Hello Bump Podcast Episodes 6 & 7 Cyst Recap

Hi Angela!
This weeks podcasts were awesome. My eyes literally got watery when you were talking about your cyst and everything you went through.
My birth story is not for the faint of heart as I went through A LOT!!! I decided to give birth at a birthing center. Well my little boy decided he loved mamas belly too much, so I had to go in the center to get naturally induced. Let me tell you….NOT fun! They give you castor oil (in a mini milkshake) every few hours and at some point let’s just say that having contractions and having to go to the bathroom every few mins is not fun! They also give you a combination of herbs, etc. Things progressed for me but not quite as my baby was facing out and my contractions weren’t coming closer enough to get anything going. They also had to break my water and tried turning him around several times.
After 40hrs of intense labor I ended up having to be transported to the hospital. I had to get an IV right away because I was so dehydrated and had to have an epidural because I wanted to have my baby vaginally and I was too exhausted. I didn’t want all those things but it happened and I’m glad I got the epidural because I was able to sleep a few hours while labor progressed and get some strength. And boy I’m glad I did…I pushed for 4.5hrs!!! With and without contractions.
I couldn’t physically cry when they handed me this perfectly healthy and strong 10lb baby boy ?
Needless to say recovery was PAINFUL because I tore in three places one being third degree tear which is all not common. But everyday got better and holding this perfect little bit in my arms was all I needed!
I wanted to share my story because even though it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I would do it again in a heartbeat and it’s great to have a plan but always have an open mind. Western medicine has a place and in my case the epidural was used properly (when a mama is too exhausted from long labor and wants to deliver vaginally).
If you go to a birthing center and have to go to the hospital the midwives will go with you and stay every step of the way!!
Wish you the best ??

Hi Angela,

Listened to podcast 7 and I’m so happy your feeling so much better. As for the backache and ligament pain, I had it all the way through until delivery. I am much shorter than you at 5ft. and I was all belly. I started wearing flats after I tripped and lucky for me I was holding my husband’s hand. Glad both my boys were delivered in a hospital. First son was facing the wrong way. Instead of face down, he was face up and kept getting stuck every time I pushed. They tried turning him, but that did not work. So after 21 hours I had a c-section. My second boy was born in just a few hours after pitocin, but I ended up with a 4th degree tear. I ripped all the way to my rectum. I lost a lot of blood while the doctor sewed me back up. So I have a new butt hole and it works just fine,lol. Love my 2 boys to the moon and back. I think you might be having a boy. My boys names are Torrance Shek(grandfather’s name who passed away) Hei(means the dawn,since he was born during the sunrise) the name was given to him by his grandmother in Hong Kong. Haydn(like the composer) is my second son. His middle name is Zhi Dou ( his grandfather’s writing name, he was a poet and published books under this name.) With all the problems in my pregnancies I would do it all over again.

Oh Angela,
I’m so terribly sorry! That cyst must of been such a hard time for you two! Matt is such a trooper and I love hearing how involved he is. I hope you’re feeling better and the rest of your pregnancy can only go up from here! You’re so strong and your baby is going to be so worth it that you’ll forget so much of these terrible experiences! My daughter, Amelia was suppose to be born January 23 and came 3 weeks early! So prepare for that. I know you and Matts due date keeps changing but none of it is definite. The baby can come early or late and the doctor can’t know for sure. My water broke 3 weeks early and they just induced me. I cried. I was so nervous, my mother was sick, my mother in law lives on the east coast. It was 10pm before I knew anything. And my boyfriend is a aircraft mechanic and he works crazy hours too. He had to work the day after so I was alone. It was so overwhelming. But it was such a beautiful experience. I hope you’re doing better. I hope to find the gender out soon! You guys are going to have such an amazing journey! You mentioned visiting matt at work with the baby, you can do whatever you want but most women, like myself.. don’t let the baby out the first few weeks/month. Because the babies immune system and lungs are so immature and sensitive. Getting sick is the worst. Many people also leave the house right after the baby, and you guys as parents will know what’s right. Trust me the second the baby is here, patently intuition kicks in. My daughter slept in a bassinet in our room. If you’re breastfeeding, you will be feeding every 2-3 hours for the first 2 months. And if you pump you will be doing so in between. I stopped pumping because I couldn’t do it anymore, my life consisted of pumping and feeding. Its exhausting. So just thought I would help keep that in mind! As I listen to your podcast, matt reminds me so much of my boyfriend Joel. He shot down every name I pitched. Then he picked such random names that I didn’t like. He’s such a perfectionist. Then when we found out we were having a girl.. it was even harder because he doesn’t “love” and specific girls name either. Lol. But I enjoy listening to your podcast and reminiscing on my pregnancy and I hope my advice and ideas help! Best wishes!

You guys mentioned wanting to hear thoughts about when Matt goes back to work. Sorry this will be a long comment, but I felt I had to share our experience. My husband had to go back to work right after each of my four children were born, and I am going to tell you something I wish someone would have told me from the beginning. We are 30 and 31 now and our children are 6,4, 2, and 1. My husband is very very hands-on and is always eager to change diapers and swoop in to give me help when he can. But, in the first few months with a newborn we realized it’s better for one of us to have a full night’s rest than for none of us to. When your nursing you have to be up so it’s really hard for the mom to sleep anyway. With our first, we both were at each other’s throats and stressed out because we did what we thought was fair. My husband would take turns waking with the baby and helping out during the night because we thought that’s what a loving husband does. But with each of our last 3 children for the first few weeks my husband slept on the couch got a full night’s rest and I was up solely with the baby throughout the night (11 p.m.- 6 a.m.).Then he would wake up early and help with the first morning dirty diaper or help rock the baby in the early hours so I could sleep in a little (til he had to go to work at 8) then when he got home from work he had the energy to help around the house, pay bills, entertain guests, do laundry and hold the baby so I could get in some more sleep or take a shower in the evening. We liked this system so much that with the last three, he never got up in the middle of the night except when the baby was weaned at about 9 months. Some may say well that’s not fair but I promise you, for our marriage and for me it was much better to have a rested husband that didn’t help in the middle of the night, who was full of energy and able to take care of things I was too tired for. And he was often able to give me a chance to have a little sleep early in the am or late at night. Hope this gives you some ideas to think creatively about making it work!! The first two weeks post partum are the hardest, but it does ease up a bit. As long as you just keep talking to each other about how to help (dad’s need help sometimes too) then you will find a system that works for both of you to thrive. I love hearing yall chat openly about these things, I know God will give you all you need and more. Blessings!