Is it silly that I'm only almost 10 weeks and I just....

[LadyJennifer]

....bought almost everything I need online for my birth? :P

I bought a few of the Midwifery Today handbooks (shoulder dystocia, hemorrhage, etc) and the Emergency Childbirth for me and hubby to start studying; and most of the other birth supplies I can't just go get at CVS or whatever. I'm really excited! :)
I do still need some herbs and tinctures, but we can wait till later (after I consult with my ND friend who had a couple of UCs herself).

Anyone else getting ready early?

[Tumble Bumbles]

It's not silly, you sound like a woman after my own heart lol

I'm a planner by nature, even if it's mental planning (as I don't have a lot of supplies yet). I love researching and reading and educating myself on any subject I'm passionate about at the moment -- in the last couple years it's been birthing in general, specifically UC'ing in the last few months. The more prepared and 'educated' I feel, the more relaxed I am.

I think it's great!

[tracymom1]

I am soooooo the opposite! I always wait until the last minute for everything because I can't make up my mind! I did get Emergency Childbirth and signed hubby up for a neo-nate/infant cpr class. I just renewed my PALS cert and have worked in ER for years so I feel confident in my abilities.

I keep going back and forth between stocking up on every possible thing we could need and just really going with the bare minimum. Probably by the time I make up my mind, the babe will be here and we will be searching for a shoelace to tie the cord off with!!

[vegemamato]

I'm just about 10 weeks too and while I haven't bought anything, I do have an Amazon wish list :)  I'm a planner, but I also procrastinate so I'm not sure when I'll actually be 'ready'.  Last time I bought the birth pool at 37 weeks (os so) but I'm going to try my best to be a little more proactive this time around  (it helps that I saved some of my books and the pool).. 

[vegemamato]

Originally Posted by tracymom1 

Probably by the time I make up my mind, the babe will be here and we will be searching for a shoelace to tie the cord off with!!

We had to find and boil a shoelace for our last... 

[ElizabethE]

It's all good, as long as you feel relatively confident and don't consider yourself ignorant on the topic. I would just hate for someone to be scared and unprepared when their moment came.

I heard you don't really even need to tie off the cord, if you wait long enough for the pulsing and everything to stop.

[VeganEmma]

I am the opposite! I had a list, but I keep questioning if I really need it. I will be 35 weeks in a few days and what I have is a scale. I am going to use the scissors around the house and probably just pull the shower curtain down and put a blanket of it or hope in my garden tub. and tie the placenta off with a shoelace. I am a minimalist by nature.

[LadyJennifer]

Originally Posted by ElizabethE 

It's all good, as long as you feel relatively confident and don't consider yourself ignorant on the topic. I would just hate for someone to be scared and unprepared when their moment came.

I heard you don't really even need to tie off the cord, if you wait long enough for the pulsing and everything to stop.

I've heard that, but I attended a UC last year-ish that they left the cord intact for over 2 hours (it was pale and limp) and when they cut it, the cord was still oozing enough to make them tie it off. I'd rather just have cord tape on hand:)

I'm a very plan-it-out type person. I like having everything I could need, read everything I can, etc. way ahead of time so I can relax and enjoy the end of my pregnancy:)
 

[lightinmyhands]

I'm around 14 weeks and I don't have a thing, except the pool the last one was born in.  I'll buy a bulb syringe in the last few months and some sharp scissors and some placenta out tincture... just in case of another stubborn placenta.  But the biggest thing I learned from my first and as of yet only UC was, babies are born--- they don't really need a lot of stuff to help with that.  We didn't even need the bulb syringe we bought last time and the baby scale we bought never functioned so we just weighed her on the bulk food scale at the local health food store.  I am glad we bought the scissors though, that cord was tough to cut through.  

[Legatia]

I guess I'm worse than you! I'm not even pregnant yet and I'm already planning... I already read 2 books and I'm starting to make a list of stuff to buy for the birth itself! I'll have a lot of time to relax and get rid of all my remaining fears during my pregnancy!!!

[ElizabethE]

Good for you, Legatia!!!

One thing I'm beginning to realize is that knowledge IS power. It's not just for our own peace of mind, but in the face of any adversity you may suddenly find yourself up against. Not dangerous adversity per se, as I feel those external societal threats are actually not grim, but adversity that can disturb the inner balance you've achieved in even coming to consider UC.

It's hard to be painted as ignorant, irresponsible, and unprepared when you have cold hard facts behind you and can explain just how your choice is actually made FROM being responsible-- not the avoidance of it.

In terms of the beauty and simplicity of your natural birth experience, it usually does seem that so little is actually necessary! But we live in a crazy world of misinformation, so I think in our current social climate reading as much as we can is a great idea. And, it also helps quell those final lingering fears we were holding in our psyches (especially if we are dealing with any past birth traumas).

[lightinmyhands]

I guess I forgot to mention how much information I had armed myself with, both for my own piece of mind and for a ground to stand on when people would attack our decision to UC.  I needed/gathered very little physical supplies for the actual birth, but read a vast many books, visited various websites frequently, hung around on these message boards, and watched a few documentaries.  While all of the information gathering was exciting for me last time, I must say that I am getting much joy out of just relaxing into this pregnancy.  Blessed be to all of us on our birth journeys and cheers to the courage and determination it takes to go against the grain & follow our hearts, birthing the way that feels right to us.

Love & Light

[jccretarolo]

As soon as we get our tax money back I plan to buy most of what I'm going to need and I'm only 16 weeks today! I have been reading everything I can about UC for almost 3 years now so I feel like I know a lot and I plan on getting a book or 2 soon!