Birth Chat - December - Page 2

[cedarwoman]

Thanks for the update... I was wondering after your last post! Glad to hear that dp is getting some body work done, I think that's the only way to get through these last few weeks sometimes...

[montessorimama1]

Originally Posted by cedarwoman 

Side-lying with a pillow wedge under belly and one for your top knee to rest on... and leaning over a pillow mountain (or the bed, depending on how high your bed is...) 

Or you on top leaning slightly back on your hands to accommodate the hanging belly.  Pillows are your friend, like cedarwoman said.  

OK, related question... I've been having orgasms in my sleep almost every night for the past two weeks (although during the day my sex drive is zip, nil, nothing).  What gives?  If this is my body's way of preparing for labor, I want to be pregnant forever!!  :)  (Just kidding, baby...)

[chilichiki]

Originally Posted by montessorimama1 

Or you on top leaning slightly back on your hands to accommodate the hanging belly.  Pillows are your friend, like cedarwoman said.  

OK, related question... I've been having orgasms in my sleep almost every night for the past two weeks (although during the day my sex drive is zip, nil, nothing).  What gives?  If this is my body's way of preparing for labor, I want to be pregnant forever!!  :)  (Just kidding, baby...)

That is soooo weird!! I have been having those too!!  But then I wake up and have absolutely no interest in sex, much to my husbands disapointment.  Its hard enough to be comfortable, let alone even think about that!

[Kaitlyn811]

Why am I panicking about birth? I just watched a water birth video - the woman was calm as could be, it was a perfect scenario much like I picture mine to be (minus a significant other, kids, video staff, etc) and yet I am mortified, anxiety ridden, and scared I can't do it and wondering what I got myself into. 

I can't accurately describe how it makes me feel other than sick to my stomach and I start to cry. I know that it's inevitable - I have to give birth. Maybe it's just a bad case of cold feet? 

Between freaking out about labor and everyone hounding me about a name..I find myself not so ready to have a baby even though I'm totally over being pregnant. 

Do any other first time mom's share the same anxiety I do? 

[joyfulgrrrl]

Originally Posted by element2012 

This.  I hate to ask this, but does anyone have any tips for this right now?  I am officially huge and it seems like there is way that is comfortable right now... help!

on top, facing away from my partner works well for me because I control depth and don't feel self-conscious

[joyfulgrrrl]

Originally Posted by Kaitlyn811 

Why am I panicking about birth? I just watched a water birth video - the woman was calm as could be, it was a perfect scenario much like I picture mine to be (minus a significant other, kids, video staff, etc) and yet I am mortified, anxiety ridden, and scared I can't do it and wondering what I got myself into. 

I can't accurately describe how it makes me feel other than sick to my stomach and I start to cry. I know that it's inevitable - I have to give birth. Maybe it's just a bad case of cold feet? 

Between freaking out about labor and everyone hounding me about a name..I find myself not so ready to have a baby even though I'm totally over being pregnant. 

Do any other first time mom's share the same anxiety I do? 

I'm having my 5th (third home birth) and I am freaking a bit. Birth is difficult and transformative - it's such a hugely important event in our lives, so I think it's really normal to feel some fear/apprehension. 

Have you read Birthing from Within? I'm going to read it again, it's an excellent preparation book - and it helps work one conquering that fear. Keep watching peaceful birth videos. 

About a week before my due date my sister in law is having a Blessingway for me as well, I'm going to have my belly hennaed and going to have all of the women who attend receive a small henna as well so we're bonded together while I wait for my baby to arrive. Having lots of women surrounding you right now is a really good idea, assuming they're the right kind of women :)

And if you can swing it - hire a doula. 

[Devaskyla]

I'm very jealous of the ladies having sleep orgasms. I've never had that happen to me.

Kaitlyn, it's perfectly normal to be scared, it's a huge thing you've got no experience with and our society really pushes the idea that it's something to be scared of. I'm a little anxious and I've had 3 kids. :) You'll do great when the time comes.

I think I've read too many loss stories & have had too many myself. My brain keeps thinking about everything that could go wrong. This is not conducive to a peaceful state of mind, but then neither is anything else going on right now.

