Hi, everybody. I feel so far behind on the thread!
Seraf: Thanks for your sweet words. What a lovely way to wake up! I'm glad you and the family are enjoying the pregnancy--that's wonderful.
Crystal: Congratulations on 12 weeks! That is fantastic, especially after an early loss. What a relief!
Starling: I know exactly how you feel. In the last few months, work got harder and harder. And the labor planning seemed more and more inviting. I'm grateful that we listened to at least a few songs of the play list before things got crazy on Sunday. That concert sounds glorious, and it is great that you are getting such quality family time this summer before the family changes.
Amy: GOOD LUCK! Wow--if you really want to get things moving, might I suggest castor oil and nipple stim with a pump?! JK--no need to rush things along if you are feeling ok. Your nesting is truly impressive. I can't imagine disassembling appliances. ;-) Remind us what your plans for the birth are?
Pigirl: CONGRATULATIONS! I'm thrilled that your little guy arrived safely, that you and your midwives worked through what sounds like some difficult calls, and that you were able to get him out of there without surgery even though his position made it tough. Pushing for hours must be exhausting to the bone. Are you super sore? Did you tear at all? I had a few "skid marks" and did get two stitches, and I'm definitely feeling it, though not to the point of needing more than a few ibuprofin. How is the nursing going? I'm remembering today how shocking it was when my milk came in with my DD1. I hope you are adjusting ok.
Yellow: We did it! Brought second children into the world and our families in ways that felt right to us. What differences are you noticing this time around? It sounds like Harrison is a champion nurser. I'd almost forgotten how intense it is when the milk comes in. I thought mine was in yesterday...until I woke up in the middle of the night, rolled over, and practically fell out of bed from the weight of them. SHEESH. Just when the belly (starts to) shrink, the bbs get monstrous. Even my DD1 was shocked. And Liliah can only nurse if I do a lot of compression, which isn't exactly relaxing...though I'm grateful that she is such a good nurser. How are your nights going? Our good sleep seems to start around 3am, when she settles in for at least 12 hours of sleeping and stirs only to nurse. But in the wee hours, she gets gassy and fusses quite a bit. Now that my milk is in and she is almost through the meconium, I'm hoping her digestion picks up. She is usually so peaceful, though, and I experienced complete bliss when I put her in the Moby for the first time yesterday. With her sleeping snuggled against my chest and sighing into my neck, I feel like I can do this--move her from inside to outside--without struggling with some of the anxiety and loss that I felt when DD1 was born. It is amazing what a difference the births make. Even though this one also ended up with some shock value, I did it on my terms in my body's own way without any of the feelings of helplessness that I felt when I was induced with DD1. And there is not a shred of doubt in my mind that had I not had the exact midwives that I'd had, I would have had a repeat of DD1's birth this time around. And this time I would have been even more devastated, because it was my last chance. I am sorry that I didn't get to have a peaceful waterbirth (after two failed attempts), but I can let go of that much more easily than a repeat unwanted induction.
If there is one piece of advice that I'd give every pregnant person, it is to choose your care providers with profound care, and switch if you need to. Doing so was the best medically-related decision I ever made.
Whew--thanks for letting me process all of that! I hope I'm not boring you all to tears.
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