Cut my life into pieces - This is my last resort

As those of you who follow the blog know, Morgan was born via C-Section. It wasn't planned that way - I actually had every intention of attempting natural birth - free of painkillers, even! Alas it was not meant to be.
I covered the details of the operation itself in a previous entry. What I wished to emphasise today is that a C-Section is not something to be taken lightly. A lot of people seem to think of it as a quick fix, or an easy way out. The truth is - a C-Section is MAJOR surgery. One with side-effects that can last until the day you die.

The side-effects I speak of are namely scar tissue, and nerve damage. It has been just over a week since I've been sliced and diced, and my incision feels numb. The numbness starts from just above my belly button, and extends halfway down to my pubic mound. It makes for a very peculiar sensation - almost as if you're wearing something that is too tight which is blocking your circulation. From what I read, the numbness lasts anywhere between a few months, and the day you die. When you're cut open, nerves are cut through too. This causes damages to them that can be beyond repair.

Although from the outside, the scar itself is looking neat, I can feel scar tissue building up on the inside, and this makes it more uncomfortable for me.

I have complained about the lack of independence you have to deal with when you're pregnant in another post, however C-Section recovery is even worse. How? Well.. I have been instructed not to carry anything heavier than Morgan. For about 6 weeks post-operation. She weighs just over 3kg. This means that strictly speaking I should not be carrying a couple of 2 litre water bottles - a restriction I find both ridiculous and extremely irking. I also am to avoid going up and down stairs. Good thing I live on ground floor.

Getting sewn up takes longer than having your baby cut out of your womb does. This means that whereas those who give birth naturally can potentially spend time with their newborn straight away, with a C-Section, you can't. Baby is taken away from you to be seen by the paediatrician and weighed and cleaned up and dressed. This, whilst they sew you up.

Then there is the fact that your guts are handled. Following the operation, there may be numerous issues related to your bowels. The chances of bowel injuries put aside, some women find it painful to poop, suffer constipation, or diarrhoea. This may be temporary, but it might also be long-term.

This link highlights in more detail what the risks are, and gives you links on how to prepare yourself for a C-Section and what not.

If you attend Prenatal Classes, make sure you attend both the sessions about Natural Birth, as well as the C-section. You never know what might happen - my case is a typical example.

Also, inform yourself before going for an Elective C-Section. The pain of natural childbirth might be more desirable to you once you get all your facts and figures.

Regardless of what birthing method you go for, ensure you have plenty of support available to you for the weeks following the birth. You will need every tiny bit of help thrown your way. Do your best not to over-exert yourself or you might suffer its repercussions in the long run.

Now, onto the personal updates which I'm sure a good number of you are wanting. Morgan is enjoying using me as her furniture (see photo) still, and I love it. Having her sleep on top of me is comforting for both. After spending 9 months sharing my body, being in such close proximity decreases any separation anxiety ewe might go through otherwise. She saved a Mega Nappy for my sis today - uber-poopy AND pissy, only to pee on my sister's finger whilst cleaning her up. I found it hilarious!

 Mama' mattress!

She also got given yet another load of pink clothes. Cute warm clothes which I will have to come up with clever combos to balance out the pink overdose. I blame the shops, not the people. Damn shops stock up on too much pink, blue and white, and little else.

Off to snooze with my little Fairy now!

Help! I Need Somebody!

Mistakes and accidents are part of life - a very important one too! The younger we are, the more valuable and useful the experience will be.  Somewhere further down the line, a lot of people stop learning from their own mistakes, which leads to their getting hurt over and over again.

When faces with a crisis, quite a few people panic and end up making an even greater mess out of the situation than what it would originally have been.  Children learn a lot of the basics by mirroring other people's actions - which is why it is a very common scenario to see a child getting hurt, and only burst into tears when the person supervising them panics.  Fussing about causes the child to realise that something is wrong, and they should have a negative reaction to it.

One thing that I feel every parent should consider is learning Basic First Aid Skills.  It not only could save someone's life, but it will also help you learn how to implement Emotional Damage Control and lessen the amount of unnecessary stress you cause to the injured person, and any other person who happens to be around them - yourself included.  Knowing what to do, and who to refer to, will help you have a clear head and improve your Crisis Management Skills, as well as educate your child that just because something negative has happened, it is not the end of the world.  It will allow them to learn about the whole "silver lining" of the proverbial "cloud".

I had attended a First Aid course about 10 years ago, and never did a refresher meaning I'm not considered to be a qualified First Aider nowadays.  I do plan to rectify this as soon as I afford to [both when it comes to investing time in it, as well as the finances].  Locally, courses are provided by St John Ambulance and they have courses starting every month - which should make it easier to commit to.  If you don't have the time or money this month, look at next month, or the month after!

In the meanwhile, another good source of First Aid Skills can be Natural Remedies/Alternative Healing.  There are plenty of items in your own home that can double as emergency medication, for example.  Garlic and Honey happen to be two foods that can work wonders! 

Clicky here, here and here to scare Vampires and other Nasties away, and here, here and here, for information about the Liquid Gold that is Honey.  Please proceed to read about adverse effects as there may be information in there that is extremely important.

Most importantly, know your emergency contact information and teach it to your child.  It is extremely important to include an Emergency Contact card in your Child's personal belongings - be it a school bag, a wallet, or simply to attach it to their pushchair/pram, for example.  This will ensure that should something happen, and you're not around - either because your child gets lost, for example, or the something actually happened to you! - the child is able to get the assistance required.

Write down their name, surname, your name and surname, your contact telephone numbers as well as an Emergency Contact Person's details as well.  I wouldn't recommend to include a home address as it could produce an adverse effect.  Teach your child what your local Emergency Services number is [in Malta, it would be 112] so that if they are the one to place a phone call, they will know who to contact.  Always teach your children their full name, as well as your own full name.  A lot of children end up believing their Mum is actually called Mum.

If you think I'm being too dramatic, check out this video: