Baby boot camp
Several friends likened the first 6-8 weeks of parenthood as boot camp and I see the parallels: physical pain during labor & recovery, undesired wake-up calls, frequent repetitive exercises (albeit bouncing and rocking versus climbing walls and doing push-ups), occasional demanding screams, random fluids ending up on your body, etc… However, boot campers undoubtedly don’t get delicious meals delivered to them, cards or gifts, frequent calls of encouragement and offers for help, and family visiting (thank you everybody!!!). We have been incredibly blessed with support, making our experience much easier than it could’ve been. Also, Charlie is an awesome baby (yes, I’m biased). He’s generally easy to console, a huge snuggle bug, and so darn cute that I almost don’t mind when he’s wide awake at 3am…and again at 4:30…and again at 6…. The latest adorable acts include his smile and frequent “ah-oo” noise. The cooing noise appears to be initiated following ours on occasion, too! It might be his first conversation of sorts (I’m going to try to avoid being too SLP-ish in my analysis of his early speech development!).
Do boot campers experience anything like labor? I haven’t written about my labor yet, and might do so in more detail at a later date, but here’s the highlights for those who haven’t heard:
- Harry had strep and I had a cold (all my symptoms stopped during labor and returned after delivery)
- Contractions started on Februrary 4th at 2am and I delivered on the 5th at 6:20pm, making it a grand total of 40 hours (20-24 of which were “active”, of which waaaay too many were pushing).
- We had a doula, who is also a friend, present with us for the last 22 hours or labor! If an award exists, she should win it for her dedication and amazing coaching. I believe that without her the labor would have been much more difficult and I might’ve ended up with a cesarean.
- Thankfully we needed no serious medical intervention. Being able to walk and use different positions for contractions, and eat(initially)/drink also probably helped me endure. And the 3 Rs (relaxation, ritual, rhythm) work! (Again, thanks to our doula reminding me to use them and knowing when to change things up.) FYI- I highly recommend the Simkin books Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn and The Birth Partner for labor prep.
- 3rd degree tear/four lacerations total- this is why I was essentially bedrest for the first two weeks and am still not supposed to lift anything heavier than Charlie. I am much better now and incredibly thankful to be sitting, walking, driving, etc…
- It was the most profound spiritual experience of my life. I have never felt God so present and comforting. He undoubtedly prepared Harry & I for this experience and made specific, tangible ways for us to endure the challenges, including: Harry’s fever breaking right as we needed to go to the hospital; friends sharing verses with me that I ended up clinging to during contractions; providing us with an amazing doula, especially since Harry was sick, labor took so long, and Harry & I would’ve had no clue about how to make contractions less painful and more productive. There are many other specific incidents, as well.
Since this post has taken me 3 days to write by sneaking in sentences while Charlie’s content in a bouncy chair, I must end it before he’s 6 months old and none of this is relevant anymore!
