Around the beginning of my 8th month of pregnancy, a friend asked me what it felt like to be pregnant. It was interesting to go back and read the letter I wrote. In some ways it seems like being pregnant was ancient history even though it's only been a matter of weeks and yet it in the midst of it pregnancy seemed to drag on FOREVER. Here's the first half of my response:
Being pregnant…hmm…
First of all, from everyone that I’ve talked to being pregnant is a completely different experience for each person. There are of course common symptoms and whatnot, but how those affect the individual (and each pregnancy itself) can vary widely. More so, I think how each person deals with pregnancy emotionally is very different….some love it, some hate it, some are ambivalent. I think I fall more in the latter category.
Physically, my pregnancy has been very easy (so far, knock on wood!) I had virtually no nausea, no throwing up (that usually comes in the first trimester). I was pretty tired at the beginning – not uncommon, but you usually get your energy back in the 2nd trimester. I’ve had friends that were exhausted the whole time though… My back has been bothering me on and off throughout (it’s actually where my hip comes into my spine – thank you hormones that make your ligaments relax). I’ve felt winded a lot – hormones again. Other than that, it’s been easy. There’s a significant laundry list of “symptoms” (I hate that word….it makes pregnancy sound like a disease) that I’ve pretty much steered clear of. (If you really want to know, I can rattle some off for you.)
Emotionally, I’ve had my ups and downs. Again, thank you hormones. I think one thing specifically that was difficult for me was dealing with the fact that my body was changing and there was nothing I could do about it. It was frustrating to not be able to button up my pants. Prior to being pregnant, I’d worn the same pant size since high school….changing body and self-image was not something I’d every dealt with. It’s also frustrating sometime to not be able to do the things I’ve always been able to do – some things that I “shouldn’t” (like painting the baby’s room) and some things I can’t (like go go go all day…I get tired, winded, backaches...). It’s not mind over matter…you lose a bit of control over your body and your life.
One of the weirdest things for me is feeling baby move. It’s kind of cool, kind of bizarre. Sometimes it feels like my body is going off its rocker. Sometimes it reminds me that there is actually a human being inside of me. For me, that is an incredible, strange, terrifying thought.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Cry, baby
Last night I was talking to my husband about the day F was born. I have a hard time remembering everything that happened. What they say about mothers having labor amnesia is totally true...hence the fact that people actually voluntarily have second (or third or more...insanity!) children. In the midst of the chaos of the situation, things are a bit of a blur. There are a few moments that are indelibly etched into my brain though. Like for some reason, I was totally fixated on the fact that we'd been parked in a 10 minute loading zone for almost 2 hours and my husband HAD to move the car. If I'd only known... (We didn't get ticketed or towed, but he did move the car, at just the wrong moment...at my insistence. Sorry, honey.) I remember slight hint of panic in the generally calm and collected nurse's voice when she realized F's umbilical cord had prolapsed, the anesthesiologist holding my hand as I lay alone in the OR.
But the one thing that I will never, ever forget is waiting for what seemed like an eternity to hear my baby cry. The complete and utter heart-stopping fear I felt in that moment is indescribable. I vaguely recall someone saying that he was out and was fine, but how could I possibly believe that if I didn't actually hear him cry? It's what babies do, right? They cry. Not my kid (at first, at least). Apparently he was looking around taking it all in. He couldn't be bothered with crying...there were too many interesting things to see. But unable to see him, I waited breathlessly praying for my baby to cry. And then I finally heard him and my world was suddenly right in a way it never had been before. I didn't know one was capable of feeling as much as I felt in that moment.
When his crying jags seem overwhelming, I need to remember how much I longed to hear him cry, how a single cry turned my world upside down and right side up all at the same time (in an amazing, wonderful way). Just be careful what you wish for. ;-)
But the one thing that I will never, ever forget is waiting for what seemed like an eternity to hear my baby cry. The complete and utter heart-stopping fear I felt in that moment is indescribable. I vaguely recall someone saying that he was out and was fine, but how could I possibly believe that if I didn't actually hear him cry? It's what babies do, right? They cry. Not my kid (at first, at least). Apparently he was looking around taking it all in. He couldn't be bothered with crying...there were too many interesting things to see. But unable to see him, I waited breathlessly praying for my baby to cry. And then I finally heard him and my world was suddenly right in a way it never had been before. I didn't know one was capable of feeling as much as I felt in that moment.
