Recovery...

The baby was allowed to stay in the delivery room for about 2 hours. My parents and mother-in-law stayed for a while and held the baby. Then they left me and my husband alone with our son. I wanted to just stare at him because I was afraid that when they took him away I wouldn't be able to recognize him later. All newborns look alike to me. But he was different. I was sure I would be able to pick him out of a line-up.

We sat for a while. I was still so hungry but I didn't want to eat anymore. I had already eaten so much food that I was sure I wasn't thinking clearly and didn't want to make myself sick. My legs were still very heavy and the epiduarl hadn't worn off just yet. I was supposed to stay in this room until it wore off because I couldn't get out of bed.

Eventually the nurse came and took the baby. He was going to the nursery to get cleaned up, warmed, etc. The adrenaline was finally starting to wear off and I was getting tired. I told my husband to go home and spend time with the dogs and come back later. He was exhausted and kept telling me he was. I wanted to shout that I had just given birth to a baby so I am the one who should be exhausted. But I didn't. He didn't mean anything by it. So he left and I was alone.

The nurse came in and I asked her if she was going to remove the catheter. She smiled and told me it had been removed before I started pushing. I wondered how I could have possibly missed that.

My legs started to get feeling back and I thought I could try to get up. I was a little wobbly but I could stand and walk with her assistance. She took me to the bathroom and told me to try to go. They put a cup in the toilet because they need to measure the amount of urine that is produced. I tried to go but I couldn't manage very much. When I got up, I was shocked at the amount of blood that was everywhere. It was all over the bathroom. I panicked but she said it was normal. Then I was told that I could take a shower. I didn't want to. I just wanted to get into bed and lay there. But as soon as I got in, it felt so good that I didn't want to leave. There was a little bench in there and I just sat in the hot, cleansing water. I felt very groggy. Like I had just been awake for three days straight.

I got out of the shower and put on the pad and elastic underwear that the hospital provided. They also gave me an ice pack that was supposed to help with the stitches. I wanted to clean up the bathroom but they told me to leave it. I was put in a wheel chair and wheeled up to my room with all of my stuff. A couple of my friends saw me enroute and followed me up to the room. We visited for a while and even though I was exhausted, I didn't think I could sleep.

I wanted my baby so I called the nursery. They told me they were still getting him settled but would bring him in as soon as they were done. I had waited nine months for this, I guess I could wait a few more minutes so they could make sure he was ok.