Hospital Bag Pt. 2: What to pack for Mommy.

 

 Hey! So last month I made a general must haves post about packing my hospital bag! You can read that here. But I want to go into detail about what specifically to pack for mommy, baby, and the family over this next week. To begin, lets start with Mommy!

(Obviously you'll need your wallet and things like medications you're taking- if any. All of those obvious items, I am not going to mention here.)

Here is a little recap from the last post:

A pretty robe and nightgown.

I don't care what anyone says! That hospital gown makes you feel so gross and it isn't flattering at all. It doesn't look pretty in the photos, and I don't care if I stain this. I bought it to boost my confidence for the hospital and it really will do just that. Purple is one of my happy colors. I recommend taking something in a color that makes you feel amazing and ignore the "you'll stain it somehow" remarks. Who cares! I want to feel and look pretty while in that bland hospital.

Comfortable sleep nursing bras.

I have some old ones that I had from nursing Opal, but I bought this new set for the same reason as above. New stuff makes me feel special and pretty. I didn't have this style of sleep bras yet, so that is exciting to. It is going to do the job of making my uncomfortable engorged boobies feel as awesome as possible.

Undies.

Personal preference. But the day I go home I am most definitely not wearing those mesh undies. I am going to feel like a normal woman in some normal undies.

Nursing pads.

Washables will stay home, I am only packing the disposable ones.

Slippers.

Walking the halls is a necessity. Pack some slippers! I bought these to match my robe, and I haven't wore them once. I am saving them to add to the "new makes me feel awesome" feeling.

Socks.

The hospital's compression socks aren't all too flattering either- so I'm taking these. Hopefully I wont be as swollen this go-around, and they'll fit.

Glasses.

Don't forget to pack these if you need them!

Lip balm.

You'll need this for sure. Hospitals are dry and if you're like me and lick/ bite your lips while nervous or anxious- you'll definitely need it! Ha-ha!

Water bottle.

Your hospital will have large foam cups that the nurses and your partner or family will continuously bring you full of yummy ice water. 

So what else does Mommy need? Toiletries and Nursing items!

Nursing Pillow.

  I have used a Boppy, My Brest Friend, and those free ones that you get emails about.

My personal preference has been the My Brest Friend- I love the back support, strap, pockets, how wide it is for baby, and how the baby is actually supported and not rolling into or away from you like they can with the Boppy. I have this specific pillow in "Blue Bells".

Nipple Butter and Pads.

I chose Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter. It is all natural and safe for you and baby. You don't have to stress about wiping it all off before each nursing sesh. I'll probably use it as my lip balm too. Babies R Us carries it in stores AND you can now finally buy this in stores at Target, too!

Check out all of their products for:

Breastfeeding care here.

Postpartum care here.

I like these NUK pads because of how thin they are. You can't see them through your tops. They work great, and they don't come apart like some others that I've tried. The price point on them is really great too.

Skin care.

I have a really serious thing about taking care of my skin. I break out and am allergic to a lot of products/ makeup. So I will be taking my face wash routine, some makeup remover wipes, and a facial cleansing wipes to keep my face from breaking out while I am in the hospital.

I am also taking a body wash and small moisturizer for my face and hands.

Deodorant- because duh.

*not pictured- shampoo and conditioner. Take these with you if you plan on washing your hair during your stay. I am taking a shower cap because I will wash my hair the day of my surgery and wont need to wash again during my stay.

I ALSO RECOMMEND SHOWER SHOES. TAKE SOME FLIP FLOPS TO WEAR WHILE YOU SHOWER IN THE HOSPITAL!!!!!!  

Hopefully your hospital is clean, but you just never know with public showers. I don't do germs.

Eye care.

I mentioned above to take your glasses, but don't forget to pack your contacts, their case, and a small solution for them. I love my contacts, so these are definitely going.

Oral care.

 Take your toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. I am taking Listerine in the travel size also, because you just never know if you'll be stuck to a bed for a long period of time unable to brush your teeth properly.

Make up.

Some women will want to wear makeup, others wont.  There are usually professional photographers who will come by and offer to take photos that you can later purchase. Having these items on hand is good if you plan to do this.

 Hair Care.

If you plan on showering (and washing your hair) you'll likely want to pack shampoo and conditioner. I am having a scheduled C-section so I will be washing my hair the day of and styling it. I am taking a shower cap because I only wash my hair every 3 days. :-) If I need these products my house is close enough to the hospital that my hubby will bring them to me.

