The pain the pain (not for the fainthearted)

It's incredible what the human body puts up with during and after pregnancy. It's not called LABOUR for nothing!

There's the Sore Boobs if you're breastfeeding. Bub's giving me the same problems as Beth did. Just yesterday, she chomped off my L nipple while I was having a one-handed breakfast while holding her with the other. Discovered the bloody mess after she unlatched. How did I let her get that far? Because I put up with the pain, knowing it was going to be like this until my milk had come in.

So gave up on b/feeding yesterday (R nipple also out of service because she blistered it with her sucking) and bought a standby tin of NAN with Probiotics to get her through for the time being. She has taken well to the bottle and sleeps for hours after a feed, which is great for me. Didn't have any emotional guilt issues about not being able to b/feed 100% this time, which was great. It helped to know she'd put on 100g compared to when she was discharged, so there. :)

In the meantime, Lansinoh will help the boobs heal and I'm ready with the nipple shields when the milk comes in.

Then there's the Postpartum Pain from the Stitches. Have first degree tears (but midwives have assured me I was very well stitched up and the stitches will fall off by themselves in a week or so) AND a hemorrhoid to boot. Am thankful bowel and bladder movements (esp as I have chronic constipation) are not a problem despite the pain.

There's also the pain from the Uterus Contractions. Right now, my uterus is higher than it should be and my abs are all over the place. When I attempt to roll on to my side, it feels like everything within is loose and spilling from one side to the other. A scary sensation. Was advised that my rectus/stomach muscles split during the delivery. Only thing to do to get my abs together is stomach exercises. Crunches were never my strong point. Groan.

Hope to feel more human soon....