The Diary of a New Mom: Our Time in the Hospital

Giving birth is so tiring. Maybe not as tiring as what comes when you bring the baby home, but it's definitely up there in my most tiring list. After Drake was born, he was able to stay in the delivery room with me for a couple of hours before the nurses took him to the nursery.

Much of his time in the room was spent being passed from person to person. As I mentioned in my first diary entry, my mother, husband and mother-in-law were in the room with me while I gave birth. But not long after Drake arrived, my father, father-in-law and my sister and her husband joined us. My mother left to go look after my seventeen month old niece, Gabbie, so my sister could come upstairs to see me.

I've never seen so many mushy me in my life. I think all of the men could be seen with at least one tear in their eyes. This was humorous because they're all pretty manly men. My father and father-in-law, Bounce are big tattooed, Biker guys; my brother-in-law, Adam is a Marine and my husband Colin is a rocker type. Of course the women cried as well. It was very emotional. How one little person can bring so much joy and emotion to an entire family is incredible.

My family didn't get to stay very long because it was well after visiting hours when Drake was born and the nurses were only making an exception for me. They left when the nurse returned to take Drake to the nursery for measuring his weight, height and vital signs. Colin went to the nursery as well and I was left alone to recover. I was by myself for a while, only the nurses came in and out to check on me. They wouldn't bring me to my room until the feeling returned to my legs. They also gave me this medicine, through my IV, to make my uterus contract to slow and lessen the bleeding. I hate IVs. I must have asked the nurses every time they came in the room if they were coming to take the IV out.

Colin finally came back and told me Drake's weight and height. 7lbs 4oz and 20 inches long. I smiled and wished the nurses would bring him back.

I was in the delivery room for about an hour and a half when I remembered how hungry I was. It was already after midnight though so there wasn't really any place to get food. Despite New York's nickname (the city that never sleeps), many stores do close before midnight. So I sent Colin to the vending machines.

When he came back he had to listen to me complain about the IV (which was starting to become painful when I moved my wrist). I was getting antsy and irritable. I kept trying to lift my legs which felt like lead. Finally Colin said he'd be right back and he left the room.

I started to wonder if he was coming back when he came through the door pushing the hospital crib containing our little boy. I was so happy. My irritation seemed to vanish in that moment. Not long after that I was able to stand up and shuffle my way to the bathroom. So the nurses decided it was okay to bring me to my room now. I asked again if it was okay to take the IV out and they said no. It wasn't till about four in the morning when they took the darn thing out.

My first full day in the hospital was pretty peaceful. The nurse hadn't let Drake stay in the room with us the night before and though we missed him terribly, we did manage to get some sleep because of it. I was still sore and tired, but my happiness helped me ignore these feelings.

The morning nurse rolled Drake in at about 10AM. I fed him and then discovered my own breakfast had been left for me while I slept. So I ate too. It was pretty good for hospital food. Colin and I recapped what happened the before and doted over Drake. My mother, Bounce and my mother-in-law, Kathy came to visit me at around noon. Kathy and my mom were still pretty emotional and could barely keep from crying every time they held Drake. I can't judge because I was the same and so was Colin. My mom kept asking me how it felt to be a mother.

"I still feel like me", I told her with shrug. I didn't feel any different. I had a new love in my heart. I was a bit mushier than usual and a lot nicer than usual, but otherwise I felt like the same Skylar, just with a son to care for.

My family went down to the cafeteria to grab some food. While they were gone a photographer from Bella Baby Photography took some lovely complimentary pictures of us. I never had professional pictures taken of me before, but it was fun. Drake looked so adorable and I loved showing him off. The picture at the top of this hub is one of those pictures from Bella Baby.

My family came back for a short while after that and left at around four in the afternoon, so my mom could get home to babysit Gabbie so my sister, Melissa could come visit me again. However our next group of visitors was not my Melissa and Adam. A couple of our friends stopped by the hospital to see us and meet Drake. They had been worried they'd be gone back to North Carolina before Drake was born, but he came just in time. They'd be leaving after the visit with us. The hung out for a while; asking lots of questions about labor and birth. They were expecting a baby in January so the information was useful to them. Though I'm sure they didn't want to, they eventually had to leave or else they'd miss their bus.

