I don’t know if I just got lucky, or if it really is easier the second time around. Maybe my body just remembered what to do and got better at it. Regardless, here I am, just shy of 3 weeks postpartum and I feel great. Almost like I didn’t even have a baby. The misery of pregnancy is already a blur and a magical, sentimental hue has been cast over my memory of it. I rub Dexter’s knees and elbows and feel their familiar pointy-ness and smile to myself…
And I realize why people continue having subsequent children. There really is something spectacular about the whole thing…growing a perfect little miniature version of yourself inside your body, going from being pregnant to the mother of this little human in an instant, and then caring tirelessly for him day in and day out. I don’t even mind the long nights and early mornings because I realize more than ever that each phase is just that…a fleeting moment in this tiny person’s life. The more he wants to be with me/on me/attached to me, the better. I don’t want this time in our lives to end.
So…maybe I’m a little sentimental, but other than that, I feel great emotionally. Last time, I remember being a bit of a mess. I think a lot of that had to do with having such a hard time breastfeeding. It really has been a breeze this time – I didn’t think that was even possible. I didn’t have the terrible night sweats this time that I had about a week after Theo was born. The hormones are in check, thank goodness.
Not to mention the calm confidence that comes with having the second baby. We know what to do this time. We know when to freak out and when to just take a deep breath. We know he won’t die or hate us if he has to cry for a minute until we can get to him. We know we won’t break him. We know he won’t want to sit on our laps once he starts crawling.
As far as sleep goes, I scoff at anyone who says you don’t get any sleep when there’s a newborn around. Have these people ever been pregnant? I’ve never been more tired than I was when I was knocked up. Now, when it’s time to go to sleep, you better believe I’m out like a light when my head hits that pillow. I’ll take newborn sleep over pregnant sleep any day.
My total weight gain for this pregnancy was 22 pounds and so far I’ve only lost 12 of that. The good news is that I only have 10 to go! I’ll take the blame there, because I know I’ve been indulging a little more than I should while assuming that nursing will remove any extra pounds eventually. I lost the majority of my weight between 3 and 6 months postpartum after Theo without really trying. I know that I need to get it under control so that Dexter is getting a good diet and so that I don’t end up gaining any weight from here.
I have a snuggly little baby lying on my chest right now so I’m going to get back to what I do best…kissing his sweet head and enjoying this very moment.
mwah,
~C~
And I realize why people continue having subsequent children. There really is something spectacular about the whole thing…growing a perfect little miniature version of yourself inside your body, going from being pregnant to the mother of this little human in an instant, and then caring tirelessly for him day in and day out. I don’t even mind the long nights and early mornings because I realize more than ever that each phase is just that…a fleeting moment in this tiny person’s life. The more he wants to be with me/on me/attached to me, the better. I don’t want this time in our lives to end.
So…maybe I’m a little sentimental, but other than that, I feel great emotionally. Last time, I remember being a bit of a mess. I think a lot of that had to do with having such a hard time breastfeeding. It really has been a breeze this time – I didn’t think that was even possible. I didn’t have the terrible night sweats this time that I had about a week after Theo was born. The hormones are in check, thank goodness.
Not to mention the calm confidence that comes with having the second baby. We know what to do this time. We know when to freak out and when to just take a deep breath. We know he won’t die or hate us if he has to cry for a minute until we can get to him. We know we won’t break him. We know he won’t want to sit on our laps once he starts crawling.
As far as sleep goes, I scoff at anyone who says you don’t get any sleep when there’s a newborn around. Have these people ever been pregnant? I’ve never been more tired than I was when I was knocked up. Now, when it’s time to go to sleep, you better believe I’m out like a light when my head hits that pillow. I’ll take newborn sleep over pregnant sleep any day.
My total weight gain for this pregnancy was 22 pounds and so far I’ve only lost 12 of that. The good news is that I only have 10 to go! I’ll take the blame there, because I know I’ve been indulging a little more than I should while assuming that nursing will remove any extra pounds eventually. I lost the majority of my weight between 3 and 6 months postpartum after Theo without really trying. I know that I need to get it under control so that Dexter is getting a good diet and so that I don’t end up gaining any weight from here.
I have a snuggly little baby lying on my chest right now so I’m going to get back to what I do best…kissing his sweet head and enjoying this very moment.
mwah,
~C~