Introducing Poppy James Dawson

ByGaby Dalkin

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Hi Guys!!! Sorry for the semi-radio silence the last 2ish weeks! We brought a new member to the fam/team and it's been a whirlwind. Meet Poppy James Dawson - born at 6lbs, 3 ounces and she's 100% perfection and we are OBSESSED.



 

Before we get into her birth story - I just want to say thank you to everyone who emailed, texted, DM'ed tweeted etc with words of congratulations. We're so over the moon and also deliriously tired and feel so lucky that Poppy is coming into such an incredible family here with the What's Gaby Cooking community! It's been a looooong journey but here's what happened!

At my 30 week appointment (we didn't do an ultrasound because no need that week) things were looking GREAT. My OB felt her in my tummy and was confident that she was head down, butt up and just chilling. I left my appt, went home, ate some Butterscotch Chocolate Caramel Balls and went on my merry way

At my 37 week appointment we did an ultrasound and MUCH to our surprise... we discovered she was Frank Breech. That means she was head up, feet up with her cute little toes touching her forehead. My OB and the ultrasound tech measured my amniotic fluid and said, we could try and flip her the next week. I never had much of a birth plan, I think babies will come into this world however the heck they want, so I said ok... let's try and flip her next week. Back home I went to some more Butterscotch Chocolate Caramel Balls.

The following week I went in early in the week and my amniotic fluid levels were FINE. Not great but that's to be expected as you near the end of a pregnancy. My OB scheduled me to do the flip later that week with 1 more ultrasound to double check that my amniotic fluid levels were up to snuff for the actual flip. Low and behold... when I went in for that ultrasound my amniotic fluid levels had dropped even more and my OB (who I love very much) looked at me and said.... meet me at the hospital this afternoon... C-Section coming your way.

We had discussed the possibility of having a C-Section before if she didn't flip. It was never my first choice because the recovery time from the incision is longer and we all know I'm not very good at sitting still for any extended period of time... but there we were! Everything I had envisioned went right out the window. No laboring at home, no painful drive over the canyon to the hospital, etc. I mean... my hospital bag became mostly WORTHLESS because it was mostly things you need to recover from a vaginal birth. BUT to be honest, nothing mattered. I just wanted this baby to come out as safely as possible.

So, 2 weeks before Poppy was actually due, we rolled right into the hospital, delivered via C-section and Poppy James Dawson was born. Typically the doctors make you stay in the hospital for 3 nights with a C-Section but I'm happy to report we waltzed out of there after 2 nights so we could get home and settle into life with a newborn.

So now, here we are! A little party of 3! Healthy and happy and working on fattening up little baby Poppy. I was up and moving within 3 days and already back on the neighborhood walks daily. (moving is the BEST way to get that incision to heal so that's what we're doing!) Poppy is very excited to be part of the WGC world and I cannot wait to introduce her to avocados and all the other delicious things in the future!!

Also how do new moms manage to return phone calls, answer text messages and/or do laundry? THERE IS NO TIME!!

252 Comments

  1. How is the love affair going....beautiful I suspect. Wanted to share 3 of my favorite tips with you that have proven to be well worth the time.
    Three TIPS: Our daughter has 2 little girls. She takes pics on her phone and also posts on Instagram. On the first b'day, 2nd bday, etc. she gives each girl a wrapped photo book of the year they just completed. It is not edited, just their picture and age book represents. It is part of the annual b'day party to set all the books out and we spend so much time always looking at them.
    TIP 2: Wine - buy several bottles of a good wine you love, set them wrapped somewhere safe. Present to your daughter at a special occasion like college, wedding, baby purchased in honor of her birth. My dear friend did this. When his daughter was married it was presented with a letter from him. It was unbelievable because he actually died before he could have walked her down the aisle or saw graduation. It was overwhelmingly beautiful when the letter was read at her wedding.
    TIP 3: Collage pictures of your family and extended family, laid out on a dinner placemat size piece of poster board. Make notes, decorate with stickers, etc., document pictures, add cousins and anyone you want that would be important. Glue them down (have someone do it for you if it's not your thing). Take to Kinko and laminate as a placemat. I have done this for years and have been able to bring family to the table and even introduce family to family who was born after an aunt or great grandparent passed.
    Ok, that is my tip - no other advice needed from me. Just enjoy the love affair. You deserve it and more.

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  7. Congratulations! Will make some kitchen sink cookies and toast w a glass of milk! Enjoy it all...moment by moment..showing up each day:)

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  11. Congratulations! She is beautiful, born into a wonderful family. You will figure out a schedule that works for everyone.

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  12. Congrats on your beautiful baby girl. Another similar story here. Breech baby, low amniotic fluid, 5 weeks early weighing in at 5lbs 9 oz. 1 week hospital stay for him. Fast forward 28 yrs and 6 feet tall, I have a healthy boy who loves his IPA beers. My 2nd was born normal (Vback) in less than 1 hr. Enjoy every waking minute with your sweet baby girl. They really do grow faster than weeds and next thing you know, off to college they go.

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