This entry was posted on Thursday, March 13th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under Pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
This body…
…is not mine!
And these are the things they don’t tell you. There are pregnancy books for before the birth and baby books for after the birth but what about the crazy things my body is going through NOW?! I may be more bewildered by this body than the pregnant one. Hmph.
How long will it take, I wonder, until I look more human again instead of like a ‘Who’ (as in Dr. Seus)? How long until my body isn’t swollen, stiff, and sore?
I guess I’m just grateful for how “cute” and “beautiful” everyone said I was when I was pregnant. I sure hope no one asks me when I’m due (how embarrassing) because I still look pregnant to a certain extent (except instead of a nice, round, mound I have a balloon of jello).
But oh well. I’m not overly traumatized but I am completely surprised. I’ve even had to call the hospital to ask if what I’m experiencing is normal, and it is. I just wonder why they don’t prepare you for what your body is going through as the mother. Giving birth is quite a process for the woman’s body and deserves a bit more attention.
I did take an after-birth tummy photo because that’s the one no one ends up taking or showing – and the one I always wanted to see when my due date approached. So…as hard as it is for my vanity, here it is… 
On the upside, I’ve lost 17 pounds in the first week postpartum so only 9 pounds to go and I still have a lot of uterus to finish contracting which should help a lot. I look a lot different than the picture above already so that’s very encouraging (and I just can’t get enough encouragement these days).
10 Responses to “This body…”
March 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Dana:
I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months now, and really enjoy seeing things through your eyes/words. Moving across the world, living in a different culture, learning a new language, being pregnant, having your first child. Thank you so much for your honest and your opennes with all your readers.
Thanks for telling all of us who haven’t had kids that your body isn’t the same. I’m so glad to hear you are already starting to return to ‘normal’ – and hope that process continues.
Ps. 139:13 comes to mind – your body just contained a wonderful masterpiece! I hope you can hold on to that thought, that delight. The Master Artist chose you to hold his greatest treasure.
Laura
March 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Hmmm, I have a baby care book which has some down-to-earth advice for new mothers in regards to their post-pregnancy weight. It’s too long to copy it all out in a comment but here’s a little tidbit: “You are officially not permitted to worry about your weight for at least four months after the birth unless your obstetrician tells you you have a serious health problem that must be addressed by weight loss in that time.” How’s that? I’ll email you the rest; you should get a laugh out of it.
As a practical suggestion, raspberry leaf tea is WONDERFUL stuff for stimulating uterine contractions. You can sweeten it with honey if you hate herbal tea.
Go gently on yourself.
xo
March 13th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Oh yeah, I like that, Nat. 4 months, huh. When I first came back to the States they told me I should be back to my pre-pregnancy weight by 2 years after the birth. TWO YEARS!!!! I was SHOCKED and thought, does it really take that long!? I don’t really think it does. Who has time to eat with a newborn around anyway? Raspberry leaf tea – I’ll look it up.
Thank you Laura for your comment. That’s so encouraging. Glad to know you’re reading.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Again, when watching old home movies, I saw myself talking with the doctor in the NICU the day after my oldest was born … and I totally looked pregnant!!
I wonder if the comments about two years had more to do with–I’ll be sensitive for your male readers here–the upper half of your body that’s currently being utilized.
That seems to take longer to return to normal.
More power to you for continuing to be real.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Oh, and sometimes a woman’s weight can be the same as pre-pregnancy, but it takes longer for her hips to close back up and she can’t wear the same clothes as before.
March 14th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Hi Dana,
I’ve been reading along for a while now. Found you on Missionary-Blogs. The weight will come off faster than you think. You are almost there already!!! Hang in there! And the picture…you are cute as can be!
March 14th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Oh joy. Something else to look forward to.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Hi Sherri! Thank you for coming out of “hiding”.
Thank you for the encouragement too.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:44 am
Hi Dana! Your posting was helpful for me…first off, you’re so brave to post a post-preggo photo right away! second off, i read in one of my ‘preparing for birth’ books to expect to go home from the hospital in comparison to what you were at 5 months. that was good to read…cause i did wonder! third, your posting was helpful for me to see from what i read in the previous thought.
hope that the adjustment to motherhood is going well! by the way, i have a great book suggestion – “The Mission of Motherhood” by Sally Clarkson. There’s also a second book, “The Ministry of Motherhood,” which I look forward to reading later. the book has helped me to see a better role of mothering – especially as we first timer’s enter this new role!
March 19th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Hi Melissa!
Well, I’d say my belly day 1 postpartum was more like 7 months pregnant. When I had just given birth the midwife said, “She WAS all baby. Look at that. Her belly is FLAT!” I was stoked. Then I looked in the mirror and was like, “Ummmm… That ain’t flat!!” I’m going to post more postpartum tummy pictures so you can see how much it has changed over what time period. These are questions I just couldn’t find an answer to when I was pregnant. Of course, everyone’s body is different and nursing has helped my uterus to shrink but at least you can see one person’s journey.
Thank you for the book recommendation. I’m going to look it up. Sounds great!!