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562 views 16 replies 12 participants last post by  aylaanne 
#1 ·
Ugh. So the days are passing ever so slowly. I've been killing time with reading--or at least trying. I've taken my daughter to Barnes and Noble to play with the train tables, etc. I'm trying to get in activity before a potential long babymoon at home (I hope we don't end up spending much time at home, but you never know, right?). But, people and other stuff just irritate me right now. I have such a hard time reading anything that's pregnancy or new baby related without wanting to puke or tossing the book aside in disgust. But at least with books I don't have to hold back--when I speak with people who are just plain idiots--it's hard not to look horrified with them!

1. I had my 40 week OB appt today. I'm only 39 weeks 4 days, though. They give you these New Beginnings newsletters at every appointment. This one is about dealing with your new baby. There's a whole half page about how some babies just need to cry. Not quoted--but paraphrased--Many babies just need to cry. If you baby is dry and has eaten within the last 90 minutes, just let him cry. If, after 15 minutes, he's still crying pick him up and try to soothe him....don't feed your baby unless it's been at least 90 minutes, you don't want him to associate food with emotional comfort...

2. Reading parenting books makes my head want to explode. I loved the one filled with pictures of newborn babies. It was all about helping your baby to sleep. It seemed okay--until I got to the one that said, "If you want your baby to sleep longer, maybe replace a feed with formula to encourage him to sleep longer." I guess I should just be impressed that it says, "But you might want to pump while the baby is sleeping to replace that feeding..." Ugh!?!?!

3. At BN today, I was flipping through this stack of books--tossing them aside occasionally--while my daughter played trains. Two pregnant women come in and sit down. They look at me and ask when I'm due. I tell, "Oh, this weekend." Now, granted I don't look terribly pregnant because I'm overweight--but they both looked stunned. They wanted to know where on earth my husband was (at noon on a Wednesday!!?!?) and how come he wasn't taking care of me! Umm.. then, they said, "When are they going to induce you!?!" I said, "Oh, they're not. The baby will come when she's ready." It was like I had just told them the sky was green, "Damn, I hope I don't go to 40 weeks! That would be AWFUL!"
 
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#2 ·
I totally know where you're coming from
I can't handle reading books and I gave most of mine away. So annoying! There are some good ones out there but they aren't usually in the front of the books in the baby section. So annoying!

I was at the park today and because my oldest ds likes to tell everyone about us he told a lady there our baby was coming in 4 weeks. She said "that's fun, a Halloween baby, is that when you're due?" I said that I was actually due in the middle of the month but because my oldest ds went to 42 weeks, we just figure until then. She was in utter shock. I think I like to say that to people because they need to see it's ok for you to go to 40 weeks or longer. I could just avoid the conversations, but I'm a sucker for teaching people
 
#3 ·
Granted, I would be happy if baby came before 40 weeks but if it doesn't, no big deal. Heck with my first, I was concerned that he/she would be late and the ob/gyn I was seeing didn't let women go over 41 weeks and I was sure I would go late and need a c-section. I've learned alot since then.


My midwife would like me to consider alternatives to getting labor going after 40 weeks but I can refuse them without any problems.

There are alot of alternatives before inducing labor. Unfortunately books and dr's don't talk about them. *ugh*

I hear you on the concentration end. I am going to start my christmas cards (I make my own) just to keep myself busy.
 
#4 ·
Ugh, I've been planning on going until 41 weeks this whole time, so reading stuff that says I'm "term" and asking me if I've had my baby yet is really wierd for me. And all the mainstream stuff has been bothering me, too. One of my coworkers this morning told me he was "so scared for me" when I told him I was planning a homebirth. He even admitted he knew nothing about pregnancy or birth, but he was still really really scared.
 
#5 ·
Ah, yes. I've been telling everyone and their dog that I'm having a homebirth (and that I cloth-diaper, and I don't vax or circ, blah blah blah) so I'm like the town freak and nobody bothers to argue with me.

But yes, most people are just so UNINFORMED. If you're informed of all the risks of induction, scheduling c-s, etc, and you still decide to do it, then that's fine (I guess) but so many women just think it will be no big deal and it is!
 
