i think i'm overdoing it

[IncaMama]

which doesn't seem possible bc i feel lik i've been a slug...but today my perineum is sooooo sore, as is the rest of my body. i feel very out of sorts physically...headache...even tightness in my chest (could be the weight of my huge boobs - no joke...they're immense right now)...should i be worried about this, especially so many days pp??

[marisa]

You're not barely a week postpartum, these things take time! :hug it's easy to overlook small ways we overdo it when we already have a child running around the house, we're so used to taking care of them. expect a longer recovery this time, and keep taking it as easy as possible. of course, if you start feeling like you're getting an infection somewhere - fever, etc. that's a different story. have you talked to your midwives?

[IncaMama]

no, i haven't talked to them yet...i just started feeling this way this afternoon...thought i was just tired but i felt worse after a nap. i'll take it easy tonight and call them tomorrow if i'm still feeling this way...

[anniegirl]

You just had a baby FIVE days ago! Go back to bed right now! Especially if you're not feeling well. I overdid it with ds1 and got mastitis twice. You're body's telling you to rest, don't ignore it. Is there anyone there helping you?

[aisraeltax]

hey woman, take it easy on yourself! your little one is sooo young...you aren't expected to be supermom!! these things take time to work themselves out, and you, as well as your family, need time to adjust. I say give it a month or more before you can expect anything to be "routine"....its so hard with a little, esp. with another one. i am lucky that my guys are older, but i am still very worried about how i am going to manage the newborn with the basketball star (pickups every week night before dh gets home), as well as the 7 yo w/ school 30 minutes away.
your kiddos dont care about the house being organized...so ignore that chore! lol! get some rest as much as you can...regardless of dishes in the sink! and call in all those favors....dinners, cleaning, etc.
I am thinking of asking dh to give me a couple of months of my housekeeper for the holidays since i lost that privilege when i became a SAHM. i dont think i will be able to handle it all.
try to get dh to give you 30 minutes by yourself each day. its really important to try to relax...take a bath, light a candle, etc. I know its hard but try to find some time for yourself and don't beat yourself up!
hugs,
rach

[birthjunkie27]

Oh, Michele, :hug 's. I'm worried about taking it too fast too. I've been trying to do more around the house (Dh has been doing it all and I feel sorta guilty), but according to my Dr. I need to be doing NOTHING but taking care of baby and myself for at least 3 weeks. More like 6 if possible. I feel like such a "slug" too. But today I folded a couple loads of laundry and passed a really big clot right afterward. We really do need to take things slowly...as hard as it may be.

Take care of yourself and your baby and don't worry about the house (I know, easier said than done) and you'll be feeling much better much sooner.

[IncaMama]

LOL yeah, it's not so much the housework that's worrying me. LMAO!!! it's really just Rowan...and little stupid things like when i drop Ava's socks and bend down quickly to pick them up. things like that are just shutting me down today! :(

[spiralmg]

Yeah, be careful!!! I am the queen of overdoing it usually, but I am doing a pretty good job of taking it easy this time. My doula told me that if you really take care of yourself for these first six weeks (the time it takes for the uterus to shrink back completely and return to normal), you WILL feel so much stronger later on and be consistently stronger from there on out. If you don't take it easy now you will pay for it later in general malaise and tiredness. This certainly is what happened to me last time...

And yesterday, despite taking it quite easy in general, I really screwed up. I watched O Brother Where Art Thou for hte first time, and got really inspired by the great music, put on a happy bluegrass CD and decided to do a little jig with my baby around the living room. Now, this jig only lasted less than 30 seconds....but the aftereffects lasted for an HALF HOUR. I was so miserable. I had one continuous cramp, I thought I might be giving birth to another whole baby again...It was really awful. Then I started bleeding again and passed some big clots, overall I do not recommend this or wish this on anyone.

So please take it easy Michelle!!!! I know how hard this is to do...especially with a demanding toddler.

[IncaMama]

omg 6 weeks seems like an eternity!!!!

[spiralmg]

i know, i know. but you have to take it easy. is your mom there now?

mine is here and she is a big help - but leaving on wednesday. i am scared about the mornings...when everything will be happening at once. in january my doula will be coming to help, and some before then, too, but....yikes.

--

oh yes, i almost forgot, today i had another big bleeding session followed by some big cramps. and i AM taking it easy....