Here we are on day 11 of having a newborn baby. Melina is a very sweet and easy baby, in general... thank God. In general, she eats every 3 hours and then sleeps the rest of the time, except for a few hours here and there when she's alert and looking about. She cries when she's hungry (if I don't anticipate her hunger first) and when she has a horribly messy diaper, and she absolutely hates getting bathed or being naked, but other than that she doesn't cry much. Knock on wood.
Breastfeeding has been interesting. It's not as easy as you would think. Luckily in the hospital I had a bunch of lactation consultants at my disposal who showed me how to get her to latch on correctly, and I bought a "My Brest Friend" pillow that makes latching on very easy. My breasts were hugely engorged for about 3 days - like hard, painful basketballs attached to my chest - but that seems to be going down now. Now I just get engorged on whichever side she's due to feed on next. I like being her sole source of sustanance right now - it makes it easy to travel with her, not that we've done much "traveling" yet.
Melina's first outing was around the block, just about 4 days after she was born. I walked veeerrrryy slowly with mom and said hello to all the neighbors. Her second outing was to the doctor, at 7 days old, and at 8 days old Jeff took her to a teahouse (he's already indoctrinating her) where he sat and watched soccer and she slept in her car seat the entire time. Later that day we all went out for pizza at a local pizzeria. She cried a little there (and I turned beet red) but I think it was because there was hot air blowing on her from the soda machine. Jeff picked her up and ate his meal one-handed, bouncing her on his knee the entire time.
The night before last was pretty rough. I didn't get much sleep before 4:30 a.m. But last night she ate at 10:00 p.m., 2:30 a.m., and about 6:00 a.m., which is GOOD, though you might not think it. I actually got a fair amount of sleep (I stayed in bed until almost 11:00). I can't imagine trying to go back to work at this point - it would be insane...luckily I have the option of not working right now.
I am still convinced that she's the cutest baby in the world. OK, ONE of the cutest. The Gerber baby is pretty cute too. Probably every mom feels that way, but honestly, she is CUTE. I love how she has slightly darker skin than I do, and dark slate-blue eyes. I think it's Jeff's Mediterranean blood coming out. Melina means "honey girl" in Greek, and that's just what she looks like. It also means "little apple" in Italian, which she sort of resembles too... and "yellow songbird" in Latin.
My parents have been here for a few weeks now, and their help has been invaluable. I don't know how I'm going to adjust once they leave and Jeff goes back to work full time. Hopefully by then she will be in a little bit more of a schedule, and I will feel well enough to move around freely. Recovering from a C-section is not the best way to start life with a newborn, but I am feeling better every day.
Friday, May 06, 2005
At last, Melina!
Our beautiful new baby Melina (her middle name is my maiden name) was born on April 26 after a long and complicated labor and delivery.
On April 25 Melina was nine days late, so I had an acupuncture treatment to induce labor. I was kind of skeptical about it working, especially since the acupuncturist put only four tiny needles into my lower back. That was at 1:30 p.m. At 4:30 I started getting contractions, and at 8:45 p.m. my water broke while I was rolling around on an exercise ball trying to get the baby to go lower. At that point, the contractions were coming every minute and a half. My midwife and her student midwife showed up right away to assess the situation, and at 10:40 p.m. we drove to the birthing center – me in a great deal of pain, with Jeff rubbing my back in the back seat.
The first 6-8 centimeters of dilation went really fast, and were just what I was hoping for in terms of a natural birth. I labored in a hot tub with candles lit and music playing, with Jeff rubbing my back and helping me through the contractions. They were very painful, but I could keep on top of them with visualizations and chanting. I actually found that moaning at the same tone as the hot tub’s jet motor really helped. My parents were there in the background, along with the midwife and two student midwives. Things were progressing so quickly that at one point I thought the baby might be born by three in the morning.
By 5 a.m., contractions still two minutes apart and everyone was waiting for baby's head to drop. The baby was at –2 station – not nearly low enough.
The next 11 hours were spent in increasing pain and frustration as I kept laboring without any progress. A small bag of water had escaped in front of the baby’s head, and when the midwife broke it, my dilation went down from 8 to 6. I tried everything to get the baby to drop – squats, walking, laboring in a rocking chair, on a birthing ball, in the tub, on the bed, trying homeopathic remedies and herbs to focus the contractions… nothing worked. Jeff and dad were getting upset watching me in so much pain, and I was getting more and more exhausted, hopeless and frustrated. Throughout the whole ordeal, the baby’s heart tones were very strong and she seemed to be tolerating labor well, but we decided that if I hadn’t progressed any more by the next check, I was going to go to the hospital. At 3:30 p.m. I hadn’t progressed. The midwife made the arrangements on the phone and we drove to the hospital, with me having terrible contractions in the front seat of the car.
