it had seemed

[SmilingTeapot]

Hello

I have questions concerning the following lines.

A week in the hospital, she has told us. A hysterectomy, she has said. It had seemed unremarkable to me in a woman of forty-six long finished with childbearing, although every day I grow older I realize there is never anything unremarkable about losing any part of what makes you female - a breast, a womb, a child, a man.

Question #1:

I don't understand how the author uses the expression "it had seemed." What had seemed unremarkable to her in a woman of forty-six long finished with childbearing?
Why the past perfect "had seemed" instead of "seemed?"

I would use "It had seemed" this way:
It had seemed surprising to me that a woman of forty-six, long finished with childbearing, decided to buy baby clothes before I learned that she was going to adopt a baby.
What had seemed surprising to me that a woman of forty-six, long finished with childbearing? Answer: decided to buy baby clothes.
Why the past perfect "had seemed"? Answer: because the action happened before the simple past "learned."

Question #2:

Do we need a comma between "a woman of forty-six long" and "long finished with childbearing?" In this case, even if "long finished with childbearing" is a restrictive phrase, can I use a comma?

Thank very much,

smilingTeapot

[Casiopea]

There's a then / now aspect to it:

#1 Then, at that time, it had seemed unremarkable to me, but, now, as time goes on and I grow older I realize there is never anything unremarkable about it.

'who has' has been omitted. It heads a restrictive or defining clause:

#2 a woman of forty-six (who has/had) long finished with childbearing