I wish I had known

Thought I might start this off (maybe we already have one? to lazy to look..) for all you ladies who are giving birth int he next few months.

Basically a "wish I had been forwarned" thread...

I had heard about the "ring of fire", the labour "pains", pressure on your bowel etc etc, but no one told me how "out of control" I would feel. Not like you can do anything about it,apart from trying to "breathe" through it, but it was totally unexpected. Especially for a control freak like me!!

Yeah I was a bit shocked at the out of control feeling and also didnt really believe it when people said I wouldnt care at the time ...... I always thought no I will care who is in the room or if I felt sick etc but really really didnt. I do wish I had of been told a bit more about the horrible bleeding etc after, I just thought it would be like getting a period but it was just yuck uncomfortable and gross and I dreaded going to to toilet for the first few days, wasnt painful though.

I suffered big time with pain when doing number two's post birth. It seriously felt I was giving birth all over every time I went to the loo....... gross I know but so OUCH!!!!

Can't remember the name of the stuff but it was like a thick glucose liquid you buy over the counter. That is liquid gold, I would have it in my tea, on my cereal or any other way I could if I had my time over.

All you ladies who are pregnant make sure you look after your bowels!

That stuff is called Lactulose!!!

the #2s issue???? constipation and heamarhoids(sp?).that lactulose was soooooooo foul.imagine drinking 20mls of thick thick thick sugar syrup ewwwwwwwww.i actually dont remember if it helpedme at all but then i never took much of it as it was just to horrible for me

I never needed the lactulose stuff, have never heard of it but bekkie I think what we are all getting at is after having the baby I think people forget to really warn you of how things will be working down below. There is heaps of yucky bleeding and going to the toilet is something to be dreaded, even if its not to painful (and it sounds like I got off lightly) You just feel gross and every time I moved I felt like blood was gushing out and I wanted to shower constantly. Not very nice when you are suppose to be showing off your new bubba. I just felt gross. Sorry if TMI but its something I wish I was warned about and also to take dark clothing to wear after just incase of leakage.

ohh a nother pre brith wraning if u have c-section u are not alound to eat till u 1-frat or 2-have a poo just to make sure u have not injured any thing inside oh and day 1 or 2 after is when they get u up and i,m gonna lie it hurts like a b###h just forwarning the midwife just got me up no wrning and it relly hurt i wanted to hit her but the quicker u get up and move the quicker u heal oh and u cant walk far on the frist day i think i got 5 meters before i got tried

It's good to hear all of this - no one talks about the gross stuff and I think us mums are just supposed to picture bambi giving birth in a paddock but the reality sounds far worse!!! I am always glad to be forewarned, at least then I wont feel so "blind-sided" by things no one ever spoke to me about - i say bring on teh gross stuff, tell us everyhting, at least that way we will be mentally and physically prepared!! thanks for sharing ladies!

lol, the soft squishy tummy was a BIG surprise! like a half deflated balloon.....

make the most of the time in hospital, if you need sleep let the nurses take baby for you for a few hours... you wont get that at home.

try to use a bidet the first time you pee - if there is a toilet with one there, use it, it really helps. ( but dont be like me and only turn on the hot water hahaha NOT)

how long does the squishy stomach take to go? Does it shrink back and get some elasticity back or is it weight you actually have to lose before it starts to feel normal again?