Baby post #2!
I have some more updates about pregnancy and baby life from the perspective of 9 months, so I thought I'd make a post.
My due date was last Friday (and I'm very sure of the date of my last period), so I'm 6 days late at this point, which is perfectly normal (especially for first pregnancies), but also apparently unbelievable. Mom, I know, and probably other family members, keep getting calls checking on me; I get a couple of texts most days, and always a few comments at work about still being there. I can understand - when you've been told that it could be any day now for 4 weeks, and that's still the answer for another week... well, why hasn't it happened yet?!
Me, I'm not mad. I would prefer for labor to start naturally before next Friday (42 weeks), past which they won't let me go - I'd be chemically induced at that point. If it doesn't, it doesn't, but it probably will. But it is absolutely not ruining my life to still be pregnant. I still enjoy feeling him kick - he responds even more to outside stimulus these days. I still have a few clothes that fit. I am still doing things in my normal life - going to work (well, most days. I'm taking today off due to feeling extra pregnant :P), going to the Arts Festival, gardening, attending work and friend outings, occasionally even the dishes. I am slower at all of these things than usual, but I am still enjoying them. So I'm not mad.
Let me tell you about my birth plans, in case you don't know! I'm going for prenatal care (which is all about blood pressure, size of baby, heartbeat, position, and answering any questions I have, and occasionally sending me out elsewhere for tests) to the Midwife Center of Pittsburgh, which is also where I intend to give birth if all goes well. I had an appointment per month for the first 6 months-ish, then one every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, and now one every week. My next one is on Monday (along with a post-dates ultrasound and nonstress test). I see different midwives when I go there - I've met them all by now. I started going to the MC for gyny care when my mom recommended it to me during college. It's very nice to go to a place that's dedicated to the normal life of ladies' systems. There's even free parking :)
Anyway, my intention is to work until labor starts. Since I spend my time sitting at a computer, it's not that strenuous. I'm still going to the gym, which feels great both physcially and mentally, although twice this week I went to the senior citizens' aquarobics class instead of swimming laps... it was kind of fun, and felt like an appropriate level of exercise. When I am in early labor (I know it takes a while), I'll be calling up John and my mom to let them know, and either going home (Sarah is on call to pick me up from work if necessary) or sticking out the day, depending on how I feel. I intend to spend early labor at home, then flit off to the MC when necessary. I plan to give birth there - then let everyone know through a phone chain that starts with Ally (for the Langes), Nora (for the Davidsons), and Sarah (for the friends). I'll stay there for 4-12 hours after delivery if all goes well, then come home, where I've been assiduously making icepacks for my perineum. I intend to spend the next few days mostly sleeping and breastfeeding. I feel right now like I'll be excited about visitors, but I intend to make a list of chores that you can help with before you get to hold the baby :P
An interesting proportion of the advice I hear is about getting the epidural as soon as possible. My intention is to go without pain medication, although of course that's subject to real life - I have no idea how well I'll handle labor! I mostly find it interesting because it's so assumed as a part of birth. One friend was shocked to know that someone would even consider not having one. Here are some reasons why I'm trying for non-medicated birth:
* I am not afraid right now.
* I know that many people have done it and I probably can, too.
* I want to go to the MC, and they don't have an epidural as an option. Although epidurals are commonly considered very safe, other pain medications can have depressing effects on the baby which I'd like to avoid if possible.
* I am interested in moving and changing position during labor for speed and pain relief, which an epidural makes harder.
* I am interested in being as present as possible.
* I am not a big fan of unnecessary medication?
Of course I know that what's right for me isn't right for everyone.
Another common thing that I've been hearing, upon telling people that I'm going to a midwife, is questions about water birth. Another interesting association to me - it seems like the common perception of what birth is is either hospital + doctor + epidural or homebirth + midwife + water birth. They don't have tubs that big at the MC, although I probably would have considered it as an option if they did :)
If anything goes wrong (the most common reason is failure of labor to progress quickly enough, although there are a few others), they'll transfer me to Mercy Hospital (possibly in my own car, although I won't be driving!), where a midwife will still be in charge (unless I need a C-section). They say they will probably be slightly quicker to recommend a transfer in my case, because it seems like I have a large baby in me.
I've been measuring large since they started measuring, but not for any apparent medical reason - everything is proportionate, and all of my systems are working fine - it's just that he's a big baby. I haven't gotten a weight estimate lately, but they were saying anywhere from 7.5 to 8.5 pounds a couple of weeks ago. A coworker inquires how 'the triplets' are doing, which always makes someone in earshot scold him and me laugh. I am always running into things with my belly, mostly John. It is a very solid extension of me at this point. Gravity is definitely acting on him now - when I get up in the night to go pee, I already had to go, but then I stand upright and his head drops a little, and then I /really/ have to pee. When I lay on my side, he kind of falls to that side and lays on the bed, too. When I laugh in that position, my abs pull my uterus up, and it's just more and more hilarious to see how it all changes shape.
John has suggested some humorous things about this pregnancy which I will share with you:
1. I have had better reflexes and been much warmer since becoming pregnant. John suggests that his genes are blending with mine through the baby and giving me John Lange powers.
2. We noticed fairly early that when I ate spicy items, he'd be a kick machine. John suggests that spicy food flavors the amniotic fluid enough that he's flailing because it's burning his skin. I find this mental image amusing mostly because I don't think it's true - he also kicks a lot when I eat sweet things.
Alex just came downstairs and asked me if I was planning to have the baby soon. Here I am, back to the beginning of this post. Seems like a good place to stop with baby updates!