By this time, I was more than ready for an epidural, and my midwife agreed that it might help me relax enough to allow the baby to drop. They gave me the epidural right away – sweet relief! – and started pitocin to see if stronger contractions would help. I sat there talking and laughing while my body continued to labor away without any pain at all…
After a few hours of laboring with very strong contractions, my cervix still hadn’t dilated and the baby was still at -2. The doctor recommended a c-section, and I couldn’t see any reason to continue laboring, since I had been stuck at 6 cm for almost 15 hours. Jeff and my parents had taken off to get a bite to eat, so I had to call them and tell them to come back ASAP for the emergency c-section. At 8:30 Jeff and I went in for the section, which was completely painless. I was so happy to finally get to see the baby, that any reservations I had about c-sections evaporated. Jeff and I kept up a conversation while they opened me up, and at 8:58 p.m. he excitedly announced that it was a GIRL! Baby Melina had arrived in the world!
So right now I am in the hospital recovering from the section, which really is major surgery. It turns out that Melina was probably at an odd angle and was unable to move through the birth canal. She has a bit of jaundice, so she is in the nursery today getting phototherapy. A good friend of mine works in the nursery, which is fantastic because she has been able to teach me a lot. I am very sore, with so much trapped gas in me that I still look nine months pregnant, but every day is getting better. Melina is beautiful and Jeff is quickly becoming a champ at calming her and changing diapers!
Although the whole experience was terribly grueling, I was glad to get the chance to go through both a med-free and a medicated birthing experience. My experience at the birthing center was as beautiful and spiritual as I wanted it to be, until my labor stalled; and when I needed it, medical technology was there to support me and possibly to save both my life and Melina’s.
On April 25 Melina was nine days late, so I had an acupuncture treatment to induce labor. I was kind of skeptical about it working, especially since the acupuncturist put only four tiny needles into my lower back. That was at 1:30 p.m. At 4:30 I started getting contractions, and at 8:45 p.m. my water broke while I was rolling around on an exercise ball trying to get the baby to go lower. At that point, the contractions were coming every minute and a half. My midwife and her student midwife showed up right away to assess the situation, and at 10:40 p.m. we drove to the birthing center – me in a great deal of pain, with Jeff rubbing my back in the back seat.
The first 6-8 centimeters of dilation went really fast, and were just what I was hoping for in terms of a natural birth. I labored in a hot tub with candles lit and music playing, with Jeff rubbing my back and helping me through the contractions. They were very painful, but I could keep on top of them with visualizations and chanting. I actually found that moaning at the same tone as the hot tub’s jet motor really helped. My parents were there in the background, along with the midwife and two student midwives. Things were progressing so quickly that at one point I thought the baby might be born by three in the morning.
By 5 a.m., contractions still two minutes apart and everyone was waiting for baby's head to drop. The baby was at –2 station – not nearly low enough.
The next 11 hours were spent in increasing pain and frustration as I kept laboring without any progress. A small bag of water had escaped in front of the baby’s head, and when the midwife broke it, my dilation went down from 8 to 6. I tried everything to get the baby to drop – squats, walking, laboring in a rocking chair, on a birthing ball, in the tub, on the bed, trying homeopathic remedies and herbs to focus the contractions… nothing worked. Jeff and dad were getting upset watching me in so much pain, and I was getting more and more exhausted, hopeless and frustrated. Throughout the whole ordeal, the baby’s heart tones were very strong and she seemed to be tolerating labor well, but we decided that if I hadn’t progressed any more by the next check, I was going to go to the hospital. At 3:30 p.m. I hadn’t progressed. The midwife made the arrangements on the phone and we drove to the hospital, with me having terrible contractions in the front seat of the car.
