Labour Archives - Not another slippery dip

Happy Birthday Miss H

March 3, 2013 By Michaela Fox

A year ago, at exactly this time, I first laid eyes on my beautiful third baby. She was placed immediately on my chest and I was the one to announce to my husband that we had another girl. During the ensuing minutes I was filled with an indescribable happiness for what our family had become.

Today we celebrated Miss H’s first birthday. It’s a cliche I know, but the year has gone far too fast. As I reflect on the first year of her life, I wanted to share with you my birth story. This story has just been published in the March edition of Practical Parenting magazine. …

I have Preggy Envy

November 1, 2012 By Michaela Fox

I have preggy envy. And, I can’t believe I am about to say this, but I have labour envy too.

Recently I saw a friend of mine who is about to become a first-time mother. At 36 weeks gestation, and just commencing maternity leave, she radiated the pre-baby anticipation that I also felt with my first baby. We chatted about the usual topics you cover at this time: had she packed her hospital bag, decided on names yet; was the nursery ready to go; and how was she feeling about the impending birth. When I said goodbye and wished her luck for the labour I couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy for what she is about to experience.

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Are there pains worse than labour?

September 25, 2012 By Michaela Fox

A hangover is a pain worse than labour

I am going to dispel a myth. The pain does not end when labour does.

Recently I was bedridden with acute bronchitis. It was agonising and I was incapacitated for days. As I lay in bed, wondering when the pain would end, I thought back to a defining moment in hospital after my first baby was born.

I remember, 24 hours postpartum, weeping in excruciating pain whilst feeding my baby. It felt like I was experiencing labour all over again. “Oh they’re just the afterpains,” the midwife said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Your uterus is contracting again, just like during labour. It shouldn’t last more than a few days”. And then she was gone. I felt like I’d been had. As if 30 plus hours of uterine contractions wasn’t bad enough, I now had to endure more of them. Everyone had told me that as soon as labour ends, so too does the pain. They had lied.

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