♥

Something that I really like about the first few openings is that they emphasize the duality between Usagi Tsukino and Sailor Moon. Usagi and Sailor Moon are often shown as two separate figures, never touching. This represents how, in her early days as a Senshi, Usagi really didn’t identify herself as the warrior of love and justice, Sailor Moon. She was just plain old Usagi, a klutzy crybaby with a loving family and bad grades. It wasn’t until she grew into her role as a Senshi did she start identifying herself as Usagi, a klutzy crybaby with a loving family and bad grades who just so happens to fight against evil as the beautiful sailor-suited warrior, Sailor Moon.

The dual imagery isn’t present during the second opening of the first season; by the time the second opening replaces the first, Usagi is secure in her friendship and camaraderie with Ami, Rei, and Mako (and later Minako); with her teammates on her side, she doesn’t feel overwhelmed or alone anymore, and she becomes confident in her role as Sailor Moon.

The first opening of the R season, however, throws some heavy dual imagery at us. This is because, all throughout the Doom Tree Arc, Usagi is heavily conflicted about her role as Sailor Moon after regaining her lost memories of the first season. On one hand, she knows that being Sailor Moon is extremely important and she has her teammates with her. On the other hand, she got a taste of what it was like to be a normal girl again, a girl whose only major worry was failing an upcoming test and being scolded by her mom. Several episodes reveal that she can no longer use Moon Tiara Action or any other magical attacks because her resolve isn’t strong enough.

More TMI - I passed a MASSIVE clot after my fourth birth. At this point I already knew this could happen - it’s normal. What I DIDN’T know, was that I had caused it.

My post birth contractions were so bad after the birth that it felt like full transition labor. And they don’t give you anything for the pain. So I used a hot water bottle, without the nurses knowing, and it caused me to bleed even more. I lost so much blood that by the first time they sat me up to go to the bathroom, I fainted. It took three more tries until I could sit up.

Anyway, that’s not the point. The point is, the next morning I passed a clot the SIZE OF ANOTHER PLACENTA I KID YOU NOT, and I know what is and is not normal. So I called for the nurse and through the door told her I had passed a huge clot, and her response was - “It’s not big. I know what big is.” She hadn’t even looked. So I rolled my eyes and said, “Yeah, no. It’s big, I’m telling you.”

So, sounding extremely put upon, she asked me to open the door. I did, and after a long pause she goes, “Okay, yeah, that’s a little big.”

YOU DON’T SAY.

The point I’m trying to get across is that this shit is so common - women not knowing this stuff is so expected, and it keeps getting reinforced. People don’t expect you to know anything, don’t teach you anything, and then make you feel like you’re totally ignorant and a burden for your lack of knowledge when THEY WON’T SHARE.

Fucking learn EVERYTHING you can when it comes to childbirth, girls. It is the single most empowering thing you can do for yourself. And if you missed something, that’s okay. But the more knowledge you arm yourself with, the more in control of your situation you’ll be.

A few post partum tips:

DON’T use a hot water bottle - lol.

ONLY pads - NO tampons. Tampons can cause severe infection, not to mention, you probably don’t want to be shoving anything up there any time soon.

If you’ve had stitches, sitz baths DO help relieve the pain. Another great pain reliever? Dampen some pads and freeze them. Let one thaw slightly and use it on top of another pad. This will help with the pain as well as reduce swelling. Change the pad out as soon as it’s thawed completely. This REALLY helps on the first couple days after giving birth.

If you pass a clot, don’t sweat it. Even the one I passed, which was fucking massive, just required that we keep an eye out to make sure it didn’t happen again. If it does, talk to your doctor.

Take a pain killer half an hour before nursing. Because YES - your uterus is contracting after you give birth, to get back to its original size, and nursing causes much stronger contractions. Taking nursing-safe painkillers won’t prevent the pain, but it will reduce it. 

Buy disposable underwear for the first few days after birth. They will get VERY dirty. Or use your ratty old pairs that you’re ready to get rid of. Double up on pads - line them all the way up your ass-crack. I am so serious. And wear dark pants.

Pee in the shower. You do NOT want to wipe down there right after birth because ow. Peeing in the shower lets you just rinse afterwards. Especially if you’ve had stitches, peeing in the shower, with the shower-head rinsing AS you go, keeps stinging to a minimum. And fuck everyone else - keep on peeing in the shower until you feel ready to move back to toilet paper. Middle of the night and need to pee? Get your pants off - get in the shower and just go.

SNAKE ME UP (SNAKE ME UP INSIDE)

I CAN’T SNAKE UP (SNAKE ME UP INSIDE)