About an hour or so later Melissa, Adam, my dad and my two cousins (Milton and Willy) showed up. Milton and Willy brought me flowers. I was surprised to see them as no one told me they'd be coming. We grew up together and they are practically like brothers to me.

It was a fun visit filled with laughs. Everyone was trying to figure out who Drake resembled most. Lots of jokes were made. In the end we discovered that Drake had my ears, nose and lips; and Colin's eyes, cleft chin and (as Colin put it) his "knobby English knees". The nurses again let them stay well passed visiting hours. It was almost eleven when they left.

All in all it was a nice day and Drake slept through most of it.

Around 12:30Am, our second night in the hospital, a doctor came in asking for approval for Drake's Circumcision. Colin and I had decided this a long time before I gave birth. Not for religious reasons, but for medical reasons. I signed the authorization forms and the doctor told us his circumcision would probably take place at around 1:30AM. Then she left.

When she was gone my mind started to run wild. I started worrying about whether the circumcision would hurt him and if he'd cry for his mommy and daddy. I cried miserably. Colin asked me what was wrong and I told him my fears. He tried to calm me but I still cried.

"I didn't bring him into this world to feel unnecessary pain", I kept repeating.

Colin said we didn't have to have the prcedure done if I didn't want to but I knew it was best for Drake and I sad as much.

With that Colin left the room to hunt for the doctor to ask a few questions. When he returned he told me that the doctor said they use a numbing agent and the procedure wouldn't hurt him a bit, but he may cry from shock as many babies do. Colin had also asked if he could be there with Drake but the doctor said no unfortunately. Regardless, just knowing he wouldn't hurt made me feel better.

Around four in the morning, I woke up to crying. The doctor was showing Colin how to do a circ change (Circumcision diaper change). Drake didn't like the cold. When the doctor left, Colin noticed I was awake. He told me the doctor said the procedure went perfectly. She said that our baby boy was a real trooper. He didn't cry at all and he showed early motor skills by holding his own pacifier in his mouth. I was so proud of him. The new night nurse let Drake stay with us that night.

How to do a "Circ Change" (For new moms and dads with circumcised baby boys).

Step One: Remove dirty diaper.
Step Two: Wipe the area that the diaper covers clean, except the circumcision spot.
Step Three: Using a warm wet wash cloth or sterile pad, let the water run on the healing area to clean. If some residue remains, dab it away very gently.
Step Four: Spread Vaseline on another sterile pad and set it aside.
Step Five: Put Vaseline around the area the diaper covers (you can switch ointments once the circumcision is healed, my preference is A&D).
Step Six: Positioning his little male parts downward, place the coated sterile pad over him.
Step Seven: Put the clean diaper on.

Note: Circumcisions usually heal in one to three weeks. The area will be a pink color, like your lips, when it is completely healed.

The next day was our discharge day. We woke up pretty early and ate breakfast. We had to attend a discharge class. This class educated us on such things like diaper changes, breastfeeding, bathing and other basic newborn care. I was nervous but excited to go home. I couldn't wait for the nurses to tell me I could go home.

It wasn't until the afternoon that I found out I could leave anytime just by saying so. With that I hopped up and got ready to go. Colin went to submit all the forms they'd given us on our first night in the hospital and to get Drake from the nursery. We dressed him nice and warm as it was raining out. Colin's parents met us at the hospital to help us. Unfortunately we didn't need much help, but it was nice of them to try anyway.

When we got downstairs it was pouring and we realized we wouldn't be walking home even though we only live a few blocks away. Colin went to the curb to hail a cab. After what felt like forever, he finally got one. We safely wedged the bassinet part of Drake's uppababy vista carriage into the cab and we were off to our home, excited for the days and weeks to come. But that's a story for another hub.

The First Year: The Diary of a New Mom

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