To Return

Content for this SubStack will return. Right now, however, my main job is being a first time mom.

On June 24 at 6:07 am, our beautiful baby girl Cora was born. We love her so much. She is so precious, curious, and smart. We’re already catching some smiles from her.

The birthing process was one of the most exciting and horrifying experiences of my life. My water broke on June 23 unexpectedly. It was so exciting rushing to Barnes and having a nurse tell me “you’re having a baby today.” (I had been in the hospital the week before for lots of discharge, but I was later sent home because I was only dilated one-and-a-half centimeters and my water was still intact.)

My goal was to have a vaginal birth, but my doctor sort of warned me that the likelihood for a Cesarean section was higher because Cora was large for gestational age, measuring several weeks ahead. (However, she wasn’t big enough that they would induce me early. Ugh!)

After being in labor for over 24 hours and actively pushing for 4 hours, hospital staff recommended I do a C-section. Her head was tilted and not moving.

During the procedure, my blood pressure dropped dangerously low. After the surgery, I was vomiting and shaking so much that I couldn’t even hold her. It was a sad and scary time. I was really out of it much of the day she was born.

My blood pressure drop was attributed to a postpartum hemorrhage that I later needed two blood transfusions for. Fortunately, I slowly but surely recovered, and our hospital stay was very comfortable and pleasant.

My C-section scar isn’t too bad, and at a month following her arrival, I’m surprised at how quickly I feel close to the old me (sans some stubborn 10 pounds). However, because of my hemorrhage, my milk supply in the hospital was extremely low, and I had to supplement with formula in the beginning.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get Cora to latch since leaving the hospital. I’ve just accepted that I will be pumping 8-10 times a day for at least the next six months to give her the best nutrition. (As odd as it sounds, it’s kind of fun waking up and seeing how much I can collect per day.)

My main job right now is being the best mother that I can be, and I’m extremely lucky to only work part time to focus on a newborn’s round-the-clock care and building a breast milk stash.

I still teach English as a Second Language at Clayton High School, though funding for programs like these around the country is continuously being cut. I have no idea what the future holds. And of course, I am still accepting freelance assignments.

I hope to get this SubStack started again in late August. For anyone reading, I’m sorry it’s been abandoned so many times. Life gets in the way.

But it will be back in the not-so-distant future.

As always, see you soon and let me know if you’d be interested in sharing your story. Our voices are important.