Yes, I do feel like my husband is nesting more than I am. He is nervous about getting the house thoroughly cleaned, packing away things, cleaning the cars, finishing the projects he has started. I am more nervous about having a name picked out and going through delivery and recovery. All that housework stuff. Not that concerned because well, with two dogs around, we will never catch up!
So it has been a funny dynamic here. Perhaps compounded by the fact that I can only focus on whether I will be able to walk into the hospital and will have a reasonably healed foot. I bet that's it...the foot recovery has overidden every other concern that I might have otherwise had.
Truly, this has been the strangest 3 months of my life, a test of my patience and my willingness to cede control. I guess one thing's for sure: only 1 thing in life you can count on -- change happens.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
My Christmas gift: more changes
This Christmas felt different to me, not surprisingly, I guess, because of being 8 months pregnant. Time continues to move a lot slower when you are pregnant and still recovering from a broken ankle. And of course, I'm growing larger. Since my appointment two weeks ago, I have gained 4 lbs (Thanks no doubt to excellent Christmas cooking compounded with little exercise!). Four pounds! It seems like a lot, and I hope this baby appreciates it.
People keep asking if I'm ready. Like, how? Materially, I guess we are getting there. The to-do list still includes 1) packing labor bags and making sure we have directions to the hospital from all possible venues 2) finalizing a birth plan 3) buying baby bottles (either glass or BPA free) and some way to store breast milk in the fridge/freezer and 4) other little things like onesies, outfits, and medical supplies.
Emotionally, I'm still on a roller coaster on that one. Now I'm starting to feel big enough that I can see why women start feeling ready for this 9 month saga to be OVER. But am I emotionally ready for the pain of labor, the immediate recovery, and then the prospect of being a Mom first to a newborn and then for the rest of my Life?? Is anyone? It will be a wild ride, I'm sure.
People keep asking if I'm ready. Like, how? Materially, I guess we are getting there. The to-do list still includes 1) packing labor bags and making sure we have directions to the hospital from all possible venues 2) finalizing a birth plan 3) buying baby bottles (either glass or BPA free) and some way to store breast milk in the fridge/freezer and 4) other little things like onesies, outfits, and medical supplies.
Emotionally, I'm still on a roller coaster on that one. Now I'm starting to feel big enough that I can see why women start feeling ready for this 9 month saga to be OVER. But am I emotionally ready for the pain of labor, the immediate recovery, and then the prospect of being a Mom first to a newborn and then for the rest of my Life?? Is anyone? It will be a wild ride, I'm sure.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Questions
1. When should I buy a nursing bra? Should I wait for the hospital to fit me?
2. When should I pack for the hospital?
And a side note: today at physical therapy, I met a woman in for rehab for her tendons in her ankle. Came to find out, she is paralyzed on her left side (particularly left arm). She had a stroke while giving birth to her second son (now 7). ulp! PARALYZED from LABOR???? whoa.
2. When should I pack for the hospital?
And a side note: today at physical therapy, I met a woman in for rehab for her tendons in her ankle. Came to find out, she is paralyzed on her left side (particularly left arm). She had a stroke while giving birth to her second son (now 7). ulp! PARALYZED from LABOR???? whoa.
Milestones
December 9: First day that my husband had to put my shoes on for me.
I am definitely looking and feeling noticably bigger. My belly just 'popped' in the last week. Amazing.
Also, HUNGRY. A lot.
December 14: Moved from 1 crutch to a cane! Will continue to use 1 crutch when occasion warrants it. Also, on to "red" and "green" therabands. (I graduated from the yellow one!)
I am definitely looking and feeling noticably bigger. My belly just 'popped' in the last week. Amazing.
Also, HUNGRY. A lot.
December 14: Moved from 1 crutch to a cane! Will continue to use 1 crutch when occasion warrants it. Also, on to "red" and "green" therabands. (I graduated from the yellow one!)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Which hospital would you choose?
We have visited two local hospitals. Which one would you choose?
