I'm now at 30 weeks, the baby is head-down, and my midwife has given me a list of birth supplies I need to order in preparation for a home birth. Just looking over the materials amazes me to think that we're nearing the home stretch. Apart from the weeks of violent nausea that seemed like they would never end, this pregnancy has pretty much flown by in a blurr. I haven't really paid attention to all the little details like I did last time. I don't even remember how much weight I've gained so far. All I know is that I can't fit into any of my old maternity pants, and I'm pretty sure it's because my hips are wider now. If there's another reason, I don't want to know. My midwife also recently discovered that I'm anemic and my thyroid is low. No wonder I've had no energy! I thought it was just the combination of chasing after a toddler while enormously pregnant, but I guess I should have suspected something when I started craving steak. She's given me several recommendations to try before she tests my blood again in a few weeks. At her request, I made a list of people who would be at the birth and what their roles would be. Dave wants to catch the baby, and Mom will be comfort and support. I put my Dad in charge of taking care of Eva, and my sister (15) and brother (13) are in charge of pictures and video. It's still a question mark about who will be in the room during the actual birth, depending on how smoothly everything goes. But either way, they know to focus cameras on faces and not on anything graphic. Nobody likes to see that stuff anyway, and I'm not ready to be the next "Baby Story" star. I have questioned whether or not Eva should be there for the birth, but my midwife says that in her experience, toddlers take their cues from the people around them. If everyone seems calm, cheerful, and unafraid, most likely she will be too. She also says it's easier for toddlers to understand what's happening when they witness the birth, rather than if they're suddenly introduced to a warm bundle that came out of nowhere.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Birth Preparation
I'm now at 30 weeks, the baby is head-down, and my midwife has given me a list of birth supplies I need to order in preparation for a home birth. Just looking over the materials amazes me to think that we're nearing the home stretch. Apart from the weeks of violent nausea that seemed like they would never end, this pregnancy has pretty much flown by in a blurr. I haven't really paid attention to all the little details like I did last time. I don't even remember how much weight I've gained so far. All I know is that I can't fit into any of my old maternity pants, and I'm pretty sure it's because my hips are wider now. If there's another reason, I don't want to know. My midwife also recently discovered that I'm anemic and my thyroid is low. No wonder I've had no energy! I thought it was just the combination of chasing after a toddler while enormously pregnant, but I guess I should have suspected something when I started craving steak. She's given me several recommendations to try before she tests my blood again in a few weeks. At her request, I made a list of people who would be at the birth and what their roles would be. Dave wants to catch the baby, and Mom will be comfort and support. I put my Dad in charge of taking care of Eva, and my sister (15) and brother (13) are in charge of pictures and video. It's still a question mark about who will be in the room during the actual birth, depending on how smoothly everything goes. But either way, they know to focus cameras on faces and not on anything graphic. Nobody likes to see that stuff anyway, and I'm not ready to be the next "Baby Story" star. I have questioned whether or not Eva should be there for the birth, but my midwife says that in her experience, toddlers take their cues from the people around them. If everyone seems calm, cheerful, and unafraid, most likely she will be too. She also says it's easier for toddlers to understand what's happening when they witness the birth, rather than if they're suddenly introduced to a warm bundle that came out of nowhere.
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