Real Women. Real Experiences. - Natalie B
Q: Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How many kids do you have?
A: Natalie B - I am from and reside in Cleveland, Ohio with a little baby boy who is 15 months old 😊
Q: How was your pregnancy? The good? The bad?
A: Just a rough pregnancy all around. Nauseas for 9 months and lost my dog in month 1 and lost my mom at month 7 (Brain Tumor – Diagnosed to death was 1 month) so I overall was not in the best headspace. The worst time of my life.
Q: How was your labor and delivery? Did you birth at home? Hospital? C-section?
A: Labor and Delivery was horrible – Was Induced at 10 pm on Friday and Baby Jack came by C Section Sunday at 6:30 am. Epidural didn’t work on my right side and it was horrifying. It was the nightmare that would never end, however little Jack came out healthy and happy as ever 😊 The hospital team was amazing and I could not be more grateful for a healthy baby.
Q: Describe your postpartum experience. Did you experience postpartum depression? Postpartum anxiety? Postpartum rage? Were you aware of these things postpartum?
A: I was SOOO happy to not be pregnant any more and my nausea was gone as soon as Jack came out of my body. It was an amazing feeling. So I was in an amazing headspace to be able to shower, eat, etc and not want to throw up. I suppressed my grieving for about 3 months while I took care of Jack and would not let myself even think about crying. I literally would yell at myself to get my shit together for Jackman since the loss of my mom was absolutely debilitating. Couldn’t walk or move some days, it was and still is tough. However, I will do anything for Jack so mom mode just kicked in. I did and still do therapy which has helped so much change in a short period.
Q: Did you breastfeed? If so, how did that go for you? If it was challenging, what were your challenges?
A: I didn’t have the energy or fight in me to breast feed. I was emotionally exhausted from my mom passing. So I pumped for 11 weeks before I went back to work.
Q: Did you have any pregnancy cravings?
A: I had ice cream every night for about 3 months straight after my mom passed 😊 I think I put on about 60 lbs for Jack, but my body has leveled out and I am right back to where I was weight wise.
Q: What’s something you never knew about until you were pregnant?
A: How strong I have to be. You have be just as strong mentally as you do physically. I wasn’t expecting to be so challenged mentally. I was a college athlete and nothing of that experience prepared me for 9 months of pregnancy and my body changing in ways I had never experienced.
Q: What was something that surprised you about your postpartum journey?
A: How strong I can be 😊
Q: If there was a gift to give a new mom, what would it be?
A: Self Love, We don’t need anything but self love. 😊
Q: If you could give a new mom some advice what would it be?
A: Give yourself grace and love. Look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself how fricken amazing you are! Our bodies produced a HUMAN! That is insane and so damn special.