My due date was last Friday (and I'm very sure of the date of my last period), so I'm 6 days late at this point, which is perfectly normal (especially for first pregnancies), but also apparently unbelievable. Mom, I know, and probably other family members, keep getting calls checking on me; I get a couple of texts most days, and always a few comments at work about still being there. I can understand - when you've been told that it could be any day now for 4 weeks, and that's still the answer for another week... well, why hasn't it happened yet?!
Me, I'm not mad. I would prefer for labor to start naturally before next Friday (42 weeks), past which they won't let me go - I'd be chemically induced at that point. If it doesn't, it doesn't, but it probably will. But it is absolutely not ruining my life to still be pregnant. I still enjoy feeling him kick - he responds even more to outside stimulus these days. I still have a few clothes that fit. I am still doing things in my normal life - going to work (well, most days. I'm taking today off due to feeling extra pregnant :P), going to the Arts Festival, gardening, attending work and friend outings, occasionally even the dishes. I am slower at all of these things than usual, but I am still enjoying them. So I'm not mad.
Let me tell you about my birth plans, in case you don't know! I'm going for prenatal care (which is all about blood pressure, size of baby, heartbeat, position, and answering any questions I have, and occasionally sending me out elsewhere for tests) to the Midwife Center of Pittsburgh, which is also where I intend to give birth if all goes well. I had an appointment per month for the first 6 months-ish, then one every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, and now one every week. My next one is on Monday (along with a post-dates ultrasound and nonstress test). I see different midwives when I go there - I've met them all by now. I started going to the MC for gyny care when my mom recommended it to me during college. It's very nice to go to a place that's dedicated to the normal life of ladies' systems. There's even free parking :)
Anyway, my intention is to work until labor starts. Since I spend my time sitting at a computer, it's not that strenuous. I'm still going to the gym, which feels great both physcially and mentally, although twice this week I went to the senior citizens' aquarobics class instead of swimming laps... it was kind of fun, and felt like an appropriate level of exercise. When I am in early labor (I know it takes a while), I'll be calling up John and my mom to let them know, and either going home (Sarah is on call to pick me up from work if necessary) or sticking out the day, depending on how I feel. I intend to spend early labor at home, then flit off to the MC when necessary. I plan to give birth there - then let everyone know through a phone chain that starts with Ally (for the Langes), Nora (for the Davidsons), and Sarah (for the friends). I'll stay there for 4-12 hours after delivery if all goes well, then come home, where I've been assiduously making icepacks for my perineum. I intend to spend the next few days mostly sleeping and breastfeeding. I feel right now like I'll be excited about visitors, but I intend to make a list of chores that you can help with before you get to hold the baby :P
An interesting proportion of the advice I hear is about getting the epidural as soon as possible. My intention is to go without pain medication, although of course that's subject to real life - I have no idea how well I'll handle labor! I mostly find it interesting because it's so assumed as a part of birth. One friend was shocked to know that someone would even consider not having one. Here are some reasons why I'm trying for non-medicated birth:
* I am not afraid right now.
* I know that many people have done it and I probably can, too.
* I want to go to the MC, and they don't have an epidural as an option. Although epidurals are commonly considered very safe, other pain medications can have depressing effects on the baby which I'd like to avoid if possible.
* I am interested in moving and changing position during labor for speed and pain relief, which an epidural makes harder.
* I am interested in being as present as possible.
* I am not a big fan of unnecessary medication?
Of course I know that what's right for me isn't right for everyone.
Another common thing that I've been hearing, upon telling people that I'm going to a midwife, is questions about water birth. Another interesting association to me - it seems like the common perception of what birth is is either hospital + doctor + epidural or homebirth + midwife + water birth. They don't have tubs that big at the MC, although I probably would have considered it as an option if they did :)
If anything goes wrong (the most common reason is failure of labor to progress quickly enough, although there are a few others), they'll transfer me to Mercy Hospital (possibly in my own car, although I won't be driving!), where a midwife will still be in charge (unless I need a C-section). They say they will probably be slightly quicker to recommend a transfer in my case, because it seems like I have a large baby in me.
I've been measuring large since they started measuring, but not for any apparent medical reason - everything is proportionate, and all of my systems are working fine - it's just that he's a big baby. I haven't gotten a weight estimate lately, but they were saying anywhere from 7.5 to 8.5 pounds a couple of weeks ago. A coworker inquires how 'the triplets' are doing, which always makes someone in earshot scold him and me laugh. I am always running into things with my belly, mostly John. It is a very solid extension of me at this point. Gravity is definitely acting on him now - when I get up in the night to go pee, I already had to go, but then I stand upright and his head drops a little, and then I /really/ have to pee. When I lay on my side, he kind of falls to that side and lays on the bed, too. When I laugh in that position, my abs pull my uterus up, and it's just more and more hilarious to see how it all changes shape.
John has suggested some humorous things about this pregnancy which I will share with you:
1. I have had better reflexes and been much warmer since becoming pregnant. John suggests that his genes are blending with mine through the baby and giving me John Lange powers.
2. We noticed fairly early that when I ate spicy items, he'd be a kick machine. John suggests that spicy food flavors the amniotic fluid enough that he's flailing because it's burning his skin. I find this mental image amusing mostly because I don't think it's true - he also kicks a lot when I eat sweet things.
Alex just came downstairs and asked me if I was planning to have the baby soon. Here I am, back to the beginning of this post. Seems like a good place to stop with baby updates!