Blogging our first pregnancy and child rearing, all the ups and downs, tears and laughs and overthinking that not only comes with being knocked up and a new Momma, but with just being me.
What you do in the 9th Month-pt. 1
I’m in the 9th month now, on Tuesday I’ll be 37 weeks and that means 3 more weeks until 40 weeks which they call full gestation.
I some days still cannot believe that I have a baby in side of me.
Yesterday morning I woke up and turned to Matt and said, “I have a baby inside of me.” It still hits me like that.
We went to our Bradley class yesterday. Since we’re having a home birth it was a semi private class with one other home birthing couple that was just 3 hours instead of 6 weeks. The instructor, Celeste, explained, “The first 5 weeks of my normal class are about how to avoid hospital interventions so you have the natural birth you want, you guys are already doing that by not leaving your homes so we just need an afternoon.”
We got a crash course in basic labor and birth- what happens to the baby and your body parts when- and then moved in to good labor and birthing positions and how the partner can help with touch, presence and massage.
It was great, and really all that I needed was captured in those 3 hours.
Celeste mentioned at one point how she felt home birthers were much more prepared for what labor and birth (because they are two very separate things, one being about the woman and one much more about the baby) were going to be like and feel like and why. She showed us a doll and said, “this is the size of an average newborn- this is the size of her head.” We both nodded and said, “Okay, that’s actually smaller than I thought.” Which made her laugh because her hospital class usually looks at her with faces full of fear.
And, I do feel prepared. I’ve read good books, (Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth being the best for me), I’ve become in tune with my body and with what this process may take it through, I’ve slowly learned how I can let go of the control I crave in my daily life, I’ve kept active, I’ve eaten healthy.
So as we reach the mark where I need to be to stay home even with an early labor I’m feeling even more prepared.
A List
I get bigger everyday it feels like.
My stomach is dropping.
Even though I feel like I have a good grip on how to care for and cloth newborns the Baby Basics Class we went to tonight was a worth the time and money.
Every night we get more and more excited about the birth.
My NY shower was more of a party than a shower, which was great because it wasn’t all about watching us open gifts and I could really make the rounds and chat with people, and all the clothes are washed and folded and put away. YAY. Can’t believe there is still more we need. How much is need and how much is “need”, we may never know.
Walking is getting harder.
I’m thankful very often that we’ve chosen home birth, it just feels right.
More thoughts for all of the above in my head, but for now the list will have to do!
Busy Busy
Now that I’m in my last few months of pregnancy I’m starting to really get some things in order, besides cleaning up and setting up the house!
I’ve registered us for a birthing class, a baby care class, a CPR class and we’re going to attend a free Sleep 101 class this month! While I’m sure we don’t need all these classes, I’m hoping we’ll be able to meet some nice people/couples in the classes that we can call on after the baby comes for play dates and just meet ups in general. I think it will be great for us to have some friends near us that are parents.
With that in mind, I’m also going to my first LaLeche league meeting on Saturday. I’m so nervous. For those who know me, you may think I’m an outgoing person- but really I’m an introvert with high extrovert skills (Thanks SARK for teaching me that!). However, I know that LaLeche will be a HUGE support for me after the baby comes, breastfeeding is hard work man!, and it will be a great place for me to connect with other moms. So off I’ll go on Saturday morning and hope for the best!
In fun items, I’ve contacted a co-workers friend who does Maternity Photoshoots and we’re going to be working with her! I’m really excited about this and will hope for some snow for mid- December so we can do some interesting belly in the snow shots! She does more photojournalistic and artsy shots so I’m really excited about the experience.
Additionally, after thinking about it a lot I would really like to work with a doula, however budget is putting some restrictions on us, so I’ve reached out to some doula networks to find someone who is trained, but going for certification credits, or certified and needs additional credits since they charge less. We’re meeting with one woman next week! If we connect than hopefully we’ll end up working with her for the birth. I’ve read too many wonderful things about the doula attended birth not to put some effort in to finding one to work with us.
And lastly, I’m exhausted!!
