31.5 weeks here. I can't believe that in nine weeks or so we'll have a sweet little bundle to add to our family. Crazy! Still getting chubbier. Kylie likes to come up to me and pat my stomach or offer her blanky to my belly. The good news is that I still am still sporting an "innie" for a belly button and no stretch marks so far.
This past Saturday Jared and I took an all day third trimester birthing class. Doing so (along with being in an obgyn office as a preggo patient, walking into Motherh.ood Matern.ity etc.) are just one of those things that for the longest time I didn't ever think I'd get the chance to experience. I guess it's like a bald guy walking into a hair extension shop... it's hard to shake the feeling that I shouldn't be there. Regardless we learned a lot in this class, perhaps even more than I needed to know. Oye! It was an eight hour class so there was just heaping amounts of information to go over.
The first topic the instructor mentioned that got my head turning was about "how our bodies are meant to do this". Which I know is true in theory, but the instructor used the logic that our bodies are full of parts that are meant to fulfill their basic functions. For example, our arm sockets are meant to allow our arms to rotate pain free. Our knee joints are meant to move our legs pain free. So she tells us that there's a circular cycle of fear--tension-pain that leads us to believe that childbirth is painful. According to the instructor apparently our bodies know how to get these babies out of our bodies and so it is best to engage in relaxation techniques, visualizations, hypnosis, encouragement etc to get our minds off the pain and let our bodies do what they are supposed to do. While I'm hearing all of this the first thing that pops into my head is "well, if that logic is correct then I should have had no problems getting pregnant within a year or two since a uterus is "meant to do this". But WAIT!!! That didn't happen. So maybe my body REALLY doesn't know how it's going to get this baby out of here if it couldn't figure out how to get it IN here. " And so that's how it goes when an infertility patient is finding herself sitting in a third trimester pregnancy class. Still not convinced I belong, through my belly tells me otherwise.
I'm getting a bit more anxious about the labor part of all of this since it's starting to loom on the horizon. I was happy to learn about some relaxation techniques and breathing exercises which I'm sure I'll utilize. Both Jared and I learned a lot from the class and I'm happy we went. We learned a lot of useful information. Still am planning on having an epid.ural (sorry miss instructor!) and I just hope that it works and that it does what it's supposed to do. So far I've never met a medication that I didn't respond well with so we shall see. It didn't work well for Abbie, and for my sister the epid.ural totally wore off when she got to the point of pushing. Which they say isn't a bad thing, but three hours of pushing later, then forcepts and being stitched up after an episi.otomy with practically nothing to take the edge off of the pain.... well you get the idea. Thankfully for what her labor lacked and the excruciating pain that was involved my totally adorable nephew makes up in cute looks.
(ps. Thanks Vaylene for watching Kylie while we were at the class. We owe you big!!!)
12 comments:
hahah. Thats funny you took a class. Really...Jaxon was a piece of cake. My pain level the whole time was only a 2-3. and after 4 pushes out came jaxon. It seriously was the easiest and little pain ever. I hope Joel is the same way and hopefully you get a easy birth. But don't freak out about vaylene's birth...because mine was sOOOOOO easy. But then again...every baby is different.
It all sounds so familiar. My epidurals were a nightmare, and wore off by the time things really got painful anyway. Once you start pushing, you're golden. It's just the hour before that that things get ugly. `
Believe me, Tamara, you belong in that class. I am still so excited for you guys. You won't regret getting the epidural. They are great. Most likely, it will work great for you. It made me smile that you had a babysitter for the prenatal class...most people don't get to do that. The 2nd baby is usually "been there done that." You just keep getting to try new things with each one. How exciting for you!!!
Good for you for taking a class.
I didn't do any for Abigail, had an epidural and it was great. Checked out a hilarious video from the library to review before Jane (Laugh and Learn Childbirth..I'd recommend it). Which I was so grateful I did because by the time I wanted an epidural, it was too late and I couldn't get one, Jane came 40 minutes later. I was glad for the few strategies I picked up. Best of luck. Every labor and deliver is different. I'm super excited for you! (PS I'll go natural next time. I preferred the recover after no epidural...just a personal preference.)
I myself am an epidural girl.... I have had 4. Here is my advice....get a continous drip one, and TAPE, TAPE, and more TAPE. Once it feel out, I would so much rather have to scrub the sticky residue left behind from the tape than do with out. If it is so strong that you can't feel you legs, have them lower it...or you will be numb forever. And now for the not talked about part....you don't feel the sensation to pee so make sure that they press on your bladder to see how full it is and make sure that they are able to help you with that....I had some problems because my bladder got so full and no one checked it. With all the IV fluids you will get it really does fill up fast.
I also freaked out about the full bladder problem. I kept insisted the nurses empty it because I was so sure my bladder would explode. I love epidurals. With Jake my left arm went numb along with my legs and I could hardly hold him. But with Aiden I didn't have that problem but I felt more pain. You should have Jarad tape it so you can watch it later.
Don't worry!! Just learn from my mistake... PRESS THAT DARN BUTTON!! I seriously think I would have totally been fine, HAD I press that button again. Like I said, I never lost feeling in my legs so maybe mine just wasn't so strong. You will do great! Ethan can't wait to have a cousin! (well 2 cousins that is!)
hopefully I will have my baby before you do...I will let you know how the second baby goes!!!
Tamara, I was so touched by the comment you left on my blog and just wanted to thank you. It has been a bit of a roller coaster, but I've been so overwhelmed by the kindness and love we've felt from people like you. Thank you so much!
im still so excited for you!! i love the updates...
I'm so thrilled that you get to go through this experience! What a huge blessing! It looks like you have some great friends and family that have awesome tips on child birth. I had 3 of mine without the epi and I wouldn't do it any other way. But my recommendation to you would be to prepare your relaxation techniques just in case the situation arrives that you aren't able to have the epidural. It is TOTALLY true that if you are able to relax your body, it really doesn't hurt as bad. It's when you tense and let those pain endorphins off....that's when it can get bad.
I'm SO excited to hear how it goes and see your new little one! Love ya!
We are so excited for you guys! You will be great no matter how you decide to do things. I am definitely a fan of the epidural, but I always had to be induced- those contractions needed epidurals! One suggestion no one made until baby #3 was to have them place a mirror so I could watch. At first I was a little grossed out, but I'm so glad I could watch. I felt more in control and more connected to the whole process. There's my two cents. Good luck with your new adventures!
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