[dshields]

So with all of the truly big worries that so many mamas face, this is not huge, but bothering me. We had a huge scare yesterday, possibly my biggest ever...we were walking the dogs at my il's and as we crossed this bridge we looked over the edge and the dogs put their front paws up on the wall to look over. Our puppy Babe jumped up on the wall and fell off. It was a huge fall, the bridge is thirty feet high. She didn't hit the water, she hit the ground. Dh and my mil scrambled down to her but I just lost it. I never even looked over, just fell down screaming. By some outrageous miracle she walked to the car with us and we raced her to the vet, who marveled over the fact that she walked in. This is a common spot for dog falls and most don't make it alive to the vets. She honestly has two very superficial cuts and put her tooth through her lip. So she's acting like nothing ever happened and I'm still a mess. I'm crying as I type!<br><br>
I barely ate yesterday and I feel like I've lost the connection to the baby that I'd been feeling so strongly. I worry about how the baby deals with the mothering going almost into shock. I'm so shaken I can't get back to concentrating on nurturing my baby.<br><br>
It's weird because in reading this, I can see how most people would think "what is wrong, she's ok now". It's like dh and I both are feeling a post-traumatic stress thing. She's our baby and we watched her fall to, what we thought at the time was, her death. How do I get back to focusing on the future?

 

[ellymay]

Oh I am so sorry that happened but so glad she is ok!!

 

[Momto1and1ontheway]

Hi. I'm very sorry to hear about your poor puppy, but was glad to hear that she will be alright. I have to say that I would definitely have reacted the same way you did. I'm a dog lover and I completely "freak" when something out of the ordinary happens, and obviously, this is CERTAINLY out of the ordinary. I would say, just be congnizant of the fact that you need to do what you can for your baby. It may take a little more mental effort now, since you've been through a traumatic event. Even so, you know what your baby needs. It sounds elementary and stupid even, but could you leave yourself notes or use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to do certain things like eating, resting, taking vitamins, etc.? Maybe until you get your wits about your again, it will take the pressure off you about the baby? Hopefully, the feeling of disconnection with be replaced with a reconnection just as quickly as it happened... I wish you the best. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and have some peace in knowing that you reacted the same way as many people would have. It's nothing you did or anything within your control. It should get better hour by hour, day by day. Take care <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2">

 

[~*max*~]

Dshields, of course you are feeling like you have experienced a trauma - you have! Just because it is an animal does not mean you love it any less, and would be effected any less by such a tragedy. Give yourself time to process the situation, spend time w/your pup and take care of her, reassure yourself that she is OK, express your feelings however you need to (talking, writing, MDC, etc.). In time you will feel better about your puppy and then be able to reconnect w/your baby. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[Happypants]

oh, hon, your post brought tears to my eyes. i can't even imagine how scary that must have been. i am so glad your puppy is okay. try to take it easy and spend some extra time with her. and try not to worry about your fright effecting your babe. s/he is resilient, too. you'll be connected again in no time. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">s

 

[dharmama]

Oh mama. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> How scary!!<br><br>
Do you have any rescue remedy?<br><br>
I had a scary experience when I was pregnant -- oddly enough involving my dog -- and that helped me a lot.<br><br>
When I was pregnant with DD I was out walking my dog around our neighborhood. There are several aggressive dogs near us <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> and two who run loose (despite numerous calls to the dog officer) <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:<br><br>
I totally avoid the area where I know the loose dogs are and was on another street totally la, la, la...walking down the road when a man went to leave his house. As he walked out the door, we passed at the top of the driveway, his dog ran past him in the doorway and totally attacked my dog. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br><br>
It was horrible. He tried to pull his dog off and eventually had to hit his dog over the head to get it to let go.<br><br>
Amazingly (like your dog) mine was barely injured. But I was a wreck. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/mecry.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="crying"> My biggest upset was...what if the baby had been born and was with me...what could have happened. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> And of course, feeling terrible that my dog was attacked and there was nothing I could do to stop it.<br><br>
It was horrible. Anyway....someone suggested that I take some rescue remedy and give some to my dog, which I did and it seemed to help me calm down.<br><br>
Hope you are feeling better. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"><br><br>
~Erin<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">

 

[alexisyael]

Oh my gosh! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"><br><br>
This is how I would think about it -- the baby was probably right with you, being scared for his/her big brother. Let the baby share your emotions, and connect with him/ her on that level. (And maybe the baby will help with your fear... I'm sure s/he knows everything is safe now).<br><br>
I am so glad your pup is OK!!!! This also made me tear up, because my dog is so precious to me, too.

 

[luckylady]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> I would have reacted the same way!!! After a while you will start feeling back to "normal". The baby is OK with your stress and adrenaline rush - your emotions are your emotions and that would have been SCARY and TERRIFYING to witness. I would have freaked out even if it wasn't my dog.

 

[peypeymama]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> A hug for you and one for your puppy.<br><br>
Your mama hormones are on hyper-drive and one of your babies got hurt. Reasonable emotions. Don't worry, you have enough mama in you for your growing babe AND your puppies!

 

[[email protected]]

omg! mama, I would have been a mess! Wow, your poor puppy <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> We baby our dog, Guido, he's a total part of the family, I cry when he gets upset over shots at routine vet visits. I'm so happy to hear that your little guy is going to be okay, though! Give him lots of extra kisses from me <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[Peppamint]

Aw, hugs. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2"> Rescue remedy is a good idea I think. We adopted a dog 7 weeks ago and had to take her back to the humane society last Wed and I've been pretty upset about it. We couldn't keep her for a variety of reasons but it really upset me to take her back.<br><br>
I wish I would have thought to get some rescue remedy!

 

[dshields]

Thank you all so much for your caring responses. We did pick up the rescue remedy yesterday for dh and myself...I think Babe thought that she was just on some amusement ride because has been nothing but her bubbley self all weekend. She is so totally amazing, has not even shown any soreness, and woke up so happy and excited yesterday jumping up and swatting at me with her paw.<br><br>
I never mentioned that her nicknames are noodle and bubble, both of which describe how she survived this physically and emotionally. We're getting back to normal now too! Thank you again.

 

[Sydnee]

Aww mama, I'm so glad everything turned out ok! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"> I know how much a pet is a part of your family, I had a cat before we ever had kids, and my friends thought I was nuts because he was my baby!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">