I am going to try to do my hair and makeup every single day of this journey because that is what I feel will make me happy. I want to feel and look my best. I am going have the professional photos be taken this time around also.

Nursing tops.

 If you're going to be nursing, take a couple tank tops even if you're planning on a short stay. You never know when your milk is going to come in, and you may leak. I hate being in a top that has a bunch of dried milk all over it. It just feels nasty.

Dress from Target.
Jacket is from Gap.
Necklace from Charlotte Russe.

Handbag: gift.
Sandals are from Payless.


Going home outfit and shoes.

 I am having a C-section, so I am packing a light and very loose dress. I don't want to wear anything tight or touchy on my scar. I'm taking sandals the day I go in, and will wear them returning home too.

For the lovely ladies having a natural birth- leggings and a top are optional for you. Definitely pack clothes for a size 5 or 6 month belly. You're still going to have a pretty swollen tummy while your uterus is in the process of shrinking.

I do recommend packing a dress just in case. You never know how your birth will end. 

I had no idea I was going to have a c-section the first time around and had to wear leggings and a tight top home. I was in so much pain and was uncomfortable. I truly wish I packed a dress to go home in just in case.

DRESS: FOREVER 21  SHOES: TARGET

TUMMY BAND: MOTHERHOOD

Tummy Sleeve/ Band. 

I am taking mine with me to hold my belly up. I wasn't a fan of the Abdominal Binder that the hospital gave me last time. It hurt and was too large for me. I am going to use this and if I end up wanting something more supportive I will buy the smaller binder from Babies R Us. Last time though, this did the trick and I could still breathe.

Ipad/tablet with favorite movie(s).

Your hospital should have the option to pay for cable during your stay. I am going to do this again, but I am also taking my Ipad with my current favorite movies. It will help to pass time and take my mind off of things if needed. Especially during the times my hubby may be at home napping or spending time with Opal and I am alone at the hospital. 

Pillows.

I don't think I am going to take pillows from home with me, but I am going to keep two in my car. Why? Because I am totally taking others' advice about hugging one pillow, and sitting on another on the ride home. Having that C-section wound is going to have me all sorts of sore. I remember every bump on the drive home was so painful, so I hope this tip really does help.

I also want to share a link to my Pinterest board that I have been pinning some advice from other bloggers.  

 

        

I'll continue to add to this as much as possible.

My breastfeeding journey at 8 months post partum.

Here we are, eight months postpartum! How in the heck did this happen?! I seriously feel like I sat down on the remote of my life and accidentally switched it to "fast forward".... WHERE'S THE PAUSE BUTTON!? I would totally love to pause my life and enjoy Opal at this stage in life for a bit longer. I wish Dillon was here to enjoy her. She's beautiful and just so, soooo smart.


I want to focus on how our breastfeeding journey has been thus far, and share a couple of things with y'all for World Breastfeeding Week.


First of all, I want those parents who may be reading this, and weren't or aren't breastfeeding to know that I am in no way wanting you to feel offended or less than those who do. I support you and however you are feeding your babe! They're being fed and that is all that matters! I know that there are so many reasons parents use formula, and that is your business, completely!


I happen to be breastfeeding though.... and I want to share my experience and the lessons I've learned.

Try to sleep as much as possible.

First off, the first couple weeks sucked. Having a newborn baby and being super tired sucks in general. I remember waking up so many times to my husband, Dillon walking around the room holding a pillow in his arms and "shushing" it back to sleep.... He was asleep and thinking he was comforting our new baby. That is how tired we were!

Life has to go on.

Dillon and I had no family in DC.. It was just us. There was no hospital visitors, balloons, prepared food, clean house, or welcome home party.. It was just us and the dogs with a brand new little baby. Neither of us had changed a diaper before. We had no idea what we were doing. And we had no one to do our errands for us. Opal literally was out grocery shopping with me in snow storms at 2 weeks old. I had to take her out. I had to resume my normal life, even with a fresh cesarean scar.

 Talk to a lactation consultant.

Engorged boobs were the worst! I started out with a B cup, by the time I was 9 months pregnant I was a DDD, and I am now a D to DD, depending on how much milk they're carrying. Opal had a tough time the first day that my milk came in, but we happened to still be in the hospital when that happened (due to an infection in my uterus) so I had a lactation consultant come by to help me out. She was an angel. She helped me out so much, taught me so many tips, and gave me so much confidence.

