Really enjoyed this, Courtney! You know, it's interesting, when I shared my recent piece "Before I Forget" – only a couple of hours later, I was reminded by a friend that I completely forgot how traumatised I felt for the first two weeks after birth. I remember saying to a friend, "I guess the big things went to plan and on paper, it was pretty perfect... and I still feel as if I've undergone a huge trauma."
But given that it was "pretty perfect", that feeling did go away – and I appreciate I'm very much one of the lucky ones who could have the feeling "go away". I do wonder if there's something about the first birth that is a "trauma" in a way we don't do enough to discuss or comprehend... We're told to make a plan, but that the plan will likely not "go to plan", and you just have to trust you'll come out the other end with your healthy child. Would love to know your thoughts x
Thank you, Kiya! I do think that your first birth is a kind of trauma. It's tough though because I'm not sure how you could really discuss it beforehand. Like you said, it's not something you can comprehend until you go through it. For me at least, I tried to prepare and it didn't matter! I definitely had friends share with me before I even got pregnant how traumatizing their birth was and it kind of went in one ear and out the other. It's just too unknowable, too great to understand until you've done it. I don't think the advent of social media has helped with this either, but that hasn't helped much of anything! xx
I first learned about cholestasis from the writer Erin Boyle! What a terrifying thing to discover at 36 weeks!!! I have her book on hold at my library. I am eager to read it.
Another fabulous piece!! 💕
Really enjoyed this, Courtney! You know, it's interesting, when I shared my recent piece "Before I Forget" – only a couple of hours later, I was reminded by a friend that I completely forgot how traumatised I felt for the first two weeks after birth. I remember saying to a friend, "I guess the big things went to plan and on paper, it was pretty perfect... and I still feel as if I've undergone a huge trauma."
But given that it was "pretty perfect", that feeling did go away – and I appreciate I'm very much one of the lucky ones who could have the feeling "go away". I do wonder if there's something about the first birth that is a "trauma" in a way we don't do enough to discuss or comprehend... We're told to make a plan, but that the plan will likely not "go to plan", and you just have to trust you'll come out the other end with your healthy child. Would love to know your thoughts x
Thank you, Kiya! I do think that your first birth is a kind of trauma. It's tough though because I'm not sure how you could really discuss it beforehand. Like you said, it's not something you can comprehend until you go through it. For me at least, I tried to prepare and it didn't matter! I definitely had friends share with me before I even got pregnant how traumatizing their birth was and it kind of went in one ear and out the other. It's just too unknowable, too great to understand until you've done it. I don't think the advent of social media has helped with this either, but that hasn't helped much of anything! xx
wow!
I first learned about cholestasis from the writer Erin Boyle! What a terrifying thing to discover at 36 weeks!!! I have her book on hold at my library. I am eager to read it.
I know, so scary! I'm not familiar with Erin Boyle's book, will definitely check it out. Thanks for the rec and for reading!