I'm so tired of being huge and awkward, but at the same time, I am no where near ready to have this baby. I still need to find a place to put baby clothes & to make my birthing space nicer & get ready for Christmas and, and...I need a maid & an interior designer. :)

[Kaitlyn811]

I'm right there with you in terms of being ready yet not being ready. I feel like a hippo. Down about my appearance and the 'way' of lack of my body is adjusting to this. For the most part, everything is ready - except for me. She has clothes, a bed, and boatloads of diapers. It's just me who isn't ready - name, birth, hospital bag packed, birth plan, pediatrician, etc. Yikes. I agree - time for a personal assistant! 

I'm certainly trying to stay away from negative experiences - TV drama, over-dramatic women who claim they had the worst births, etc. Don't get me wrong - some probably did have a really unpleasant birth, but not all. And I think it's rude to express such words of un-encouragement. Soon to be new mom's are frightened enough, why make it worse?  

And oh my gosh! I was reading what other women felt during labor and one woman said something along the lines of "it was so easy and the epidural really helped" well no wonder it was easy! She was numb from the waist down! *sigh* 

[Devaskyla]

Except for about 10-15 minutes of transition, my last birth was really easy. No epidural, though. :) I was walking around setting up the birth pool 2 hour before ds3 was born. Yeah, the contractions weren't exactly fun, but the time between them is lovely.

[Conchobhar]

I know my story might be a rarity (or at the very least, get something thrown at me), but I had no pain meds and while the contractions "paralyzed" me at the time, I do remember thinking right afterwords, "that's it?"  I honestly thought I'd be in a lot more pain than I ended up being in.  But again, I may the exception.

[Kaitlyn811]

I'm not sure if you two are the "exceptions" or not..but you give me hope regardless lol so I'm going to roll with it. I'm glad some women have births they consider "easy" and they didn't get an epidural! I'm of the mindset that if the woman has an epidural it's of course going to be easy because they can't feel a darn thing! 

I'm also of the mindset that labor is NOT an emergency, and I ask that others don't treat it like one. (Of course I say this now since I'm not in labor lmbo) but I really want to be drama free as I think it'll make labor easier. 

My coworkers (especially the ones I'm very close to) turn and ask each other "well what should we do if she goes in labor?" and my response is "whatever you do DON'T call an ambulance!" First it's really expensive and second it's not an emergency, well, as far as we all know it won't be an emergency. (: 

Oh that's a good question, for the non-home birth ladies, who drove you to the birth center/hospital? 

[AfricanQueen99]

I agree with conchobhar...the pain can be intense, but it's totally do-able.  And at the end there's this amazing high and you think about how relatively "easy" it was.

My husband drove me to the hospital, but it was a leisurely 7 minute drive.  No rush.

[softlysinging]

Originally Posted by Conchobhar 

I know my story might be a rarity (or at the very least, get something thrown at me), but I had no pain meds and while the contractions "paralyzed" me at the time, I do remember thinking right afterwords, "that's it?"  I honestly thought I'd be in a lot more pain than I ended up being in.  But again, I may the exception.

my 3rd birth was like that.  the one i had on friday, not so much.  every birth is different i guess!

[Conchobhar]

Originally Posted by Kaitlyn811 

Oh that's a good question, for the non-home birth ladies, who drove you to the birth center/hospital? 

My DH.  But I know your situation is different.  I'd recommend someone that you absolutely trust to be there, no matter the time, weather, how they're feeling, etc.  And I'd recommend making a Plan A, B, and C, just in case. 
 

[imakecutebabies]

Ok, I'm officially full term! I saw my doctor today and she says she's confident I'll be pregnant at least one more week. That's great news to me! At least one more week to relax, have Christmas, get things in order. She also asked if I'd like to schedule an induction so we could get the tax break! I was kind of surprised & annoyed by that. My own predictions change every day, but today I'm feeling like he'll be born Jan. 9 (just a complete guess) :P

My best friend & my babysitter will both be out of town from Christmas until Jan 5 so I need to line up a few more back up sitters for my kids just in case --- I'm having a little trouble thinking of people to ask who won't be wasted on New Years/ hungover on the 1st haha. 

I've never had a painless birth. My first was very painful, I actually thought people had down-played how painful it would be. That's just me though I guess. 