#7 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by gottaknit View Post
Ug. What is New Beginnings? It sounds evil. Your doctor hands these out?!
:

Yesterday at REI I was walking through the shoe department and the guy working there yelled, "Look out!! She's gonna POP!!" Yeah, realllllly funny.
Yeah, it's something Kaiser hands out. But it's odd, because in the same newsletter, there's another article about how you can't spoil a baby and you should feed them whenever they cry. So I think it's like a compilation done by many people. In this one, there's a half page thing on sharing sleep with your baby and it's not against it at all. So I think it's just whoever write the article, you know? I've just learned to toss stuff aside when I get it because it's not going to go with what I feel.

I like Sears' The Baby Book--but we don't co-sleep--so I've learned to just skim over that stuff. But, well, I'm also open to having a baby who prefers to co-sleep--where as our daughter wouldn't sleep if anyone was touching her! So she slept in her crib next to our bed for 8 months before we moved her into the other room. This time we have a bassinet right next to the bed and an open mind--but we are hoping this baby doesn't need to co-sleep becuase our bed is just NOT BIG ENOUGH!
 
#8 ·
Gah. The comment about where your husband was is funny. I work at a university and last month this really sweet sophomore informed me that it was "amazing that I was still working." She told me that she will totally take two months off before when she's pregnant. I wanted to say, honey, I'm lucky that I get 2 months off after the baby comes! but I didn't. People are so funny about pregnant women doing normal things.
 
#9 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by swimswamswum View Post
People are so funny about pregnant women doing normal things.
If only the knew that I take care of my daughter every day! The last two days I've been having regular contractions and am still going to the book store, grocery shopping, and attempting to keep my house livable!
 
#11 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by echospiritwarrior View Post
Oh my, I thought you meant New Beginnings the LLL publication, I was completely
:
at that.
Nah.. I think it's New... something? I don't think it's New Beginnings actually. Because they wouldn't borrow the LLL name, would they? But, none the less.. it's New something.
 
#13 ·
I just got asked the "When are you inducing?" question yesterday from a pregnant woman. I said I am NOT inducing, I am doing a VBAC. I had to explain VBAC to her and she had no idea that was an option. She got kind of weird and said something about danger, so I explained to her the FACTS about VBAC. She was again very surprised. I recommended some books and websites for info. She seemed really interested, I sure hope that maybe.. just maybe I helped change her mind. Or at least got her to be tolerant of different choices!


That was the first semi-positive experience I have had this month as far as the PG questions go!
 
#14 ·
I have a girl in my church who is due a week after me and I have been telling her the entire time "the more educated you are the less afraid you'll be" I recommended taking a class, Bradley because that's what I did. I told her it would explain everything and yet again I saw her las Sunday and she was still freaking out about everything. I really hate to see how things end up for her because she is so afraid of this.

I remember with my first a girl telling me "you're going to end up with an epidural, I just know it" because I had said the entire time I wouldn't have one. I also told her I'm not doing this for her, I'm doing it for me and my baby. I just wish people would educate themselves more instead of just taking what the dr's and books say as the only "fact" out there. It drives me crazy. I have another friend I've been working on to take a better class than the hospital class. I guess we'll see how it goes.
 
#16 ·
I gotta laugh because ds had a dentist appt this week and while there with him and dd, the dentist says "how much longer?" and I said~ "a few weeks give or take~ he or she will come when ready". and he's mouth dropped open and he's like 'a few weeks????.... look at you out and about!!!!!"

I just laughed. and said 'wow can you imagine!! daily life continues!!"


DUH!
 
#17 ·
For the last three weeks, I've been training this woman at work to take over my job when I leave (I won't be returning after I have the baby for many reasons). She's from Jamaica, and she freaks out when I do a lot of things. Last night we had a small emergency and I ran down the stairs; she said she thought I was going into labor. Everyone's afraid of me going into labor while I'm at work except me (my last day is my actual due date).

Anyways, My coworker told me that in Jamaica, pregnant women are treated as more fragile than I'm acting. I guess I just never got the memo that I was supposed to sit around with my feet up for the last three months. Sometimes I do just sit with my feet up and let her do my job, but for the most part I'm still in the mix. I keep reminding her that the exercise is good for me and my baby, but she still thinks I'm crazy.

I won't even go into the homebirth comments I get, some of them from the residents (most of whom were born at home, I work with the elderly).
 
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