photorandy2023 Anderson Family Saga Vol 4

The Andersons-Volume 4–Chapter Fifteen–Jennie gives birth to a baby girl

With all my discussion about discovering the baby’s sex with ultrasound, Jennie and Devon agreed to wait till the baby was born to find out the sex of their baby. They figured that it would add to the excitement and mystique of delivering their first child, oh yes, they wanted more than one child. Spoiler alert, you, the reader, will know before the couple, all you have to do is look at the title of this chapter.

In keeping with Jennie’s wishes and not discussing her pregnancy in too much detail, after four hours of ever increasingly painful contractions, and shortening durations between them and with her cervix reaching full dilation, she was moved into the delivery room. Shortly after the move and being placed again in the ever embarrassing lithotomy position, she started to crown.

Shortly after that, she delivered a beautiful 7-pound 8-oz beautiful baby girl. Due to his squeamish stomach, Devon opted not to be present in the delivery room and waited outside in the waiting room with his mother-in-law, Clarice.

As soon as their baby girl was fully delivered and the umbilical cord had been cut, and there was no sign that Jennie was going to experience any difficulties after the delivery, Dr. Marcello, the delivering OBGYN, doffed her surgical garb. She came out to the waiting room to give the great news that Jennie had delivered a healthy baby girl to Devon and Clarice. Devon, bursting with excitement, immediately asked when he could see Jennie and the baby. Dr. Marcello answered, “As soon as both Jennie and her baby are cleaned and cared for and she is moved back to her room, she will be allowed visitors. If you don’t have any further questions, I have other patients to tend to.” She congratulated Devon one more time and then left the waiting room.

Approximately 60 minutes later, a registered nurse came out to the waiting room to inform them that Jennie and her new baby girl were ready to take visitors.

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Here’s a rundown of what happens immediately after baby is born.

Baby Will Take That First Breath

Your baby’s lungs will typically fill with air a few moments after delivery, allowing for the all-important first breath! But don’t freak out if you don’t hear a cry right away. “Some babies may cry right away, some may not,” explains Svets. “We like when babies cry, as it helps to clear fluid from their respiratory tract, so nurses will encourage the baby to cry/breathe by vigorously drying the baby and rubbing the baby’s body.”

One exception: If there is meconium (a green, sticky substance that’s baby fecal matter in-utero) in the amniotic fluid, often the doctor will want to suction baby’s mouth before the first breath so it isn’t inhaled into the lungs, says Jaqueline Worth, MD, co-author of The New Rules of Pregnancy and co-founder and co-physician at Village Obstetrics and Village Maternity. If your baby does inhale meconium, they may need to be on antibiotics and monitored in the NICU for a few days.

The Umbilical Cord Will Be Cut

Your OB will clamp the cord within seconds or minutes after birth. Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend delayed cord-clamping, meaning doctors wait anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds or until the cord stops pulsating, which usually happens within five minutes, says Worth. That’s because in full-term infants it boosts hemoglobin levels and iron stores, and increases circulation and red blood cells in preterm infants.

Once the clamp is in place, the cord is cut by either your doctor or birthing partner, leaving behind a stump that will dry up and fall off on its own after a couple weeks. If you’re choosing to bank your child’s cord blood, the doctor will collect that at this point as well, Worth says.

You’ll Have Skin-to-Skin Contact

If you delivered vaginally, baby is healthy and you want immediate skin-to-skin contact (also known as kangaroo care), your OB will lay baby on your bare chest or tummy right after delivery and drape a blanket over the two of you to keep baby warm. If your little one’s vitals remain steady, they can stay there for most of the post-delivery routine that follows. Skin-to-skin contact has been shown to regulate baby’s heart rate, breathing and body temperature, stimulate baby’s interest in feeding and help to calm both of you and boost the mother-child bond.

If you have a c-section, that skin-to-skin connection may be delayed, but only briefly. Once the baby is delivered, they’ll get a quick physical assessment and bundled up before being handed back to your partner or birth support person while the surgery is completed. You can then cuddle with baby at the head of the bed until it’s time to enter the recovery room for full skin-to-skin contact. “This delay is usually insignificant, typically less than one hour,” Svets says.

Baby Will Get Their First Nursing Session

Along with skin-to-skin comes your first chance at breastfeeding, if your plan is to nurse. Bringing baby to your breast as soon as you can will start sending messages to your brain to begin milk production and letdown, Svets explains. Baby will initially receive colostrum, a thick fluid that’s rich in immunoglobulins and amino acids, which helps baby build their immune system—it’s the only food your newborn will need for the next few days until your milk fully comes in, usually two to five days after birth. Be sure to ask for help if you’re having trouble getting baby to latch: Your hospital will have lactation consultants on staff for just this reason!

You’ll Deliver the Placenta

Most placentas deliver spontaneously within the first few minutes after birth, Worth says. You may not even notice it happening! But if it takes longer than 30 minutes, or if you’re bleeding heavily, your doctor will remove it manually.

Doctors Will Conduct Apgar Tests

One minute and then five minutes after your child is born, your OB will assess baby’s post-delivery condition using the Apgar test. Your doctor will look at baby’s heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and skin color, and will give each category a value of 0, 1 or 2, and then all scores are totaled. “The five-minute score is the most important because it takes a baby a few minutes to get acclimated and start breathing,” explains Judith Lothian, PhD, RN, a maternal-child nurse and childbirth educator and associate professor at Seton Hall University College of Nursing.