By this time, I was more than ready for an epidural, and my midwife agreed that it might help me relax enough to allow the baby to drop. They gave me the epidural right away – sweet relief! – and started pitocin to see if stronger contractions would help. I sat there talking and laughing while my body continued to labor away without any pain at all…
After a few hours of laboring with very strong contractions, my cervix still hadn’t dilated and the baby was still at -2. The doctor recommended a c-section, and I couldn’t see any reason to continue laboring, since I had been stuck at 6 cm for almost 15 hours. Jeff and my parents had taken off to get a bite to eat, so I had to call them and tell them to come back ASAP for the emergency c-section. At 8:30 Jeff and I went in for the section, which was completely painless. I was so happy to finally get to see the baby, that any reservations I had about c-sections evaporated. Jeff and I kept up a conversation while they opened me up, and at 8:58 p.m. he excitedly announced that it was a GIRL! Baby Melina had arrived in the world!
So right now I am in the hospital recovering from the section, which really is major surgery. It turns out that Melina was probably at an odd angle and was unable to move through the birth canal. She has a bit of jaundice, so she is in the nursery today getting phototherapy. A good friend of mine works in the nursery, which is fantastic because she has been able to teach me a lot. I am very sore, with so much trapped gas in me that I still look nine months pregnant, but every day is getting better. Melina is beautiful and Jeff is quickly becoming a champ at calming her and changing diapers!
Although the whole experience was terribly grueling, I was glad to get the chance to go through both a med-free and a medicated birthing experience. My experience at the birthing center was as beautiful and spiritual as I wanted it to be, until my labor stalled; and when I needed it, medical technology was there to support me and possibly to save both my life and Melina’s.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Past Due
It's April 18 and I'm officially two days past due. It's a very strange feeling to be waiting around with very little to do. I'm trying to keep myself from falling into the grumpiness and weepiness that seems to afflict many pregnant women at this point. I've been reading Anna Karenina, sitting in coffee houses with Jeff, swimming occasionally, catching up on Sex & the City, trying to make myself feel pretty, seeing friends, and doing prenatal yoga when I feel up to it. It's very uncomfortable to walk. We've been getting 3-4 calls a day from people wondering what's up. I was born two weeks late, so I hope that I'm not in for that long of a wait myself... At this point I think I'm more excited about not being pregnant than about actually having the baby, which makes me feel guilty and makes me wonder if the baby is staying inside on purpose!
Monday, April 11, 2005
The Waiting Game
Last Thursday (April 7) was my last day at work, and I've now entered a strange twilight waiting period where I can't plan to do anything (at least not without saying "if I don't pop first.") I can't do anything very active, but I know the world is about to change dramatically and get very loud, demanding and entertaining. It's very strange. I'm kind of bored, but I feel like I should be appreciating these last quiet moments before the baby comes. It would be a good time to go on some sort of spiritual retreat, or start writing the Great American Novel. Instead, I've been cleaning - I've tackled the laundry room (made hardly a dent), the freezer, my closet, etc. etc.
I'm feeling pretty good, although my stomach really feels like it's about to burst into a fireworks show of strech marks because there's just no room left. I had a very painful displaced rib, or something like that, last week that made it hard to breathe in all the way. Luckily, that's gone. I've been sleeping OK, taking lots of naps, and absorbing novel after novel (including Anna Karenina, a murder mystery set in Rome, and Operating Instructions by Annie Lamott. The baby seems to be dropping gradually - I'm still feeling lots of kicks, though not as strong as they used to be, because there isn't much room in there anymore. I'm definitely ready to have my body back so I can get some exercise and start moving again. On the other hand I have a hard time believing I could go into labor at any time. I'm trying not to think about the pain that I will probably have to endure!
The house is about as ready as it's gonna get. We don't have a separate room for the baby at this point, so nothing to paint. (Eventually the kid will move downstairs to the current guest room). At the top of our stairs there's a large landing that has become the baby's space. We have a bureau filled with tiny clothes and a desk that I've converted to a changing area, which a huge supply of cloth diapers (one weeks' worth, which is SEVENTY diapers) all stacked in a neat wicker basket. We also have a bassinet that will attach to the bed for co-sleeping. It all seems so surreal right now, though!
So, that's the scoop here. Just waiting in a kind of surreal, bored, low-energy state for the Great Excitement to come. I'm not sure what I'm going to do if this baby is two weeks late. I may drive myself to the hospital and demand a C-section! I think the waiting would really begin to drive me crazy. And I'm not sure how much more my stomach can stretch out.
