Proud of My Stretch Marks

I caught The Talk for the first time last week.  Have always wanted to check it out but was never able to watch during the day.  That day though, my daughter was at camp and my son fell asleep for a little nap … for the first time in years!

 

When I tuned in, they were talking about stretch marks from pregnancy.  The guest host of the day (Pat something…don’t know who she is and couldn’t find information on the website unfortunately), mentioned that she was proud of her pregnancy stretch marks because they are her “tattoo”.  Ahh, a woman after my own heart!

 

I’m adopted so my mom doesn’t have pregnancy stretch marks, and I do, yet we are both moms.  While my girlfriends were all going to their moms, asking questions about pregnancy, my mom and I learnt about pregnancy together, which (I don’t think I ever told her) was really cool – thanks mom!

 

When you’re pregnant with twins and you make it to 30 weeks, you go to the obgyn every week for a check up.  One of those appts, my (now ex-) husband couldn’t make the appt (for the record, that had nothing to do with why we are now split!), and neither could my mother so my poor dad had to come with me…just in case…

 

The night before my appointment, I had asked mom if dad would be “ready” to see his “little girl” with pregnancy stretch marks.  Her response was “well, it had to happen eventually for him to see some!”.  LOL!!!

 

 

He was surprised how long we had to wait to see my obgyn, to which I reminded him that we just had to be patient and wait because, in a few weeks, I’ll be the one making her late for other women who were pregnant.  So, he chatted up all the staff (as per usual) and eventually we went into the little room for my appointment. 

 

Prior to the obgyn appt, I had my last ultrasound during my pregnancy where dad would have seen my pregnancy stretch marks but he was in such awe watching the screen that there was no mention of them.  I loved watching the intrigue and fascination on his face.

 

So, at the end of the day, I am proud of my pregnancy stretch marks…my other stretch marks however…they can go away any time now!

Losing My “Virginity”…

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow I’m having my first surgery ever. Yup, in my mid-thirties and there are a few things that people are amazed at…I have never dyed my hair (why would I? I’m a natural redhead!), had my first cavity at 31 years old, AND have never had surgery. The closest I go was having a couple teeth pulled when I was a kid because they had been wiggling forever and wouldn’t come out. Broke my arm as a kid, but no surgery required. I even gave birth to twins without a C-section for crying out loud!

 

Anticipating my first surgery feels like I’m losing my virginity…the nerves, fear, anxiety, the heart palpitations, the excitement, etc. Will I feel different after?

 

~ If you get queasy with medical information,

do NOT read the next paragraph…you have been warned ~

 

I’m having what’s called a Vaginal Myomectomy. Basically means that I have a mass in my uterus (and it’s not a baby…or two in my case!) that needs to be removed. This fibroid grew to 5cm within a year (what can I say? I’m an incubator!), and has been the bane of my existence for the last 3 years. As each month passed, my periods became heavier and heavier, and more and more painful. By the time they put me into chemically-induced menopause the 2^nd time (shrinks the fibroid), a “normal” period for me was 2 weeks “on”, 1 week off, and repeat. The pain was unbelievable, and I couldn’t leave the house for 3 – 5 days, and was going to washroom every 20 mins, day and night (therefore no sleep!). Not good when I’m a SAHM to 5yo twins. Their father would help when his schedule allowed, and my friends filled in whenever possible too.

 

My obgyn didn’t feel skilled enough (nor did any of her colleagues) to remove it without removing my uterus. What??!! I was still married when they found the fibroid and still wanted to keep the option of having more kids open so I was NOT impressed. Thankfully, my obgyn found a specialist (with the same first name as me!) who has, to quote her, “removed bigger and badder” fibroids. Phew! She can also remove it without a C-section-type entry, therefore only needing a few days to recover instead of months. Double phew! Felt kinda weird to go to appointments at a fertility clinic though – my twins were “natural”.

 

So, my fibroid is FINALLY being removed, and I can no longer say things like I did to my father a couple of weekends ago: “I’m menopausal AND having PMS. Don’t screw with me” but I’ll be glad to see the end of it.