Welcome Kennedy Marie!

Kennedy Marie was born 12/4 (41w1d) at 5:10am. She was 22" & 8#13oz -- all natural! :woo:

I had posted about my 41 week appointment, shortly after I came home and posted I began having contractions 10 minutes apart but thought nothing of it until I started having "show" around 7pm. None the less I still tried to go to bed around 9pm (thinking it was just from the doc checking me earlier that day) and was waking every 10 minutes on the dot. My husband was convinced we were going to have a baby that night-I didnt think so.
Finally around 12:30am I was pacing the house and contractions were every 6 minutes and becoming intense. we called our friend who came over and slept at the house (so she could take the twins home with her in the morning). We got to the hospital around 2am and I was 7cm.

I got in the labor tub and stayed for 1.5 hours or so, I stood up to go pee and I started puking (transition!) by 4am it was time to push and I was exhausted. I was breathing through the contractions because I didnt want to push.

The pain was intense, and my doc/husband kept telling me its the only way the baby can come out! Finally I did it, I got her out! I was nervous, after her head come out I was afraid her shoulders were stuck. I kept telling my doctor to "get it out, get it out" and she kept telling me " you have to keep pushing".
When she finally arrived the doctor announced by saying "SHE's here!". We both still cant believe shes a girl. She looks nothing like us or our other 2. Thank-goodness we both witnesses it or we wouldnt think she was ours.

We went home Friday afternoon (14 hours later!). I felt fine and the baby was well so no need to stay (plus I missed the twins)! Before we left they discovered Kennedy has a soft cleft palate (only)-- way back in the back of her mouth where her uvula should be, she has a small hole.

She will see the plastic surgeon on Thursday and we will find out when she can have a repair. This has been hard for me. Im a breastfeeding mom and was really looking forward to the experience of nursing a singleton and right now we cant nurse at all! Im pumping around the clock, plus bottlefeeding, and then theres the twins- this isnt what I had envisioned and is super hard. I thought we'd co-sleep/nurse, I could sling her and sit down with the toddlers etc. I didnt think Id be up for all hours of the night trying to pump/feed etc and that Id be telling my kids not to touch my pump all day.
Im having a lot of grief over her birth defect and how its currently affecting our family. Thats why its taken me so long to update! I'm sure it will all be ok- I just need to adjust.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts, you all have been great! :wub:
Jolly Little Lady

 

Congrats on the drug-free birth! Way to go! :yahoo:

And many :hug: for the sadness and adjustments you are having to make regarding feeding. I cannot imagine what it's like with twin toddlers and a newborn -- I think it would be a tough adjustment no matter what, but is even harder when it isn't going how you had planned. Will you get to nurse her after the surgery? :hug:

 

Congratulations Jess! :yahoo: you did great having a natural birth!! Glad SHE finally arrived!! Typical girl though... making everyone wait!! :winking: She's going to be your little drama queen!!! How do your twins like her? I'm sure it is all an adjustment!

Sorry about her soft cleft palate. :hug: I know it isn't the nursing experience you wanted, but it'll come!!! I didn't 'end' my nursing experiences the way I wanted to, but I (like you) have a baby who is happy. So chin up!!! It is something that can be fixed!

Congratulations again!

 

Congrats again Jess. I'm sure it's gotta be tough trying to pump with toddler twins and a newborn. That's a big worry of mine too since nursing the boys was rough in the beginning. Don't beat yourself up over your daughter's cleft palate. I know it will making nursing tough in the beginning, but it's completely repairable.

Life always throws us curve balls, but I know you'll be able to handle it. Just try to roll with the punches the best you can. In the long run, things are gonna work out fine. :hug:

 

:yahoo: congratulations Jess! that's so exciting. i can't see your pics though because i'm not on myspace.

:welcome: to the world Kennedy!

and big :hug: s about having to pump - i can totally understand how frustrating it can be when things don't go at all how you pictured them. it sounds like you're doing the best you can & nobody can ask anything more of you!

congrats again!

