Staying focused

[aishy]

beetween the prodromonal labor & being a full week past where i've ever gotten before I've been knitting for baby, in the effort to keep myself focused on the fact that this isn't all for nothing, she WILL come out... eventually.

anyone else have coping techniques for these last weeks?

aisling

[RachelGS]

I'm knitting too.

[*green*faery*]

I've been reading some of the books I've had for a long time and never got to.

[erth mama]

I just started knitting again. As well I've made homemade baby powder, wipes and wipe solution, lots of labor and post labor herbal tea blends, labor massage oils, and sewn lots of breast pads, recieving blankets and burp cloths. Wow, when it's all writtin down like that it looks a little crazy, i better make sure i don't sew myself into a room i can't get out of. :LOL

[movingon]

sleeping and meditation. The coughing from my sinus infection keeps me pretty unfocused and exasperated... sigh... I will survive.

[operamommy]

Well, I was sick last week, and while that sucked it did at least keep my mind off going into labor.

This week I'm working on getting the house back in order and running errands. Dh suggested I spend a lot of time outside the house, which is probably a good idea.

I feel a lot of pressure right now, and I hate it. First off, I wasn't expected to make it past 34 weeks, and here I sit at 39 (but I'm glad he's full-term!). My OB has already told me she'll want to do a non-stress test at the end of the week, which I feel is far too early. I really like her, and she was just fine with me declining an induction last week (there's concern over getting to the hospital in time) but I wonder how fine she's gonna be once I get past my actual due date. I'm not looking forward to a possible fight. I guess if I have to I'll be "sick" and miss my 41 week appointment.

Ok, 'nuff whining!

[Aka mommy]

Candlelit baths and crying (usually at seperate times). seems my soul has been doing a lot of cleansing these last few days and the crying jags that randomly hit me actually help ( i am NOT a crier and poor dh has been so nervous that im about to have a complete mental breakdown_ lol)!!! Also snuggling with dd has helped me to refocus my attention on the fact that before i know it this one will be here and running around behind her older sis, so i need to try to appreciate these few weeks of pregnancy while i can.

[Mandalaia]

I cry a lot lately too. I assume it's just because of the hormones, I am just soooo emotional all the time! Other than that I clean when I get too anxious or upset or whatever.

[mamabeth]

I've been crying about every day and it's been really helpful too. I am also not usually a "crier" but my dh has been great and dd, although I am paranoid it's scarring her for life, brings me toys and stuff when I start to cry.

I also went to the library and got about six books, on the thought that I can't possibly read them all before the baby is born. And bizarrely I started playing guitar again today just for fun, because dd got a kids' guitar. It was very therapeutic too.

[RachelGS]

I keep crying, too. But what is WITH that? How long is it possible to stay that kind of moody? In my case it doesn't feel all that helpful.

[aishy]

I burst into tears because my husband made a comment about how i chew so loud & laughed last night. I was eating chips, so it made me angry. I don't know, emotions are alll over the place!! He felt so bad.

I did the library thing last week, finished the books already so we'll be visiting again. Maybe this time I won't get through them???!!

aisling

[bebetuck]

I have been experiencing prodromal labor too and have found the following helpful when I start to feel anxiety and stress:

TRUST: Trust my body and trust my baby to do what they need to to bring him into the world safely and when he's good and ready.

SURRENDER: Surrender to the process of labor (even if it takes weeks!) This also helps me to remember that I don't have to DO anything here, just let all of this happen and accept it however it's unfolding.

RELAX: Take a deep breath, feel my body relax, send love to my baby.


I've also been watching old Seinfeld episodes on DVD.

[eroslovesagape]

My DH things my weepiness is so cute; he's enjoying seeing my "softer side." Ha! Definitely hormonal for me - I can practically feel the hormones surge as if I've been given some kind of injection!

I also feel like some aspects of my SELF are fading away, and a non-thinking aspect is coming to the forefront. Maybe this will help me stay in a space of calm, peace, acceptance, as I've suddenly gotten that feeling of "I'm ready now!" but only having lots of BH contx. Though after sex (now I'm preying on my DH every night) the last two nights I couldn't sleep very well as the waves got very regular and more intense.

As a matter of fact, I think I'll take a nap now so I have the energy to attack DH again tonight!

Actually I'm going to take a nap and focus on accepting the timeline my body and baby are on, trusting the process...breathing...getting mentally/emotionally ready for labor, which seems to be the only thing I can think about!

[firstlovesnbaby]

I too have always been a crier, but I am beyond emotional now! I have been crying nightly and am pretty much unconsolable.

[movingon]

I've been crying everyday, at least once. I'm not usually into crying just to cry, but lately, I just have to get all this frustration out.

My DH finally got a new job, and the training starts the 17th. Unless the baby decides to emerge in the next 5 days, he probably won't get any time off to spend with us.

I'll be recovering, trying to establish nursing, getting little sleep and getting my son out to school and dealing with the pets who have decided they're more comfortable using the potty on the floor than in their respective areas on my own...

So, today, when my cat let out her diarrhea on the carpet, and my son tracked it all down the steps, and I was already thinking about feeling so isolated and alone, and how it'll be when the baby does come... I just sobbed and sobbed...

I wish I could enjoy this extra time of being overdue... I wish I didn't wish he'd come already. I wish I could enjoy the sleep. I can't. I'm a wreck...

Sorry, figured this would be as good a place to vent as I can get...