Over-Prepared

Is there such a thing as too prepared? I've been spending my free moments reading countless birth stories, the latest birth related articles and discussing birth with other like-minded moms in online forums. I'm beginning to worry I'm going to go into birth overload with still about 100 days to go.. not good.

I also bought this cute cabinet for the babies room. I had seen it online and liked it, and thought it was a good price.. then while at Ikea getting Ainsley a new bed (to be featured on the fam blog.. as soon as I take a cute picture) I saw it in the 'as-is' section. It was only there because it had been a floor model, there was nothing wrong with it, and it was more than 25% cheaper.. so I had to snatch it up. I actually went back the next day cuz there was no way it was going to fit in our Tribecca with the bed we bought Ainsley.. plus Tom was with me, and I like to do my crazy purchases solo, lol. So I got someone who worked there to load it onto my cart, and then into my car. The fact that it's a floor model means I don't have to put it together by myself, which is awesome.. but it also means it barely fit, lol. In fact, it's still in our car. Tom's afraid it's too heavy for him.. so anyone who feels like coming over tomorrow Tom could use an extra set of hands. ;)


Anyway.. now that I have this cabinet.. I really want to start pulling out all the baby clothes I packed away and get them cleaned and folded and hung... but I keep reminding myself.. It's FEBRUARY.. I'm not due until mid-JUNE.. I really should pace myself here.. right?? I'm gonna run around and get all this stuff done and then just be sitting on my thumbs for the next couple of months?? Or maybe it would be good to get all this done.. before I'm walking around with a watermelon under my shirt instead of a cantaloupe. I guess I just don't want to get too far ahead of myself..

I'm not even really planning on setting up the nursery properly until after Miss Thang makes her appearance. I'm planning on moving Ainsley down to what is currently the guestroom and putting the baby in her room, and it seems a little silly to move her right away when I'm planning on keeping the baby in our room for at least the first four months.. maybe more. Plus.. I'm keeping the guest bed upstairs for when my awesome mom, and then equally awesome mother in law come stay with us for a week each after she's born to help out.. So it won't really be possible to completely set up a nursery.

I dunno, maybe it's nesting.. I can see the furniture and the clothes.. but is reading constantly about birth really nesting? I have the most overwhelming urge to know more, to read more.. it's becoming an obsession.. I can't stop. Maybe its mental nesting..

So, any opinions.. is getting the clothes ready 100 days before the baby's born a little bit ridiculous? Even just typing it, it sounds ridiculous. Who knows. The baby's kicking.. I think she's saying Hi to you all. :) Thanks for listening.. must go to bed now... after I read a little bit more.

Birth Plans

I am not planning a natural birth because I like pain.. I'm actually a bit of a baby. I have a very low pain threshold. This post is not to influence or offend anyone.. but lately my world has been revolving around this subject.. so I just had to post it.

I'm retaking the birth class I took when I was pregnant with Ainsley. Partly because its been 3 years, and I forget stuff.. and party because I enjoyed it so much the first time through It's a bradley method class, but our teacher also incorporates other things she has learned and found beneficial over the years. I really love the class. It's 12 weeks long, one night a week. This may seem excessive to some, but its so great. One night a week we get to slow down life and focus on this big thing that's about to change our lives forever. I think it really helped Tom to feel more a part of whats going on and to have a better appreciation of what I'm going through.

What do you do for 12 weeks you ask? Well, we learn about how the body works and changes during pregnancy and about nutrition and exercises that work muscles that help to carry the baby and with the delivery. We learn about nursing. We learn about different pressure points that your partner can use to relieve some of the aches and pains throughout pregnancy and during delivery. Different positions that you can try to be more comfortable while pregnant as well as different ways you can try during labor to help work the baby out. We also learn about all the options you have during labor.. what things are your choice, and what things are more just there because of tradition and to make the process easier for the doctor, that you have the right to say no to if you want.

I want to reiterate that I am not anti-medicine, anti-doctor.. I'm not even anti-epidural, I believe that there can come a point where a woman's body has tried and worked until it needs a rest.. and that is a humane and sympathetic use of the epidural.
I'm so grateful that we have these miracles when they are needed. I have a good friend whose body just never goes into labor. She was about 2 weeks late with her first child when her water broke and 20 hours later.. she still never went into labor. She's somebody who would've died in the old west with nothing to be done about it. I'm SO grateful we have the technology to save my dear friend and her adorable little boy.

