Charlie’s First 24 Hours

Charlie’s first 24 hours were like a whirlwind. As we adjusted to life as a family of three, we had nurses constantly assessing Charlie and myself considering his new person status in this world and my recent surgery. I was slowly getting the hang of nursing, while not being able to do all that much on my own, considering I was generally bed-ridden with my catheter, IV, pitocin, and monitors. We didn’t get much sleep those first hours after he was born – primarily because of the adrenaline, but also because he cried for about two hours after the nurse gave him his first sponge bath and put no-scratch mittens on his hands and covered his favorite sucking item! (A trick he even put to good use in the womb). We finally realized that Charlie liked a pacifier and was still able to nurse like a champ! He was also circumcised and seemed surprisingly content after the procedure. Daddy changed his first poopy diaper that day, too!

My mom and dad came to visit in the early afternoon and held our new little bundle. Later on, the parade of visitors began – Aunt Mimi and Uncle David, Alicia, Grandma and Grandpa Schultz, Auntie Missy and Auntie Sarai, Aunt Jessica and Uncle Jason, Pastor Erik, Pastor and Debbie Flattery (sorry they missed him because of a nursing session). It was also the first time, towards the end of visiting hours, that Charlie expressed his first desire through crying that he wanted to nurse! We received flowers from Momma and Poppy with a cute balloon and his first stuffed animal and flowers from Grandma and Grandpa Schultz with an “It’s a Boy!” wagon. We received outfits, candy (for mommy), and a cute figurine for our new little guy!

The day ended with all of my attachments being removed (thankfully), a higher dose of pain as my IV medications were wearing off, and an exhausting end to a LONG two days of excitement, pain, and anxiety. Charlie was weighed at the 24 hour mark and had lost an astonishing 5 oz! I could hardly believe it, luckily this happens to all newborns and our little guy was right on target. What a joy he is!