1. When was Maxwell Born?: Maxwell was born June 29, 2010 at 10 p.m.
2. What were you doing when you started thinking that you had to go to the hospital?:
Jeff and I went in for our scheduled check-in appointment at my doctor's office (one-week overdue) and during that appointment it was recommended that I should be checked into labor and delivery that afternoon in order to induce labor.
3. What is something you remember about your pregnancy that you weren't expecting, that you think would help people to know?:
One thing that I wasn't expecting was how comfortable pregnancy could be. Even a week overdue, I wasn't uncomfortable, just nervous/excited about the birth.
4. What is something you remember about the Birth that you weren't expecting?:
One thing about the birth that I wasn't expecting were the phantom kicks in my belly (Maxwell was situated in a certain spot for weeks and that is what I still felt) even 36 hours after delivery.
5. What did you like about your birth process?:
I had a very positive birth experience overall. In my opinion, support from my care providers, my husband and doula really made all the difference.
6. What did you not like about your birth process?:
During my stay at the hospital (5 days), I had tremendous support from the nursing staff. During two shifts, I didn't receive the level of care that I felt I needed / matched the level I received so far, and that, combined with so many firsts happening, presented some challenges for me. In one case, I didn't see / meet my nurse for 8 hours (before I had a regular rotation of medication) and didn't demand the care that I needed. And in the other case, I felt rushed / bullied by a nurse, when maybe it was only a difference in communication style. Hormones are out of whack and emotions run high during such a time and maybe it was 'helpful' in the long run to have had a good cry (or two).
7. How has your postpartum experience been?:
My postpartum experience was more challenging than I anticipated. Recovering from a c-section, taking heavy medication and being thrown head-first into a new way of living really humbled me. I thought to myself (and communicated to my mother who stayed with my husband, baby and me for a month) 'how do people have more than one child?'. After a few months, the "tougher times" become a much less intense memory.
8. What can people do to help support a mother with a new baby, or you specifically?:
I was lucky to have my mother support me in many ways during my first month with Maxwell. Along with my mother, my husband and doula provided more of an emotional support. The first two weeks or so, I had a case of "baby blues" and had a lot of discomfort on top of that. I didn't feel like myself, and it was supportive and comforting to know that I could be honest about how I was feeling at the time with those around me and with myself.
9. What is NOT helpful to support a mother with a new baby, or you specifically?:
It is hard to think of something that really sticks out as NOT helpful. One guest wanted to touch Maxwell's toes and 'wake him up' when she came to see him when he was 2-8 days old and sleeping a lot. It doesn't seem like a big thing now, but at the time it got on my nerves.