Create a circle of support.

When we got home from the hospital I was soooo scared. Nobody in my family had breastfed so I had no idea what it was even supposed to look like! I called my mother in law for advice and asked all of my friends for so much advice. It was a lot of pressure knowing that I was responsible for our daughter's nutrition! I didn't want to do anything wrong. How was I to know if I was feeding her enough? What if I would wake up one morning and not have a drop of milk for her? Should I keep formula on hand? What kind of bottles would she need if I caved and used formula? All of these questions would run through my head and I would have panic attacks every day. I definitely want anyone and everyone to feel comfortable coming to me for anything! If you have a question about nursing, I am here for you. If you need to vent about how tiring it is, I know, and I'm here to listen!

It actually got better!

I didn't believe anyone that it would get easier, but Opal and I became better at nursing every single mealtime. She was really good at latching on early into it. I think the hardest part was when my letdown was too much for her. She would get really overwhelmed and start coughing. It scared me so much, that I actually went to Target to look at formula... I started reading everything about it and was actually ready to switch because I thought I was hurting her. I decided to reach out to some of my friends who told me to try out some different nursing positions that may help. They actually worked and we got stronger and better.

Nurse in public because you're f*cking awesome. *excuse my language

My family continuously asked me how I would feed Opal when we were out running errands or shopping. They would ask if I would use a cover or just pump... And you know what? I've done both.

I've tried using a cover and that sh*t sucks. I couldn't see Opal, it made us clumsy, she was so sweaty, and I almost dropped her because we got all tangled up.

I've also pumped, and it sucks too! The only part about nursing that hurts, (aside from the occasional bite) has been pumping. I seriously give moms who have to pump everyday props. I cannot imagine how hard that must be, especially to keep a positive attitude while doing so. I actually just invested in a hospital grade breastpump and I'm very excited. I hope it is a lot better than my smaller one and that I can enjoy pumping somewhat more.

When I'm out running errands or hanging out with my family and Opal tells me she is hungry, I stop and feed her. If I'm at a mall I find the family restroom and nurse her in the room set aside for that. If I'm at target I just sit down somewhere quiet (yes, in a random aisle- I don't care) and I feed her. If were using the carrier I just pull my shirt down and feed her, that simple. If were driving, I pull into a parking lot and feed her in the backseat. I don't use a cover and I don't pump and take a bottle with me. I tried those things and I just didn't like it. I've learned that feeding my baby wherever and whenever works for me.

Teething sucks, but it will get better! 

As I type this right now, I'm laying in bed watching breaking bad. Opal is latched on, dream nursing, and every couple minutes she will sneak in a little tiny bite. It is JUST barely noticeable. But, that's not always the case. Sometimes she will look at me with a very sneaky smile... And she will chomp down! I've learned to over dramatically scream and to say OW! She instantly looks shocked and will kiss my boob or my arm. I hate when she bites, but she's cutting 4 teeth right now and I don't blame her one bit! I go absolutely crazy when my wisdom teeth flare up every couple months, and she's just a little baby who can't even understand what the heck is going on with her mouth and ears. That must be so frustrating! 

When she first started teething I had asked what to do when she first started biting. Instantly, people who had never breastfed in their lives told me "that means she doesn't want to breastfeed anymore." 

I was devastated! I was so confused! How could my 3 month old baby already be done? How could this be? 

Well, they were wrong. I researched a lot. And my baby kept asking for my milk. And I just flicked her and over dramatically said "OW!" If she bit me. And you know what? It got better!! Now were going through another hard teething phase and I'm not taking it as "mom your breast is no longer necessary!" I'm taking those bites as, "HEY MOM MY MOUTH HURTS AND I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO." ;-) 

Don't give up. It gets better!

It takes dedication.

Being a breastfeeding mother is easy and hard at the same time. It is hard to be solely responsible for your baby's nutrition. But you know what makes it easy? Knowing that you are giving your baby exactly what God planned and blessed us with!

If you ever need help or advice, I'm here for you!

:)


-Chels.

C- section scar.

I am the type of person that obsesses over my imperfections, especially my skin. Growing up I always had really great skin, and then puberty happened. Since then, I've gone through every stage of skin problems. (Oily, acne, dry patches, and recently cysts.) 

Hormones are not my friend.

