So I usually post every other day but have been out of the scene for a minute as I was welcoming my second son into the world, Jamie Patrick Scharff “James”. After my experience of labor and delivery with James and my extreme surprise over the vast differences from my experience with Jack, I decided to share James’ birth story for fellow second time mommies. Moral of this Post: Do not expect your first experience to be anything like the second!
THE BIRTH
I was set for an induction on August 24th but the evening of August 23rd, my water broke. My water breaking was the only thing that was similar in my pregnancies. Quick fact, did you know that only 10% of women go into labor with their water breaking? I am very lucky to have gotten this signal both times because honestly, I was so confused on what a labor contraction feels like as opposed to Braxton Hicks or early labor contractions. I did not want to make the hike from Midtown to Germantown to be sent home with false labor, yet I didn’t want to have my son in a car or at home either.
My water breaking this time was more like what you see in the movies. With Jack, I was convinced that I had just gone incompetent because it was just a slow on and off trickle. I wasn’t sure if I was peeing on myself and definitely didn’t think it was my water initially. This time I was sitting in the recliner and out of nowhere I felt and heard a huge pop in my stomach. It sounded like something exploded in my body. Initially I thought one of my organs popped. It terrified me but I felt no pain so I was puzzled…..until I stood up and with a rush of liquid, it became very clear that my water had broken. I went to get a quick shower and we loaded up for the hospital.
When my anesthesiologist arrived, I was in a great deal of pain. With Jack, I did not really feel significant pain until about 3 hours before I had him which the epidural knocked out. I labored for 8 hours with Jack and had every intention of doing the same with James. I was trying to focus on being super still because of obvious paralyzing risks of sticking a needle in your spine, however the pain at this point was excruciating…mind you, this is all within the first 2 hours of arrival. I was unsure what was happening because again, with Jack the labor was long and drawn out, which I did not mind because I was super numb. I barely felt a thing and this time I was feeling all kinds of different pains and pressures. By the time the epidural was in, I had gone from a sickly moan to and all out hollar. I was trying my best not to scream down the maternity ward as I wanted to be polite but the pain was growing worse and contractions all the way up to a minute apart at this point. I kept telling my nurse that I think I needed to use the restroom… the problem is, with an epidural your can’t use your legs. I was very concerned as to how I was going to make it to the toilet. haha!!! The epidural did not kick in as quick as it did with Jack. The pain kept coming!
THE BABY
THE WEIGHT
Everyone always says that it is harder to get the weight off with the second one. So far I am progressing about the same, however…it has only been 7 days. The day I had James, I was 175 lbs. This morning I weighed in at 157 lbs. 18 lbs lighter in 7 days…not bad! My original weight was 133lbs and I will not start a workout plan until about another week so I am anxious to see how much more falls off before then. The key is breastfeeding! It is super painful and hard work. It’s like the baby sucks every calorie out of your body. I wake up in the middle of the night starving and feeling malnourished.When you feed your muscles in your lower abdomen contract and tighten. It is also a little painful but such a cool experience. Your body knows exactly what to do to heal itself after pregnancy. The way the human body is wired is a true miracle.
When you sit and think about it…it is such a beautiful thing. Giving life to and nourishing one of God’s creations through nothing but your body. I have heard many Christians say that the pains of childbirth were punishment for women making Adam eat that apple but to me, It was hard work. I am the type of person that is most proud when I have put in excruciating work and get to see my creation come to fruition. I must say. My most proud accomplishment is being a momma!
OTHER GREAT TOPICS ON THE WEB
2 Comments
Mary Conley
January 2, 2018 at 1:09 amI always kept a cup of dry cereal by my bed. Usually something with high fiber and low sugar like Kashi Go Lean. Since you do wake up starving while breastfeeding it's important to upkeep healthy calories!
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