I'm feeling pretty good, although my stomach really feels like it's about to burst into a fireworks show of strech marks because there's just no room left. I had a very painful displaced rib, or something like that, last week that made it hard to breathe in all the way. Luckily, that's gone. I've been sleeping OK, taking lots of naps, and absorbing novel after novel (including Anna Karenina, a murder mystery set in Rome, and Operating Instructions by Annie Lamott. The baby seems to be dropping gradually - I'm still feeling lots of kicks, though not as strong as they used to be, because there isn't much room in there anymore. I'm definitely ready to have my body back so I can get some exercise and start moving again. On the other hand I have a hard time believing I could go into labor at any time. I'm trying not to think about the pain that I will probably have to endure!
The house is about as ready as it's gonna get. We don't have a separate room for the baby at this point, so nothing to paint. (Eventually the kid will move downstairs to the current guest room). At the top of our stairs there's a large landing that has become the baby's space. We have a bureau filled with tiny clothes and a desk that I've converted to a changing area, which a huge supply of cloth diapers (one weeks' worth, which is SEVENTY diapers) all stacked in a neat wicker basket. We also have a bassinet that will attach to the bed for co-sleeping. It all seems so surreal right now, though!
So, that's the scoop here. Just waiting in a kind of surreal, bored, low-energy state for the Great Excitement to come. I'm not sure what I'm going to do if this baby is two weeks late. I may drive myself to the hospital and demand a C-section! I think the waiting would really begin to drive me crazy. And I'm not sure how much more my stomach can stretch out.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Bottomless pit
I am a bottomless pit of hunger today, which is odd because I haven't been very hungry lately. So far I've had (1:00 pm):
A blueberry oatbran muffin
Grapefruit juice
1/2 cup of cottage cheese
1/2 a grapefruit
A couple of handfuls of pistachios
One Trader Joe's green chicken curry lunch
Three small potato pancakes, w/more cottage cheese
3/4 cup of coffee
The other half of a grapefruit...
and I'm still starving. I'm also craving grapefruit. Can you tell?
Jennifer
A blueberry oatbran muffin
Grapefruit juice
1/2 cup of cottage cheese
1/2 a grapefruit
A couple of handfuls of pistachios
One Trader Joe's green chicken curry lunch
Three small potato pancakes, w/more cottage cheese
3/4 cup of coffee
The other half of a grapefruit...
and I'm still starving. I'm also craving grapefruit. Can you tell?
Jennifer
Appointment Update
I had my 36w5d appointment last night... it was the shortest appointment yet. My Group B Strep test was negative, the protein that I had in my urine last time has disappeared (protein can be a sign of preeclampsia), the swelling in my ankles has gone down a bit, and my weight has even gone down 2 pounds (probably because I was retaining water at my last appointment). She said that everything is completely normal and on schedule and healthy. Baby is measuring average, carrying low (and getting into place for birth). She said I could probably handle an 8lb 5oz baby (which is what I was) without too much problem. I had some cramping yesterday which she said is completely normal at this point. So, all is well - to the point of being boring. I hope it continues this way!!
On Saturday I'll be "term," which means that the baby is basically done baking and can come out at any time!
On Saturday I'll be "term," which means that the baby is basically done baking and can come out at any time!
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Only three and a half more weeks!
Only 3.5 weeks until my due date (April 16). I can tell it's starting to get a little crowded in the ol' womb, because baby hasn't been able to kick as much, but is mainly squirming around. Baby's still head down, and so far everything is right on schedule and doing just fine.
I had two baby showers last week - one at work and one at a friend's. My coworkers banded together to give us eight weeks of diaper service. Now I just need to buy some cute cloth diaper covers - we only have one that's infant sized. We're pretty much all set on clothes for the 3-6 month stage, but still need to buy some onesies and things for the newborn. For furniture, we now have a bassinet (an Arm's Reach co-sleeper), a dresser (already full of tiny clothes), and a bouncy seat (that attaches to a door jamb and hangs from a spring). We also have a car seat and a light stroller. Our next big purchases will be a jogging stroller (perhaps the Chariot Cougar One, which converts from a jogging stroller to a bike trailer to a cross-country ski sled), and a backpack for taking long hikes with the baby.
It's amazing how much stuff you "need" (or think you need) for such a tiny, helpless little pink thing.
