Bad Epidural?

It's been 6 weeks now since my daughter was born. My back still hurts at the epidural site. I'm a little worried.

When I had my son, everything went beautifully with the epidural. I never experienced one bad thing from having it done. Just awesome pain relief at a time when I couldn't get a hold of myself.

This last time (just like with my son) I didn't WANT to get an epidural. In fact, I told myself, if I got the hospital and they told me I was at 8, that I wouldn't get one. I was 8 ½ when I got there, and hadn't yet experienced the pain I did with my son. I was in great shape and I felt confident I could handle the remaining labor and delivery.

My experience with hospitals (both times) are horrid, mainly due to my natural “midwife” take on childbirth, and even parenting for that matter. I wanted a midwife real bad this time around, but we just couldn't afford it :(. Anyway, the hospital experience sucks, but it is a whole entire blog worth of vents which I will currently refrain from. The main point here is, once they feel they need to make you sit still, on your back, because it is “unsafe to move anymore” that's when pain sets in. I was great while walking and moving. As soon as I sat still, around 9 cm, pain literally doubled, if not more. I got worried quick about the pain intensifying to the extreme I (thought) I felt with my son, and knowing there was only one centimeter to go made the decision a little harder. However, that one centimeter could be hours long and I had to make an immediate choice to get an epidural, so I went for it.

While I was getting it, a contraction came on, and something made it all go into my back for some reason. Made my back stiffen so bad, the doctor yelled at me not to move. Well, even though I couldn't control what happened, I think I might be suffering for it. For quite a few days after, I felt a sharp pain in the site of the epidural, and I could not lie on my back or even put pressure on it. It has gotten better since, but I still feel it now. I still can't lie on my back on anything firm. I feel a sharp pinch pain. Even if I poke the area I will feel pain. Considering I never had a side effect with my son, I worry a little that the whole spasm thing somehow messed me up. I hope I can still get a massage because I really need one. I will talk to my doctor about it, and see whoever I need to see, in order to figure it out. One more reason though, why I am thankful I feel complete and won't be having anymore kids.

What is your epidural story, if you've had one?





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Defend My Ways, or Smile and Nod?

I had my dreaded WIC appointment today. Going there is never fun. Waiting around for a couple hours, while you deal with several different people who talk to you like you are an idiot about raising kids, even if you do bring along your happy, healthy toddler. This time, I had an experience that, although stupidly funny, really got me thinking.

While talking to my "nutrition consultant", she had to ask questions about how we were feeding the baby. I told her I mostly breastfed, but in the evenings she is just too hungry and so I supplement with a bottle of formula. She takes about 2 ounces after breastfeeding, and to this the lady responds, "Babies don't know when they are hungry, they only cry when they need to be held by their mother". Oh, really? Babies don't know when they are hungry huh? I told her, "When my baby shows the signs of being hungry, one of the classes you made me sit through three months ago, such as turning her head looking for a boob, sucking on her hand, and tongue thrusting, then I feed her more. She stops eating when she is no longer hungry." She goes on to tell me (and show me a display) of how a newborn baby only has a stomach the size of a small ball and they can't eat more than 2 ounces at a time. My response, "Well, take into consideration I do have a larger than average baby" (She weighed in at 12.10 lbs today at 6 weeks old) Her reply? "All babies are the same". Wow, this woman has got to be joking with me. How does SHE work for this government program promoting good health and parenting and yet she says such false statements as these??

I started to tell her how I didn't agree with what she was saying, and then, as many people older than me do, she shoots back with how she knows not only from her training, but from her own experience as a mother and grandmother. Oh bother! Pulling out the "I'm more experienced than you, youngin'" card. Well, I ended up biting my tongue and leaving without much else said. Sure, she thinks I'm an idiot, and I feel the exact same way about her. We clearly had two different styles going on... I mean, she even dissed my pouch sling to say her daughter's wrap around carrier was way better. WTH!? Baby wearing is baby wearing isn't it? I didn't even pull out the, "Yeah, well we cloth diaper!" LoL.

What I got to thinking about was at what point do you decide whether to stand up for your parenting ways, while others criticize it, or choose to just let them speak their nonsense and let it flow in one ear and out the other. I suppose, had it been someone I knew, I would defend my points a little more so they knew where I stood and not to mess with me any more about it. On the other hand, I really despise how many people in this world try to change others and/or neglect to realize some people do things differently and that's just OK, so leave it be.

How do you respond to people trying to "force" their ways on you about parenting?



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Inside a Moms Day

I was tired this morning, after getting up every two hours to give my feverish son medicine. Then I got up at 6 to feed the baby. I got another hour nap right after that, which helped, but I guess I'm still tired because I have no memory today.

After a series of events leading up to me getting a little stressed, I told my husband I needed to go to lunch (it's my thing for a good time and stress reduction). Got in the car, thought I forgot my phone, went back in to get it and noticed my package that needed to be shipped. Turns out I didn't forget my phone. Then I headed to Mc Donald's to get my son's lunch on the way to the restaurant (which he won't eat at) and I ended up going to the Mc Donald's in the opposite direction. There was one other thing too.... but I forgot haha.

After lunch, and back home, it just continues.

**Disclaimer:: Mommy Moment ahead***
(They say all moms experience it, but honestly, I usually don't. I am still partially normal I guess)

I started a load of laundry, mainly to wash our two throw rugs. On the way to the bathroom to get the rug in there, I passed the closet. I remembered I had I to take a dress out of the closet for my daughter to wear for pictures. While there I remembered the time and told my son it was nap time. He asked to read a book, so we grabbed "Green Eggs and Ham" and he started reading it to me. Just as I was sitting there thinking how adorable it was to have my two year old read me a book, the baby started to cry. I put the book on "pause" and went to get her to join us. After picking her up, I passed the washing machine and saw it running with nothing in it, because I got distracted earlier. I tried putting some clothes in with my free hand (baby in the other) and I accidentally squished her foot between me and the washer. I put her down, finished loading it, and went back to my son. We finished the book, he went to bed. I sat down to feed the baby, then the washer got off balance. I tried to balance the two rugs in it, when I realized.... the bathroom rug never made it in. Oh well, next load. On the way to get the rug to remember it next load, I remembered I never took out the dress....


this will continue all day so I will stop there.

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