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Amanda_McDaniel's Pregnancy
My Due Date: March 1, 2016I have given birth!
Age: 37 years old
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Caroline is a Week Old!
By Amanda_McDaniel » Posted Mar. 3, 2016 11:55am - 652 views - 4 comments
I can’t believe this is my life! *Purrs contentedly* Honestly, I was absolutely prepared for the worst and once again God has blessed me way beyond what I deserve. Because I’d been fighting my dark emotions over the surgery and had suspected I was having pregnancy depression periodically through the second and third trimester, I was braced for postpartum issues. Not to brag but I’ve been so incredibly euphoric this week that I’ve seriously been more Zen than I’ve ever been. Postpartum depression is no joke so I’m relieved to be free of it right now. Plus, unlike my first pregnancy, my milk came in fast and furious on Saturday night when we got home so Princess Caroline is already gaining weight back and losing the little bit of jaundice she had. We had her newborn pictures done by a local couple who have recently became insanely popular and now I know why. They’re baby whisperers! We spent twice what we ever did with Sebastian’s back in the day but it was totally worth it. They devoted three hours so they could get each shot just perfect without stressing out my daughter, with breaks to feed and comfort her, and let my baby just relax. I can’t wait to get them in and share them once I do. However, it hasn’t all been rainbows for my healing, causing the only hiccup in my first week as a mother of two.
With my first pregnancy, I insisted on being the pinnacle of health and fitness and, while I tried to be good this time around, I had another child to tend, rougher symptoms, and old age to thwart my efforts. I believe this is why I did so well post-op five years ago. I never swelled, my healing was smooth, and I was glad I kept my health a priority. This time I have swelled impressively and have lots of aches and pains that have nothing to do with my incision (which is again healing beautifully so I can’t complain too much). Well, as of Monday evening, I began to feel not quite right… My legs were covered in tingling numbness, my arms felt heavy, and then I started feeling heat radiating from my left leg that couldn’t be felt from the outside. Having a fairly good knowledge of my own body, I went to the ER. DeWayne stayed with both children and my daddy came to sit with me. After losing a brother back in September to a blood clot and another having a stroke in October from the same thing, I was terrified even though I had made sure to keep active. They did an ultrasound on my legs, took a blood and urine sample, and gave me an exam. It took six hours but everything came back clear and I was released. The ER doctor said that I was suffering from post-op recovery on a pretty normal level. I had had months to adjust to being pregnant and my body was traumatized from instantly being made unpregnant again. The fluids they pumped into me, plus the amniotic fluid, is waiting as edema to get cleared by my kidneys, my bone marrow is settling back done, my milk is coming in and draining me of 500 calories a day, and my hormones are on overload. It’s understandable that I feel overwrought and ‘off’. I was relieved and came home to take my pain meds and zonk out (worrying about the symptoms had made me afraid to sleep – my brother just never woke up). I got up this morning feeling tingly still but at least it felt like I had my head back on straight.
But I go this afternoon to have my staples removed. I’m so ready, knowing they’re there makes me treat the whole area gingerly. Luckily it’s completely painless and I can show my baby off a little bit. Honestly, she’s the best baby since Sebastian. I feel insanely fortunate but also worry how bad their teenage years are going to be to even out the universe. *Chuckle* I’m so glad she’s here now and I can’t believe I ever worried about anything in the first place.
My Journal
Caroline is a Week Old!
By Amanda_McDaniel » Posted Mar. 3, 2016 11:55am - 652 views - 4 comments
I can’t believe this is my life! *Purrs contentedly* Honestly, I was absolutely prepared for the worst and once again God has blessed me way beyond what I deserve. Because I’d been fighting my dark emotions over the surgery and had suspected I was having pregnancy depression periodically through the second and third trimester, I was braced for postpartum issues. Not to brag but I’ve been so incredibly euphoric this week that I’ve seriously been more Zen than I’ve ever been. Postpartum depression is no joke so I’m relieved to be free of it right now. Plus, unlike my first pregnancy, my milk came in fast and furious on Saturday night when we got home so Princess Caroline is already gaining weight back and losing the little bit of jaundice she had. We had her newborn pictures done by a local couple who have recently became insanely popular and now I know why. They’re baby whisperers! We spent twice what we ever did with Sebastian’s back in the day but it was totally worth it. They devoted three hours so they could get each shot just perfect without stressing out my daughter, with breaks to feed and comfort her, and let my baby just relax. I can’t wait to get them in and share them once I do. However, it hasn’t all been rainbows for my healing, causing the only hiccup in my first week as a mother of two.
With my first pregnancy, I insisted on being the pinnacle of health and fitness and, while I tried to be good this time around, I had another child to tend, rougher symptoms, and old age to thwart my efforts. I believe this is why I did so well post-op five years ago. I never swelled, my healing was smooth, and I was glad I kept my health a priority. This time I have swelled impressively and have lots of aches and pains that have nothing to do with my incision (which is again healing beautifully so I can’t complain too much). Well, as of Monday evening, I began to feel not quite right… My legs were covered in tingling numbness, my arms felt heavy, and then I started feeling heat radiating from my left leg that couldn’t be felt from the outside. Having a fairly good knowledge of my own body, I went to the ER. DeWayne stayed with both children and my daddy came to sit with me. After losing a brother back in September to a blood clot and another having a stroke in October from the same thing, I was terrified even though I had made sure to keep active. They did an ultrasound on my legs, took a blood and urine sample, and gave me an exam. It took six hours but everything came back clear and I was released. The ER doctor said that I was suffering from post-op recovery on a pretty normal level. I had had months to adjust to being pregnant and my body was traumatized from instantly being made unpregnant again. The fluids they pumped into me, plus the amniotic fluid, is waiting as edema to get cleared by my kidneys, my bone marrow is settling back done, my milk is coming in and draining me of 500 calories a day, and my hormones are on overload. It’s understandable that I feel overwrought and ‘off’. I was relieved and came home to take my pain meds and zonk out (worrying about the symptoms had made me afraid to sleep – my brother just never woke up). I got up this morning feeling tingly still but at least it felt like I had my head back on straight.
But I go this afternoon to have my staples removed. I’m so ready, knowing they’re there makes me treat the whole area gingerly. Luckily it’s completely painless and I can show my baby off a little bit. Honestly, she’s the best baby since Sebastian. I feel insanely fortunate but also worry how bad their teenage years are going to be to even out the universe. *Chuckle* I’m so glad she’s here now and I can’t believe I ever worried about anything in the first place.
Comments for this Journal Entry
 | Comment from Sailorswife » Posted Mar. 4, 2016 11:05pm Oh my goodness, she is seriously a doll! A week already! I hope your body recovers quickly. |
 | Comment from Mrsfingerscrossd » Posted Mar. 4, 2016 1:16pm Glad you are doing so well with bub. Best wishes for speedy recovery. |
 | Comment from stephc2010 » Posted Mar. 4, 2016 10:48am I'm glad to hear your recovery is going well! Caroline is so precious! Just looking at that picture makes me so excited for newborn cuddles again. :) |
 | Comment from pbc910 » Posted Mar. 3, 2016 2:59pm So glad to hear things are going so well! My postpartum swelling was ridiculous. I looked insane - my legs and feet were twice the size. By the time I left the hospital though, it all went away. But I stayed the entire 5 possible days there too. I would have been freaking out if it was like that when I went home. I hope your recovery goes well! |