I had two baby showers last week - one at work and one at a friend's. My coworkers banded together to give us eight weeks of diaper service. Now I just need to buy some cute cloth diaper covers - we only have one that's infant sized. We're pretty much all set on clothes for the 3-6 month stage, but still need to buy some onesies and things for the newborn. For furniture, we now have a bassinet (an Arm's Reach co-sleeper), a dresser (already full of tiny clothes), and a bouncy seat (that attaches to a door jamb and hangs from a spring). We also have a car seat and a light stroller. Our next big purchases will be a jogging stroller (perhaps the Chariot Cougar One, which converts from a jogging stroller to a bike trailer to a cross-country ski sled), and a backpack for taking long hikes with the baby.
It's amazing how much stuff you "need" (or think you need) for such a tiny, helpless little pink thing.
A few things you're supposed to do when pregnant
Here are few things I've been told to do:
And I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting. Does anyone want to subsidize me so I can quit my job to attend to these duties?
- Drink 80 ounces of water a day
- Eat 80 grams of protein a day (a hamburger has about 30 grams)
- Increase calcium consumption by huge amounts
- Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
- Exercise for at least half an hour every day
- Sleep 12 hours a day (um, does that mean I have to go to bed at 7:00 p.m.?)
- Do perineal massage for five minutes every day (I can't even REACH down there)
- Lay on an incline with feet above head for 20 minutes three times a day (when I was trying to turn the baby)
- Get on hands and knees with belly hanging down for a good amount of time each day (to encourage baby to get in correct birthing position)
- Eat extra fish (but only the right kinds of fish) or take supplements to increase baby's brain power
- Spend 1 hour each day with headphones attached to stomach so baby can listen to Mozart
- Drink 5-6 cups of pregnancy tea (red raspberry leaf) every day to tone uterus
- Do 200 kegels a day
And I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting. Does anyone want to subsidize me so I can quit my job to attend to these duties?
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Infant care class
Jeff and I completed our series of two infant care classes last night. They were pretty good. We learned how to diaper (neither of us has ever diapered a baby!), how to swaddle, how to calm a fussy baby (using the Happiest Baby on the Block technique), what to buy and not to buy, and how to get our car seat checked out. It was a very diverse group of students, mostly couples. Unfortunately I don't have any amusing anecdotes about the class, because it was very straightforward and nobody made a fool of themselves (though Jeff did poke me several times during one of the videos about "baby's six states of consciousness.") I almost broke down crying during the Happiest Baby on the Block video because those babies were just so darn CUTE. Obviously I have been taken over by preggo brain, because the sight of a baby usually doesn't make me burst into tears.
What's up, little one?
Baby Metolius has been quite the gymnast lately, first kicking here, then there, then punching my bladder and sticking his or her rump into my ribs. At least, I'm hoping that's the rump and not the head. Last night just as I lay down to go to sleep, Baby decided to start playing drums against my side - and I'm talking fast Zimbabwean drumming, not the sedate Native American kind. And then it suddenly stopped and there was complete calm, no movement at all, for about half an hour. It got me a little freaked out because the doctors always warn you to report any "frantic" activity. I was picturing myself laying on the umbilical cord wrong or doing something equally terrible, with tragic results. But today Baby is up and moving again as usual. I'm looking forward to my next appointment (tomorrow) so I can figure out what position it's in.
An overview of the pregnancy experience
(I first posted this on a pregnancy board I belong to...)
This pregnancy has been surprising for me in several ways. First, I was amazed at how easy it was for me to get pregnant at 38, after being warned by several doctors that it could be very hard. It just took about a month. I feel very lucky that way.
I'm also surprised at how easy it is to generate a baby, and basically how easy it is to host the miracle of birth. It's just incredible how the baby develops from a single cell (or two) to a full-fledged human being - and it just happens. Your body knows what to do and it doesn't require any intellectual effort at all!
This has been a very easy pregnancy - no complications (knock on wood) other than an early scare about a possible blighted ovum. I haven't had a lot of unbearable symptoms and I didn't get morning sickness, thank God. I also haven't been the hormonal wreck I was expecting to be - actually I think my hormones have been more even than usual - I have had fewer meltdowns with Jeff than I did before I was pregnant!
On the other hand, I'm suprised at how incredibly uncomfortable it is to be in the third trimester. Nobody ever warns you about that when you're thinking about getting pregnant. I can't walk without pain, it's hard to sleep, I get heartburn, I have a pinched nerve that's really annoying, etc. etc.
I'm also surprised at how much I miss exercising (the kind of exercising I like to do - skiing and hiking).
All in all, though, I'd have to say that being pregnant has been a very positive experience. I'm not dying to do it again anytime soon (especially not right now), but I really can't complain. I'm looking forward to meeting the baby but I know I will miss my belly, the specialness, and the baby's movements. But it will be nice to have my body back, too.
