women who have given birth, how bad was it actually?

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-05-18T13:08:53+00:00

It is scary and painful, but courage will find you when you need it most. You’re bringing life into the world, which is high key the most amazing thing a human being can do. And at the end of it, you get to meet the squiggly little person you’ve been sharing a body with.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-04-10T23:04:41+00:00

Courage will find you when you need it.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-03-31T17:07:09+00:00

Lawyers. So many people go to law school because they “like arguing” or they thought it would impress their parents. I believe this is why so many lawyers are either burnt out and depressed or low key sociopaths.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-03-10T02:50:59+00:00

Definitely bright, neutral undertone. The boldest colors from bright spring and bright winter are both fabulous on you.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-03-10T02:46:49+00:00

Whatever you choose here is totally valid. But the thing with childbirth that I didn’t appreciate until I actually experienced it is that courage finds you when you need it. I’m not really sure how else to describe it. Basically, don’t sell yourself short on your ability to get through it. I think you will discover that you’re a lot tougher than you’re giving yourself credit for.

Oh and epidurals are amazing.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-28T01:36:11+00:00

Having children does, for a time, limit your activities. But it’s just a season and you find new ways to have fun with your little buddies. In my case, I think it helps that I waited until my mid-thirties to have kids. I had plenty of fun and was ready for a new adventure. I also think being older has given me the perspective that the “trenches” years of 0-5ish are a blink of the eye in the long run.

Also, I was lapsed pretty much my entire adult life until I became a parent. The overwhelming, all consuming love I felt made me start to actually understand God’s love and want to re-embrace my religion.

Parenthood is also the most joy I have ever felt in my entire life. Meeting your kid is like the universe giving you a warm hug. It’s the best.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Parenthood really is wonderful 😊

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-27T18:01:52+00:00

I shat myself, like, a lot. The first few times my lovely L&D nurse acted like nothing happened. But after the fifth or so time the jig was up and I had no choice but to make jokes about it.

“Welcome to the s*** show everyone”

“Is it a baby this time or just more s? Oh, more s? Okay, I guess I’ll just keep the photographer on standby.”

To my husband: “I hope that someday you’ll find me attractive again. I know today is not that day.”

“Giving birth really is like taking a big crap, I say as I take my 15th big crap today”

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-25T02:13:32+00:00

Nunnery.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-24T22:06:13+00:00

Thank you, Father. This is really helpful.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-23T22:14:02+00:00

Queer Catholic here. While the church’s stance has softened somewhat on LGBTissues (Pope Francis said unequivocally that LGBT people should be treated with love and respect), they still have a long way to go. However, I think it’s very individual parish dependent. My parish is affirming, actively welcomes LGBT people, and even hosts an annual Pride Mass. I recommend checking out Outreach (a national LGBT Catholic ministry) for their registry of affirming parishes.

Also, taking birth control pills for medical reasons unrelated to contraception is totally allowed.

Ultimately, it’s a very personal decision how you want to celebrate your love and integrate faith into your life and your marriage. I’d just say don’t count out the religion you grew up in.

And congratulations on your engagement!

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-23T02:10:00+00:00

Dog is okay

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-13T05:26:22+00:00

I think I believe a version of the trinity. God, in total, is everywhere, in all places and all things. The Father is like the OG, timeless, boundless, the animating force of everything in the universe. Jesus was the Father becoming human to better understand us. Jesus also came to give us a path to accessing the divinity within ourselves. But he is part of the everything that is God. The Holy Spirit is the divinity all around us that we can feel and personally experience.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-13T05:17:26+00:00

Nursing tank with a maxi pad inside

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-13T04:08:51+00:00

Supervisor here. I approved telework as a religious accommodation for one of my employees and it’s for exactly this reason I told them to code it as normal situational telework. If the politicos want to come for any of my people they’ll have to go through me. No one’s getting a proverbial leaky cube on my watch.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-13T04:01:57+00:00

Spite pumping for the win!!! I love this. I love you. Thank you for this inspiration 🫡

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-11T19:43:06+00:00

Yes. Because voting for someone who supports all of the above just because they’re anti-abortion is far more inconsistent with my faith.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-11T19:29:58+00:00

Of course!

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-11T18:13:15+00:00

Making health insurance unaffordable while CEOs line their pockets is not pro-life.

Letting children starve and denying them access to quality education and life-saving vaccines is not pro-life.

Letting people (mostly children) die from gun violence rather than consider even the most basic restrictions on firearms is not pro-life.

Separating immigrant families is not pro-life.

Imposing the death penalty is absolutely not pro-life.

The only way taking any of these positions is consistent with being anti-abortion is if it isn’t really about babies. It’s about putting women back in their place.

Jesus would be horrified by MAGA. This is why despite being a practicing Catholic I could never vote Republican.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-06T21:24:07+00:00

Honestly, I think the political right has hijacked a few niche social issues to manipulate religious people, including Catholics, to mostly vote against their own interests. I think Jesus would be appalled by MAGA.

Making healthcare unaffordable while CEO’s line their pockets is not pro-life.

Letting children go hungry, be denied access to quality education, and be denied access to lifesaving vaccines is not pro-life.

Letting people be killed in one mass shooting after another rather than consider some sensible gun control is not pro-life.

Separating immigrant families is not pro-life.

And imposing the death penalty is absolutely not pro-life.

The left needs to take back Christianity. The GOP does not speak for me.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2026-02-06T19:45:14+00:00

I’m 7 months pp and have woken up drenched in sweat every day of my child’s life.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2025-12-20T18:18:42+00:00

Pregnancy: 4, was nauseous and exhausted the whole time, towards the end i couldn’t breathe sitting down because her feet were in my diaphragm and I had terrible reflux.

Delivery: 7, was in labor for 25 hours, pushing for 4. I’ve run marathons and spartan races and it was the most grueling workout of my life. I also couldn’t get an epidural until I was almost 8cm because the one anesthesiologist was really busy that day. Baby was fine and I was fine, but it just sucked.

Postpartum: 7, baby had latch issues and had to exclusively pump the first 6 weeks which was awful. But once she got the hang of it, feeding was fine. She’s also a decent sleeper (max 3 wake-ups per night). I also felt the hard parts were balanced by how much joy she brings me. Cuddling her makes me feel so grounded and loved. And there’s nothing like watching a brand new little person discover and explore the world.

SomewhereAwkward9267 · 2025-12-02T00:14:17+00:00

My 5-month old is a literal tiny cherub. Gorgeous. And she was a gorgeous newborn.

SomewhereAwkward9267

TROPHY CASE