The highest total score possible is a 10, although babies rarely score a 10, Lothian says—7 to 9 is considered a high score and is given to newborns who appear healthy and don’t require additional assistance, while a score below 7 can indicate that baby needs pediatric or NICU attention. But try not to read too much into the scores. “A lower score does not necessarily mean that a newborn is unhealthy or that something is seriously wrong,” Svets cautions. “Perfectly healthy babies can sometimes have a lower-than-usual score, especially in the first few minutes after birth.” It might also just indicate that baby needs suctioning or oxygen to help them breathe better or closer monitoring in the nursery or NICU. The Apgar test is a simple assessment of baby’s wellbeing in the moment and definitely doesn’t predict baby’s future health.

Baby’s Vitals Will Be Checked

Soon after birth, the nurses or pediatrics team will also do a detailed physical exam of baby in the delivery suite, Svets adds. They’ll measure your child’s temperature, heart rate, weight, length and head circumference. Plus, they’ll double-check that there aren’t any birth injuries or obvious issues. If there’s anything they need to check further, they may decide to bring baby to the NICU. Otherwise, if all looks good, then back to Mom the baby goes!

Baby Will Receive Preventative Medicine

Within an hour of arrival, baby will be given a Vitamin K injection to help with blood coagulation. “Newborns can be deficient in Vitamin K, which puts them at risk for internal bleeding,” Worth explains. A nurse will also put antibiotic drops in baby’s eyes to help prevent infections. Most states require vitamin K shots and eye drops by law. The hepatitis B vaccine usually comes a little later, within 12 hours of delivery or at an in-office appointment with your child’s pediatrician.

The spouse can typically see the mother soon after delivery, often within minutes or hours, particularly if the delivery goes smoothly. The exact timing can vary depending on the hospital’s policies, the mother’s recovery, and the baby’s well-being. 

Elaboration: 

  • Rooming-in:Many hospitals offer “rooming-in” where the mother and baby stay in the same room after birth, allowing for immediate bonding and breastfeeding support. 
  • Recovery room:After the initial delivery, the mother may go to a recovery room for monitoring and assessment. The spouse can often be with her there. 
  • Hospital policies:Some hospitals have specific policies regarding when visitors, including spouses, are allowed in certain areas. 
  • Mothers’ preferences:New mothers have the option to choose when and how they want visitors to meet their baby. 

Immediately after delivery, the mother is closely monitored for the first few hours. This includes checking her vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature) and assessing her bleeding. The primary goals are to ensure her physical stability, manage any pain or discomfort, and address any potential complications. 

Here’s a more detailed look at the immediate postpartum care:

1. Monitoring Vital Signs: 

2. Bleeding Management: 

  • Assessment:The amount and color of lochia (postpartum vaginal bleeding) are closely monitored to ensure it is not excessive.
  • Intervention:If bleeding is heavy or there are signs of hemorrhage, medical staff will take appropriate measures, which may include medications or even surgery.

3. Pain Management: 

  • Pain Relievers: Pain medication (over-the-counter or prescription) may be given to alleviate discomfort, particularly from stitches or other procedures.
  • Cold Packs: Applying ice packs to the perineal area can help reduce swelling and pain.
  • Warm Baths: Warm sitz baths can help with comfort and healing.

4. Complications Management:

  • Anesthesia Monitoring: If the mother was given anesthesia, her recovery will be carefully monitored. 
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage: Bleeding beyond what is considered normal will be addressed immediately. 
  • Eclampsia: If the mother has a history of preeclampsia, she may be monitored for signs of eclampsia. 

5. Postnatal Examination: 

  • Physical Exam: The mother’s overall health will be assessed, including her uterus, abdomen, and any surgical incisions.
  • Pain Assessment: The mother’s pain level will be assessed and managed appropriately.
  • Advise and Education: The healthcare team will provide information on postpartum care, breastfeeding, and general recovery.

6. Emotional Support: 

  • Emotional Support:The mother will be supported emotionally as she adjusts to motherhood, which may involve talking with a nurse or counselor.
  • Family Support:Family members may be involved in providing emotional and practical support.

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So now that you know what was going on behind the scenes, Devon finally got to see his exhausted wife and sleeping baby girl. Yep, that is the reality of the delivery process. Movies make it out to be very glamorous, and the mother is radiant, and her makeup and hair are still all perfect after delivering the baby. Despite all this, Devon couldn’t have been happier and prouder of his wife and their beautiful baby girl. Ok, I am sure you are all wondering what the baby’s name will be. To answer your question, Jennie and Devon had already come up with names for both a boy and a girl. Since we know that their baby is a girl, I will not bother telling you what the name would have been if they had a boy. Drum roll please, their daughter’s name is….Amelia Clara Howard. They chose Clara as her middle name to honor Grandpa Gordon’s wife, Clara. You may ask where Amelia came from. Really, you had to ask. Come on, guys, Amelia Earhart.

The following day, Jennie and baby Amelia were discharged home. The next few weeks were wonderful. Devon took a couple of weeks off from work to bond with his baby girl. Within a few days, Jennie had fully recovered and was simply enjoying being a mother. Her mother and Devon both helped with the frequent feedings and cleanings. By sharing the tasks, Jennie got more sleep and did not get as tired as many other new mothers. I want to add that Jennie did opt to breastfeed. However, Jennie’s breast milk was administered via a bottle during the nightly feedings. During the days, Jennie used a breast pump to collect the extra milk needed for those late-night feedings. Work smarter and not harder. Baby Amelia got plenty of fresh air as Devon and Clarice both took her out for short walks around the property.

Unfortunately, this happy and idyllic life would soon come to an end. You had to know something would happen that would pull Devon away from his family, even if it wasn’t permanent.