Oh, I feel refreshed
So we went to our childbirth refresher class a couple of days ago. The best part for me: The white guy on the one video from the 1970s who had an afro that stood out from his head at least 8 inches and either a bushy mustache or a medium-sized brown squirrel parked on his upper lip.
Other than that, I'm trying to block it out.
Basically, it was the job of this very nice woman who's been a nurse since 1974 to remind me of all the painful and embarassing stuff I actively tried to forget in the first few weeks after I had Sam.
Remember your breathing patterns for the different stages of labor? Yep, and how hard it was to concentrate on them when my belly felt like a rock.
Remember the details you're supposed to tell the doctor about your amniotic fluid if your water breaks at home? Yep, and that it was flourescent green (it had meconium in it) and gushed so badly that I left puddles with each step.
Remember that, when you're in transition, you might vomit, feel as though you can't make it, or just freak out in general? Yep, and that was not too long after you folks gave me the Pure Evil known as pitocin, which made the pain so intense I almost passed out.
Remember seeing your baby for the first time? Yep, and I thought she was funny looking. Plus, I was in a panic because she wasn't crying, and there was a pediatric team working on her.
As labors go, mine with Sam was pretty darn easy, especially for a first-time mom. And I do remember that overwhelming feeling of love that came every time I held her or fed her or showed her off to other people. I remember how soft her skin was and how fluffy her hair felt against my face.
I remember that I didn't just love her; I actually fell in love with her.
It's just the getting there.
What's your labor story? If you have two or more kids, how did your subsequent labors compare with your first?
Beth · November 14, 2007 3:54 PM
Don't worry, Amy, the second goes so much smoother! Maybe it's because all shreds of dignity are gone, so I was much less worried about accidentally peeing on the doctor (Not that I did. I didn't! I just wasn't worried about it). Of course, I knew from experience just how awesome epidurals are, so I got one as early as possible, and it wore off by the time I actually needed it. I don't recommend that.
BizEd · November 19, 2007 1:05 PM
More than two years and I still haven't put the 48 hours of induced labor out of my mind. My husband, on the other hand, thinks it might be fun to have another baby. Fun??? I think I'll just live vicariously through you, Amy!
Janet · November 30, 2007 10:24 AM
hahaha . . . . funny you should ask this. Remember my second labor was quite recent and still very fresh in my mind. Believe it or not, my first labor was actually 'easier'. Ryan came even faster than she did - it was 0 to 10 in about three hours and was sheer torture. No time for drugs with him or Syd. But, you know what? I'm glad. I healed much quicker this time around.