Thursday, July 09, 2009

Pain

So taking childbirth classes really makes me think about pain.
On The Office, when they're all trying to lose weight over the summer, Andy Bernard admits to the camera, "This is the HARDEST thing I've had to do in my LIFE.... I haven't had a very hard life."
I remember when I got my ears pierced, they pierced one of them, and holy cow! that was some major stinging! The reason I remember this is because the helpful lady with the earring gun told me oh-so-kindly, "Come on, it doesn't hurt that bad. Just try to think of a time when something hurt worse." Um, I'm sorry. When something hurts, even if it's just tiny and stinging, it's just about impossible to think of another time when something else hurt worse.
But I think, up to this point in my life, the most painful thing I've ever endured was when I broke my leg in China. The initial break hurt, and then for the next several days, it was a deep, aching, intense pain. But the worst part of it was when I went to the doctor's and they put a cast on it. They wrapped it up in the cool, wet plaster, which felt pretty good, and then they squeezed my leg, trying to set the bone back in place. Um, it wasn't even out of place; it was just a crack. But they felt it necessary. I asked my dad if they usually give you pain medication before they do that in the States. He thought I was crazy, because they don't even do that in the States. It hurt so bad, it felt like they had somehow accessed my tear ducts through my ankle and were squeezing them out. I wasn't crying, but the pain was just so intense the tears just came out.
So maybe when I have a baby in the next few weeks, I'll be able to take the helpful piercing lady's advice and just remember some other pain, telling myself this isn't so bad.
Or I'll just opt for an epidural.

6 comments:

Smart Helm said...

Here's me wishing u luck.

With little hope :-)

(Have fun storming the castle! ... it'll take a miracle)

Sarah McK said...

Oh, get the epidural, honey! TRUST ME! Get the epidural!!! My birth experience was quite traumatic for me, but, from what I hear, with an epidural it can be much more peaceful and miraculous feeling. Next time I'm heading the hospital at the first sign of a contraction so I will have time to GET THAT EPIDURAL!

Maggie & Nate said...

that is a funny story...or stories. :0)
let me know how it goes...
take luck!

Andrea said...

Chelsea, I used to think I was strong and tough...giving birth woke me up! I'm a wimp! Granted, I arrived to the hospital in the beginning of transition, but still! After the epidural I felt like I could really enjoy welcoming our daughter, whereas prior to the epidural...I wanted to die.

You're probably much tougher than I though!

Bethanie said...

There is nothing like giving birth. I have never done something so hard and yet oh, so rewarding. I wont tell you what you should do cause every situation is different. But from my experience, the first one is the hardest. GO figure! I'll just say I am excited for you and Kevin.

Clare said...

Drugs are nice, especially if you're on pitocin. Don't worry, I felt like a wuss too.

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