It just seems that a lot of these advances are used now without real need, and especially without informing people of the possible side effects and risk.. and what possible benefits they could be forgoing.

I just tried to type a list of the things I've learned in class... but I'm so afraid someone will take something that I'm saying the wrong way and become defensive... that I'm having the hardest time writing it. To me its all amazing info that should be out there.. but birth is such a touchy subject.. so I went online and found a nice little list detailing pretty much everything I wanted to say in less emotional and more precise ways.

So ladies.. next time you ask me 'why would you feel pain if you don't have to...' this is my answer

The Benefits of Natural Birth
1. Mothers who labor naturally can move freely, go to the bathroom, walk and change positions throughout labor. According to the Cochrane Review, recent studies have shown that getting medication makes changing positions even after birth more difficult.

2. Since you can feel your body's reflexes in natural childbirth, mothers can push better and generally faster. In fact studies show that getting an epidural prolongs your pushing time.

3. The pain during labor serves a purpose by guiding the mother to seek certain positions. For example, if her back hurts, she will naturally seek positions off her back which can help to turn her baby. Having back pain is one sign that the baby might be posterior and needs to rotate.

4. Mothers often describe that their recovery after a natural childbirth was faster and easier since they could get right up and walk and shower. Usually they eat right away and their appetite is normal.

5. Endorphins secreted during a natural childbirth have been found in the placenta and umbilical cord. This may serve a purpose to help the baby adjust to life outside as well as make the journey more comfortable for baby.

6. Research has shown that in mothers who have natural childbirth, babies are more alert and show more interest in pre-breastfeeding behaviours such as sucking and massaging the mother's breasts, as well as the actual length of time they spend nursing within the first 90 minutes.

There are plenty of other things I could go off about.. but I am too emotional about this and to prevent offending anyone I'll end there. Tho anyone who reads this birth and has other things to add to the list of benefits of a natural birth.. please do. :)

Thanks for listening.. I will strive to not gush overmuch on this subject in the future.. but until June, it will be on my mind a lot. So we'll see, lol. And if anyone wants anymore info or has anymore questions.. I'd love to be of help :)

the wee small hours of the morning

it's 12:30am.. everyone in the house is asleep except for me. I just finished an older movie called '84 Charing Cross Road' about somewhat of a love affair developed through letters that never came to much of anything besides a grand friendship. It's put me in something of a melancholy mood.
At times like these I can't help but think of a song from the 'sleepless in seattle' soundtrack
"when the sun is high in the afternoon sky you can always find something to do
but from dusk til dawn as the clock ticks on.. something happens to you
in the wee small hours of the morning, when the whole wide world is fast asleep
i lie awake and think about the void and never ever think of counting sheep"
I don't know what it is about being the last one awake. The world becomes a secret place known only to me, where I observe without being observed and my mind goes off on paths of its own design.

I also watched the 2nd episode of the new miniseries pbs is doing of Emma earlier (which is when Tom fell asleep, lol.. tho he usually appreciates the witty repartee of that era). It left me wanting more, especially as there is another episode yet to be aired so it ended it at quite an intriguing place. There wasn't much on tv that would satisfy, so I turned to Netflix instant offerings. The only thing really like it I came across was 'Persuasion' which I had just watched a few days ago, and so I went searching for something new, and found '84 Charing Cross Road'. I'm on a mission to watch all great old movies possible and am glad I took the time to watch this one. It's based on a true story that became a novel, so I may have to pick that up as well. The correspondence was between a woman in NYC and a gentleman in London. The woman always wanted to go to London and said once that she watched old English movies just to see the streets. I know how she felt.

I was lucky enough to have made it there once, however I fear the week I spent in London only added to my desire to be there again. Tom and I sometimes day dream about spending a year there. Just finding some job, renting out the house and going. I am fortunate that my husband shares my love of London. Growing up in Sunny Las Vegas has made him yearn for the foggy street of London, and I adore that about him. Maybe someday we'll do it. I keep thinking that if we're going to make it happen, we should just make it happen.. but it seems as though life always has different plans for us. Something's always happening, and moving to London for a year seems a bit silly in the face of everything else. However, we continue to dream, and what is life without dreams.

Well, I'm not sure who coherent this post will be.. but it's been cathartic to purge myself of my wee hours wonderings and maybe now I'll be able to sleep.

Here's a snapshot of Tom and I over in Jolly ol' england to cap it off. Cheers.