7.02.2007
Soon
I'm in early labor! We started timing my contractions about 24 hours ago, Sunday night around 7ish, and things have been pretty slow going since then. We both got some sleep last night, though not as much as either of us would have gotten on a regular night. Good practice for the next few years, eh?
I want to labor at home as long as possible, so there's no rush to get to the hospital, especially since the contractions aren't that strong or close together (8 to 10 minutes at this point), and my water hasn't broken. I'm having lower back pain and some moderate pelvic pressure, so my Lamaze breathing has been useful for some of the stronger contractions. Jack stayed home from work to be with me, which has been really nice, even though it'll be a vacation day he won't get to take after the baby gets here. It's okay. I had a lunch date with Jennifer today, so since Jack stayed home with me, I called her before we came and asked if Jack could come too and if it would freak her out too much to go to a restaurant even though I was having contractions. She's now referring to me as her "insane friend". After lunch, we went to the mall to walk around (hello, A/C!), and we ran into some other friends, who also probably think I'm insane. But in a good way. =)
This is kind of a weird experience, knowing I'm in labor but that I still have a lot of time ahead of me before it picks up. We're about to find some dinner, and then I think I'll attempt sleep again. My best guess is that Kent will come sometime tomorrow morning or afternoon, but who knows with babies?
P.S. Ask Jack about his "Erica's Labor" spreadsheet. It has formulas and shading and macros and everything. It's hilarious. It makes me want to do a parody video of "When Animals Attack!" called "When Actuaries Have Babies!"
I want to labor at home as long as possible, so there's no rush to get to the hospital, especially since the contractions aren't that strong or close together (8 to 10 minutes at this point), and my water hasn't broken. I'm having lower back pain and some moderate pelvic pressure, so my Lamaze breathing has been useful for some of the stronger contractions. Jack stayed home from work to be with me, which has been really nice, even though it'll be a vacation day he won't get to take after the baby gets here. It's okay. I had a lunch date with Jennifer today, so since Jack stayed home with me, I called her before we came and asked if Jack could come too and if it would freak her out too much to go to a restaurant even though I was having contractions. She's now referring to me as her "insane friend". After lunch, we went to the mall to walk around (hello, A/C!), and we ran into some other friends, who also probably think I'm insane. But in a good way. =)
This is kind of a weird experience, knowing I'm in labor but that I still have a lot of time ahead of me before it picks up. We're about to find some dinner, and then I think I'll attempt sleep again. My best guess is that Kent will come sometime tomorrow morning or afternoon, but who knows with babies?
P.S. Ask Jack about his "Erica's Labor" spreadsheet. It has formulas and shading and macros and everything. It's hilarious. It makes me want to do a parody video of "When Animals Attack!" called "When Actuaries Have Babies!"
Labels: belly, husband things, Kent, Lamaze
- posted by erica 7/02/2007 08:38:00 PM
- 9 comments
5.22.2007
Visitors and more preparations
I have people coming this weekend! Wahoo! Lauren and Steve are coming on Friday and leaving Monday, and my mom and her fiancé are coming on Saturday and leaving Tuesday. Their full day of overlap, Sunday, is the day of the Great Baby Shower of 2007, which I haven't really been involved in planning at all and which I'm really looking forward to. They're in cahoots with my friend Jennifer, and it should be a very fun time (and co-ed, so Jack will be privy to the oohing and ahhing too)!
This week is all about getting through those last few boxes of stuff that are still in the guest room (since we'll have guests who want to sleep in there). Over the weekend and yesterday, we tackled our coat closet, which had been housing a bunch of packing materials, boxes, and some coats in a very disorganized manner but which now looks like a perfectly respectable closet. I also reorganized my crafts, which had just been ridiculously thrown into a huge pile in the guest room closet. Now, everything shares a box or a compartment with its like-minded peers, and it makes me very happy. The yarn box is the biggest. =)
I have my 34-week doctor's appointment on Thursday, and this will be the last one before she starts checking the baby's position and checking to see if I'm dilated (that'll be in two more weeks). How crazy is that? We went over the birth plan last time, so there's a copy in my chart and several more copies at home waiting to accompany us to the hospital, and I feel better about having our wishes on paper and having discussed everything with her explicitly. She's been great about listening to what we want and trying to make it happen, so I'm cautiously optimistic that the hospital staff will do the same (but I'm still glad to have Jack in case somebody needs to lay the smack down).
