Abby, Zoë and Enzo

With a normal delivery, you get one day in the hospital at CLIM.  So, Enzo and I had a night in the hospital and then this morning it was time to prepare for going home, which we thought would happen around noon time.  While I knew it would be difficult to go home still in pain and all that being there entails, I also didn't want to stay at CLIM.  It's not like in the U.S., where the nurses and lactation consultants are constantly checking and helping you do stuff with the baby, teaching you techniques and things.  Here a nurse will come in now and then to ask " Tudo Bem?" (everything good?) and go right back out, or a nursery nurse will come in to tell you that your baby has to have one thing or another done and will be taken away from you for an indeterminate amount of time.  They don't offer to have you watch anything so that you have an idea of a good way to do it at home.  I learned to begin asking if what they wanted was mandatory, that I wanted Enzo with me, and how long procedures would take if he did have to go up to the nursery.  Last night a nurse came in, said she needed three diapers, wipes, a new outfit, and would be taking Enzo to sleep in the nursery for the night.  I began questioning her, she kept reminding me that I was alone with no help, and then finally made sure that I wanted to stay, the two of us alone, in the room. 

This morning I woke up after a little stretch of sleep, not knowing what time it was as there's no clock in the room, but it felt like morning so I fed Enzo again, got up and changed his diaper and expected that breakfast would be soon.  I was really getting hungry and still no breakfast so I just tried to rest whenever Enzo was and finally it came... complete with the thermos of coffee, warm milk, and large sugar packets I'd seen last night at dinner.  The breakfast was all starch, but satisfying.  I ate the melon first, then there was a good sized slice of what I think was banana bread that was tasty, a package of mini hard toast things, a package of banana cinnamon cookies, and various crackers.  After eating I peeked out to see the time, it was just after 6:00 a.m. and I'd been up for hours thinking it was much later.  I waited and waited for Chris' call, feeling lonely now and it finally came at about 9:30.  I was anxious for him and the girls to come in, even though I knew it would be better for the girls to wait until discharge time.  Just after the call, Dr. Eduarrdo came, asked if I wanted to go home, no check-up, just said he'd tell the nurses that I could be discharged after Enzo saw the pediatrician.  I managed to keep him long enough to find out that we'll see him in a week.

It was near 11:00 when Chris and everyone arrived, and we still hadn't seen the pediatrician.  Then Irene and Raissa learned that the baby is supposed to stay for 36 hours, but once we saw the pediatrician later in the afternoon, we could go.  I was all packed up and ready to go and was so bummed when everyone left for lunch and then a nap for the girls.  I did see the pediatrician while they were all gone, and I only saw her because I asked to go up to the nursery with Enzo.  She wanted to give him the mandatory vaccines, hep. b and bcg.  She also informed me that Enzo's blood type is AB positive.  I had questions for her and told her that my friend who could translate, as well as my husband, would arrive soon, as it was about 4:00 p.m., and she said that we could wait and see her again when they arrived.  When Chris, Raissa, and the girls arrived, at 5:00p.m., I got dinner, which I shared with Abby and Zoë, and then we learned that the pediatrician had left so we prepared to leave too.  We had the front desk call our taxi guy, but he was busy, so someone else picked us up.  I was happy that Enzo slept soundly on the way home, as I was already stressed enough driving home during high traffic, with much pain, and the baby just in my arms instead of a safety seat.  The taxi ride home cost $R12 =US$6.50

We arrived home around 6:00 p.m., me arriving to the apartment being nice and clean.  Chris had done three loads of laundry, swept the house and showered the girls, twice, while I was gone.  Chris heated up some dinner and then we got the girls ready for bed.