Well, I was really confident going into my pregnancy about everything.. But then , before any noticeable bump popped out I was already bearing 2 stretch marks... Before I was even 12 weeks pregnant.

I talked to my doctor and she told me that the elasticity of my skin would probably resemble that of my mom's and grandma's. Well, crap. They're covered in stretch marks. 

And well, the same thing happened to me. It has beaten me down pretty bad, because it was already a bad insecurity of mine. It really doesn't help that my skin is highly sensitive and will react to anything.

Well, when the reality of a possible c section was brought to the table weeks before I was due, I had to come to terms with another damn scar. It's been a big problem for me mentally. But, I religiously try to keep it moisturized and I use a dark skin neutralizer. I finally checked my scar today for the first time in a month.. And I'm pretty happy with the difference that I already can see! 

I was having issues with sensitivity and itchiness in the area, so I stopped wearing any undies that touched my scar.. (THANKYOU PINK FOR MAKING THESE AWESOME UNDIES)..

Here is how my scar looks currently. :-)

I pulled my stretched out skin up for you to see, haha! 

Birth story!

Oh, man. So, it has taken me 4 weeks to decide that I really wanted to write out my birth story. Before Opal arrived I was documenting EVERYTHING, but after having such a horrible experience, I kind of just wanted to forget a lot of it. 

I will be honest right now, because that is the kind of gal I am. If you are pregnant- you probably don't want to read my story. I don't want to scare anyone.. And that's why I've fought with wanting to write it all out. I don't want to give you some scary image of the birth process. The only reason I had a tough time, was honestly just a bunch of small "problems" adding up and causing everything to bombard and overwhelm me.

The hand of cards that I was dealt was not the best, and that does not at all for one second mean that you will have any of my experiences.

Keep that in mind!

Okay. Now on to my story...

As many of you know, I was in what is called prodromal labor for weeeeeks before Opal actually arrived! (Pre-labour, also called "prodromal labour,"consists of the early signs before labor starts. It is the body's preparation for real labour.) I went to L&D 4 times before I was finally admitted. All 4 times I was monitored, was having consistent contractions for HOURS, but nothing would progress down below. I was at 2 cm, 50% eff for 4 weeks.

On December 8th, I woke up and was pretty wet down there. I thought I peed myself while sleeping, (had been doing a lot of peeing myself those last couple of weeks).. So I didn't think anything about it. But, I noticed several times through out the day that I was "peeing myself" without noticing it.. So the next day, when I woke up to blood in my panties, I was nervous! This could be good or bad! I didn't know if this was my bloody show, or something serious like my water had been leaking and I didn't know! So as I'm googling this (like we all do, I google EVERYTHING- not always the best habit!) my OB called me! (Did I mention it was 6 am? And did I mention we were having snow storms?) well, they called me at 6 am to tell me my appointment was going to be rescheduled until the snow storms were over! They told me to go to L&D as soon as possible to verify my water wasn't leaking and that they would get back to me for an appointment.

So I took my time to get to L&D, because I was in no hurry to make that 40 minute drive IN A SNOW STORM. 

When we got there, they hooked me up to the monitors, and did one of those paper tests to check my waters. It came back negative, but I was told the blood could cause a false negative, and I was still having a heavy "bloody show". They then did an ultrasound to confirm everything and the tech said my fluid levels were still good and what not.

Cool. 

So we head home. 

And the prodromal labor continues. Strong contractions every 5-7 minutes. All day and night. They would last for 3-4 hours and then stop for a couple and then come back. It SUCKED.

On the night of December 11th i went to the hospital with steady contractions, was monitored, and turned away at 1:30 am because i was still 2 cm. 

I went home and magically everything seemed to get worse. I didn't sleep at all. I could not lay down, I couldn't sit, I couldn't even take a bath without being in pain. 

Dillon HAD to go to work that morning on the 12th. I stayed in my bedroom (I couldn't even walk down the stairs to let our dogs outside or feed them).. I put on Netflix to Hart of Dixie, and I cried. 

I cried.

I screamed.

I threw myself around my bed.

I hugged the doorway to our bathroom while I rocked my hips & I focused on my breathing. 

I counted in my head to make it go by faster.

Each contraction was growing more painful, and before I knew it, they were 3 minutes apart for 6+ HOURS.

I couldn't get ahold of Dillon. I cried on the phone to my mom. I was sooooo tired of going into the hospital and being turned away. I knew I wouldn't be able to handle the car ride again. She finally convinced me to call L&D. 

