Our precious daughter arrived earlier than her due date and we've been in the throes of those first few weeks of parenting. Sometime soon I'd love to share my labor and delivery story with you (it was fast and furious and included some scary details like the cord wrapped twice around her neck, some funny details like my water breaking in the car, and many grace-filled details like the Chik-fil-a employee praying for us at our restaurant table while I had contractions).
These days are surreal. When I look in my daughter's face and realize she's ours, created by the goodness of God through the love of me and my husband. I think of all the injections I took throughout the pregnancy to prevent clots and keep my progesterone levels safe for her to grow inside. I think of the months of negative tests when I wondered if we'd have a little one on earth or just our little one in heaven. Yet here she is, so beautiful, so innocent. "All God's grace in one tiny face."
We are thankful. In the midst of new mommy worries, sleep-interrupted nights, breastfeeding pain, and cabin fever, we are so thankful. And life is beautiful.
I'll share more in the coming days about the birth as well as our first week adjusting after bringing baby home, how the Lord taught me that it doesn't matter if we're walking on water or if we're sinking in the waves-- as long as we're moving towards Him, He'll take care of us. (Because if I'm being real, I felt like I was drowning some of those days and still do at times!)
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Wow, that is so interesting that your daughter came early! Babies do have a way of surprising us, don't they? I'm excited to hear more of your birth story! It sounds crazy. For the first handful of weeks, I definitely felt like I was drowning. I can't remember at what point it was-maybe a month?-when I finally said to myself, "I don't feel like I'm constantly drowning anymore."
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that you and your husband are doing an amazing job. I'm sure you've been getting tons of advice from everyone, so I don't want to do overkill with postpartum advice, but if you can get out of the house-even just to sit outside for a little bit-that may help with the cabin fever. I know some ladies advocate sitting in bed all day every day, and sometimes, a woman needs that to help her body recover. I personally would go crazy if I did that, so I would (and still do) make sure to get out of the apartment every day. Have you been able to see a lactation counselor? If you can, I really recommend seeing an IBCLC, because as a "International Board Certified" lactation counselor, they have tons and tons of training and have dealt with a wide range of problems. I didn't want to see one at first because I thought I just had to "suck it up" when it came to painful breastfeeding, but my husband encouraged me to see one, and I'm so glad I did-it helped a lot.
On a side note, I think that Chik Fil A really needs to have a "Pregnancy Rewards Program" where pregnant ladies can get punch cards that eventually give them free chicken. Because I cannot count how many ladies while pregnant-myself included-would talk about hitting up Chik Fil A!
Aw, I appreciate your solidarity about the drowning!! You seemed like you had it all together on your blog and I felt like I needed to get with the program on this postpartum stuff, so it's encouraging to hear I'm not alone with the first month adjustment!! :)
DeleteYes, I did see an IBCLC and she was sooo helpful! More helpful than the LC I saw at the hospital. The latch on is still painful at first but the rest of it is much improved.
It's been humid and 90's here so it's been tough to get out of the house during the day with baby, but I need to be more proactive about getting out in the evening after P. comes home from work. It's also hard because I'm still recovering physically and that darn lochia keeps changing back color if I do too much!! :/
Ah, sweet Chik Fil A, it's the best. I did throw up in labor, but even that association won't keep me from eating there again ;)
Oh, you're definitely not alone! Every woman is different. I happened to have a really easy labor and recovery, so that made it a little easier for me to bounce back, but it still took several weeks to feel like I could do this motherhood thing. In fact, some of my friends take the whole "fourth trimester" to do nothing, recover and get used to life with a baby.
DeleteI'm so glad that you could see an IBCLC and that things are going better! Everyone told me to be patient with myself and the baby (I struggle with patience, so this was good for me), and that it would continue to improve over time (and it did), so hopefully it will be similar with you!
Yikes! Humidity is no fun at all. We don't have humidity as much, just hot weather over here in OK, and I'm the type of person that desperately needs to get outside at least once a day, so I have to force myself and baby out of the house either in the morning before it gets hot or in the evening. Hopefully you will be recovered enough soon so you can get some fresh air! For me at least, things could get frustrating in the initial postpartum days/weeks, but I tried to remember that it won't be that way forever-life will hit a rhythm at some point, your body will recover, and things will get easier. Laura, you're doing a great job!
Congrats to you. I remember when my kids were born. It was amazing to see new life being born. Now, that they are adults, it amazes me that I helped create this life.
ReplyDeleteYes! Such a gift from God to be "co-creators" with Him!!
DeleteSo happy for your family! And can Chick fil A be any more awesome? Wow! So glad you're soaking up this time and owning every new, hard, and beautiful moment. Keeping you all in my prayers :-)
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes they are even more awesome than that because they gave us our meal at no cost and even gave us some coupons for free sandwiches in the postpartum period!! :D
DeleteYour prayers are so appreciated!
Congratulations Laura! Bless your daughter and you as both of you journey as mother and daughter. I am expecting my baby soon. Do keep us in your prayers!
ReplyDeleteThank you! That's wonderful to hear about your own baby!! Prayers for your delivery and motherhood! <3
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