Post by RoryGilmore on May 30, 2012 21:52:56 GMT -5
This is more of a baby thing - but I was led to believe that nursing would be easy and natural. LIE. It ultimately was easy and natural but the first month was hard.
I also thought that I got away with no stretchmarks because I didn't have any by the time the baby was born. LIE. I got them after.
Post by curbsideprophet on May 30, 2012 22:12:08 GMT -5
4 weeks does not equal one month and 42 weeks does not equal 10.5 months. By the time you find out you are pregnant you are approx already 4 weeks along. That leaves you with about 36 weeks, or just over 8 months.
I don't feel like I was really lied to about anything, but I was not fully informed about some of the post birth stuff--namely the incredible post-birth swelling and just how much it sucks to tear the shit out of your vagina. I was also unprepared for how painful post-baby sex was for a while.
While the first couple weeks were painful, I was actually pleasantly surprised by nursing. I had read so many horror stories online that I was under the impression that it is next to impossible to breastfeed a baby without losing your mind, and I had a pretty easy time of it.
Everyone talks about how painful labor is but no one talks about how much pain you will be in for the 2 weeks after you give birth. Between my tear, the swelling and hemorrhoids, I could barely walk.
Everyone talks about how painful labor is but no one talks about how much pain you will be in for the 2 weeks after you give birth. Between my tear, the swelling and hemorrhoids, I could barely walk.
This (although luckily I did not have hemorrhoids). But seriously, I thought recovery was 1000 times worse than labor.
The biggest shock to me was how absolutely, utterly, totally exhausted I was the first couple weeks after having DS. I was SOOOO tired I was forgetting to eat. The level of exhaustion was unbelievable. Totally unprepared for that.
People had told me you would have less pp bleeding with a csection. Um, no.
Also that BF babies will sometimes just eat non stop and you will cry every time because in the very beginning that shit hurts! People always say "if the latch is good there wont be any pain", serious BS lie.
This. I struggled to BF with both, but we always had to supplement.
I also got super pissed at people who told me to "sleep now before the baby comes!" in 3rd tri. I would love to sleep- unfortunately between heartburn, not being able to get comfortable, and getting up every hour to pee, that's just not happening.
I also got super pissed at people who told me to "sleep now before the baby comes!" in 3rd tri. I would love to sleep- unfortunately between heartburn, not being able to get comfortable, and getting up every hour to pee, that's just not happening.
Dude! I couldn't move w/o waking up. It sucked balls.
That if you REALLY tried hard enough you can BF...in my case total bullshit & made me feel like a terrible mother & a total failure.
I totally agree. After ending up with cellulitis and my week old DD and I both ending up on IV antibiotics, I had a really hard time and am currently pumping.
The feeling of failing one of the first acts of motherhood is terrible.
The biggest shock to me was how absolutely, utterly, totally exhausted I was the first couple weeks after having DS. I was SOOOO tired I was forgetting to eat. The level of exhaustion was unbelievable. Totally unprepared for that.
I was unprepared for this as well the first time around. I also had no idea that many newborns typically wake to eat every hour to an hour and a half. Where the heck did the expression "sleeping like a baby" come from?? lol
To take all the help you can in the hospital. I hated every singe minute in that place and couldn't wait to get the heck out. Between the badgering for blood, check ups, "helping" with bfing, paperwork, what's the name, and whatever else, I never once felt like they were helping me. I just wanted to be left alone.
Post by badtzmaru22 on May 31, 2012 8:27:07 GMT -5
That it would be easy to get (and stay) pregnant. Wah wah Debbie Downer... Other than that though, I felt like I'd heard it all. I was really lucky with my pg that went full term. I felt great the whole time, minus the extreme paranoia it wasn't going to last. I've had friends who had really miserable pregnancies though, so I expected the worst all along.
Oh I guess with BFing- everyone said it would suck for two weeks, and then be fine. For me, it was fine for two weeks, and then sucked until week 6. I'm glad I stuck with it, because it's totally paying off now with easy middle of the night feedings.
I think for me the biggest thing has been that I expected to have this instantaneous crazy overwhelming love as soon as I found out I was pregnant...and that didn't happen. Of course I would do anything to protect this baby, but I don't totally feel that bond everyone seems to go on and on about. I don't feel like a mom yet. It's just so abstract right now I can't really sort out my feelings very well.
I really can't believe that grown women think 1 month = 4 weeks. This comes up all the time on the Bump. Unless it's February, it's just not true.
As for lies, mostly about how terrible pregnancy would be (mine wasn't, it was really pretty easy). Oh, and that being unable to breastfeed is a failure of the mother. THAT is a HUGE lie. It's a failure of your support system, your healthcare provider, your society. It's not your failure. I really do believe far more women would be able to succeed at breastfeeding if there was proper available support for everyone that wanted and needed it.
To take all the help you can in the hospital. I hated every singe minute in that place and couldn't wait to get the heck out. Between the badgering for blood, check ups, "helping" with bfing, paperwork, what's the name, and whatever else, I never once felt like they were helping me. I just wanted to be left alone.
YES!
I was begging to go home when I had DD in the hospital. They let me go at 24 hrs. I had DS in a birth center and went home after 6 hours. That was perfect.
Post by spiderspray on May 31, 2012 10:47:26 GMT -5
I was banking on the super awesome support of my "breast-feeding friendly" hospital and awesome lactation consultants that bombarded my room every few hours.
Yeah, right.
I had overactive letdown to the point that ds was gagging and pushing off the breast, screaming, etc. but no one in the whole joint could figure out what was wrong. One nurse even told me to force his head onto the breast, and when he tries to back off, just hold him there to teach him he needs to eat.
It took me and Dr. Google all of two minutes to figure out what was wrong. I was basically drowning my baby. Awesome. If I have a second, I'm not even letting the LCs in my room this time.