Real Women. Real Experiences. – Jessica H
Q: Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How many kids do you have?
A: Hi my name is Jessica, I am an east coast gal recently back home in MA from 8 years in the AZ desert
Q: How was your pregnancy? The good? The bad?
A: My pregnancy overall was status quo for the most part. My situation was unique in the sense that I had transferred obgyns almost halfway through my pregnancy during my big move back to the east coast so I feel like between that, covid regulations, and not really able to make the connection with the new practice contributed to my angst. I was already super nervous about delivering and not feeling like I was supported, seen or heard by my obgyn made it difficult to feel like I was prepared.
Q: How was your labor and delivery? Did you birth at home? Hospital? C-section?
A: I was induced at 40 weeks and 2 days. I was admitted on a Sunday evening and ended up delivering my daughter via C Section later that Tuesday afternoon. It was the most physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting thing so have ever done but of course, Worth it.
Q: Describe your postpartum experience. Did you experience postpartum depression? Postpartum anxiety? Postpartum rage? Were you aware of these things postpartum?
A: Thankfully not too much of the blues or depression, we closed on our house 4 days after we brought our daughter home so there was a lot of exciting things happened at once so I think that helped. It was also around the holidays and our first one home with family where we didn’t have to pack up and leave to fly back to Arizona so it was nice to really spend the time and of course share our new bundle of joy. Definitely LOTS of postpartum anxiety centered around her and sleeping and breathing and just running off very little sleep myself. One of the first nights in our new house when she was a few weeks old I almost tumbled down my entire flight of stairs because my robe got caught on my foot and I was so shaken up about it, it was honestly all I could replay in my head for weeks after. I had a lot of anxiety if I was going things the right way and for me, the lack of sleep was tough especially with breast feeding and all that requires.
Q: Did you breastfeed? If so, how did that go for you? If it was challenging, what were your challenges?
A: Yes, it came pretty natural to both of us in the beginning but then we faced some challenges latching and she begun losing weight like most newborns and so that worried me of course. I worked with a consultant who was able to get us back on track and I am so glad I stuck with it. I ended up BF until she was a little over 8 months.
Q: Did you have any pregnancy cravings?
A: Yes, Dunkin’ Donuts wake Up wraps like every single morning it was so bizarre
Q: What’s something you never knew about until you were pregnant?
A: Oh gosh I feel like there are so many things. The exhaustion in the beginning can be next level
Q: What was something that surprised you about your postpartum journey?
A: How UNREADY I was to go back to work. I dreaded the thought and this also contributed to my PPA as well. I’ll never forget that uncontrollable cry in my in laws driveway the first day I dropped her off in the morning.
Q: If there was a gift to give a new mom, what would it be?
A: UNBOTHERED SLEEP
Q: If you could give a new mom some advice what would it be?
A: It’s okay to have a plan through your pregnancy and even after but try to be flexible so you don’t set yourself up to be disappointed if things don’t work out like you may have wanted or expected. This is typically really hard for me and I found helped me so much during my pregnancy especially with all the personal and professional changes and stressors I went through moving across the country at 6.5 months.