Shelagh Turner's heart swelled when she looked at her newborn son. She loved having a new baby...new baby, new experience.
When they adopted Angela, Shelagh was only too aware of the difference between adopting a child and giving birth. As she fed Angela by bottle she thought of the young girl with milk that needed drying up. As she woke in the wee hours of the morning, she was aware that her body was not sore from just giving birth. She had cared for enough postnatal mothers to know how difficult it was.
Now she was learning first hand about postnatal recovery. She was experiencing everything she missed from adopting. Instead of making a bottle in the middle of the night in a cold kitchen, she could nurse her son sitting in her warm bed.
In the first days after the birth she barely recognized her own anatomy. As the weeks progressed she healed and eventually was back to normal again...well almost. She had some extra belly that seemed to be hers to stay. She had never been keen on wearing a girdle but now she understood why so many women did.
One evening Patrick came up behind her as she was washing the dishes. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his hands on her middle.
"Patrick don't. "
"What's wrong."
"It is fat."
"Fat? My love, you are not fat! You've just had a baby."
Turning towards him, she said, "I was thinking of going to Trixie's Keep Fit class if my doctor says I am recovered."
"It's been what five weeks?"
"Six weeks tomorrow."
"Six weeks already. Do you know what that means?"
"What? Oh…"
"You"re blushing love?"
"Am I?"
"Yes," he said as he pulled her into his arms.
"I am afraid. So much has changed."
"You are beautiful. Perfect in every way. I love you and miss…"
"What you miss is what led to all my physical changes."
"My love, you trusted me on our wedding night. You can trust me again."
Timothy walked in and said, "Mum the baby is fussing," looking at his parents he asked, "What are you two talking about."
Together they answered,"Nothing."
Later when they were getting ready for bed, Patrick said, "I think you're perfect, but if you want to get fit, I will not stand in your way as long as this little one doesn't mind."
"Thank you dear."
"Also the other thing, I don't want you to feel pressured."
"I know...Patrick, there is something we've never had to consider before..."
"What's that."
"I'm don't think either of us is ready for another little miracle."
"Oh...we've a bit of time."
"I don't want to take the contraceptive pill."
"No, absolutely not...Love, you have so much to worry about, leave this to me."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll just have to keep my socks on."
"Oh!" Shelagh laughed.