Postpartum Update
Howdy Folks! It has been a wild 4 months since my last post. So here’s the tea…
If I recall correctly, the last time I posted was a few days before my emergency c-section. Listen, I already know what you’re thinking… I just KNEW I was going to make it to 34 weeks gestation. However, my little sweet face decided that she wanted to be the first of my children to wish me a happy birthday. That’s correct, I was rushed into surgery on the morning of my birthday 05/27!
Needless to say, it was a chaotic morning for sure. It began as what had become a typical day for me since I was living in the hospital. The overnight nurse came in for her final rounds with me to deliver my meds and draw blood for updates and continued observation. By the time shift change happened at 6am, my entire team was in “Go” mode.
My lab results set off the alarms and 34 weeks (which was only 2 days away) was now completely out of the equation.
I was terrified! All of my previous births were vaginal with no pain meds and now I was facing both birthing “fears” I had avoided. My team was truly God sent. The epidural happened without any complications as did the birth itself. Which was very strange for me since I was only allowed to see her for a few woozy seconds and then she was whisked away to the NICU.
To say I have a new profound respect for other c-section moms and multiple c-section moms is an understatement. The recovery process is overwhelming on its own and then coupled with a preemie baby? I salute those moms, y’all are the real super heroes.
The anesthesia and I did NOT get along after surgery. Let’s just say my best friends have some epically hilarious stories to tell that I have absolutely no recollection of.
I was sent home 4 days later and then began the real challenge: Life with a preemie and my kids at home. I can honestly say at the beginning of this journey, I felt like such a failure. I was only able to breastfeed for about 2-3 weeks, which breastfeeding had never been a problem for me. Then the twice daily commute was not good for my recovery from surgery but I also couldn’t sit at home away from my baby twiddling my thumbs. I was told all kinds of advice like record her crying so it would trigger milk production while I pumped. That doesn’t work for me. I can’t convince myself that my baby is here when she isn’t actually here. Besides, my baby didn’t cry around me when she was in the hospital.
My sweet face is a fighter though! She crushed all the hurdles and came home a month after birth. Now 4 months old, I have to remind myself that she was even a preemie. She’s healthy, happy and as chunky as she can be. I on the other hand can now begin to focus on my recovery and weight loss journey finally. So, that’s all for the Pregnancy Rox series since, baby girl is the last of the Mohicans. Thank you to everyone that sent a kind word, gifts and prayers! You are appreciated!
Blessings, Love & Light 💜