Rainbow Baby. Kalli's Story Continues.

In January 12th my husband and I welcomed our third and final baby. His name is Rowan and he is perfect.
This was definitely my most difficult pregnancy out of the three not only because it followed a loss but I also had complications throughout making it much more stressful. All the sickness pain and stress was totally worth it to have my little rainbow in my arms and an amazing new part of my family.

Bringing children into the word is definitely a challenge no matter how it happens and I’m not talking just the method of delivery.
Personally I feel like I have gone through four “stages” of motherhood with each new baby.

First pregnancy brings all sorts of challenges from getting to know the toilet in a personal level (face to face so to speak) to the pain and discomfort near the end of pregnancy along with any complications that may arise with Mom or baby. There are also amazing moments like feeling babe kick for he first time - or even the 100th time. The body goes through so many changes during pregnancy it can be hard to embrace some of those changes - especially near the end when you can’t see your toes and feel like there no way you could possibly expand or swell any more. Stretch marks appear out of nowhere and nothing fits comfortably - it can be very hard to feel positive about yourself at this time - but your growing a beautiful baby - embrace it.

Next comes labour and delivery - I don’t think I have to elaborate on how hard, painful or messy that whole process can be - so to say some women don’t exactly feel beautiful at this point in the journey isn’t hard to understand. All three of my deliveries were natural unmedicated hospital deliveries - I’m so proud of my body. Never have I felt so empowered in a situation I really didn’t have control over. Regardless of how messy or painful - how “gross” you may feel you have a beautiful baby to hold so it’s OK - and at that point attention seems to shift to baby - and really it’s the prize at the end of the struggle.

Third is the immediate stage after having the baby - for some reason many people think once baby comes out you snap back to pre baby size - but in reality you look about 6 months pregnant still - takes a while before the uterus contracts back down. At the same time your milk is coming in and all of a sudden your breasts are twice their normal size and leaking all over. Again your clothes still don’t seem to fit comfortably - it’s easy to get down on yourself and not feel very “beautiful”. Your body is going through all these changes to help nourish a small human that your uterus housed for nine months. Even if you don’t feel beautiful in the way it’s portrayed in the media - embrace the awesomeness that is the female body.

The fourth stage is life after having a baby - after you come home from the hospital. Things that were firm and flat before are now soft stretched out and covered in stretch marks. My three year old son really made me appreciate those attributes - I had been answering all his questions about the baby and pregnancy in general - how my belly was big because the baby was growing in there etc. As I came downstairs holding his new brother he said to me “I love your soft belly now Mama” and gave me a hug while patting my belly. When I asked why he said “because it made me new baby and old baby” (he affectionately calls his little sister old baby now) Yup I cried - My stretched out belly and extra baby weight may not be deemed beautiful in the media’s terms but my baby’s are here because of it - they love it and so do I.

I had a wonderful time again at Lady Luck - I’m so proud of what my body has accomplished and had a great time embracing it. Ladies if you are having a hard time post baby - even if your babies are not babies any more go see Jen - take a day for yourself you will leave feeling wonderfully beautiful like you should!
- Kalli

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