I did not expect a 47 hour labor and to not be able to deliver 100% naturally as "planned". I didn't expect to use a nipple shield for breastfeeding and for how much that frustrates me. I also didn't foresee our itty bitty baby girl to eat and spit up more than she sleeps!
I didn't expect to have so many issues with low milk supply and having to pump so frequently - sometimes I feel like it consumes me.
I'm the opposite of most people - I expected an awful first 2 weeks post c section. However, I was up and walking as soon as I was allowed, and I was off narcotics the day after surgery. I felt back to normal when DD was 1 week old with the exception of my stamina; I blame that on 7 weeks of hospital bedrest.
I was also surprised by the PP swelling in my feet... I didn't have swelling during pregnancy, so this totally freaked me out. Also, no idea I'd still be in major pain 4wks PP. I had lots of issues with my stitches, but somehow I thought I'd be fine a month out. Bummer.
The pain after c section,and how hard is it to stand up and sit down and that i will lose my dignity and my mother in low will be putting diapers under me until i wake up from the general anesthesia,and that i will pee standing and i will have company while going to toilets and have a shower,and that i will not be able to hold my baby for along time because i will be in sooo much pain,and that i cant breastfeed and even if i tried then there is no milk and even sooo it is not enough to make your baby satisfied
@MrsStubbs25 ditto for the nipple shield!!! No one lets you know that you have inverted or semi inverted or hard to nurse on nipples because of breast engorgement until it happens to you. You just figure you'll be able to breast feed per usual before you have your baby but then you realize you can't. Thank goodness for nipple shields but I wish I didn't have to get it out every time I nurse (which is all day long).
The pressure in your bottom while pushing. I got an epidural and thought you wouldn't feel anything after that. I did great until I had to push. The pressure was worse than any contraction I had.
Gah I didn't expect to push him out and my stomach feel instantly like jello. It was insane!
Also, I didn't expect to only be in labor for 4 hours! I pushed for 10 minutes and he was outta there! Everyone kept telling me it would take a long time because he's my first. Lol I was prepared to be there in pain all day!
I didn't know that when I stood up blood would go EVERYWHERE. That was just not cool. Lol. I should have expected that though.
Am I the only one who had a screaming baby the second night??? Obviously I know babies cry but this was nothing like cry she was crazy screaming and crying and nothing would Soothe her. the nurse was explaining the second night the baby gets anxious and scared because everything is so different for them. So she was crying and screaming all night, wouldn't nurse or anything. I literally was second guessing myself as being a good mom lol. I was yelling to my husband, "why did no one tell us this?!?!?" Even since now she never acted so crazy. Out of all the advise from moms I never heard one women talk about that. I was in total shock!!!
That was the worst night of my life. I blamed myself, my SO, the nurses! I think I cried more than my DD did that night. Oh my goodness.
Gah I didn't expect to push him out and my stomach feel instantly like jello. It was insane!
Also, I didn't expect to only be in labor for 4 hours! I pushed for 10 minutes and he was outta there! Everyone kept telling me it would take a long time because he's my first. Lol I was prepared to be there in pain all day!
I didn't know that when I stood up blood would go EVERYWHERE. That was just not cool. Lol. I should have expected that though.
I had the exact same labor experience! I was settling in for a long evening of watching Family Guy during the "easy" contractions and then BAM! He was on his way out with no warning whatsoever.
Also- no one prepared me for the frustration. Everyone has loads of advice about what worked for their baby, and 1% of that advice has been useful. It's been a full month of trial and error to figure out what this squalling, language-less person needs, and I only just now am feeling like I even have a clue.
I also didn't realize how mad I would get that everyone seems to think they know how to raise your baby better than you!!
I didn't expect the violence my breasts would have to endure, between the bad latch and the pump... Poor things. I now talk to them as if they were separate individuals worthy of social security numbers.
I despise people telling me what a good baby I have. Especially when I was heavy into the baby blues. I would spend hours feeding, burping, changing and getting him to sleep before company would come over to hold him. He looked like an angel sleeping in their arms but I was exhausted from getting him that way. They would comment on how perfect he was and I would want to throttle them for not recognizing that he isn't always like this!!!
I wish they would have told me that I would not be able to drink anything after the epidural-only ice chips! If I had known I would have downed a water before the epidural
Or how hard it would be to stay still during the epidural
Or that contractions make you feel like you want to take the biggest poop ever
Or the postpartum hormones ....that was rough !
Or the HEMMROIDS...omg the hemmroids..they are probably the worst thing about it!
I'm a TTM & I dont remember ever getting this uncomfortable night sweats . I wake up soak in sweat & get cold chills it's so weird anyone else is going through the same?
This is a great post. I was surprised by terrible heart burn and carpel tunnel. I still have both btw and my LO is 4 weeks old. It is not as bad though. I was surprised at just how terrible both the contractions were and my Csection was (my baby was posterior and I developed a fever and infection so had to do C section). The worst for the surgery was the nausea. That night I threw up all night and could barely breast feed. In fact, I vomited during a feeding. I also was shocked at my emotional state the first two weeks. I was so sad and lonely and never expected to feel like that. It is better now and especially after talking with friends who experienced the same. I had been feeling guilty. I wish everyone a speedy recovery.
Re: What they didn't tell you
I'm the opposite of most people - I expected an awful first 2 weeks post c section. However, I was up and walking as soon as I was allowed, and I was off narcotics the day after surgery. I felt back to normal when DD was 1 week old with the exception of my stamina; I blame that on 7 weeks of hospital bedrest.
Also, no idea I'd still be in major pain 4wks PP. I had lots of issues with my stitches, but somehow I thought I'd be fine a month out. Bummer.
Also, I didn't expect to only be in labor for 4 hours! I pushed for 10 minutes and he was outta there! Everyone kept telling me it would take a long time because he's my first. Lol I was prepared to be there in pain all day!
I didn't know that when I stood up blood would go EVERYWHERE. That was just not cool. Lol. I should have expected that though.
2. Baby blues and emotions.
3. How much a c section actually hurts.
Also- no one prepared me for the frustration. Everyone has loads of advice about what worked for their baby, and 1% of that advice has been useful. It's been a full month of trial and error to figure out what this squalling, language-less person needs, and I only just now am feeling like I even have a clue.
I also didn't realize how mad I would get that everyone seems to think they know how to raise your baby better than you!!
Or how hard it would be to stay still during the epidural
Or that contractions make you feel like you want to take the biggest poop ever
Or the postpartum hormones ....that was rough !
Or the HEMMROIDS...omg the hemmroids..they are probably the worst thing about it!