[Kindermama]

Originally Posted by montessorimama1 

Or you on top leaning slightly back on your hands to accommodate the hanging belly.  Pillows are your friend, like cedarwoman said.  

OK, related question... I've been having orgasms in my sleep almost every night for the past two weeks (although during the day my sex drive is zip, nil, nothing).  What gives?  If this is my body's way of preparing for labor, I want to be pregnant forever!!  :)  (Just kidding, baby...)

yep! I had one last night and the night before that. Apparently happens to me the last week of pregnancy every time! Energy is moving down there....oh I'm also super sweaty...almost like hot flashes. 

[Kindermama]

Kaitlyn, remember you decide how much pain you actually feel. Mind over matter. Grab yourself some hypnosis tracks on Itunes. It really helps a lot. Kelly Howell has some good ones. 

[chilichiki]

Originally Posted by Kaitlyn811 

I'm not sure if you two are the "exceptions" or not..but you give me hope regardless lol so I'm going to roll with it. I'm glad some women have births they consider "easy" and they didn't get an epidural! I'm of the mindset that if the woman has an epidural it's of course going to be easy because they can't feel a darn thing! 

I'm also of the mindset that labor is NOT an emergency, and I ask that others don't treat it like one. (Of course I say this now since I'm not in labor lmbo) but I really want to be drama free as I think it'll make labor easier. 

My coworkers (especially the ones I'm very close to) turn and ask each other "well what should we do if she goes in labor?" and my response is "whatever you do DON'T call an ambulance!" First it's really expensive and second it's not an emergency, well, as far as we all know it won't be an emergency. (: 

Oh that's a good question, for the non-home birth ladies, who drove you to the birth center/hospital? 

I had an epidural for about an hour during labor with my first.  I was NOT numb...I still felt contractions.  I was experiencing horrid back labor though, and the epidural allowed me to relax and focus.  Looking back and realizing how close I was to the actual end of labor, I probably could have held out...

But honestly, don't be afraid if you feel the need to get an epidural.  I am not planning on it for this one, but I haven't thrown the idea out the window.

I was incredibly nervous/scared about delivering my first son.  Nothing I could do/read/think about helped to calm me. It seemed every where I turned stress was waiting!!

Once I actually went into labor and was at the hospital, I was focused.  Once I was there everything became so hectic (his heart rate was dropping), that I forgot all about my fears and concentrated on keeping my little man healthy and calm until he was ready to come out.

this time around... I am 34 weeks Wednesday and I am finding the anxiety is starting to creep back in.  this pregnancy has been sooo different from my last one that it makes me wonder how different labor will be.  And, since I have always been a wonderer/worrier...anxieties about birth are setting in again.

I have no idea why all of a sudden I have hit the "Oh my god, this kid is going to have to come out sometime soon!" thoughts.

Then, I have anxieties about bringing little man home.

My 4 year old son, who has been excited nearly this whole pregnancy, has now decided he wants to be an only child and I am seeing a totally different side of him.  Even my parents have commented on how hard they think he is going to take having the new baby around.  We talk to him about it all the time and explain how important he is to us and how much we love him, but it doesn't seem to change his opinions.

Then, yesterday I read in the paper about a 3 week old baby that suddenly died (SIDS I am guessing) not too far from here...and a whole new set of anxieties have cropped up.

Oh, the joys of being a mommy!

[Sweet.Bee]

We met with one of the midwives at the birthing house this morning, and I'm cleared for a home birth! Baby is head down, active, and I will be full term on xmas day. The midwife said that even if baby came in the next few days, it's close enough to full term that we can call them. 

Now to get everything ready. The midwives are bringing almost everything needed for the birth, but I still need to do things like organize the baby's closet.

And it's snowing like crazy here. Makes me glad we won't need to drive out when I'm in labor.

[HardCoreMom]

we hosted family yesterday for christmas, and now that it's over, i feel like i'm going to pass out.  i'm so freaking tired.  it was a great holiday, it really was.  i'm just totally spent, and i feel like i could sleep from now till next friday.  the kids are all busy with their new books and toys.  maybe i could lay down here on the sofa with them and just close my eyes for a few minutes. 

i'm eager to know who had a baby over the weekend.  surely someone must have!

i hope everyone had a great holiday!  next stop- new years and *january*!!!