You’ve probably heard that owning a dog is good for your health. Those who own dogs tend to lead longer and more active lives, have lower blood pressure, and and are happier with life in general. They are also less lonely. Life as a grieving mother is lonely.  You walk around with another human being inside you for nine months and then they are suddenly gone.  You’re left with some pictures, a set of footprints, and a huge unfillable void.  Your body doesn’t catch on nearly as quickly as you wish it would. It takes a while for it to realize there is no baby to feed or hold or wake up for.  The milk still gets produced, your arms ache from time to time, and the cries you wake to at 3:00 in the morning are your own, not your baby’s. I know this sounds melodramatic. I wish it was just that and not the truth.
The night my husband and I left for the hospital thinking we’d be back in an hour and ended up not returning for four days our dog Dee was left alone. Upon admittance to the hospital we let my parents who were driving down from Connecticut know that she was home alone and we’d need someone to go to the house and take care of her. When they got to our house she was lying on the couch in typical Dee fashion, not a thing out of place or an accident to be found. She greeted them tail wagging and went outside before enjoying some breakfast. Dee is a very good girl.
When we arrived home from the hospital with a memento box instead of a baby in our arms our families, along with Dee, were there to greet us. Usually when we enter the house (or the room for that matter) Dee wiggles around excitedly making strange noises that sound less like a bark and more like she is giving you a piece of her mind. As we entered the house in tears this particular afternoon she greeted us by rubbing against our legs before resuming her position back on the sofa. She held her post there for much of the next week. Dee was there when I needed something to hold. Fortunately I had my husband but at 6’2″ and 195 lbs he tends to be better at holding me than I am at holding him. Weighing in at 48 pounds of pure muscle Dee is by no means a lap dog but that doesn’t stop her from nuzzling close and curling herself up in my lap (pitbulls are vicious that way.)
When I was ready for short walks Dee came with. When I was ready for longer walks Dee came with. I walked with Dee for hours at a time while trying to figure out what a woman on maternity leave was supposed to do when her baby has died. Once I was physically healed enough to run (and much to her chagrin) Dee came along.
You may remember from a previous post that Dee is not exactly running’s biggest fan. I’ve spent years peeling her off the couch to join me and this trend continues today. Once she is out the door she can hold her own but like most of us when it comes to exercise getting started is half the battle. During pregnancy we were a perfect match, as I became bigger and slower Dee became stronger and faster and we kind of met in the middle. Post-pregnancy, and ever since running became synonymous with grief for me, Dee has been along for the ride. We run together most every morning and sometimes in the afternoon. on really difficult days we might do both. I am happy to report that Dee is up to 5 miles at a time. This may not seem like any big accomplishment but considering she used to grab her leash and pull into someone’s yard to lie down after 5 minutes I think it’s pretty good.
I am grateful to have Dee by my side through the healing process. Not only is she a great companion, she also gives me something to take care of. I don’t know if it’s possible to feel more useless than a postpartum woman with no baby. No matter what the activity every cell of your being is screaming “you should be doing something else with your time”. I’ve heard that petting a dog releases feel-good hormones in both the dog and the person petting it. I wonder if the same is true for movement. I hope Dee feels some of the peace that I do when we are out on our little journeys together. I hope that I’m making her a healthier, happier little girl. I wish I could have done the same for Eve.
I’m so glad we saved Dee’s life because she saves ours in little ways everyday. She’s our comic relief at a time when laughs are rare and so precious. When I am sitting in the nursery lost in what could have been she is right beside me. When we hang out on the couch she nuzzles her head into my belly and I’m reminded of the one who used to live there, the one I couldn’t save.

If you’re interested in learning more about the health benefits of owning a dog there is a great article here. I’d continue to write but I need to get Dee out for her run before the rain comes in (and if Dee hates anything more than leaving the couch, it’s leaving the couch to go out in the rain).