This past month has been remarkable. I gave birth to our 3rd child...natural childbirth. The recovery and ensuing adjustments have been intense. Let me address these items one at a time
LACK OF SLEEP:
This makes normal people turn into crazy, grumpy, self doubting monsters. Waking up every hour or two as our baby's sole source of food has been harder this time around. It made me wonder if we could really ever do this again...have another baby. It made me wonder if I am any good at parenthood anyway.
LACK OF TIME:
Our first baby got my undivided attention. There was no one else to care for once hubby went to work. I could sleep when she slept because no one needed to be picked up at school, or fed lunch, or generally be paid attention to. This time two of the sweetest kids on the planet need me, even when baby is finally asleep. I feel neglectful. I want to spend more time having fun with them...let's face it...big kids are more fun than diapers and spit up. That is not to mention the fact that I have to neglect myself.
PHYSICAL RECOVERY:
Having a baby does a number on the human body. Bones actually move. Blood volume changes drastically. Hormones are off the charts. Fatigue...oh so tired. I knew I wouldn't look perfect after giving birth, but I feel ridiculous. Wearing maternity clothes when you aren't pregnant is depressing. I am normally a smallish person. I exercised regularly before baby, and right now I get sore muscles from walking...walking! I dread getting dressed in the morning. Nursing this time around started out very rocky. I was in soooooo much pain for the first 4 weeks. I never had this kind of pain with the other two. It has slowly gotten better, but I thought I was doomed to major pain 10-12 times a day for the next 15 months. Thank heavens it improved.
EMOTIONAL:
I have understandably been all over the place emotionally. I wouldn't want to be married to me this last month. I have felt like I give everything I have and my hubby and kiddos still need more. Oh, and my house is a mess. I wish I was like my friends who only gain 25 pounds when pregnant and lose it all within a month. They start jogging when baby is 2 weeks old like it is the most normal thing ever. I feel like I got run over and I still have 30 pounds to get back to normal.
HOPE:
This week I have pumped a bottle of milk every day so hubby can feed baby once during the night and I can sleep a little longer. The miracle is that baby took the bottle without a problem...our other babies hated the bottle with a passion. I have been taking baby to the mall every morning so I can walk for exercise. Some days she does better than others, and I am feeling a little stronger. Today was warm enough to walk outside and I felt amazing! It has been my goal to become a runner...and actually enjoy it, and I feel like I really can do it. I will walk for one more week and then officially start my running program. I need a jogging stroller....anyone (in Iowa) have one they are not using? I also tried doing a few of my Zumba songs the other day and it was fun...I will be ready to teach again soon. It is all worth it, and my sweet family
is the best thing ever....I will survive....wish me luck.
4 comments:
Your thoughts sound a lot like mine right now. Our babies I think are only days apart and this is my 3rd as well so it's been completely different. Good luck with getting up in the middle of the night...that's been a killer for me.
You really have a cute little one!
Good to know I am not alone...Good luck to you too!
Thanks for the update & picts! Good luck with all the new-baby challenges. So glad Ryan is helping at night. I wish I knew some parenting secrets to share but I'm failing at the sleep-training part myself. (At 20 months Petra is still waking at night to nurse and won't take no for an answer. Augh! How did I get here?!...) Good luck and don't forget to take naps!
Thank you for your update, she is so adorable. I hope you are able to sleep longer in the night very soon so you can feel more like yourself. If you can try and take a nap when she naps. I will be super glad to take your other two children so you can have a nice long nap or day out one of these days. Just let me know when.
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