Friday 30 May 2014

The Pain of Motherhood

Thanks, photoshop!


#1: The C-Section

Happy happy days.  Not one, but two.
First one was an alleged 'emergency' (which I dispute to this day), second one 'elective'.

What's it like?

Hmm...initially, fine.  It's fine - really it is.  I felt nothing.

Until I stood up for the first time after the spinal tap wore off.

Then, it's like you've been sliced in two.  You literally have no balance - your core muscles have been sliced in half, thus standing up alone is some kind of mission.

Then there's the lovely rope-burn-like pain of getting the one long running stitch out after 4 days.

Oh, and the burny burny injections of Fragmin that you have to get because of the risk of DVT.

And I got a body-wracking post-op infection which had me on a drip for two days.

The lovely catheter and ensuing bag of urine I got to carry around on a frame, so I could hang it beside me wherever I went, which was awesome. And totally made it into my baby photos.  Classy.

I had to sleep sat up for about a week.

But apart from that (and the occasional ache in the scar), c-section wasn't so bad.  Honest.

#2 Hips

My hips were ruined.

Due to the sheer weight of Tom, who offset my whole pelvis due to being massive at birth (10lb and 9oz!), and a growing Ethan, my hips and pelvis decided that SPD would be a nice addition to my second pregnancy.

I was on crutches for 10 weeks.

Pain is having to chase a toddler up stairs while crippled with SPD. Oh joyful, joyful condition.


#3 Back

I have just spent the last 9 months courting some horrible back pain and I'm pretty sure it's due to sharing my bed with small children in the night, perched on the edge, on one shoulder.  I went for X-Rays yesterday and am hoping it's not permanent damage.

Because kids don't just daintily sneak in and take up a small child-sized space.

Oh No.

They starfish.  And kick, and push, and shove and sit on top of the covers.

And no, I'm not moving them, because we have just been through...


#4 The Pain Of Sleeplessness

Yep.  And I mean physical pain.

Ethan had night terrors for 3 whole years.

That's 3 years of pure screaming, crying, and inconsolable anger and fear for 3 whole years.

Every. Night.

I don't know if you've seen anyone suffer from night terrors, but it's really fucking horrible for everyone concerned.  And the resulting interruption of your sleep pattern like that makes you physically and mentally knackered, grumpy and very, very sore.  All over.

Which is why, if the small child wants to sleep in my bed, he can sleep in my bed.  Any way he wants.

Because we are not going back there.

Ever.



#5 Headaches

'I want to watch Peppa Pig'
'I can have more milk pweese?'
'My not like 'nanas!'
'But Muuuuuum, I wanted to play my game!'
'It's NOT. FAIR!'
'Muuuum, he pushed me!'
'Can we go to the park after tea and before bed?'
'Mum, I'm finished, but I'm still hungry!'
'My not WANT pasta!'
'My WANT pasta!'
'Can we have cake?'

It never ends.  Ever.

Pass the paracetamol.

And caffeine...





5 comments:

  1. Lol, I don't know about the pain of c section but the pain of pushing them big heads out and one a dry birth was like a fire that water couldn't even put out. With all the hazing just to be called a mother I am glad that I am a mother.

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    Replies
    1. Hee hee. It's definitely pain you never forget! Ouch! It's like the greatest test you have to sit before getting the best job in the world :)

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  2. Oooh, I've never heard the after effects of a C-section explained so truthfully (and graphically!!) before. Thankfully I had a nice quick labour in a midwife-led unit and I will consider myself forever lucky that everything was so straight forward. But if next time I have to have a C-section, at least I have some idea of what to expect ;-)

    xx

    #WeekendBlogHop

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  3. I haven't experienced a c-section but I can only imagine the pain when finally standing up. -Ouch! Just having a Vaginal delivery was intense enough (for me). I think just bringing a little one into this world is incredibly amazing. :) Great post!

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  4. ash but aren't they wonderful x

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