 

Congratulations Jess! Sorry to hear about your feeding difficulties so far. I can only imagine how you feel. I know you are a strong, strong lady though and you will find your way through this. Wishing peace and happiness on your family

:bday: Kennedy

 

Way to go on that natural birth of 8lbs 13oz!! WOW!!! you did a great job mama!!! Congratulations! What an inspiration for me! I did my last one natural, but have been getting nervous over trying it again. I still get shivers thinking of her 3 day labor!!

I'm so sorry about the soft cleft palate. I totally know your grief over bfing. I've had a variety of bfing experiences...for my first baby I could never get my supply up enough, she was literally dehydrated until I gave her formula. She did 'dessert' bf, but I wasn't educated enough to know how hard I'd have to work to get my supply up. Then for my twins, things were going well enough even though I needed to supplement to get them to grow. My twin dd couldn't handle going back and forth between the bottle and breast. She still has oral issues even today at 4.5. I was really sad, and felt so guilty to be bfing my twin son and not my twin dd. But every time I pumped, which wasn't often, I gave her the bm that I could. It definitely wasn't what I would have chosen, but she gave me no alternative. I needed to get her to grow, that was the focus. And you need to realize this too. It's so sad for you, but this circumstance is totally out of your control. The best way to love your dd right now is to get her to grow no matter how she needs her food. If you are able to pump for any length of time then she's getting all the nutritional benefits of bfing for that time. Maybe down the road you'll be able to get her over to bfing...but even if you can't you'll know that you did the best you could do.

I was really blue over my first dd, and somewhat blue over my twin dd and the bfing issues... what helped me was to focus on the fact that this is such a short time of their little lives, and to look for other ways to bond with my babies. One thing I loved about bottle feeding and bonding is that it's much easier to look into their eyes while they are bottle feeding. You can snuggle them up to your face closer, and still have lots of skin contact while bottle feeding. Bonding with daddy is easier too. Try to focus on the benefits of bottle feeding since you have no alternative right now. I think what helped me to was just to realize that my little ones were totally unaware that they were missing anything. So long as they sense love in your care for them it really doesn't make a difference to them how they are fed. Refuse to lose out on the joys of this baby's infancy just because you've hit this unexpected obstacle. Don't cheat yourself out of being happy and in love with your little one because you are sad over bfing. Let yourself cry about it once a day during that hormonal low if you need to (that was always around 5 or 6pm for me...in a nice hot shower!), but try to make a conscious choice that you aren't going to let this ruin this special time. And do remember that even if this weren't an issue you would still be facing the huge hormonal change you go through post-partum. It's normal to cry for nothing at all right now. :hug: Give that little one lots of love and kisses and know that you are doing the absolute best that you can as her mommy right now. You wouldn't trade her for the best bfing baby in the world!! You have just what she needs... even if that means a bottle and not a breast. :hug:

 

Great job with the birth Jess.
I hope all goes well on Thursday.
I know you are busy so for now just a :hug: .

 

:yahoo: Congratulations Jess! Welcome to the world Kennedy! I am sorry that you have been so worried about pumping and her soft cleft palate. Wishing you all the best and keep us posted with how Thursday goes!

 

Congratulations again! I'm sorry to hear about her cleft palate but the doctors will take great care of her so don't give up on the nursing/pumping. I wish I could see your pictures but I'm not on myspace. I'm sure she's a cutie!! Wishing you all well!

 

Congratulations on a healthy baby girl, Jess!

 

congrats Jess!! Sorry about the birth defect. but im sure it will work out well in the end. lots of :hug:'s for u. U did just a great job. I cant view ur pics either, but im sure shes adorable :wub:

 

Congrats Jess!!! Love the name and great birth story!!! I can attest to how extremely difficult it is to pump when you have twin toddlers! But I know you are determined! Just remember-if you have trouble, etc-not to beat yourself up over it. I found once I stopped doing that, I was much much much more relaxed, etc and was able to enjoy the baby more. It's a transition, but in the end, everything will work out!

