Argh…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To quote my sister  April…….”bluck”

Let’s Talk Nausea

So, I was remembering my pregnancy with Kate. And really, it wasn’t a pleasant one. Because of this It isn’t talked about much, and it can have profound effects on not only the mother’s physical well-being, but also emotional as well. Many people don’t understand. And I finally quit talking about having “morning sickness” to people because they just didn’t get it. By my 4 week postpartum check up I had lost 40 pounds. During my pregnancy nothing helped the unrelenting nausea and vomiting. I would stand in front of the refrigerator and cry because I wanted to eat, but I couldn’t. It was especially a nightmare because we tried so hard to get pregnant. I wanted to enjoy my pregnancy. But I couldn’t. I was exhausted. I had nothing left in me to care about anyone or anything else. Which, as you might imagine, made being a nurse quite a challenge. But I survived, as did Kate. But she did come 4 weeks early. And I recently found out that my placenta had 2 infarcts in it as well as a small hemorrhage. I wonder if it had to do with my constant malnutrition and dehydration. I’ll never know. Just know if you are reading this and have HG, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A baby, and just maybe by the time your baby is 1 1/2 years old, the memories will have faded for you too. 🙂

Ah, My Sweet Pea

Almost a year and a half old.  How did that happen?  Somedays you drive me crazy!!!!!  But, oh how I love you!  What would I have done without you in my life?  Which brings the question…..are we going to have anymore?  Well, if it were up to me, the answer would be a resounding YES!  But life does not work out how you think it’s supposed to most of the time.  For instance, I thought we should have been blessed with Kate 3 years before we were.  But God had different plans.  And so we waited.  Impatiently most of the time.  We want more kids.  I’m going to be (gulp) 35 in just over a week.  So we’ve been doing this again. In fact for about 8 months or so. And no additional kids. So I guess God has different things in store for us……and so, I enjoy my true blessing from heaven!

Kate, Remember Me? Old Man Winter?

I see you do……

I Love My Girl

Halloweening

So I Got Offended

I was perusing blogs as I do on occasion.  And I happened upon a comment in one of them.  I don’t remember it exactly, but it referred to having a “normal” birth.  Who decides what is normal? I’m guessing this person meant a vaginal birth without drugs or induction.  But really, who decides what’s normal?  I was kind of offended.  So, women who opt for pain management during labor aren’t normal?  I’ve got news for you guys……just because you choose not to have medication in labor does NOT mean you get a better baby.  Nor do you get any award (except for said baby).  I mean, if you come to me as my patient and don’t want drugs, that’s fine.  I won’t force them on you.  I’m even open to intermittent monitoring, being up and around in labor, and *gasp*, I even think that women should be able to eat in labor.

And what about c-setions?  Those I suppose are the ultimate of “not normal”.  Or what about the woman who labors naturally but has a 1 hour labor.  That’s not normal.  Nor is someone who labors for 48 hours.  So you see, “normal” is a judgment.  And I just think we shouldn’t be judging each other for our birth choices.  Instead, we should support each other in our differences.  Because after all, that’s what makes us human.