As soon as my Doctor got on the phone and I told her I couldn't get ahold of my husband and had no friends to take me to the hospital she wanted to call an ambulance to get me ASAP. Luckily, Dillon called in while I was talking to her.

This was at 3 pm.

I remember my phone kept going off. Everyone was texting and tweeting me asking if I was okay, and I couldn't even reply. I was getting contraction after contraction and I just couldn't handle anything. My legs were in so much pain from standing all night and pretty much all day.

When we got to the hospital around 4:30 they knew at admissions I was on my way and got me straight to a wheel chair and finished paperwork afterwards. My Doctor admitted me and said I was 5 cm dilated. They got me an IV with pain meds as soon as they could, I had planned to go as long as possible without medications, but by the time I got there I had been in labor for over a day. I just wanted to be able to relax a bit and enjoy the delivery. As soon as I got the IV, I was on cloud 9. I felt amaaaazing. My husband left to take care of the dogs while I got the epidural, and I spent a couple of hours watching "Pawn Stars" waiting for baby. 

After my water broke, I was told I was 8 cm. I was progressing great, and everything was still going as planned. And then things kind of halted. It took longer than expected to get to 9.5 cm, but I got there without needing pitocin. So, when I finally was at 9.5, we thought baby would be coming soon! At this point, the only problem was that Opal was still posterior, (aka sunny side up). Although it would take longer to push her out, it was still possible to have a natural birth! 

But then the hours passed on..

My doctor came in and asked me to be brave and to do some pushing. She told me we wouldn't do a lot, but that she was going to try to turn Opal a bit and stretch that last .5 cm. I was scared and not ready, but I agreed.

I pushed for 45 minutes the first attempt.. With every contraction I pushed and pushed and I could feel her hands down there, and the pressure from Opal's head, and I could feel her trying to stretch that skin.

I was so scared when she came back in and asked if we could try it again after that session. At this point, the pressure was crazy. I thought I was going to poop myself. And it was even worse with the headache I was getting from no sleep, dry contacts, and crying so much. To top it off, my epidural was beginning to wear off in my back and vaginal area. I could NOT feel my legs, but I could start to feel my torso and hips. 

By the third "pushing session" the nurse was persuading me to push with a can of knock off coke! They ran out and grabbed some nurse's can of soda from the fridge, threw a straw in it, and in between pushes let me sip coke! Nothing was changing and I was in so much pain.

After hours of this, I asked what was going to happen next. I could tell in their eyes that it wasn't anything I wanted to hear. opal's heartbeat was starting to drop anytime I tried to push. That wasn't good. That scared me so much. So we had to have the conversation I didn't want to have, and talk about C sections. 

I wasn't against a medically necessary C Section, and I was somewhat familiar with it all. My mom has had 4. I knew I would survive and it wasn't the end of the world.

I cried as I signed all of the paperwork, and cried as I signed what felt like my dream of a vaginal birth away. I was crushed. But I was in a position that I would rather have my baby in my arms safe and sound, than have something happen to her because I had too much pride. I could have pushed for more hours.. But sadly, nothing would have changed. And her health was my first priority.

As they prepped me for surgery, I tried to stay positive. I have to say a huge Thankyou to my husband for keeping me from drowning in sorrow. I remember looking at him and I just kept telling him I was sorry and crying. I couldn't stop apologizing, and he asked me why. I just felt like suuuch a failure. For months I promised him this magical moment and he was going to see it all, and now I was getting prepped for surgery and it wasn't going to be what we planned at all. He was so calm and just reassured me that he wasn't dissappointed in me, and that he was so proud of me for everything I was doing. He was literally watching me push the entire time, and from an angle in didn't want! He was holding my left leg for the doctor the ennnntire time and was a magnificent coach. He was my rock.

Most women say they wanted to rip their husband's head off, but honestly, looking at his face and hearing his voice helped me ignore my pain. I made him talk about Opal and all the things she would grow up to do and who she would look like, and I was able to focus on my breathing hearing all of it. He was perfect, and I fell more in love with him through out that experience. 

When they came in and told me they were ready for me, I started to panic on the inside. I was trying to pretend I was confident, but I was terrified. The lights were so bright and everything was white and there was so much going on around me in the operating room. The pain medications caused me to shake extremely bad. So, so bad. It scared me. I remember laying there and crying to myself while listening to the surgeons casually talk about how they loved my tattoos. I was just so lost in my thoughts. 

