Hernia for Love

Sweet Dana reminded me that it had been awhile since I updated our blog. I need to remind myself that now is the time to journal what's going on because time is still plentiful. In the last month, a lot has gone on with my body and the baby, so I need to dive into the details.

After catching a virus that everyone seems to have caught around town, I found myself in the doctor's office asking for help to relieve my symptoms knowing I would get the standard "tylenol and take it easy" response. I was so desperate that I thought there had to be some magic wand the doctor could wave to make the misery go away. After I explained all the crummy things I felt in my head/nose/throat, I mentioned casually that I felt uncomfortable pain down in my groin area every morning after I got out of bed. The doc told me to drop my pants as she needed to check the area and then asked me to cough. For a second, I could almost relate to how a man feels when getting his tools checked for operational competency. Immediately, the doctor says, "you have a hernia".

A hernia? I thought only men get hernias! How can a pregnant woman deal with a hernia on top of the additional weight and hormones?! Sure enough, I have an inguinal hernia that is a result of the pressure from the abdomen and uterus. Unfortunately, the only way to treat a hernia is by surgically removing it. Ouch, that means the knife. Of course, a surgeon touching a pregnant woman is like Jodi being able to touch her toes right now. It's just not going to happen. Now we wait until after the baby and breasfeeding takes place. Then we get to look forward to surgery and a 2-3 week recovery. I hope their generous with the pain killers.

My only real concern after hearing the news was the baby. The baby is perfectly find and having fun in the womb with no clue that mommy's insides are coming out. For the first time, I felt completely selfless as all I cared about was the baby's well-being. To hear that he/she is okay is like music to my ears. It's as good or better than listening to The Doves, Lost Sides on a rainy day. Now I get to sport a stylish looking maternity belt that I wear 24/7, which is worth it if it means little to no pain for mom until The Big Day!