We've been practicing our Lamaze breathing (well, really MY breathing) a few times a week and getting more of our pre-baby reading done than was possible when I was still teaching, and I think those things have helped us feel a bit more in control. I'm not sure anyone really feels in control when faced with a newborn for the first time, but as I've said before, info is good.
Kent has been persistent lately about rolling all around and having a dance party when I'm interested in sleeping, which should be great preparation for when he's out and crying and needing things around the clock. Owen Wilson's character in Armageddon has a great line when he's being strapped in to the space shuttle before takeoff that I think applies here: "It's like I'm 98 percent excited and 2 percent scared. Or maybe it's 2 percent excited and 98 percent scared, I dunno. That's what makes it so INTENSE!"
This week is all about getting through those last few boxes of stuff that are still in the guest room (since we'll have guests who want to sleep in there). Over the weekend and yesterday, we tackled our coat closet, which had been housing a bunch of packing materials, boxes, and some coats in a very disorganized manner but which now looks like a perfectly respectable closet. I also reorganized my crafts, which had just been ridiculously thrown into a huge pile in the guest room closet. Now, everything shares a box or a compartment with its like-minded peers, and it makes me very happy. The yarn box is the biggest. =)
I have my 34-week doctor's appointment on Thursday, and this will be the last one before she starts checking the baby's position and checking to see if I'm dilated (that'll be in two more weeks). How crazy is that? We went over the birth plan last time, so there's a copy in my chart and several more copies at home waiting to accompany us to the hospital, and I feel better about having our wishes on paper and having discussed everything with her explicitly. She's been great about listening to what we want and trying to make it happen, so I'm cautiously optimistic that the hospital staff will do the same (but I'm still glad to have Jack in case somebody needs to lay the smack down).
We've been practicing our Lamaze breathing (well, really MY breathing) a few times a week and getting more of our pre-baby reading done than was possible when I was still teaching, and I think those things have helped us feel a bit more in control. I'm not sure anyone really feels in control when faced with a newborn for the first time, but as I've said before, info is good.
Kent has been persistent lately about rolling all around and having a dance party when I'm interested in sleeping, which should be great preparation for when he's out and crying and needing things around the clock. Owen Wilson's character in Armageddon has a great line when he's being strapped in to the space shuttle before takeoff that I think applies here: "It's like I'm 98 percent excited and 2 percent scared. Or maybe it's 2 percent excited and 98 percent scared, I dunno. That's what makes it so INTENSE!"
Labels: belly, craftiness, family, friends, Kent, Lamaze, nesting
- posted by erica 5/22/2007 01:10:00 PM
- 1 comments
4.29.2007
Lamaze rocks my world
I actually feel ready for labor. Who would've thought a month ago that I'd be saying that? Certainly not I. I mentioned two weeks ago that after our first birthing class at the hospital, I had decided I wanted to attempt natural childbirth, so this Lamaze weekend we just participated in was a vital step in our preparation. We were there with six other couples, all of whom were expecting their first baby (and several of whom are due in the first week of July, just like we are). Throughout the weekend, we learned relaxation techniques, breathing patterns for the different stages of labor and different types of contractions, pain coping strategies, birthing positions, and the variety of medical opinions out there about many aspects of delivery. It was fabulous. Jack and I will be practicing the breathing techniques over the coming weeks, partly so that they're second nature by the time labor comes along, and partly because hee-hee-hee-hoo (breathing for the most difficult Transition contractions) isn't as easy to sustain as you'd think.
The best part is that Jack is going to be there helping me, going through as much of what I'm going through as is possible for a dad, and being a fantastic, informed, and supportive coach.
