When I woke up this morning my stomach was hard, really hard, like I was carrying a stone instead of a human in my womb. Not being a midwife or ob/gyn, I can only assume that Kat was turned in such a way that her back was very firmly pressed up against me, or less great, a knee. Poking and feeling about (something I never used to do before being pregnant!), I realized that the only part of my stomach NOT hard and stretched out was a bit way down by my c-section scar. It's still fairly soft, and I can almost feel Kat's head. Amazing. Placing my fingertips down there I could still feel the scar when I realized that this new body of mine, at least for now, doesn't have the overhang, the flub, that it's had since Gabe was born.
Having a c-section cuts through the muscles of your lower abdomen and generally without a lot of work they never recover. For nearly 6 years I've had this strange, half-way numb overhang of ruined flesh just above my bikini line. At first it really bothered me but eventually I learned to ignore it. Then I got into fat acceptance and learned to accept it as a part of me, a visible reminder of the struggle to bring Gabe into the world, and the patience and compassion of Ryan and my doula Katie. Well, right now, it's gone. I just look like a pregnant lady. You'd never know I'd had a c-section and again I'm wondering what kind of body I'll be left with this time, what changes will occur, after Kat is born. Bigger boobs are almost a guarantee, though at a DDD (which my sister teases stands for dun Dun DUN!) I don't really want them to get bigger! More/deeper stretchmarks? Sure, but I'm a tiger who's earned her stripes. I'll just have to wait and see, but it wont be long now. Only four and a half weeks to go as of this week, if that, and 3 of those are at work still.
I hope everyone is having a restful weekend; I'll have an update on the Obesity! Crisis! in the Pagan community on Tuesday.
It's very exciting following your pregnancy. Sounds like things are going well.
With respect to "flub", I had two c-sections. During my second pregnancy, I remember having the same impression as you at the end. My tummy was so big that the flub seemed to disappear. It did come back though, but I agree with you, it's just part of earning your stripes as a mom.
BTW, child #2 will be celebrating his 17th birthday tomorrow. It's seems like he was born just a few weeks ago. It's all still quite fresh in my mind. I don't think these experiences ever leave us.
Have a wonderful birth!
Hi NewMe! Happy birthday to your son and thanks for commenting. I hear you about some things sticking in your mind. I don't think I'll ever forget the first glimpse I had of Gabe, over the surgery curtain in the OR, or the confusion/horror I felt when they brought him to me hours later to attempt to nurse for the first time. Who was this little screaming person and what was I supposed to *do* with him?
Maybe it was just a good Braxton-Hicks contraction? I know my belly would get sooo hard during one. It was intense.
Or it could be just the baby's back. That's good; you want the baby's back against your tummy or towards your LH side! Ask your midwife to palpate the baby's position and help you learn to do it at home. More info can be found at:
http://spinningbabies.com/baby-positions/belly-mapping
Good idea. I'll ask her today! Oh and Mama, I sent an email to you with some pregnant pics. Did you get them?