Pregnancy and Birth Junky???

[Momof3Girlz]

Not sure what the appropriate forum for this discussion would be so I'll just post it here.

I am NOT pregnant (LOL) however, I am enthralled with the idea of being pregnant and yes, even going through labour and delivery. I love being pregnant, wearing cute maternity clothes. Pregnancy looks very good on me. I like talking pregnancy, birth and babies and the works...the only thing is I don't care for the whole post-partum thing...the engorgement, the afterpains, etc.

I love lurking in these forums and that'll just have to be enough for me. I know it'll be a few years (if ever) before I have another baby, but I do envy all of you who are really pregnant. I kinda feel like I'm baby-ed out, lol...like having another one might put me over the socially imposed baby "quota"...I get way to many "looks" right now as it is...

Anyway, just wanted to say that I think pregnancy, birth, and nursing are such special, awesome phenomena. I it! So, I'll end this post by saying congrats to all you pg mamas, I'll be lurking and living vicariously through all of you

[JLav]

Have you ever thought about being a doula?

[sadean]

M3g- I am in a similar place. Love pregnancy, nursing, babies, birth but am not ready to do it all again and not sure if I will be (have two too).

I have considered being a doula (even went through training for it) but don't feel like I can be away from my kids as much as it would take to make it a doable "career". There also isn't a huge market for it here (the local hospital thought I was a wacko when I called and offered to volunteer my services as a support person for women birthing alone...probably thought I wanted to steal the babies :

In the mean time I live viacariously through y'all

[ColoradoMama]

I love being pregnant and love talking about pregnancy and birth even when I'm not pregnant. Momof3Girlz - I love the name Olivia. It's the name we have picked out if we have a girl!

[sagira]

It's hard to believe, but it's the absolute truth. I was enthralled and crazy about anything to do with pregnancy and birth before I had ever conceived a baby. I researched countless online articles, read books, visited prospective hospitals and even visited a school in anticipation of being ready intellectually for a child even when my dh and I weren't even trying for one yet. This bug hit me about a year ago. I had five months of this pregnancy delirium. My dh thought I was nuts.

Then last July, my father passed away. I had lost my father, grandfather, teacher, brother.. I was an only child and my parents are everything to me. It devastated me. For six months I lived in a sort of limbo. I was very close to my dad and I could tell him anything. It was like losing part of myself.

I am one of those people that believe everything happens for a reason. Well my dad was a young, healthy 72-year-old. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack. While I was in my pregnancy research craze, I related to him how important it was to me for him to be there when I was in labor and to see his grandchild born. He was extremely touched, and my mother tells me to this day that he was never happier than when he heard that.

I was (and still am) pretty knowledeable about the subject and because I found out I was pregnant exactly six months after my dad passed away, I know that happened for a reason. Now I can focus on enjoying my pregnancy and knowing all the important things that I need to know. I'm still reading of course, but I'm already way ahead of the game and too overwhelmed and excited to dig deep and research. I'm just checking facts and ironing out some doubts here on this forum. Had it not been for all my research, I would have most likely said, Oh I'll have an epidural in a hospital with an OB. Before my research that was just the first thing that came to mind. Now I'm having my baby in a birth center with a midwife, unmedicated.

I'm sorry this post is so long, but I just wanted to assure you, Momof3Girlz, just savor this time and enjoy what you like. Have fun! Don't feel guilty Believe me, I got some strange looks, but I didn't care. Do and act what feels right.

[lisamarie]

I can relate! I have ALWAYS, ALWAYS been interested in pregnancy, babies, motherhood and birth. Even when I was a little girl, I always wanted to work w/babies and be a Mommy. I don't know if it stems from me being adopted and how my birthmom wasn't given choices or if it was from watching my Mom nurse my younger sister.

Anyways, I have always tried to stay connected to the Babies and Birth community. Have you thought about volunteering for WIC, LLL, a midwives office or hospital? I began being a "baby rocker" in the NICU before I had my ds. Then I became a massage therapist and did additional training in pregnancy and labor massage. Of course then I HAD to become a doula too. Now I'm here at Mothering and LOVE it!

I'm pregnant w/my 2nd and ALSO adore being pregnant. I don't enjoy the morning sickness, but everything else is great. I only have 3 wks. left and I'm kind of sad about this special time ending because this will be my last baby.

Hugs~

Lisa

[tinyshoes]

tee hee hee!

I'm a birth junkie myself, and am so excited to actually BE pregnant and planning a homebirth!!! I love it, and when it's not me DOING it, I just know I'll have to go down Doula Road, at LEAST, if not a more hard-core midwife-type option.

HOORAY!