When his crying jags seem overwhelming, I need to remember how much I longed to hear him cry, how a single cry turned my world upside down and right side up all at the same time (in an amazing, wonderful way). Just be careful what you wish for. ;-)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Breastfeeding is Hard!
First of all I’m a huge proponent of breastfeeding. It’s not hard to find information online about why exclusively breastfeeding for at least 6 months and continuing to breastfeed for at least 1 year is beneficial to both mother and child (check out here for information on the benefits and additional resources on breastfeeding). That being said, one thing that you don’t readily hear from all of the “official” sources is that breastfeeding is hard! You think that women have been doing this since the dawn of time and they didn’t have any books or videos or websites or lactation consultants…how hard could it be? It’s supposed to be what God created us women folk to do, right? You also hear that if it shouldn’t hurt unless you’re doing something wrong. Wrong.
Having had a c-section, one benefit (there aren’t many, trust me) is that I spent 3 full days in the hospital. That provided plenty of time for plenty of nurses and a lactation consultant to observe breastfeeding. I kept asking, “Is it supposed to hurt this much? What am I doing wrong?” They kept saying, “The latch must be bad. You need to fix it. Let me take a look.” They’d look and inevitably say, “Hmm…the latch looks fine. Keep doing what you’re doing.” Fine my ass….tell that to my poor nipples.
Then there’s the matter of supply. Am I making enough? Is he going to starve to death? How do I know? F was 8lbs, 6oz at birth and 7lbs, 10oz at discharge. That was 1oz above the magical 10% drop from the birth weight. If the baby goes below that, then they get worried. I had a nurse tell me that I must not be breastfeeding right. Hello, slap in the face. As if I’m not insecure enough about this whole being responsible for another human being thing already. (Note: of all the nurses I encountered, the vast majority were wonderful, amazing people that got me through some tough moments…this one was just a tad insensitive to a raging hormonal new mom.) My doctor wasn’t concerned in the slightest and at F’s appointment 5 days after birth, he was 8lbs, 4oz and at his 2 week appointment he was 9lbs, 12oz. Let’s just say my kid is a tank and is gaining weight just fine, thank you very much.
In terms of the nipple pain, making sure the latch is good IS really important. No need to add insult to injury. (A detailed article can be found here giving a good explanation about breastfeeding positions and getting a good latch). Beyond that, I have one word: Lansinoh – medical grade lanolin. Use it early, use it often. I wish I’d have started using it at hour one instead of day 2 ½. I used it religiously for the first several weeks and the pain and scabbing subsided eventually. It gets better, I promise. (Note: pain other than nipple pain could be a sign of another problem. Common concerns can be found here.)
As for supply, that’s one of the most common concerns among new breastfeeding moms. Basically, if your baby is going through enough diapers and is gaining weight appropriately then you’re pretty much good to go (more detailed list of signs of successful breastfeeding can be found here). I’m trying to resist the urge to have him weighed daily, so I haven’t bought a baby scale or anything. As if I need to aid my neurotic obsession. His clothes are getting progressively tighter and I don’t think it’s from shrinking in the wash, so I’ll take that as a good sign for the time being until his next appointment.
I only want the best for my kiddo and I want him to be happy and healthy. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the sea of information overload that is the digital age. The prenatal class I took was critical for me so I had at least some semblance of a clue at to what was going on with breastfeeding before the birth. It didn’t really mean too much at the time, but there were definitely light bulb moments of “oh, THAT’S what they meant!” once he arrived. A good book from a reputable source can be really helpful too, although there are so many different parenting philosophies that can be contradictory and confusing. I read a range of stuff, tried not to get too pissed off at some of the wack jobs out there and am trying to forge my own path based on information and instinct. Ask 50 women about their philosophy on breastfeeding and you’ll likely get 50 different answers. Just go with the flow. Literally.
Having had a c-section, one benefit (there aren’t many, trust me) is that I spent 3 full days in the hospital. That provided plenty of time for plenty of nurses and a lactation consultant to observe breastfeeding. I kept asking, “Is it supposed to hurt this much? What am I doing wrong?” They kept saying, “The latch must be bad. You need to fix it. Let me take a look.” They’d look and inevitably say, “Hmm…the latch looks fine. Keep doing what you’re doing.” Fine my ass….tell that to my poor nipples.
