Marina's baby (Isa)belle

[Marina]

Posted by "DH" pp. Marina. Just to let you all know that Isabelle Jane arrived on Tuesday 5th at 10.15am by caesarian as planned, in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich -- 9lbs exactly.

After a couple of days in Special Care (precautionary procedure as Isabelle initially had a slightly lowered blood oxygen level) they are now both together. M is doing well but finding post-op recovery rather tough as before.

Thanks from the heart from this "DH" to all those whose continuing support, love and encouragement have helped us in recent months.

congratulations!!!!!!

Brilliant news. So happy for you.

Just wanted to add my congratulations - I, too have been away and rushed straight to the "birth announcements" thread looking for your news.
Well done and look after yourselves.

Just seen this. Very many congratulations Marina. Delighted for you, your dh and ds. I hope little Isabelle is home and happy with you all.

Hello all,

Thank you all so much for these lovely messages, it has made a delayed return home extra special.

Er, where do I start on the subject of the perils of elective c-sections for the unfortunate few

The op went fine once Nurse Ratcherd and co wrestled me to the floor in the anaesthetics room and got the needles in. Isabelle was born soon afterwards and after a pink and shouty start she unfortunately dipped and was taken away to SCBU while I was in recovery. I did not even get to hold her, which was a huge shame, but the staff and dh were able to give me bulletins and I got a polaroid for beside my bed straightaway.
They kept her for two days as a precaution but she came off oxygen within hours and developed a bad rep for attitude up there, hardly surprising as she was a lot larger than most of their clientiele. The SCBU staff - in fact almost all the staff who looked after us - were really good, the NHS at its best.

But two days into my recovery and mobilising fine I developed the most disgusting diarrhoea (sorry folks) and trapped wind and simultaneously my bloods became so bad I had to have two units transfused. So, drips everywhere, toilet troubles, desperate to establish breastfeeding without poisoning my child...it was pretty grim for another three days I'm afraid. And all the tests came back clear on me, so I still don't know what's wrong with me and I am still ill with it, although obviously not so badly.
It is wonderful to be at home - at least I can now pass proper home cooking through my system in a matter of hours as opposed to the QEH's bizarre take on custard.
As she is still a bit jaundiced and has a luxurious head of black hair Isabelle is the epitome of the Nancy Mitford howling orange and we all love her so much it is not true. She seems a bit lethargic to feed (the "demand" bit is coming from me cursing under my breath and waving my chest at her every two hours) but with this heat the midwives are being quite casual about this at the moment and she has neither lost much birthweight nor had to go under the lights (yet).
So, less than optimum birth for a wonderful, wonderful result.
DS is being a real trouper although in some ways I regret that he saw me just after I suddenly got all the drips in (they were on their way and I couldn't ring, obviously) as I think that spooked him a little. He has the makings of a loving big brother and we are being very appreciative of his efforts.
We have thought very often of our dear Tom too in the past week, especially as all our children resembled each other very closely when they were born. He, dh and I will always share a unique bond because of the manner of his birth - it had a quiet dignity that the other two deliveries lacked and we will remember it with love and sadness long after other family members will inevitably have forgotten him.
I MUST go and check up on what everyone else has been up to...there must be lots to catch up on.
Thanks once again for all your lovely words. It is just the best thing to have a "happy" thread to print out and keep forever.

How lovely to hear from you, Marina. It sounds as though you and Isabelle Jane have both been through the mill, but you seem very chipper! I hope all goes well from now on and you enjoy the new addition to your family.

Marina - fantastic to hear from you. I'm really sorry the birth was crap, you sound like you had a really tough time . Glad to hear that Isabelle is doing ok. My dd was only slightly jaundiced and I was told to feed every four hours. It didn't really prepare me for when she recovered and suddenly wanted to guzzle for England so to speak. Try to rest as much as possible now so that you have the reserves there if needed. Glad to hear ds is being a gorgeous big brother and he will move on from seeing the drips. Although I try to protect dd from such sights there have been times when unfortunately she did see things that I would have wished otherwise. She is nevertheless perfect happy and bubbly with only a slight obsession for doctors kits !

Really nice to hear from you, Marina, and delighted to hear that you haven't lost your sense of humour! Great descriptions of everything. I'm sure Isabelle will de-orange and start lunging for your chest shortly! xxx

Good to hear from you Marina, sorry to hear that things didn't go to well those first few days, but glad to hear that you are all home together.

{{hugs{}}}

so pleased you are back, punching the air! sorry it hasn't all been plain sailing, welcome, isabelle, look forward to catching up soon.

So glad to see you posting Marina - was beginning to get a bit worried about you. Are you on antibiotics by any chance? That could be the cause of your diarrhoea - just a thought. Hope you start to feel a lot better soon

How lovely to see you back Marina. I'm glad you're home, although not so glad that you've had a bad time. Welcome back though and thanks for the update, I wasn't the only one wondering how you all are.

Welcome back Marina. So glad to hear things are starting to improve after what sounds like a painful and difficult beginning. DS was slightly jaundiced at first and they just told me to leave him in the sunshine a lot with as little on as possible (not direct sun obviously). He was soon fine. Slight jaundice is very common in BF babies.

I thought about you and Tom this week and what a turmoil of emotions you must have all been going through. Big hugs.

Welcome back Marina ... we have missed you! So glad that you are back on track after a scary start and that Isabelle is doing well... I can't wait for my DS to be a big brother ... I know he will be great like yours!
Your post had me with tears in my eyes ... I am sure there are other mumsnetters who won't forget your little Tom ....

Welcome back marina. Glad you're home. I was wondering how the breasfeeding was going and I'm realy pleased to hear that you have it sorted. It must have been so difficult for you if you felt so yuk. Hope you feel 100% better soon.

Oh Marina I really shouldn't read your posts at work - they always make me sob (in a happy way of course). So glad everything is now better. Your dh was great to post but it wasn't the same as having you back.
If Isabelle is not feeding well (perfectly understandably), have you considered expressing to build up your supply in readiness for the inevitable day when she wakes up and decides she's hungry?

What can I say that hasn't been said already - so, so pleased for you having a delightful darling daughter as well as your sweet young ds - glad you are recovering now after a ghastly few days. I can't tell you what pink, frilly, sparkly and glittery delights await you!! Love Cam xxxx

Congratulations, enjoy your new addition

Marina, thanks for posting. I hope you are feeling well again soon now you are back at home.
Thinking of you all. Cyber hugs, Winniex

So pleased you are both home and how lovely that DS is being such a star.

Brilliant to hear back from you Marina - I assumed that you must be exhausted and quite rightly, had better things to do than log onto the internet!!!
It is lovely that Tom still has such a special place in your hearts, there will always be a little bit of him in your other two. Take great care of yourself. x

Marina - if you need anything at all just ask - I only live round the corner from you and would be quite happy to give you a hand if you need anything at all. Even if you just need to get away for a coffee oneday.

Hope you are enjoying your beautiful daughter.

As I say to everyone because I think it is a beautiful phrase - Parenthood is like watching your heart walk around outside your body.

So pleased to hear from you Marina, sorry the birth wasn't as you had hoped but thrilled you have a beautiful baby daughter with attitude! Take care of yourself and keep us posted with your wonderful descriptions of everything love E x

Welcome back. So glad you have your howling orange back home at last. Hope you feel better very soon. Ah, hospital food, there's nothing like it, is there? Glad you think of Tom with such serenity now.