So here we are at 7 months pregnant (28/29 weeks today).
Things are still "uneventful", and that is a good thing :)
I wanted to give special mega-thanks to Dell and Laurie Laursen for their ever-so-generous baby gift! Money is a great gift! :) In all actuality- I was going to have to find a way to pay for the birth-tub because I failed to work that extra expense into the budget when I planned out our finances over the next three months. I was contemplating foregoing the birth tub and just using our shower for the relaxation effect... but with Dell and Laurie's contribution- the birth tub is in fact a reality now!
So we will have ourselves a little "Mer-male-Maddox"- born into the water :)
The tubs are supposed to be great for relaxation, which is something that I will need to do in order to kind of "check out" from the pain. The warm water also helps my birthing "parts" stretch and relax so I don't tear "down there". I've also been studying the "Hypnobirthing" techniques- which are really, really cool, and having the birth-tub in collaboration with "deep relaxation" should undoubtedly help me keep it together... literally... :)
I was drilling my mid-wife during our last appointment about water birth and why it's beneficial- and just exactly HOW it works. We all know that babies are born, and they just start breathing on their own (usually)- so the whole being born into water raised a lot of logistics questions for me.
So the baby comes down through the birth canal, and is born right into the water- so there's really no shock from being warm and cozy in my womb, to being squeezed out into the air. The water in the tub is the same as my body temperature (98-100 degrees). I wanted to know HOW the baby figures out that "it's time to breathe air now!". I asked Gerri, "is that part of the mysteries/miracles of birth? They are born and the light switch just clicks over?"
She went on to explain that it's the air on their face that pulls the trigger. "So what happens to the fluid in their lungs that they've been "breathing" with? Do they cough it up? Do you suck it out? How do they not "drown"?" That fluid actually gets absorbed into the air sacs in the baby's lungs! I didn't know that! I bet you guys didn't either!!
So when they're born into the water- they usually don't cry, and it's very peaceful for them. Considering the cold hard truth that "mom" may be dishing out obscenities during that time (vocalization is another one of my "tools" :) - we can probably use all the "peace" we can get ;)
So that's some more info on the water birth part of it. I think it's fascinating :)
In one of the books I'm reading to get ready for doing this at home they have an exercise that gets you ready for how you deal with pain. They have you hold an ice cube in the palm of your hand for 60 seconds. It hurts, but I sat through it. The next step is to try the ice on your wrist for 60 seconds. The wrist somehow didn't hurt me as badly as the palm. And THEN- they have you put the ice behind your ear. THAT was painful... but not so bad. I've found that my first reaction is to squinch up my face and lock my jaw and really "tense up". Which is what most people do when they're in pain- and is EXACTLY what NOT to do when you're in labor.
The idea is to be as relaxed as possible so that the uterus can do it's thing. It's a lot easier to work a relaxed muscle than it is to work a tense one. So Tim and I have been practicing holding that ice cube in our palms and using our relaxation techniques to try to stay relaxed, despite the pain. It actually works surprisingly well. When you concentrate on the sensations- (it's cold, it burns), and what's going on around you (I hear cars on the street, my hand burns, the microwave is beeping, the dog is whining) it makes the time during which the pain is happening go by faster, and you're not concentrating on "THIS FRIGGIN' HURTS!!!" which can make it worse.
I ALSO learned that your jaw muscle is somehow related to you vaginal muscles. So when your jaw is tight, so is your woo. So keeping your face relaxed is important in keeping your body relaxed...
Interesting stuff... we'll see how I feel during transition :)
I really hope that I can have a birth like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aht0HqI7GSwHow cool to be smiling and laughing during the time that is typically most painful for most women. It's aaaaallll about relaxing :)
Anyway- that's it! I don't have anything on my mind really other than finding someone to take care of Maddox when I go back to work.
Just playing the waiting/growing game :)
My co-worker, Nikki, is having a baby shower for me at the end of August for work. And then I think Hilary Witt (Rancourt) said she was interested in throwing a "non-work" shower for me as well. I will let them contact everyone for the times/dates for those.
In the mean-time, I have registered at Babies R Us, and Target Baby Registry. You can find us under me or Tim (Alison Calhoun or Tim Webster).
There are also a few items that you can't add to a registry that we are looking to get (some are slightly higher ticket prices). I've listed them here. Of course, we don't expect anything- but wanted to let everyone know what we were thinking just in case :)
Love you all! And thanks for everything :) Our family is truly, truly blessed :)
Cheers!
Cool Baby Stuff:
So I've decided to go the cloth diaper route. I've found that cloth diapering isn't what it used to be, and is much less of a hassle. I'm in it for three reasons: the comfort and health reasons for Maddox (no carcinogens like those that are found in disposable diapers), the cost of buying diapers ONCE (instead of once a week), and the environment. So there's the "Absorbitall Cloth Diapers" below, and then I also was able to find the really cool (but expensive) "G-Diapers". We'll probably be using a combination of the two. But ANY cloth diapering systems (or accessories) would be greatly appreciated! (i.e.: liners, covers, etc.)
BumGenius Cloth Diapers
This is a 12 pack of cloth diapers, that comes with 12 one size inserts, and 12 newborn inserts. With this package I'll only have to buy diapers ONCE! :) $203.40
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=98&products_id=1282 G-Diapers: Disposable, Biodegradable,
FLUSHable Diapers! Shower Gift $89.99
http://www.gdiapers.com/shop/Value Baby Video Baby Moniter $99.99
http://www.nextstepbabymonitors.com/web/value-babymonitor.htm
Flip 2GB 1.5" LCD Mini Camcorder $149.95
This is SUCH a cool little camera! It takes stills as well as videos, and it has a built in USB connection (so you don't have to worry about having the right cord to hook it up). We can take videos of Maddox and upload them directly to the computer and have them online in minutes. I know it's from the Home Shopping Network- but it was something I accidentally stopped on and thought was pretty friggin' cool!
Go to www.hsn.com and type in Item: 316-413
Your Baby Can Read!The coolest DVD set I've ever seen. Just watch the testimonials.
www.yourbabycanread.tv
Pee-Pee Tee-Pee
Bamboo Baby Swaddler
http://www.dreamsack.com/XQ/ASP/pg.products/specific.johpdpl0/QX/tek9.htm