As I was lying in bed last night, I reflected on how much my attitude toward birthing has changed and how much more confident I feel now that I know a variety of ways to deal with what's coming. I went from "leaning toward an epidural" during the majority of my pregnancy, to wanting to "attempt" a natural birth a few weeks ago, to being certain now that I don't want an epidural unless I honestly can't cope at all and I make a reasoned decision to have one. The loss of control bothers me in a lot of ways. Our doctor, though she had all three of her children with epidurals, has been very supportive of whatever we want to do, so I'll be talking with her at the next visit about a birth plan and squaring away my preferences about interventions, intermittent monitoring when it's possible, being able to move around, etc. We learned at the first birthing class that a whopping 95% of moms who deliver at Woman's Hospital have an epidural — that totally blew me away — so we may encounter some inexperience with natural delivery or skepticism from hospital staff that I'll actually make it without drugs. (Apparently some of the nurses say, as a routine, "Okay, you're at 3 cm; do you want your epidural now?" "Okay, how about now?" etc.) Though I've heard a few horror stories about people's wishes not being followed, it seems like most people have had pleasant experiences at the hospital, no matter what type of delivery they've had, so I'm optimistic about it. Plus, I have an excellent advocate by my side who seems mild-mannered until you get him upset, and then he's just as capable of kicking ass as the next person. Hopefully he won't have to unleash that on anybody. =)
Feeling good about labor. Feeling excited but still a little freaked out that they're actually going to let us walk out of the hospital with a baby at the end of it.
The best part is that Jack is going to be there helping me, going through as much of what I'm going through as is possible for a dad, and being a fantastic, informed, and supportive coach.
As I was lying in bed last night, I reflected on how much my attitude toward birthing has changed and how much more confident I feel now that I know a variety of ways to deal with what's coming. I went from "leaning toward an epidural" during the majority of my pregnancy, to wanting to "attempt" a natural birth a few weeks ago, to being certain now that I don't want an epidural unless I honestly can't cope at all and I make a reasoned decision to have one. The loss of control bothers me in a lot of ways. Our doctor, though she had all three of her children with epidurals, has been very supportive of whatever we want to do, so I'll be talking with her at the next visit about a birth plan and squaring away my preferences about interventions, intermittent monitoring when it's possible, being able to move around, etc. We learned at the first birthing class that a whopping 95% of moms who deliver at Woman's Hospital have an epidural — that totally blew me away — so we may encounter some inexperience with natural delivery or skepticism from hospital staff that I'll actually make it without drugs. (Apparently some of the nurses say, as a routine, "Okay, you're at 3 cm; do you want your epidural now?" "Okay, how about now?" etc.) Though I've heard a few horror stories about people's wishes not being followed, it seems like most people have had pleasant experiences at the hospital, no matter what type of delivery they've had, so I'm optimistic about it. Plus, I have an excellent advocate by my side who seems mild-mannered until you get him upset, and then he's just as capable of kicking ass as the next person. Hopefully he won't have to unleash that on anybody. =)
Feeling good about labor. Feeling excited but still a little freaked out that they're actually going to let us walk out of the hospital with a baby at the end of it.
Labels: belly, husband things, Kent, Lamaze
- posted by erica 4/29/2007 06:03:00 PM
- 3 comments
4.15.2007
Knowing is half the battle
Our birthing class was GREAT. Even while I was there, I kept thinking, "I feel so much better about this than I did before!" I knew a lot of info beforehand, but it was all kind of sporadic and I didn't understand the sequence of what happened, etc., so this really helped everything to gel in my head about what we should expect. I also discovered that the more I hear about epidurals, the less I want one, so now I'm even more excited about our Lamaze class in two weekends (4 hours on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday) to give us some strategies to cope with labor pain and attempt it naturally if I can. If the pain is too much and I decide that I need an epidural, I won't feel bad about taking it, but it would be nice to do it without. Obviously I won't know how it feels until I get there, but the prepared wait-and-see approach is a strategy a lot of moms and medical people have suggested and one that I feel comfortable with.
Why doesn't anyone ever talk about delivery of the placenta, though? We saw a video of a vaginal birth, and then they pulled THAT thing out a few minutes later, and it was pretty gross. Interesting to know about, but unexpected to see. Yeesh. I'll be in the midst of I-Have-A-Baby-Now Euphoria, though, so I'll be okay when it's my turn to have that come out of me.
Hurray for knowledge! And... Breathe.
Why doesn't anyone ever talk about delivery of the placenta, though? We saw a video of a vaginal birth, and then they pulled THAT thing out a few minutes later, and it was pretty gross. Interesting to know about, but unexpected to see. Yeesh. I'll be in the midst of I-Have-A-Baby-Now Euphoria, though, so I'll be okay when it's my turn to have that come out of me.
Hurray for knowledge! And... Breathe.
- posted by erica 4/15/2007 10:24:00 PM
- 2 comments