This pregnancy has been surprising for me in several ways. First, I was amazed at how easy it was for me to get pregnant at 38, after being warned by several doctors that it could be very hard. It just took about a month. I feel very lucky that way.
I'm also surprised at how easy it is to generate a baby, and basically how easy it is to host the miracle of birth. It's just incredible how the baby develops from a single cell (or two) to a full-fledged human being - and it just happens. Your body knows what to do and it doesn't require any intellectual effort at all!
This has been a very easy pregnancy - no complications (knock on wood) other than an early scare about a possible blighted ovum. I haven't had a lot of unbearable symptoms and I didn't get morning sickness, thank God. I also haven't been the hormonal wreck I was expecting to be - actually I think my hormones have been more even than usual - I have had fewer meltdowns with Jeff than I did before I was pregnant!
On the other hand, I'm suprised at how incredibly uncomfortable it is to be in the third trimester. Nobody ever warns you about that when you're thinking about getting pregnant. I can't walk without pain, it's hard to sleep, I get heartburn, I have a pinched nerve that's really annoying, etc. etc.
I'm also surprised at how much I miss exercising (the kind of exercising I like to do - skiing and hiking).
All in all, though, I'd have to say that being pregnant has been a very positive experience. I'm not dying to do it again anytime soon (especially not right now), but I really can't complain. I'm looking forward to meeting the baby but I know I will miss my belly, the specialness, and the baby's movements. But it will be nice to have my body back, too.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Birthing class
Last night we had a birthing class in our home. Originally there was going to be another couple there, but they broke up, so it was just Jeff and I. Jeff hadn't been too keen on taking a birthing class (mainly because he read all the wrong parts of Birthing From Within and thought any nontraditional birthing class would be all about co-chanting and creating a partnership with your unborn baby). Anyway, the midwife who was teaching the class showed up with her things at quarter to six and set up her little ritual candle and placed a small statue of a pregnant Lucy (our hominid forebear) on the table. I was a little concerned about what was going through Jeff's mind at that point, but he maintained his composure well. The midwife explained the birthing process, showed Jeff how to rub my back in labor (very nice!), explained how NOT to touch a woman in labor (don't just diddle around without intention, and don't talk to her when she's in a contraction), did an exercise with icewater (more on that later) and talked me through a guided meditation, where you visualize contractions as waves in the ocean (which might have been more calming before the tsunami).
The ice exercise was really helpful. First she had Jeff do it. He put his hand in a bucket of ice water for 45 seconds (while I talked to him normally) and then took it out for 45 seconds. Then he put it in again for 45 more seconds, closing his eyes and focusing on his breathing. Then, out for 45 seconds, and back in for 45 seconds. This time he wandered around the house with his hand in the bowl of water while I talked to him and rubbed his back. Afterward, it was my turn. I was surprised at how painful ice water can be! I also found it helpful to have Jeff try to distract me, and to concentrate on my breathing and focus on the pain. Walking around aimlessly didn't help quite as much, but it could be useful if the contractions weren't too intense. All in all, it was a useful exercise, and one that I might practice again.
OK, I'm starving now, Nature calls, and I must go home.
The ice exercise was really helpful. First she had Jeff do it. He put his hand in a bucket of ice water for 45 seconds (while I talked to him normally) and then took it out for 45 seconds. Then he put it in again for 45 more seconds, closing his eyes and focusing on his breathing. Then, out for 45 seconds, and back in for 45 seconds. This time he wandered around the house with his hand in the bowl of water while I talked to him and rubbed his back. Afterward, it was my turn. I was surprised at how painful ice water can be! I also found it helpful to have Jeff try to distract me, and to concentrate on my breathing and focus on the pain. Walking around aimlessly didn't help quite as much, but it could be useful if the contractions weren't too intense. All in all, it was a useful exercise, and one that I might practice again.
OK, I'm starving now, Nature calls, and I must go home.
Right side up!
At my appointment last week the midwife confirmed that the baby is indeed right side up. I'm now getting kicked in my upper right side (facing away from my body) and feeling little hands moving around very low, near my pubic bone. (Now, that's a strange feeling!). When the baby hiccups, which is usually about ten minutes after I eat, I'm feeling it along my left side. The baby's head hasn't moved into delivery position yet. No worries (actually, maybe that's a good thing), but the midwife told me to keep on walking so the baby's head will lower. I've heard about how uncomfortable that can be and I'm not sure how eager I am for it to happen!
