Illness and Thoughts [Reflection 13] What I did after giving birth♡

The morning after my delivery (a cesarean section), the IV pain medication was removed, and I began pumping breast milk. I was surprised that I could produce milk when I squeezed, even though I had given birth three and a half months earlier than my due date.

From then on, my job was to pump breast milk every three hours and deliver it to the NICU where my son was.

Since I spent my time diligently pumping, the time passed relatively quickly, and my son safely made it past the 72-hour hurdle.

That said, I had never imagined I would give birth to a 451g son, so I started by gathering data⭐︎

I looked up data on birth weights and other statistics at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Data from two years prior was posted, and there was only one baby who weighed 500g or less. I didn't know what kind of aftereffects that one baby had... and I was anxious.

At that time, the occupational therapist and the orthopedic surgeon (a female doctor) who were taking care of me came to my hospital room and chatted with me in a friendly way, and I remember how much it brightened my spirits♡ I also immediately bought the Medela electric breast pump they recommended.

⭐︎ ⭐︎ ⭐︎

Also, perhaps because I had developed the strength to endure intense pain due to my chronic illnesses (rheumatoid arthritis + anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis + interstitial pneumonia + systemic lupus erythematosus)!? I was surprised that the pain from my cesarean section incision didn't bother me at all, and I was able to move around the next day as if nothing had happened.

After giving birth, I was worried about what would happen since it was unclear whether my medical condition would worsen or not, but I was more worried about my son who was born at 451g, so I feel like I was thinking about him so much that I forgot about my own body♡♡♡

To be continued→