Hospital 1: large, well-respected hospital (in top 50 hospitals in country). Level 2 trauma NICU. Encourages skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. Process involves a) triage b) labor, delivery, and recovery (all in one room, and each is private and equipped with a private bath with shower, as well as a large bay for the baby check station). After recovery, new Moms and baby go to 7th floor to "family centered care" where baby rooms in with Mom for an additional 24-48 hrs, depending on C-section or not. C-section rate around 40%. Hospital is 3.57 miles from my house, roads often trafficy and busy. Takes between 15 minutes and 30 minutes to get to hospital. More doctors from my particular practice are on call at this hospital. However, I can't be guaranteed any particular doctor since I am in an HMO. Doctors from other centers also are on call....I think there must be staff of close to 30 rotating OBs. The chance of my seeing an OB I've seen before is like 25%.
Hospital 2: smaller, well-respected hospital. Level 3 trauma NICU, Also encourages skin-to-skin contact after birth. Process involves a) labor, delivery and recovery (triage is largely skipped unless you are not in true labor, or if no beds are available). LDR suites are a bit smaller, but are well equipped with private bath (with shower) and a rooming station for baby. After recovery, Moms and baby room in together on the same floor in the "family centered care" unit for 24-48 hrs. C-section operating rooms are exclusively for C-sections. C-section rate around 40%. Hospital is 7.57 miles from my house. Roads can be trafficky, but there are two back road routes. Takes about 35-45 minutes to get to hospital. Moms I have spoken with spoke highly of this women's center. Fewer doctors from my practice will be on call at hospital 2, since the practitioners largely come from other HMO centers in the area. The chance of my seeing an OB I've seen before is nearly 0%.
Both have lactation consultants. Both have C-section ORs. Both allow 4-5 people to be in the LDR and family centered care unit with the new Mom and baby at any time. Both have convertible chair-beds for the birth partner. Both have WIFI.
So, who's ready to vote? (and justify your vote please)
Hospital 1: large, well-respected hospital (in top 50 hospitals in country). Level 2 trauma NICU. Encourages skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. Process involves a) triage b) labor, delivery, and recovery (all in one room, and each is private and equipped with a private bath with shower, as well as a large bay for the baby check station). After recovery, new Moms and baby go to 7th floor to "family centered care" where baby rooms in with Mom for an additional 24-48 hrs, depending on C-section or not. C-section rate around 40%. Hospital is 3.57 miles from my house, roads often trafficy and busy. Takes between 15 minutes and 30 minutes to get to hospital. More doctors from my particular practice are on call at this hospital. However, I can't be guaranteed any particular doctor since I am in an HMO. Doctors from other centers also are on call....I think there must be staff of close to 30 rotating OBs. The chance of my seeing an OB I've seen before is like 25%.
Hospital 2: smaller, well-respected hospital. Level 3 trauma NICU, Also encourages skin-to-skin contact after birth. Process involves a) labor, delivery and recovery (triage is largely skipped unless you are not in true labor, or if no beds are available). LDR suites are a bit smaller, but are well equipped with private bath (with shower) and a rooming station for baby. After recovery, Moms and baby room in together on the same floor in the "family centered care" unit for 24-48 hrs. C-section operating rooms are exclusively for C-sections. C-section rate around 40%. Hospital is 7.57 miles from my house. Roads can be trafficky, but there are two back road routes. Takes about 35-45 minutes to get to hospital. Moms I have spoken with spoke highly of this women's center. Fewer doctors from my practice will be on call at hospital 2, since the practitioners largely come from other HMO centers in the area. The chance of my seeing an OB I've seen before is nearly 0%.
Both have lactation consultants. Both have C-section ORs. Both allow 4-5 people to be in the LDR and family centered care unit with the new Mom and baby at any time. Both have convertible chair-beds for the birth partner. Both have WIFI.
So, who's ready to vote? (and justify your vote please)
So much to do!
