Botany comes home
A very quick post to let you know that we brought our beautiful Botany home from the hospital this afternoon. For those of you who missed the update at Chez Pamplemousse, she was born at last on Wednesday 22 August at 5.15 pm (UK time).
The full labour and delivery story will be very long and so will need to wait until I have a little bit more time and energy. Suffice to say that it was something of a saga from start to finish. Like all good stories, there were heroes, villians and some weird little interludes and twists in the tale.
However, the very brief synopsis is this: four hours after being admitted to hospital we started the induction by way of a six hour course of prostaglandin gel. When the gel failed to start labour, I was eventually put on a pitocin drip to get things going. After various ups and downs over the course of seventeen hours on the drip, I was finally fully dilated. But by that point I was beyond exhausted, and although I tried to push for another hour and half, some further assistance in the shape of some surgical salad tongs was eventually needed to extract my little green baby.
Two nights on the recovery ward in hospital was also rather nightmarish- more on that later- but we managed to get released without too much bother today. As we left, E. and I shared small chortles of glee that we were actually being allowed to go out into the world with a real live baby.
I am hoping now that we are home things will begin to go smoothly. Botany herself is doing very well. I know I am biased but she really is the sweetest little pixie elf of a baby and it is safe to say that both E. and I are completely besotted with her.
Many, many thanks for all your good wishes and thoughts. During what seemed like a never-ending ordeal, I sometimes reminded myself that people were out there cheering us on, and it helped immensely. More soon, but I am still very tired, a little sore and right now the wee one needs another smackeral on my slightly besieged boobs. And who am I to deny her anything.
My warmest congratulations to both of you! I've followed your blog for years, and I am delighted for you.
Posted by: Vilde | August 24, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Mare, wow, you did it. Welcome home Botany, congratulations to your enraptured parents, and now everybody try to get some sleep. Very happy indeed for the three of you.
Posted by: alchemilla | August 24, 2007 at 10:36 PM
CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy for you three :)
Posted by: Becky | August 24, 2007 at 10:52 PM
Sooooo happy for you!
Posted by: carosgram | August 24, 2007 at 11:00 PM
Congratulations! I am so happy for you.
Posted by: Beth | August 24, 2007 at 11:24 PM
that's fabulous! A new baby at home is the best cure for insomnia...
Posted by: julie B | August 24, 2007 at 11:52 PM
I am so happy for all of you. Warmest wishes to you and your lovely little family.
Posted by: Donna | August 25, 2007 at 12:18 AM
Absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Anita | August 25, 2007 at 12:29 AM
So lovely to hear. Enjoy these crazy yet beautiful times
Posted by: Cellabas | August 25, 2007 at 12:45 AM
Congratulations and welcome home!
Posted by: BrooklynGirl | August 25, 2007 at 01:04 AM
So glad that she finally made her way into the world and your lives. Get used to not denying her anything, it is a theme that will recur for the rest of her life. I am shedding a tear or two of joy for you, as I well remember those perfect first days of new parenthood, and you and E, more than most, have earned every rapture filled moment. Hope the dog is adjusting well to the tiny usurper, and that you manage to get a little sleep in the coming days. Hold her close, she will grow too fast.
Posted by: victoria | August 25, 2007 at 01:10 AM
Congratulations! So happy that you've brought your baby home at last.
Posted by: electriclady | August 25, 2007 at 01:14 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: caro | August 25, 2007 at 01:27 AM
What a wonderful gift. Enjoy her with every ounce you possess and then some.
Posted by: Cricket | August 25, 2007 at 01:27 AM
Congratulations to you, to E and to Botany. I'm so happy for all of you.
Posted by: JJ | August 25, 2007 at 01:30 AM
CONGRATULATIONS, Mare. I'm thrilled for you, Botany, and E.
Posted by: Suz | August 25, 2007 at 01:31 AM
Congratulations!!!!
Posted by: amanda | August 25, 2007 at 01:31 AM
It is so fantastic to hear that little Botany is here and doing well. Yea for your little family!
Posted by: Liz | August 25, 2007 at 01:58 AM
I'm so glad you're home! Welcome Botany!
Posted by: JK | August 25, 2007 at 02:09 AM
Nothing better than bringing a baby home. Congratulations.
Posted by: Jill | August 25, 2007 at 02:28 AM
A warm welcome to wee Botany, and many congratulations to you and E, Mare ... I am so happy for you.
Posted by: Ruth | August 25, 2007 at 02:36 AM
I cannot tell you how vastly excited I am for you and E (and various grandparental units). And Little Guy, who is, I hope, spending much of his time getting high on sniffing her wee baby neck.
*sniiiiiiiiif* Mmm, baby neck.
Posted by: Northwoods Baby | August 25, 2007 at 02:38 AM
Welcome, wee girl! Try to rest when you can, but those first weeks are just a lovely blur of tired, if I recall. Congratulations, family!
Posted by: stephanie | August 25, 2007 at 02:46 AM
Yay! Congratulations! So glad everyone is home and doing well.
Posted by: Amy | August 25, 2007 at 02:53 AM
Oh hoooray!!!! I cannot believe you're so coherent (and eloquent!) after what you've been through. Congrats, congrats and can't wait to hear more. Welcome to the world, Baby Botany!
Posted by: mm | August 25, 2007 at 03:01 AM