Maya, Life, 2013
Well, I survived pregnancy. It didn't get any easier - well, not much, anyway. The nausea eventually went away, but was replaced with searing back pain, the only cure for which was to "get unpregnant" as my sister put it.
Birth itself was horrible, as you might imagine. I was in the hospital for 19 hours. After 12 I asked for an epidural. The pains themselves actually weren't that bad. Maya was backwards (facing my spine), and maybe that's why, or maybe just my high pain tolerance. But I was rating very strong contractions (according to the thingy strapped to me) as "mild" or "mild-ish". But they were 2-3 minutes apart, ALL NIGHT, and in the morning I was only 1 cm dilated. And I thought, "Well, I should probably get some sleep now." So, epidural and sleep followed.
The rest of it was just waiting. I broke my tailbone when she was born, but didn't really notice until nighttime. I couldn't move well for about 6 weeks, and I also got stitches, which was definitely the most painful thing that's ever happened to me. But I recovered. Well, almost. I still have a special pillow to sit on.
Maya is amazing. She's all of the cutest things I've ever seen, especially when she's sleeping. I still haven't really reconciled myself to the fact that I don't have a life outside of her anymore, but I'm sure that will come with time. Or I'll find a way to get back to judo and sports. I have managed the gym - there's a "crash" (read "daycare") there. So Maya hangs out while I swim. I've tried running, but it's hard. I've never been so weak before in my entire life. I can't do even a tenth of what I used to do, and I wonder if I'll ever get it back. I wonder if it's WORTH getting back, considering we want to have another one. Which I also still haven't quite reconciled myself to. But I do love her. (Part of the problem, actually - if there's ANOTHER one, I can't spend all my energy on her!)
In other news, Hiro is the most supportive amazing wonderful husband I could ask for, and he's fantastic with her. We also got a nanny/maid, who does all the laundry, cleaning, and baby care three days a week. This keeps me sane, and has convinced me that the standard of living in South Africa is 100% higher than in the states. I don't understand how mothers manage without help!
Birth itself was horrible, as you might imagine. I was in the hospital for 19 hours. After 12 I asked for an epidural. The pains themselves actually weren't that bad. Maya was backwards (facing my spine), and maybe that's why, or maybe just my high pain tolerance. But I was rating very strong contractions (according to the thingy strapped to me) as "mild" or "mild-ish". But they were 2-3 minutes apart, ALL NIGHT, and in the morning I was only 1 cm dilated. And I thought, "Well, I should probably get some sleep now." So, epidural and sleep followed.
The rest of it was just waiting. I broke my tailbone when she was born, but didn't really notice until nighttime. I couldn't move well for about 6 weeks, and I also got stitches, which was definitely the most painful thing that's ever happened to me. But I recovered. Well, almost. I still have a special pillow to sit on.
Maya is amazing. She's all of the cutest things I've ever seen, especially when she's sleeping. I still haven't really reconciled myself to the fact that I don't have a life outside of her anymore, but I'm sure that will come with time. Or I'll find a way to get back to judo and sports. I have managed the gym - there's a "crash" (read "daycare") there. So Maya hangs out while I swim. I've tried running, but it's hard. I've never been so weak before in my entire life. I can't do even a tenth of what I used to do, and I wonder if I'll ever get it back. I wonder if it's WORTH getting back, considering we want to have another one. Which I also still haven't quite reconciled myself to. But I do love her. (Part of the problem, actually - if there's ANOTHER one, I can't spend all my energy on her!)
In other news, Hiro is the most supportive amazing wonderful husband I could ask for, and he's fantastic with her. We also got a nanny/maid, who does all the laundry, cleaning, and baby care three days a week. This keeps me sane, and has convinced me that the standard of living in South Africa is 100% higher than in the states. I don't understand how mothers manage without help!