I could write about 6 blogs here, with all the thoughts swirling through my head.
1) Good news! I am now on one crutch, and have started physical therapy.
2) Bad news! the physical therapist thinks I have 4-6 weeks of therapy ahead of me. The baby is due in 8 weeks....IF the baby is on time and not early!
3) We have selected a wonderful doula named Candice who will meet with us ahead of time, review a birth plan, and then will help with early labor, be there for the hospital stay, and provide some post partum support. I'm really glad to be using a doula. My friends say that doulas are worth every penny.
4) Aside from a few random items, we are still woefully underprepared. I am banking on still having 9 weeks of prep time and a baby shower. Hope I'm not being too optimistic here!
5) The baby's room looks GREAT! I will try to post a photo of the wonderful creative work my two friends did on the former guest room, now nursery. I picked a gender neutral theme, and of course it had to be based in Biology....so we have a room of brightly painted insects flying around! Ladybugs, bumblebees, dragonflies, butterflies etc. I then stenciled some curious and brightly colored caterpillars crawling along light switches and baseboards. My friend has stenciled a beautiful tree in one corner that looks really 3D. It is super cool! I loved decorating the room simply and by hand. I think we did the whole project for about $100 and no trips to big box stores! Now I just need a crib in there....and a rocking chair under the "tree"....
6) All that said, I am alternating between being excited and being totally freaked out. In general, I feel good and am cheery. The baby kicks often, and so I think all is healthy thus far. My husband must be laughing at me though, as I grunt trying to throw my legs over the side of the bed to get up in the morning. this morning, He actually gave me a "push" to help me up! It's so weird not to have control of your own body! It is also frustrating knowing that I have been sedentary for 7 weeks now, due to my broken ankle. Slowing down means I get quite a bit of computer work done and I can easily keep up with work. It is also preparing me for the inevitable slowdown of parenthood when my life is no longer my own. Thus, I am still mourning the loss of activity and the Life I once had. I need to continue to shift my focus to being forward-looking at the new and different Life ahead....
1) Good news! I am now on one crutch, and have started physical therapy.
2) Bad news! the physical therapist thinks I have 4-6 weeks of therapy ahead of me. The baby is due in 8 weeks....IF the baby is on time and not early!
3) We have selected a wonderful doula named Candice who will meet with us ahead of time, review a birth plan, and then will help with early labor, be there for the hospital stay, and provide some post partum support. I'm really glad to be using a doula. My friends say that doulas are worth every penny.
4) Aside from a few random items, we are still woefully underprepared. I am banking on still having 9 weeks of prep time and a baby shower. Hope I'm not being too optimistic here!
5) The baby's room looks GREAT! I will try to post a photo of the wonderful creative work my two friends did on the former guest room, now nursery. I picked a gender neutral theme, and of course it had to be based in Biology....so we have a room of brightly painted insects flying around! Ladybugs, bumblebees, dragonflies, butterflies etc. I then stenciled some curious and brightly colored caterpillars crawling along light switches and baseboards. My friend has stenciled a beautiful tree in one corner that looks really 3D. It is super cool! I loved decorating the room simply and by hand. I think we did the whole project for about $100 and no trips to big box stores! Now I just need a crib in there....and a rocking chair under the "tree"....
6) All that said, I am alternating between being excited and being totally freaked out. In general, I feel good and am cheery. The baby kicks often, and so I think all is healthy thus far. My husband must be laughing at me though, as I grunt trying to throw my legs over the side of the bed to get up in the morning. this morning, He actually gave me a "push" to help me up! It's so weird not to have control of your own body! It is also frustrating knowing that I have been sedentary for 7 weeks now, due to my broken ankle. Slowing down means I get quite a bit of computer work done and I can easily keep up with work. It is also preparing me for the inevitable slowdown of parenthood when my life is no longer my own. Thus, I am still mourning the loss of activity and the Life I once had. I need to continue to shift my focus to being forward-looking at the new and different Life ahead....
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