Hello to all Dopers who are interested in LiLi’s baby,
I’m here to provide details to those desperate for info. More will come soon from LiLi herself.
Gnathaniel was born at 11:50pm on Tuesday Jan 15/08. Weighed in a 8lb 9onz, no clue about length, has black hair and brown eyes.
LiLi and Gnat are both fine. Labour and delivery did NOT go as planned and unfortunately LiLi had to have a bunch of interventions that she wanted to avoid, but she did end up with a perfectly healthy baby.
She will be home from the hospital tomorrow, if all goes as planned, and can fill you in on the last few days.
If you would like to know more, below is my experience of the birth. I’m sure if you asked LiLi or Mr Lissar they would have different things to write.
Things started happening for me at 5pm on Monday the 14th. I got a call saying that it was GO TIME, and I was to arrive at 2am at the hospital. The midwives had concluded that her water had broken on Sunday night and the delivery had to occur within 48hrs otherwise the risk of infection increased. LiLi had not gone into labour spontaneously so they would induce her with meds. (LiLi had wanted to avoid meds because they require that you stay on monitors that limit your ability to move around, but they didn’t really give her an option). The next thing she told me after all this info was to go sleep! Sleep? Who needs sleep when the baby is coming (little did I know…)
I arrived in TO, slept a bit at Driving Husband’s house and at 1:30AM we picked up LiLi/Mr Lissar and trundled off to the hospital. I met the midwife - she was lovely. We got set up in the room. The IV was started, there were issues with the monitors but they were resolved. Then the waiting began.
LiLi’s contractions became stronger with the meds, she was able to move around a little, but not walk or use the shower as she expected. The midwife was pleased initially, but eventually it seemed like we had hit a wall. The contractions never got stronger, and LiLi wasn’t dilating. The meds were increased, but it didn’t work. Eventually at 5pm (almost 12 hrs after the meds had begun), the on call OB suggested an epidural - LiLi could be tense and loosening the lower abs may make the the baby fall into place? An epidural was another thing LiLi had wanted to avoid, but at this point it was one of the last options to try. An anesthelogist did the epidural shortly after.
The epidural did not improve the rate of dillation, and we were getting dangerously close to the 48hr mark. The OB (who was also very nice), gently suggested the idea of a c-section. We could wait another 2hrs, since the monitors showed that LiLi and Gnat were fine, but if nothing had happened in all the time thus far, 2 more hours probably wouldn’t change anything. There was some crying and LiLi decided to do the c-section then.
LiLi was very brave, she had to go into the operating room herself, Mr Lissar and I were not allowed in. I eventually joined her right before the operation started. (It was decided that I would be the person in the operating room, since Mr Lissar was doesn’t deal well with any medical stuff). The operation was routine, I honestly didn’t pay too much attn, since I was trying to help LiLi. Gnat came out with a perfectly round head - proving he had not even been close to the position he should have been in for a vaginal birth - the little bum. The most amazing thing about the operating room, was holding Gnat right after he was born (eee). LiLi/Mr Lissar wanted skin to skin contact, it helps with body temp and relaxing the baby- usually the spouse does it, but I did it right after the birth and then when they knew Gnat was ok, the midwife took him out to Mr Lissar.
In the recovery room LiLi was very groggy and nauseous from the drugs, but the midwife got Gnat to latch successfully and he had a good feed. Mr Lissar doted, and got to put on the first diaper. I took pics, sat and rested - it was about 2am by this point and I was pretty tired. Mr Lissar was wonderful, he kept asking if I was ok and felt included 
I was feeling pretty happy and floaty. She was moved out of the recovery room into a normal room. It was decided that I would stay with LiLi the rest of the night, and Mr Lissar would go home and sleep.
I got LiLi settled in, DH came and picked up Mr Lissar and dropped off pizza and blankets for me (There was no food in the hospital for us! LiLi had brought hi calorie foods for herself, but I could not eat another chocolate.) Everyone slept. At 4:30 Gnat started fussing. We tried feeding but he wouldn’t take. At 5:30 we were desperate, the nurse came in and said “he has a dirty diaper” :smack: :smack: :smack:
Everyone got settled again, then the nurse came in again at 6am saying he had to have a wash. I though, LiLi is sleeping, Gnat is sleeping, and I was sleeping until you woke me up 2 seconds ago - can this not wait? Apparently not, Gnat was woken up and bathed - he protested and I learned how to wash a baby. Everyone got settled again.
The morning was interrupted at intervals by nurses and midwives coming in to check in and give advice. We all got to sleep for short snatches. My skills increased to knowing how to change a diaper and burp a baby. The little dude pooed 3 times that morning - I got so much shit everywhere. He got it on his feet and I had small splats of poo up my arm as I tried to grab his legs and hold them out of the way.
Mr Lissar arrived at noon and I went home to sleep. When I spoke to Mr Lissar that evening he said that LiLi was doing ok. she felt well enough to stay by herself that night. The pediatrician had been by and said that Gnat was excellent.
In my vast experiece with babies (totalling 1 - Gnat) he seems pretty good - not too fussy, settles easily, pretty damn cute.
After this point I don’t know anything. DH was suppose to see LiLi today, perhaps I can check back in with an update. LiLi is expected home tomorrow, and will post as soon as she has the chance. Sorry, all the pics are on digital cameras I don’t have access to, but I can make petitions to those who have them.
Night everyone :o
