Salty Bloggers: May 2007

So I've gotten a lot of requests from people to know the "details". Where do I start?

Friday-
Friday I had a doctors visit. My mom had arrived to Budapest on Thrusday so she was able to come with me. My doctor checked me and again I heard the dreaded word "nothing". They did an ultrasound to make sure Scarlett was ok and to check her size. The doctor predicted based on her measurements that she was about 8 1/2 lbs. I did not want a big baby, especially since I was doing this thing natural. I asked the doctor if there was anything I could do. Without hesitation he said, "Sex and chicken curry." As tempting as those both sounded they were not the solution I was looking for. Without going into too much graphic detail he was able to do some stuff that sent me into labor later that evening...

Labor-
I started feeling regular contractions (every 8-10 minutes) at about 11:30pm Friday night. I tried to get some sleep but spent the whole night watching the clock and timing the contractions. I finally woke Jared up at 4:30 and told him he better get some things together for the hosptial. We woke my mom called a taxi and got to the hospital at about 5:00am. When we arrived I was dialated to a two. They monitored my contractions and the baby's heartbeat then stuck me in my labor/delivery room. My contractions were pretty painful so a lot of what comes next is a blur but when they checked me again at 9:00am I was dialated to a four and my water broke. When the doctor arrived at 10:00am I was checked again and I was at a six. He told me he predicted delivery at about 3:00pm. At this time things got pretty painful. At 11:30am I was checked again and the doctor said I was at an eight. Jared said I had the happiest face when I heard the news. At this point things moved fast. By noon I told the nurse I was ready to push and by 12:30 Scarlett was born. What a blessing...

Recovery-
My recovery experience was a little different. I was put in a room with four other women who had just given birth. If you can imagine there is no privacy, visitors coming in and out, and five babies crying on and off. I was in pain but the nurses wouldn't even give me a Tylenol for another two hours. Still not sure why (it was all in Hungarian). Jared and my mom were able to stay with me until 9:00pm when visitors were asked to leave. Here I was all alone, in pain, exhausted, and responsible for this new baby (there was no nursery or nurses to help). Things were going good until midnight when Scarlett decided she didn't want to be put down. I spent the night walking the halls with her so I wouldn't wake the other woman and babies in my recovery room. It's hard for me to write this experience without getting a little teary eyed. Let's just say the whole thing was a little emotionally draining. Jared arrived the next morning at about 7:00am. Scarlett was still being fussy and a nurse came by (in Hungarian) and asked if she had been fed. Jared said yes and she said she will find out why she is being fussy. The nurse without explanation took Scarlett and shoved a little tube up her butt and immediately poop came oozing out. A lot of poop. Immediately Scarlett calmed down and went to sleep, the first time in hours. Jared sat with her and I was able to sleep for the first time since Thursday night! I got about an hour nap before the hospital doctor came by to make his rounds.

Meals-
We are still trying to figure out what lunch was. It came in a bowl it was white and it had what we think was a breaded chicken patty floating in the middle. Of course we were responsible to bring our own utensils, and don't try to ask for a drink. You were responsible to bring your own. Luckily I knew these things ahead of time. Many woman in Budapest had warned me so for that I was grateful. Dinner was a roll brought on a napkin with a thing of soft cheese and breakfast was the same roll with a thing of jelly. Yum...Desperate we called in a favor of one of Jared's MBA classmates. She was so sweet to bring us Chinese take out. Thank you Zsofia.

WC-
The toilet was down the hall. There were two total on the whole floor so about thirty woman were sharing. There was no toilet paper provided, bring your own and no locks on the door so forget privacy. The soap dispenser didn't work so we had to wash our hands back in our room.

Leaving the Hosptial-
Normal recovery time in the hospital for Hungarians is three days. We were gone within 24 hours. We tried to explain to the hospital doctor that I will "recover" better at home were I have help and there aren't four other woman and babies in my room. Needless to say he was not happy but agreed to let us go. The pediatrician signed off on Scarlett (again not happy that we were leaving the hospital) and we were out of there by noon. It was cute the taxi driver home drove so slow and careful because we had such a little package with us...

Home-
Little Scarlett is such a blessing. She couldn't be more adorable. For all those who know me I am not a morning person but the last couple of days my favorite time has been holding her as the new days light comes in through the window. It is when she is most precious to me. As I write this she is sitting in my lap, asleep and perfect. Thanks to everyone for their love and support. Jared and I couldn't be prouder parents.

More pictures to come soon...