Then there’s the matter of supply. Am I making enough? Is he going to starve to death? How do I know? F was 8lbs, 6oz at birth and 7lbs, 10oz at discharge. That was 1oz above the magical 10% drop from the birth weight. If the baby goes below that, then they get worried. I had a nurse tell me that I must not be breastfeeding right. Hello, slap in the face. As if I’m not insecure enough about this whole being responsible for another human being thing already. (Note: of all the nurses I encountered, the vast majority were wonderful, amazing people that got me through some tough moments…this one was just a tad insensitive to a raging hormonal new mom.) My doctor wasn’t concerned in the slightest and at F’s appointment 5 days after birth, he was 8lbs, 4oz and at his 2 week appointment he was 9lbs, 12oz. Let’s just say my kid is a tank and is gaining weight just fine, thank you very much.
In terms of the nipple pain, making sure the latch is good IS really important. No need to add insult to injury. (A detailed article can be found here giving a good explanation about breastfeeding positions and getting a good latch). Beyond that, I have one word: Lansinoh – medical grade lanolin. Use it early, use it often. I wish I’d have started using it at hour one instead of day 2 ½. I used it religiously for the first several weeks and the pain and scabbing subsided eventually. It gets better, I promise. (Note: pain other than nipple pain could be a sign of another problem. Common concerns can be found here.)
As for supply, that’s one of the most common concerns among new breastfeeding moms. Basically, if your baby is going through enough diapers and is gaining weight appropriately then you’re pretty much good to go (more detailed list of signs of successful breastfeeding can be found here). I’m trying to resist the urge to have him weighed daily, so I haven’t bought a baby scale or anything. As if I need to aid my neurotic obsession. His clothes are getting progressively tighter and I don’t think it’s from shrinking in the wash, so I’ll take that as a good sign for the time being until his next appointment.
I only want the best for my kiddo and I want him to be happy and healthy. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the sea of information overload that is the digital age. The prenatal class I took was critical for me so I had at least some semblance of a clue at to what was going on with breastfeeding before the birth. It didn’t really mean too much at the time, but there were definitely light bulb moments of “oh, THAT’S what they meant!” once he arrived. A good book from a reputable source can be really helpful too, although there are so many different parenting philosophies that can be contradictory and confusing. I read a range of stuff, tried not to get too pissed off at some of the wack jobs out there and am trying to forge my own path based on information and instinct. Ask 50 women about their philosophy on breastfeeding and you’ll likely get 50 different answers. Just go with the flow. Literally.
Moments in time
Dear F,
I can’t believe that you’re only a month old; I can’t believe you’re already a month old. I can’t imagine life with out you and yet it’s hard to believe that I’ve only had you in my life for such a short time. It is amazing to watch you grow and change so quickly. I love watching you assert your own individuality and personality already. There are so many little things every day that I wish I could capture and preserve that moment in time forever. The beautiful blue of your eyes. How your fingernails are miniature duplicates of mine. How you’ve always wanted your hands near your face even before you were born and have wiggled out of a swaddle to get your hands up since the day you were born. The way you scrunch up your face in excited determination right before you latch on when breastfeeding. The squeaky sound you make when you eat. How your cheeks are so chubby when you’re sleeping, but how your face looks longer when you’re content and awake. How strong you are when playing on your tummy. Your serious curiosity and how you get bored easily unless you’re walked around so you can see different things. The way your sad face absolutely breaks my heart. The way your smile makes me melt every single time I see it. You amaze me every day and I feel so blessed to have you in my life.
I love you always, pretty baby,
Your Mama
I can’t believe that you’re only a month old; I can’t believe you’re already a month old. I can’t imagine life with out you and yet it’s hard to believe that I’ve only had you in my life for such a short time. It is amazing to watch you grow and change so quickly. I love watching you assert your own individuality and personality already. There are so many little things every day that I wish I could capture and preserve that moment in time forever. The beautiful blue of your eyes. How your fingernails are miniature duplicates of mine. How you’ve always wanted your hands near your face even before you were born and have wiggled out of a swaddle to get your hands up since the day you were born. The way you scrunch up your face in excited determination right before you latch on when breastfeeding. The squeaky sound you make when you eat. How your cheeks are so chubby when you’re sleeping, but how your face looks longer when you’re content and awake. How strong you are when playing on your tummy. Your serious curiosity and how you get bored easily unless you’re walked around so you can see different things. The way your sad face absolutely breaks my heart. The way your smile makes me melt every single time I see it. You amaze me every day and I feel so blessed to have you in my life.
I love you always, pretty baby,
Your Mama
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