Thirteen Years Ago – Remembering Pain
וְהֵרֹנֵךְ–בְּעֶצֶב, תֵּלְדִי בָנִים
in pain you shall bear children (Bereishit 3:16)
So, 13 years ago my little guy came out like a cannon ball. No time for the doctor to show up, no time for the epidural. The nurses were in a panic; they thought they would have to deliver the baby (a resident at the hospital did). There’s a technical name for women who deliver babies very quickly. I can’t remember it – I just call it “cannon ball pain.”
And then the parsha (portion of the Torah reading) tells me that I’m going to deliver in pain. No kidding.
At least it wasn’t emotional pain, like that of losing my mother. Her yahrzeit (anniversary of her death) is tonight.
Mrs. S. says
And that's yet another thing our middle sons have in common. His was my fastest delivery by far (the doctor made it, but with only seconds to spare), and the doctor even described my son as arriving "like a cannon ball".
Mazal tov on the bar mitzvah! May you continue to have much nachat from all of your children.
leoraw says
Ah, another cannon baller! I hope I don't scare any young women with this post. I had my third scheduled, so I could get the epidural - she came out like a peach. Much more pleasant experience. The wonders of modern medicine.
WolfishMusings says
Mazal Tov on the Bar Mitzvah.
It looks like we have something in common... today is my daughter's 13th birthday too!
The Wolf
leoraw says
Thanks for dropping a note, Wolf.
Ilana-Davita says
Happy birthday to your son and Mazal Tov on the Bar Mitzvah.
leoraw says
Thanks for the kind wishes.
Larry Lennhoff says
May your mother be remembered for a blessing. Looking forward to seeing y'all at EA this Shabbat for the bar mitzvah. Well, back to earning my food by the sweat of my brow. :>)
leoraw says
Hope you aren't sweating too profusely...looking forward to having you as a guest at our simcha!
Robin from Israel says
Mazal tov on the upcoming Bar Mitzvah - this must be a popular week to be born, we had M and several of my friends to celebrate too.
May your mother's memory be a blessing.
leoraw says
Thank you, Robin.
ramblingwoods says
Happy Birthday to your son...Mazal tov!!!!! My daughter was 13 hours and a natural breech birth.. That was an ouch...but it was worth it..I think. LOL...
Abbi says
A late happy birthday and mazel tov! It's good the pain fades from memory!
Delivery here is so different- here the nurses deliver and only call the dr. if there are complications.
leoraw says
Doctor, nurse, midwife, taxi driver - it's all the same to me who is standing there. It still hurts.
Jewish Side says
That's cool his Bar mitzvah parsha was Bereishis. It's one of my favorite Parshas.
Having "cannon ball" delivery is more painful than one with long labor hours? or it's the same?
Also, with the pain of birth, Hashem made us be able to forget things, so we shouldn't remember the pain, and that allows us to have more babies.
leoraw says
You weren't supposed to read this post. 'Cuz I don't want to scare you!
I figured out how to get around the "cannon ball" delivery with child #3, so if I could pick, I'd keep the labor style I have and not go for the long labor. But we get what Hashem gives us as for labor style. Everyone's different.
Hashem made us be able to forget things
See, you should keep believing this. (it's not true for me, but maybe it will work for you)
Jewish Side says
Thanks for the concern!
Interesting, that makes sense, everyone being different and having different labor styles. My Rebbitzen was telling me that different bodies carry differently, so that people with wider hips have an easier time than those with narrow hips.
I guess we'll find out. But B"H I don't allow myself to dwell on the past too much, so that I can try things again.
Please leave a comment! I love to hear from you.