Things they never warned me about!

Recently I was chatting with friends about our birth experiences. Some of us gave birth in a hospital, some at home, some induced, some c-section, some with an epidural, some without. We all have different experiences.

The interesting thing I learned is how many of us felt uninformed or unsure about things during our first birth experiences. How many didn’t know that they would bleed afterwards, for weeks often. Many didn’t know that a nurse would be pressing on your abdomen every few hours to feel your uterus. Some had been unaware of the options that they even had for birthing their child. Many were unaware of things that are normal while breastfeeding, when the best time to get fitted for nursing wear is, and how to address difficulties with nursing.  Many stopped breastfeeding, had lingering birth trauma, and felt overwhelmed and anxious about their newborn days simply because they didn’t have the support and information they needed.

Healthcare is failing us.

This conversation has sparked a series of blog posts. These posts are aimed at both new and experienced parents. There is so much to know and learn about the birth process, and always something new to discover. Drop me a comment if you have an idea for a future topic. Something you didn’t know before but know now, or something you’d like to learn more about. I plan to cover topics from pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and the fourth trimester. Everyone’s experiences are different but there are commonalities that unite us and everyone should know about them. I am by no means an expert, but I have gone through pregnancy, birth, nursing, and the fourth trimester 3 times now and have gained a lot of experience, knowledge, and wisdom on my journey.

Let these blogs inform and educate you but also spark conversations with your medical providers and support people to get the information that is most relevant to your situation and unique needs. It is my hope that they will be informative but also funny with personal stories and light hearted moments. I also plan to hold some live chats so we can discuss our experiences in a supportive environment with others who have worked this walk; keep an eye out for more information!

So tell me, what is one thing you didn’t know that you do now? What is something you’d like more information on? What is something you think all expectant parents should know? Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, the early infant days, and everything in between! I’m excited to watch this series evolve!

-Nikki