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
My most recent nightmare
The night before last Jeff woke me up because I was wimpering in my sleep. Actually, I was screaming in my dream, but it came out as a wimper. In the dream I was in a big old mansion making up a four-poster bed. Some unseen hand pushed me from behind and I fell over the side of the bed and got completely tangled up in the bedcover. That's when I started screaming.
This dream makes sense on so many levels. First off, our bed has become a nightmare to me because it's so high and it's painful to crawl up there. I avoid getting out of bed as much as possible for that reason. I never make the bed anymore because it's too much work, especially since we have a large, unwieldy duvet cover (anyway, that's Jeff's job). I get tangled in my Snoogle every night, and every night I seem to get less sleep.
Of course, on a deeper level it makes sense too. I got into this whole mess while I was in bed! An unseen hand keeps pushing on me - from the inside! I'm trapped and I can't get out!
A friend suggested that it was actually the baby dreaming of a former life, but that's just too complicated for me.
This dream makes sense on so many levels. First off, our bed has become a nightmare to me because it's so high and it's painful to crawl up there. I avoid getting out of bed as much as possible for that reason. I never make the bed anymore because it's too much work, especially since we have a large, unwieldy duvet cover (anyway, that's Jeff's job). I get tangled in my Snoogle every night, and every night I seem to get less sleep.
Of course, on a deeper level it makes sense too. I got into this whole mess while I was in bed! An unseen hand keeps pushing on me - from the inside! I'm trapped and I can't get out!
A friend suggested that it was actually the baby dreaming of a former life, but that's just too complicated for me.
Right side up?
I'm thinking the baby may have turned. I'm getting kicks now where the head used to be, and feeling hiccups down low on my left side. Both of those seem like good omens. I should find out tomorrow when I visit the midwife again.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Names
So far, Jeff and I have not agreed on a single name for more than two hours. However, I know the baby will eventually be named one way or the other, so I'm not too worried. The other night I dreamt that the baby was the reincarnation of a Spanish comedian named Roberto Gonzales who lived during the Franco regime. How specific is that? I actually looked up Roberto Gonzales and Franco on the web, but I didn't find any reference to comedians. Anyway, even if the baby is the reincarnation of a Spanish humorist, I doubt we will name him (or her!) Roberto.
The novelty has worn off
OK, I have to say that the novelty of this whole pregnancy thing has begun to wear off. I don't need to hear one more person tell me that I look like I'm going to pop, or that I must be having twins, or that the baby will be a linebacker fer sure. I am ready to sleep without feeling the red-hot dagger of a pinched nerve under my ribs. I am ready to sleep without having to rearrange four different pillows each time I turn over. I am ready to sleep facing Jeff instead of away from him, because it's uncomfortable for me to sleep on my left side. I'm ready for a glass of wine, a real mojito, a beer. Most of all I'm ready to get some exercise (besides swimming) - specifically, for a nice long hike in the woods. Seven more weeks to go.
Upside Down
Last week my midwife encouraged me to start taking action to turn the baby upside down. (Last we checked, it was still proudly head-up - and I can't say I blame it for not wanting to hang upside down for eight more weeks). Anyway, one way to turn the baby upside down is to do handstands in the swimming pool. I dutifully went to the pool - a kind of strange 1950s style pool under a huge dome. I informed the lifeguard that I was going to be upside down a lot and not to worry. Then I plugged my nose with my new nose-plugger device and down I went. Well, first of all, it's not as easy doing handstands as it used to be. Second, I still require a lot of oxygen, so I wasn't able to stay under for very long. It seems like you would need to stay under for at least a minute or two to get the baby to consider flipping. I did about 10-15 handstands, but I didn't feel the baby move at all. I did notice some strange looks when a new lifeguard came on duty.
One more thing... when you go swimming it's always nice to bring a towel for drying off. I forgot mine, and had to drip-dry in the changing room.
One more thing... when you go swimming it's always nice to bring a towel for drying off. I forgot mine, and had to drip-dry in the changing room.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Alien IV
Baby is moving more and more every day, and now I'm feeling body parts against the inside of my belly. Last night I yelped because it felt like baby was trying to get out (the wrong way). I know it's supposed to be beautiful and everything, but let's face it... there is something alive inside of me. Scary.
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