surgery

[mellybrelly]

Last night was a hard night! Paxton decided, again, that he didn't want to sleep. Tim couldn't even sit with him, he had to pace for hours. He brought him to bed and we slept for a couple of hours. I woke with my alarm to nurse him, but Pax wouldn't wake up enough to actually nurse. Worried me since it was our last chance since about 1 am.

Tim got up with him at 4 and again paced with him. I got up and showered at 5. It was so sad to not be able to nurse him. I can't usually feel my letdowns, but I kept feeling pressure and couldn't nurse it out. He kept asking for "nuh nuhs" and it felt so wrong to not be able to feed him, but I wasn't willing to do anything that could put him at risk. Lots of tears, but watching Bananaphone on youtube over and over again, got us through about 20 minutes.

We got to the surgery at 6:50 like we were told, but they didn't take him in till almost 8 am. If I had realized it was going to be that late, I would have nursed him at 4:30 when he was crying so much.

He looked so cute in his hospital gown. I wish I brought my phone to take pictures! Tim left his in the car too. He did really well with his vitals being checked, even his little teeny leg blood pressure cuff. The doctor came in and explained the whole procedure to us again, and the anesthesiologist came in and talked to us as well. The nurses were so sweet and loving to Paxton, kept coming in and playing peekaboo with him and tried to keep him from crying. He was pretty fussy since he was so hungry.

After we gave him kisses and said our goodbye, I burst into tears. It was so scary! I would have been way less stressed if he didn't have to be put to sleep for the procedure.

After they were done, the doctor came and told us that it was such a thick frenulum that he had to give him three stitches. They will dissolve within 1-5 days. He was so excited about it taking 3 stitches, it really made me laugh, how excited he was about the whole thing. He sat down and told us that he thought it was excellent that we had done the surgery because it will make such a big difference for breastfeeding. I like that he was so pro-breastfeeding.

We went and sat with Paxton and waited for him to wake up. I think he was so tired from not sleeping most the night that he wasn't waking up. The nurse started gently waking him and I held him right away and nursed him immediately. I was so happy that right away his latch was better. His lip doesn't curl in anymore, I had to fix it every time we nursed, it immediately flanged up and out around my breast. If my next (possible) baby has this problem, I will get it done as soon as possible, I wish I didn't wait so long to do this. I think it would have helped our breastfeeding issues so much.

The nurse walked us out to the car. I was really impressed with how gentle and kind everyone was. I think that after my awful birth experience, I needed this kind of experience to help me trust people in the medical profession again.

Tim and I stopped for coffee on the way home. I put the baby down for a nap and fell asleep with him right away. Tim came in and told me, in my half sleep stupor, that he was going to get lunch for us. I woke up a couple hours later. I gave Pax more tylenol, but he's been cheerful and silly and playing like normal.

Stressful day but man, I'm sure glad it's over and I'm sure glad I went ahead with the surgery! Thank you Children's National Specialists of Virginia.

Comments

[beautymask.livejournal.com]

i'm so sorry that you had to go through that at all but he's going to be much better for it!

and i'm sorry you had such a bad birth experience. it makes such a difference when you work with great nurses and doctors =T

he sounds like he's doing good though! great job mama!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I had such a disrespectful, mean, belittling staff when I had my baby, this was wonderful. One of the nurses actually asked if I was a nurse because she said I was "so knowledgeable". At my birth, the midwives and nurses almost seemed offended that I knew my stuff.

Paxton is doing wonderful, I'm so happy. Relieved. I didn't want to be a terrible statistic and have something happen to him during surgery.

[keller.livejournal.com]

So glad everything went well and he came out safe, sound and taken care of :D

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so happy!

[sandi1743.livejournal.com]

i am so glad that everything went well - including YOUR experience! xo

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Yes, thank you! It is good!

[vitainpalus.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. I certainly would have cried, too. I am in awe of you. :D It sure sounds like he'll be better off having that tie clipped. I'm so glad you already saw results with breastfeeding!!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

It was really scary, I already have so many fears about the safety of my little baby, it felt weird to put him into 'harm's way', if you know what I mean? I'm glad I did it, but glad I don't have to do it again!!! I'm so happy it's already making a difference. It feels so much better and his latch just looks better!

[msmcfeeley.livejournal.com]

woo hoo! easy peasy!

Is this something normally that could be done immediately after birth? Like, after they give him the once-over, counting fingers & toes and whatnot? Or do you generally not realize it's an issue until you've been breastfeeding for a while? (I honestly hadn't even heard of such a thing until now, I'm obviously out of *that* loop. lol)

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they should have, but in a country where not much emphasis is put on 1) breastfeeding and 2) preventative medicine, it isn't something they worry about. I knew shortly after birth that he had a lip tie. I had it confirmed by some LLL people.

[angelamermaid.livejournal.com]

Yay Paxton!

At Urgent Care last night, it was the kindness of the medical staff that made me feel a bit better, and not focus so much on being there alone. Glad you had a good hospital experience.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad they were good to you, it really changes the experience, doesn't it. It did for me.

[queen-elvis.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you got a kind, enthusiastic doctor.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Me too, he was adorable. He looked so young and his hair was kind of messy :P

[silvergirl0007.livejournal.com]

Aw, such a brave little man. I'm glad that he's doing well. It sounds like he was a trooper.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

He really was. I think his least favourite part was not being able to nurse!

[popchex.livejournal.com]

aww, I'm so glad it went so well! :)

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

me too, a good experience overall

[hexkitten.livejournal.com]

Oh, M! I can only imagine how heartbreaking it was to hear him cry for food.

I'm glad that the operation went well, and that you could notice the difference immediately!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

It was so sad! I kept explaining why we had to do it, and I know he can't understand, but I hoped he'd at least understand my tone.

I'm so glad it's done!

[lyricmaniac.livejournal.com]

I am SO SO SO SO SOSOSOSOSOSO glad everything went so well, but sort of pissed at them taking him at 8 and not when you got there. You don't make babies wait like that. Other than that, it does sound like they did their very best for you and Paxton. Wishing him a speedy recovery, and you some peace of mind. *hugs*

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I know, I have no idea why we were there for 70 minutes before surgery!

he's looking a lot better this morning, less swollen!

[marci-ny.livejournal.com]

Mel, I haven't been on LJ in a few days and I'm sorry to reply to this late... I'm SO glad everything went well! He's a real trooper!! Hugs to Pax please!! xoxoxo

[pyxiwulf.livejournal.com]

Awe, I am so glad things went so well! There truly are some amazing medical teams out there. And I am super stoked that his latch improved immediately! Hopefully you'll get better stimulation and you'll be able to go off the Dom! And you'll both enjoy it so much more.


Oh and I'm so putting them on my list of resources! What hospital was it at too?

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

I hope he feels a difference too! No more blisters..

They actually have their own mini hospital right in their office, with their own team.

[pyxiwulf.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Glad it went pretty smoothly overall :)