Hellobee

Earlier this week, we welcomed our second baby starfish into the world! We will refer to her as “Baby Star Bright” on Hellobee, not to be confused with her sister, “Baby Star Light.”

Baby Star Bright

Mr. Starfish and Baby Star Light and I journeyed to our surrogate in Utah on Saturday morning, anxious to make it to Salt Lake City in time for the big event. Although Baby Star Bright wasn’t due for another 10 days, she was measuring as a very big baby on ultrasound scans and our surrogate’s doctor decided that an induction at 39 weeks was the safest course of action.

 Waiting at the gate for our flight to Utah. Baby and coffee, my current essentials!

A feeding on the plane.

Early on Tuesday morning, our surrogate was started on Pitocin to get the process started. We were so excited that we headed to the hospital early that day. Our surrogate was so welcoming to us, wanting us to be involved in the labor experience and not miss a single thing. Her husband was there to support her, and he likewise was so kind to us. While I never had any doubt that our surrogate and her husband would want us to be involved, I will admit that I was nervous that the hospital staff or nurses or doctor would not necessarily view our special situation favorably. These concerns were quickly put to rest, with all of the hospital personnel so caring and excited for us. They even allowed us to camp out in an adjoining labor room with Baby Star Light while our surrogate’s labor progressed.

Around six in the evening, we were told that it was pushing time! We hurriedly rushed over to our surrogate. She was clearly in a lot of pain, and unfortunately it was set to continue. I gulped back many tears over the next few hours as Baby Star Bright gave our surrogate the labor from hell due to her enormous head. I cannot begin to describe the frustration and anxiety and guilt that I felt as our baby gave our surrogate so much trouble. Watching her suffer through so much pain was excruciating, and there was one moment as I watched tears roll down her face that I thought to myself that this was the worst feeling of all time and probably the lowest moment of my life.

In contrast, by 10:20 that night I experienced one of the highest moments of my life when Baby Star Bright finally cooperated and made her entrance into the world! After cutting the cord myself (quite a symbolic moment!), our second daughter and I sat down right next to our surrogate for skin-to-skin bonding. I was stunned by Baby Star Bright’s size; she arrived five weeks after her older sister but already weighed more and was longer (8 pounds and 13 ounces, 21 inches long)!

Our surrogate captured this incredibly special moment of bonding between me and Mr. Starfish and Baby Star Bright.

Our new family and the amazing couple who helped us complete it!

Soon after delivery, we were discharged to the postpartum floor. We were placed in a room right next to our surrogate, who is so amazing that she left the hospital looking like a million bucks only about 12 hours after pushing out an enormous baby! As for us, we were not allowed to leave the hospital until 24 hours had elapsed from delivery to make sure Baby Star Bright was healthy. So far, she is suffering from some pretty bad jaundice, is quite bruised and swollen from delivery, and has developed a skin rash called erythema toxicum. All of these are issues that our temporary Utah pediatrician has assured us are not too concerning, and should be under control by the time we fly back home to Chicago next week.

As for me and Mr. Starfish, while we are no doubt exhausted, we are also so thrilled to hold our girls in our arms. It is fascinating to observe their differences, not only in personality but also in milestones. So far, Baby Star Light seems more vocal and physically active than her laid-back younger sister, but we realize that it’s still early days and that Baby Star Bright’s personality hasn’t yet come through. We can’t wait for this crazy and wonderful adventure to continue, and I’m excited to keep all of you posted!

Same size, same sleeping position. Baby Star Light on the left, and Baby Star Bright on the right.


A family of four