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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Birth Plan and My To- Do List

My Growing Belly

We are roughly at 33 weeks along! I honestly can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going. My midwife and I already know the birth plan, but I though I would share it with you today:) I have definitely been thinking about it a lot lately, since it will be put into action soon enough! As with C.R., I am keeping this plan simple and low on details. I don't want to have this huge list of specifics and expectations, because things could change with a moment's notice, so as long as I keep things simple, I will be flexible. I plan on having a water birth again, which worked great last time. With C.R., after I arrived at the hospital and answered all their admittance questions, they allowed me to labor in my room's tub until I was dilated enough to be moved into the actual water birthing room. Water is a natural "soother" for me, so even though I was still in pain, it was manageable. At one point, I was given a shot of Nubain to somewhat help with the pain. Not that I could tell! So I think this time, I won't even bother asking for it, especially since it made me kind of sleepy. This makes the plan easy- Water birth with no drugs! Now, the day could come, and I might not be able to have the water birth. Anything as simple as having Diarrhea the day before (sorry for the grossness) to any hint of a  sign of possible fetal distress could make me ineligible for a water birth.  If there is any sign of meconium in the fluids when my water breaks, or the baby's heart rate slows with the contractions, my plan is out. In which case, I am not opposed to an epidural! I'd like to think I could tough it out, and still accomplish a drug free birth, but like I said, I'm not set on anything. I refuse to beat myself up if I opt for drugs. The difference between me laboring in or out of water is like night and day, so if I have to have the baby out of water, I might turn into a big baby myself. We will just have to wait and see! I am a pretty private person. so the only person accompanying me in labor will be my hubby. That's it. Well, and the midwife and her nurse. I think I would just feel awkward with an audience. When I was laboring with C.R., my mom came in towards the end (I was exhausted, crabby and in pain!) and asked if she could be in there. "Sorry mom", I said pleasantly, "not at this moment, thank you." HA! I think I was in the middle of a contraction and couldn't even speak, so I quite vigorously shook my head, and I think just gasped out "NO". I love my parents and friends, and hey, even my in-laws! But when I am in labor, it is between me, my husband, and our coming child.
Another thing I remember before C.R. was born, is that I was convinced that I would want her in the room with me all the time (partly so I could bond with her at every chance, and partly because I didn't want to chance having my baby switched with someone else's! Paranoid? Yes.) Yeah, that didn't happen. I was so tired, I asked them to take her to the nursery so I could get some rest. She also had a gagging problem from swallowing too much fluid on the way out (not from the water birth!) so they had to suction her airway a few times, and they wanted to keep an eye on her anyway. I'd like to say I'm Super Mom, and can handle this baby directly after birth, but I have already made the decision that I will cuddle and love this baby, but if the nurses want to change it's diaper and take care of it while I sleep, I am totally fine with that. I'll have plenty of chances to do that after we get home.
I also like to bring a bag of chocolate and a thank you note for the nursing staff. Hey, it doesn't hurt to get on their good side right away! They will be helping me with my child after all.


How your baby's growing:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing. 

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

Many women are still feeling sexy at this stage — and their partners often agree. You may need to make some adjustments, but for most women, sex during pregnancy is fine right up until their water breaks or their labor starts.


My To-Do List

Bring Bassinet out of Storage- Check
Bring Neutral Newborn Clothes out of Storage -Check
Wash and Fold Newborn Clothes- Check
Locate Newborn Car Seats- Check
Pick out Boy and Girl Names- Check
Make Birth Plan- Check
Mail in Hospital Admittance Form- Check
Pack Hospital Bag- I plan to do this week 36. Four weeks might seem a tad premature, but hey, the baby could be too. Always be prepared!
Buy Chocolate for Nurses- I will do that when I pack.
Make and Freeze Meals- This week I will begin to incorporate freezer friendly meals into my menu plans. I doubt I will feel like cooking the first 2 weeks of baby being here!
Buy Breast Pump- That is one expensive item. I entered a few giveaways for a Tommee Tippee electric breast pump. If I don't win, we may not even buy one until after the kid comes. You're supposed to solely breastfeed the first 6 weeks anyway. 
Have baby-sitters on standby for C.R.- My mom took off of work the first week of September, so hopefully baby comes in time! Otherwise, schedules may need to be rearranged between my mom and a couple friends.

I'm sure there are things I am forgetting, that I will add later. But I think that covers it for the most part!