Wow - only 7 more to go until my due date!! Yesterday's prenatal class was on labor/delivery - they covered the stages, what's happening to you, signs of what true labor is, and how you feel, etc. All I can say is.....WHAT THE HECK HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO???? I know the end result will be worth it all, but it's getting there that scares me!! Our instructor (her name is Cookie - she is a doula) brought the "empathy belly" for the fathers in the class to try on. Adam was scared to death that he would be picked to wear the thing, but unfortunately (this week, at least) it was passed on to two other brave souls to wear for a while. I'll have to bring my camera in case she decides to bring it back next week. :)
I'm feeling much better this week - my right foot still is swollen a little bit, but I can tell it's gone down. The end of the third grading period is next week, so between preparing for report cards and trying to do lesson plans for the next week, I don't feel like I have any time at all for the things that I feel are SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN WORK AT THIS POINT!! The months just seem to zoom by~~~
Went to the doctor today - after this next two-week wait, I'll be going every week. That's when they'll start looking for the position of the baby, and seeing if I've dilated or anything at that point. Hoo boy....here we go!! Everything looked good once again....this time I saw Debbie, and she was very perky and nice. :) I think she's a practitioner, or something, but anyway, she was very helpful when talking about diet and things I can do for the swelling.
Alright, that's it for this time....back to checking papers!
10 comments:
Thanks for the new post! Oooo, this is so exciting!! How do you plan on having the baby? I certainly respect whatever decision you make, although I hope you haven't ruled out certain types of pain relief (can you say "epidural?")
I know some people preach against it for various reasons, but my view was that I wanted to do anything that would help my feelings of discomfort (what am I saying.....it was PAIN!) at such a special time. Don't feel like you have to be a "hero"! (lol)
(Well, and as it turned out, with the C-section, I obviously needed "pain relief"--meaning total lower half body numbing--anyway.) Looking back, they may have administered me 2 epidurals---one during the height of the labor while I was still dilating, and the other when the first epidural was starting to wear off & they started thinking C-section...of course this was a few hours or more later. Maybe that's why it seemingly took FOREVER back in the recovery room while I was waiting to get the feeling back in my legs---I just wanted to get to my room to hold Kai & to see everyone!
Sorry for going on & on.....just reliving my moments (it's easier from this side of it!) & knowing that everything will go just fine for you -- I always tried to remember that babies have been born since the beginning of time, and every woman with a child has had a "first experience" once...things have a way of taking care of themselves even though we don't have a clue what we're doing!
Keep us "posted" (pardon the pun!)
Ditto, for most of what Laura was saying... (being excited, etc!!). I had the epidural as well and it was the BEST FEELING!! I initially just "went with the flow"... the labor pains weren't that bad at the beginning and then later when they got a little harder I had them give me something to "take the edge" off it... some discomfort wasn't bad. But then they had to give me ptosin, which made the labor pains more intense... THAT'S when I decided on (alright, demanded) the epidural. Then, they had to give me one later when preparing for the C-section. I was initially scared, like you, wondering what I (what had Kelly) gotten me into, but after my kidney stone at 8 months, I figured NOTHING could be worse than that, so I was ready!! Seriously, though, normally I am really nervous about being in the hospital, procedures, etc., but when the time came I was ready and there was no fear and no nervousness. You are so in the moment and excited about what is happening that the fear goes away. I have to say, seriously, I loved every minute of it (except when they pulled the tape off my stitches) and would do it again in a heartbeat. You will be fine and will do great. Rest assured that when it is time for you to have the baby, you will be ready, not only physically, but mentally. I can't explain it. I'm sure Laura knows what I'm talking about. If I can do it, you can, too--. I just tried to get the most out of the experience, it really is exciting and special and you're treated that way too at the hospital. I can remember it clearly, and it's been almost 21 years now, so that should tell you something. Oooohh... I'm so excited!!!! (I've gone on and on here, too...sorry!)
Aren't you glad right about now that you have 2 older SISTERS and not BROTHERS? (well, ok, I guess mom could share her "labor/birth stories"). But this is just so "special" (pardon me, Coach K) that I could just cry! waaaaahhhhh!
(ok, now I'm losing--what's left of--my mind.)
It's kinda like Becky is joining our "club", you know?? After she has little Paul Daniel we can all sit around and share our stories... I was telling Kelly about Becky's "moment of panic" and we talked about our experience at the hospital. He remembers the nurse I about killed when I was ready to have my epidural and she said "just focus on your breathing". He said he wished he had had a camera because I had murder in my eye! I think she was about 12.... yeah, right... focus on my breathing.. (grrrrr!!!)
I tried earlier to post - but gave up when it wouldn't take it. Beth was the only one of you that went normally. A friend dropped me off at Rex - Doug was out of town and the Parole office was trying to get up with him to come. Had what they called a "saddle block" - which was the early epidural I guess. Laura came in too big a hurry once we finally left the house - had some doctor who was there delivering some other baby because mine couldn't get there in time. Becky - you were the most "fun" because after Doug took me to the hospital (and he went back to school) they sort of just left me alone, except to come and check on me every so often. No one to complain to! I'm not sure they ever gave me anything. But, as they say - you forget about it in the joy of the moment. Mom
Was it Dr. Seuss that delivered me? (Just wondering......)
Other possibilities: Dr. Dre, Dr. Doolitle, Dr. Spock, Dr. Pepper, maybe Dr. Dimento?
... or Doctor No, or Doctor Octopus (from Spiderman).....
Or maybe it was Dr. Frankenstein?
Hey, wait a minute!! Since when did this turn into the "make fun of Laura" blog?
you started it, Laura...we were just trying to be helpful.....
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