Keep us posted about her appointment!

 

:yahoo: You did it!! Congratulations on Kennedy's birth.

:hug: for her cleft palate, and :hug: for your sadness over it. It's ok to be sad about it. I know the routine seems tiresome and endless now, but it will get better, and you will figure it out. Just enjoy these sweet new baby times...they go before you know it.

 

Congratulations Jess, you did awesome!!! I'm not on Myspace either so I couldn't see the pics but I'm sure Kennedy is gorgeous! I cannot imagine what you are feeling in regards to the soft palate and I can understand your grief, but know that she will be fine. I can understand your pain over the BF I've experienced it with each baby so far especially my first, I had no idea nursing sometimes didn't work out. Pumping is no fun especially not when you had toddlers to care for, but you can do it and hopefully you'll eventually be able to nurse her. Big (((HUGS))) take care of yourself and that sweet baby, you did great!! BTW if it is okay with you I'll keep you and your little one in my prayers.

 

YAY!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! :birthday: SWEET GIRL!!!!!

:hug: :hug: :hug:

 

Congrats Jess! I love her name! And I love her birth story, just beautiful.

My friend has a little one with a cleft palate and lip, it's taken many surgeries to repair. And this same friend recently found out she is having twins and the little boy also has a cleft palate and lip. She is grieving right now too, because she understands how difficult it can be as they already have experienced it. I'm sorry breastfeeding isn't the way you had hoped...yet! I'll be praying for you and Kennedy.

 

I finally put some pictures on our blog. CLICK HERE

The LC was over Friday night, Monday morning and again yesterday afternoon and we were able to get her to nurse! It wasnt for long and it took a syringe & 4 hands but it was a small victory!
After the milk in the syringe had run out, she was still drinking/swallowing and you couldnt hear the click of suction breaking which means she was doing it!!! I will take the accomplishment for now, I hope we have many more to come.

You guys would laugh to see me with a milk filled syringe stuck in my bra and a tube taped at my breast ready to go. I look armed and dangerous LOL

 

:Clap: That is an accomplishment! How exciting :hug:

She is gorgeous! What a great smile already!! :wub:

 

She's really cute, and yeah, doesn't look like the other two, not yet anyways. She's got a lot of hair

I hope she has the same brown eyes as your other kids--I've always thought they have the most beautiful eyes.

I really think she's gonna be nursing before you know it. Since the cleft palate is more in the back; she might just out grow the nursing problem.

 

Oh she's so cute! 41 weekers look like real babies! Like she's already several weeks old--used to seeing twin baby pics. :ibiggrin:

That's so great that you were able to get her to nurse. There are pics of using a syringe like that in Mothering Multiples.

 

I had to syringe feed Mark because he refused to eat for like the first 5 days of his life. It was formula since I was pumping and no milk came out.

 

She's cute :wub: Glad she is able to latch on, that is a victory :yahoo:

 

Wow I can't tell you how much her pictures remind me of my oldest dd's baby pictures!! What a cutie! I also tried the syringe tube thing with my oldest...but that was in attempt to get my supply up. The stinker was too smart though she wouldn't suck. She would just wait for the milk to flow in from the tube!

How wonderful that you got her to latch! Hope you have more success with this soon!

 

:wub: she's beautiful Jess!

and congrats on getting her to latch! :good: that's awesome.

 

CONGRATULATIONS Jess!! She is beautiful and I think she looks just like you guys and the twins!! She fits right in! Congrats on a natural delivery and I hope the cleft palate and feeding issues are better soon!! Take care!!

 

Oh wow she's gorgeous, look at all that hair!! :wub: I'm glad you were able to get her to latch, that is a big accomplishment, I'm willing to bet you'll have her nursing soon.

 

Congratulations - she's ADORABLE!!! I hope her issues get worked out - kudos to you for working so hard at pumping and stuff!!