Holy smokes, I'm going to have a baby!

[RachelGS]

You would think this would have sunk in before now, and of course in some ways it has. But I've been so busy with my daughter that it has been hard to focus on the idea of an actual newborn baby. It's hard to imagine a child who isn't Abigail, and even harder to imagine how I'm going to take care of both of them at once. I've been excited to prepare all the baby things and excited to plan my homebirth, but there has been a level of surrealism to it all, too. Now I feel like the birth is probably pretty close, and I'm just suddenly overwhelmed at the notion that an actual baby is going to be coming out of my body in a matter of days.

[allgirls]

Originally Posted by RachelGS

You would think this would have sunk in before now, and of course in some ways it has. But I've been so busy with my daughter that it has been hard to focus on the idea of an actual newborn baby. It's hard to imagine a child who isn't Abigail, and even harder to imagine how I'm going to take care of both of them at once. I've been excited to prepare all the baby things and excited to plan my homebirth, but there has been a level of surrealism to it all, too. Now I feel like the birth is probably pretty close, and I'm just suddenly overwhelmed at the notion that an actual baby is going to be coming out of my body in a matter of days.

I have been feeling exactly the same way this past few days!! Suddenly I am really really excited! Of course I am sleeping better and not as cranky so that might be why.

Isn't it awesome...a sweet little baby!!!

[Golden]

Hi Rachel,
We pm'd way back in the beginning about doulas. I've been following your posts here and there, following your journey out of the Birthplace to your own place! Just wanted to wish you and your family lots of love and peace. I'll be thinking of you and can't wait to read your birth story if you care to share it when the time comes!!

Take care,
Golden

[aishy]

hehe yeah its weird when it just suddenly hits you. I mean, even through all the preperations there is nothing quite like that "its really happening" feeling you get towards the end.

I think I might be in early labor. The contractions are more intense tonight and today i've just felt weird. It just feels like this is it, she'll be here this weekend. Everything is so weird tonight, I don't know how to explain it. My husband and I went to starbucks & TJ Maxx (just cause it is next door) and I got a Boppy pillow for $15, the pink gingham print. I have been wanting another one (my kids took ours outside & left it out there. It's gone).

Anyway i'm breathing through contractions, getting easily annoyed at the littlest things, and relaxing while my husband and brother do a pick up of the house (toys toys toys). I want my kitchen mopped, too. heh.

aisling

[RachelGS]

Woo hoo, Aisling!!! I hope that little baby gives you an easy time and a wonderful birthing experience!

Golden, thank you SO much for your help and encouragement. I think things have worked out exactly as they should have. I'll definitely post a birth story after it happens!

[Sagesgirl]

I don't remember the surrealism from last time, though I am sure it was there. Linda was more than a month early, so I didn't have these last few days to freak out like I do this time. I do remember all of us in the van going somewhere like two weeks after she was born and Rob & I marvelling over the fact that she was brand new and hadn't always been a part of the family.

I do remember an occasional pregnancy freak-out over how I was going to handle two children instead of just one, but for some reason three doesn't seem like much of a big deal. This time around I'm just anxious to meet the new baby...and to sleep on my stomach again.

[aishy]

Thanks Rachel. I choose to sleep and things slowed wayyyyy down. I'm waiting to see if they'll pick up again today. I would really love a weekend baby (while everyone is off work!), but I don't want to wait another whole week :LOL

aisling

[OliveGirl]

Your daughter is just a week older than my son! I totally relate. I've also been feeling a bit sad because I know the new baby will change the dynamic between my son and me. It'll be a wonderful change, but a change nonetheless. I'm trying to treasure these last few days of having an only because I know things will be pretty hectic after she's born and we're in the throes of adjusting to life with two!

[eroslovesagape]

I'm feeling that surrealism fade, too, as the countdown (due in 12 days) goes on...I'm actually going to have a baby? An infant? waking up at night again, nursing, changing diapers? My 2nd son is 12, my oldest 18 & just moved out & off to college- it's been a long time since I've had a baby in the house! Our house is ready, her list of potential names is just about done, - am I really having a daughter? I can't wait!

[dylan27]

little scared

The "oh my god can I do this feeling" has been starting to kick in.

I've been washing clothes/sheets, etc to get everything ready and I keep looking at this stuff, "is he really going to be that small?"

my other son is 8- I'm not sure if I remember what to do.

It is a little weird because I guess the reality of his surgeries haven't really sunk in--- I'm much more worried about 'normal stuff' like breastfeeding and 'is he really going to be that small?' and whether I can handle being at home with him--- with my first I was only home a couple of weeks. He was 5 before I took a summer off to hang out with him. I'm honestly scared of being home all day and the sole person responsible for him. And really, I think my dp is much more of a baby person than I am. I liked my son and cuddling and all that, but I didn't really start to enjoy him until he was about 18 months old and really moving around and talking (am I allowed to admit that outloud? That doesn't make me a bad mom, does it?)

I'm a little afraid I might go crazy being home for a few months.

Lissa

[Godiva]

dylan, I don't think that makes you a bad mom at all. It's much better than my best friend's mom who keeps having kids because she only likes them when they're small. As soon as they start walking/talking she gets pregnant again. Result? She has 6 kids, the older ones are only treated as live in baby sitters for the younger ones. She doesn't pay attention to her older kids at all. It's sad really. My best friend in the oldest and she had all the responsibilty of raising her younger siblings from the time she was 8. When her current husband didn't want any more kids, they got divorced and she married someone that did want more kids. So, no you are not a bad mom!!

[Aka mommy]

I think the reality hit a few months ago when i started doubting that i could be a 'good' mom to 2! But last night i realized in all the anxiety of when she was going to make her presence into this world, i had yet to really take the time to appreciate her and my body! I never did it with dd as i was 100% miserable with that pregnancy and hyperemesis and always said the next one would be different. So at 37 weeks and 5 days i finally did some one on one time with this baby (its been hard to do with a 23 month old running around). Last night i got into a warm bath, lit about a dozen raspberry candles, turned on some relaxing cd's and allowed dh to fight dd from entering my domain (she realized it wasnt so much fun and gave into nemo). It was so nice to bond and 'hold' her and appreciate her and my body for an hour! The coolest part was wherever i put my hand on my belly, she would move to and push on!! But i think that it really calmed all of the panic and anxiety i had been feeling about everything and im ready to undertake this great new experience!

[youngnhappymamma]

The fact that a real, cute, sweet little baby is coming has also suddenly struck me within the past week. Before that I didn't really feel motivated to wash baby clothes or get birthing stuff together or any of that. ....but this past week it hit me hard and I am getting very excited!!! I have deep cleaned a lot of things, washed all the baby clothes and put them away, I even shampooed our van and washed all the car seat covers adn all that stuff!!!!! Of course, I still have a ton more to do before I feel ready for a sweet, clean new person to come into our home (like scrub all the hard wood floors, deep clean the kitchen and fridge, deep clean the bathrooms, bathe the dogs, etc....) but I am getting very excited to meet the baby and hold the baby and smell the baby and cuddle with the baby.....