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Friday, July 1, 2011

3. Double Trouble

Savannah was about a year old when I learned I was pregnant again. It was a surprise but we were happy. I was 32 years old so I had the ol', "better now than later" attitude although I was terrified to raise two children only 20 months apart. Little did I know that those times would be the easiest in many ways. Savannah was about to be a big sister. And I was about to be "chosen".

2. Too Much For a Little Girl

Savannah and I stayed in Mobile Infirmary for two days. During labor I was given Pitocin to induce me just 72 hours earlier. Also, I was left to wonder what residual in-utero effects the Demerol (before the Epidural), the Phenergan for my nausea and my fever had on her. She only weighed 6 lb. 2 oz. She was given her full round of antibiotics and also her "routine" Hepatitis B vaccine.

Hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted disease. If Hep B is such a general concern, why wasn't I tested for Hep B before my delivery? Having a negative result, Savannah would not have needed the vaccine. I wish I knew then what I know now. Mainly, truly, that it just wasn't necessary at the time of birth.

When Savannah and I came home from the hospital it was a wonderful learning experience. I was thankful that I was going to be a stay-at-home mom so all I had to think about was taking care of her all day long. Honestly, it would have been better if I had had something else to do. I was absorbed, completely smitten and (I can say this now) an obnoxious doting mother. Of course I shared her with her father but not for long on any given day. I was the one who would protect her. I knew when she was hungry and full even though one time I nursed her to the point of projectile vomiting what seemed to be a gallon of breast milk. After I hosed down the both of us and the room,  I thought, "She must really be hungry now!" As well meaning and clueless as I was, I could have sworn I was doing right by her. I did settle down into the ebb and flow. Her milestones were met at the expected times, her vaccines were on schedule - no reactions there - just doing fine. Or so I thought.