the truth about giving birth

[Amumsim]

Hello mums and mums to be.
I have been compiling MY "truth about giving birth" and I'd love to hear yours, the most memorable things, the things you were never told or the things you've found no one talks about.
Mine is on my blog which I'm not allowed to link to here but you can find me on the Mumsnet Bloggers Network - a mum's internal monologue.
I'd love to hear yours, whether on my blog or here! In the spirit of sharing I'm open to any questions! It's time the truth was told x

The sheer volume of blood, it looked like a massacre after my first baby. I am sure I was in shock for the first six hours after having my first daughter.

I think I agree with everyone here! It's a rollercoaster ride.

The whole thing wasn't as bad as I'd imagined but it was all the stuff immediately after that shocked me - the retained placenta, the blood loss, not feeling anything for my baby (not "falling in love" like I was promised!!!) the stitches, the numbness, the utter exhaustion that takes a year to catch up on (if you're lucky), PND almost immediately and that all of that will heal and fade and won't matter anymore : )

Mrs DeV The fact that you feel like the baby is coming out of your bum

This, and how physical the whole pushing process is. It is literally like shitting a watermelon. I kind of thought people were exaggerating, but they really weren't. Oddest sensation ever. Got to do it all again this week or next. Ah well.

Good luck richman:)

If I had known about the bum thing I wouldn't have been so scared. So why don't they tell you!?

Hear hear MrsDeVere. . Pregnant women and new mums should be nurtured. It is a natural event, but it's also very very special to be creating a whole new person.

5madthings I'm so glad I didn't look!

Totally agree about new mums needing to be nurtured, both times I've been on a total high straight after the birth and done way too much in the early days which I really suffered for when the high wore off.

Also the first poo was absolutely terrifying

Another one agreeing that new mums need to be cared for.

It's not only a massive physical shock, it's a massive emotional shock (especially for first time mums) and that actually it shouldn't be a competition to see who is the first out and about with the baby. Yes, it is of course completely natural and yes of course women have always done it, but it is an enormous, And often traumatic, transformation in your life and this should be recognised.

The thing I completely failed to get - and this was second time around - was just how much expressing milk/colostrum makes you bleed.

DS was in scbu so I was expressing for him. Each time I did so I bled more. Then I would try to stand up to rinse the pump out and just flood the bed, my pjs, the floor... Every 3 hours until I could get rid of the cathater.

Also, that our first born was a big deal to lots of people and our second one wasn't. I felt so sorry for him that people who sent presents to his sister didn't even send him a card. And even DH welcomed me home with flowers after dd was born... When ds and I got home after 5 days the first thing I had to do was clean the house before I was happy to put DS down anywhere.

Yes to not fitting into your normal clothes again. I wore my maternity trousers for about a month afterwards.

Also, you leave your dignity at the door...you'll pick it up on the way out. I ended up giving birth in the nude. And I'm pretty sure I flashed some poor man when I was walking from the pool room to the delivery room wearing nothing but two very tiny towels.

SarryB you wore maternity trousers for a month after....? I have bought some new maternity skinny jeans to wear over the winter.....I'm due in a week! A month is doing well IMO! and

Well, I went from my maternity jeans to a size above what I wore pre-pregnancy after a month. And I'm still in that size at 3 months. My hips are back to pre-preg size, but my belly is still a size up.

That you actually do feel as though you're splitting in half when the baby finally emerges.

I though first stage was bad enough - contractions hurt like hell - but I was dead chuffed with getting to 10 cm on just gas and air, and keeping mobile. For some inexplicable reason, I thought the next bit - pushing the baby out - would be pretty quick and no more painful than first stage.

How wrong I was......

fuckbadger Oh yes. The. First. Poo. Oh my god the first poo. shock] They go on and on about what to expect from the baby's first poo: "Oooooh, be prepared! It might look a bit black and sticky" Big fucking deal! How about some warning about the mother's first poo??????? That's the bugger to watch out for.

I'm getting about a million stool softeners on prescription this time around and taking ALL OF THEM in a huge smoothie as soon as baby has emerged (not really).

My first poo (can't believe I'm typing this) was absolutely fine, but then I did take a 2 litre bottle of water into the delivery room and started drinking it a few minutes after ds emerged, plus I drank Fybogel twice a day. So somebody must have warned me...

Ooooh the afterpains. After my third I actually woke my ex up one night because I thought something was seriously wrong with my insides. The pain was horrid - I'm glad not everyone has them, the less the better! I'll have painkillers at the ready this time around - due number 4 in 8 weeks...