It’s hard to believe, but nearly a decade has passed since that unforgettable moment of motherhood etched into my memory. It was a mix of anxiety, awe, and ultimately relief as I tackled a monumental task every mother can relate to: the first postpartum poop with two kids under the age of 2.
Of course, on that day, my newborn decided it was her first time not wanting to be put down, not even for a moment. So, there I was, facing the most daunting bathroom experience of my life while cradling a newborn in my arms.
Then entered the toddler — a lively, spirited little one clutching a tiny, broken basketball hoop, insisting that the net needed rethreading immediately. Tears streamed down her face and her wails filled the air. Thankfully, it was a problem I knew I could fix, so I did just that, right in the moment.
Fast forward eight and a half years, almost to the day, and I found myself back on the toilet. This time, I had another baby in my arms and my toddler-turned-tween was climbing on a stool between the toilet and the sink. The same toddler from my earlier story now stood outside the open bathroom door, wide-eyed. “Let me help you!” she exclaimed, surprised at the scene. “You’re trying to go to the bathroom, and you have two babies in there!”
It felt like a sweet closure to that long-ago memory.
The next day, however, was anything but simple. After days of anticipation, it was finally time for my first postpartum poop again. This time, the toddler was napping and the newborn was peacefully swinging. “This is it,” I thought.
Yet, as we all know from 2020, nothing is as easy as it appears. The little ones were indeed asleep, but the three older kids were downstairs engaged in their Zoom classes while my husband was in another room on a work call. The younger two were between classes, and that same spirited tween was next to them, headphones in, camera on, laughing loudly. The chaos of squeals and giggles echoed through the house, loud enough to interrupt my thoughts.
Determined, I stood up and waddled — my oversized postpartum diaper clinging between my knees — out of the bathroom, past the sleeping newborn and into the hallway. “BE QUIET!” I hissed down the stairs. “We have two babies napping, one person in a meeting, and another in a class!”
As I waddled back to the bathroom, praying I wouldn’t create a mess on the carpet, I couldn’t help but reminisce about that little basketball hoop from years past. No matter the challenges, a mother gets things done. It’s always a slam dunk.
If you’re eager for more insights and stories, check out our other blog posts, including this one about home insemination. For those interested in enhancing fertility, Make A Mom is a great resource. And for a deeper dive into related topics, the Genetics and IVF Institute provides excellent information.
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- How to manage postpartum care with kids at home
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- Handling family chaos during postpartum bathroom visits
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In summary, the journey of motherhood is filled with unexpected challenges, especially during the postpartum period. Balancing personal needs with family chaos can be daunting but is a rite of passage for many. Embrace the journey, and know you’re not alone.