Next thing I knew I was feeling the pressure of them take Opal out of my tummy and the worst thing imaginable happened.

She didn't cry.

I remember looking frantically at Dillon and whispering, "why isn't she crying?"

It felt like an eternity but finally they got her to cry and everyone cheered. From behind the curtains I could hear them all telling me how beautiful she was. 

Opal Faye was born at 8 am, on the dot, on Friday the 13th of December, 2013. She weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz. & was 20 inches long.

They asked me if I wanted to hold her, but I was shaking so hard, that I couldn't. I told them to take her to get everything done and sent Dillon with her. I was so sad that we didn't get to do any of the normal things, like cutting the umbilical cord, and skin to skin immediately. 

Laying on the operating table, I remember crying to myself and a nurse asking if I was in pain. I told her no as I felt the pressures going on, on the other side of the curtain. I remember just crying because I knew my mom wasn't there. I knew she wasn't going to be there when I got to my room and that saddened me. My nurse overheard this, and when I got back to my room, she told me she already had the Skype Computer on its way to my room and to tell my mom to get to her computer ASAP. I was soooo glad to hear this.

In all honesty, I wasn't ready to be a mom, until my mom was able to tell me I could do it. I needed my mom. I'm so glad that I waited to meet my daughter because my mom got to watch us meet. And that made it almost feel normal. I got to do skin to skin and share that intimate moment with the most important woman in my life. It was amazing to share that, and I forever am thankful for my nurse. She was extremely thoughtful.

Once I got to my recovery room is when everything got hard. 

The doctor came in, sat down and told me we had to talk. 

Apparently, between attempting the vaginal birth, and then having a c section I lost a lot of blood. My tests were coming back with bad levels and I was at risk of needing a blood transfusion. Also, she told me to prepare to deal with the swelling from BOTH types of births. I didn't know what she meant by this until day 3 in the hospital. When I finally got to get the catheter out, and try using the rest room on my own, they also showed me how to care for myself down there.

I was not prepared for this at all.

I was in SO much pain from the C section that I didn't even notice how swollen my lady area was. They told me I had more than the normal amount of swelling from the doctor's attempt at stretching everything. I panicked. I had a panick attack and told the nurse she had to do it for me. I could NOT touch myself. I was mortified and I hated it so much.

To top it off, I began getting horrible fevers over 102, and they didn't know why. I also was having breathing problems and severe chest pain. They ended up figuring out I had an infection in my uterus. This caused me to stay 2 days longer in the hospital.

The hospital stay was the best/worst thing I could've imagined. 

Just know, to always follow your instincts! I developed that infection because I was leaking fluids days before my labor progressed. You should deliver baby within 24 hours of fluids rupturing, even a pinhole. Most women go into active labor immediately after any kind of fluid rupture. I, am not most women. Like I said before, my body dragged labor out for days, and had false alarms for weeks! This is not the norm. 

If you feel like something is different or not ordinary, call your doctor! Go in and get checked! Who cares if by the time baby comes you are friends and on a first name basis with Felicia at the admitting desk! (True story- she even came to see the baby!) go get everything checked, because not everyone is going to have those huge "OH NO MY WATER BROKE!" Moments! And not everyone's pregnancy follows their birth plan.

If I can give one piece of advice to any women out there who are pregnant, plan to be someday, or know someone who is:

Research everything.

Everythinggggg.

Don't just research your dream method of crunchy mommy birth styles.

That isn't always promised and it is better to be aware of all the possibilities that can arise. And don't just research the methods that occur for that scenario.. Research what happens AFTERWARDS too! Many women (like myself) often say, "I wish I knew about the recovery!" So please, for your own sanity, research research research!

I had a rough pregnancy, and an even rougher birthing experience. I am learning to not be dissappointed, and to not get caught up in all of the things that went wrong. I didn't want to share my experience because it feels so negative. 

But- in the end, my precious baby was brought into the world, AND I DID THAT. I made her! All by myself! And I sacrificed a lot for her, and I will continue to do so until the day I die. My Opal is so perfect and I am so thankful for her. I would relive those days over and over for her. 

But don't get me wrong- I pray that it is true that no two pregnancies are alike! I hope my next pregnancy is smooth and that I don't have to suffer a ton!