!  During the procedure, they had Eric stand up to say "girl or boy."  It was a such an amazing moment!  Eric had thought she would be a girl; I had convinced myself we were having a boy.  The staff was all yelling "look at all that hair."  Eric was able to head over to the table to bring Annabel to me so the three of us could enjoy each other.  The anesthesiologist took some amazing photos; I have looked through those photos a lot.

The c-section is an odd experience where I remember the event but some of it is a blur.  But I was laying there so thankful that we were not there for any emergency reason and Annabel and I were both great coming out of it.  The main thing I wish had happened differently would be to have family updated more frequently.  Eric was able to Skype my parents and his mom right before we went to to operating room, but then everything was so busy and happened so fast (for us), that he couldn't get back to a computer until about 7:30.  In the recovery room, he was busy with the nurses and Annabel while I was being monitored while trying to pay attention and soak in the moments.  Our family and fiends told us they were quite worried after awhile!  
 

 

I guess I had hoped for a private room too much, as they try to give those who have a c-section a private room.  I couldn't imagine trying to recover in the big open rooms with 4 families.  A c-section "recovery" is a bit silly, as after any surgery you should get plenty of rest, not "over-do it," and eat well, but it is basically the opposite.  They do not have a nursery at the hospital, so Annabel was with us every minute once we were in the room.  It's a great experience that increased our confidence in caring for her, but it definitely adds to the exhaustion.  Eric slept on a mattress on the floor where his feet hung about 3 feet off the end, and I use the word "slept" very loosely.

 

They also pushed in the wrong spot (my left rib) during the c-section, which caused significant pain while in the hospital. One day I needed Eric to fully lift my upper body so I could sit at the edge of the bed.  The nurses kept asking me how my incision pain was and I would respond that it was nothing compared to my rib pain.  I think they thought I was the biggest wimp!  They kept suggesting maybe it was muscle pain from the contractions or postural pain from nursing.  Finally the obstetrician came and I told her about the pain and she explained how her young resident pushed in the wrong spot.  She was wondering if she would be hearing from me.  I ended up having an x-ray to check for fracture and abdominal ultrasound for my spleen, all negative...so I'm assuming it was just bruised!  (I did find out I am up to 6 or 7 small gallstones though).  The strong pain didn't last more than two days, but I still feel a twinge here & there.

 

Annabel lost 10% of her weight while we were in the hospital, which increased to 16% by day 5 or so....we were supplementing with formula, and as much breast milk as possible, thru a tube and she has been since been gaining weight.  She is just past birth weight now.  It's amazing how much she changes; her cheeks and stomach are starting to fill out.  She has chosen 11pm-3 am as her party hour; sometimes crying or just alert, so hopefully that will change down the road....

All of this is so new for Eric and I, obviously.  I read that most people have not spent a lot of time with a newborn when they have one themselves.  She has such beautiful features.  A lot of people have commented that she looks a lot like Eric, so he figures that must mean that people also think he's pretty cute!!  The nurses oohed & ahhed over her hair color; they said it's rare to see auburn color.  We have heard baby's hair color can change quite a bit (Eric and I were both blond, so I will not be surprised if it changes), but I hope it stays the same! I asked her if she stopped by God's salon to get the blond streaks and the pixie cut!  We love all of the different faces she makes and there is even one cry that we both find very cute.  We are also impressed by the frequency and force behind the poops!!  We still giggle often about that....we had no idea!  We can't wait to have her meet so many of her friends and family soon.

At home July 6, 2012

3 weeks old.  On our way to get a passport photo!