For the first pregnancy you are told that the frequent night wakings to empty your bladder helps to prepare you for frequent night feedings after the baby arrives. This time around I find myself getting frustrated on the bad nights. We go to bed, read, Jord falls asleep nice and easy. I read more, get that horrible restlessness in my legs and head out to the family room where I will do some stretches. listen to relaxing music, have a snack, stretch some more and eventually by around 3AM I am ready for real sleep. A couple of times in the past week I actually took some gravel by 2AM because I knew that I NEEDED to sleep. The last thing I need right now is to go into labour while exhausted from sleep deprivation. And the frustrating part is that I get tired because of my body and not because of having a 3 year old or because of work.....its because my body is not letting me sleep! And then after I fall asleep I am up for bathroom trips at least 3 times before 7:30AM BooHoo! But hey, its my blog and I will cry if I want to. The rib pain is prety inense as well. Never had rib issues with Jonas. Must be a bigger baby in there.
Friday, I had my weekly prelabour acupuncture. It was my third session in three weeks. For the first time the needles created some very strong sensations throughout my body and especially when they were first inserted and later when they were stimulated. Bronwynn said that this is a normal reaction when the mother is getting close to labour. I went for a peaceful walk around campus that afternoon and then climbed lots of stairs because I was feeling so good. But then of course the next morning (Sat) I was sore in the pelvis. I kind of expected that, though, because it seems like I am always a little sore in the pelvis the day after acupuncture. I noticed last week that by the evening of my acupuncture, the baby had dropped a ton and I have not had any acid indigestion since. yay.
So Saturday started off very sore, but I went with Jonas and Jordan to gymnastics in New Westminster and then a walk in Queens Park. By the time we got home the pelvis was still sore so I rested and we decided to invite some friends over for a barbecue. I didn't know if I would be able to stay awake and join everyone but by the time people arrived I was beginning to feel better and my mind was able to be occupied by other things other than my aching body. It ended up being a very good idea.
Unfortunatly, I foud out a few hours before diiner that my friend (and back up Doula) down the hall, Jordanne, and her husband and two kids had become very sick, very fast with the stomach flu. Jonas is close with her girls and had been at school with Porter the day before. So I hoped for the best with us getting sick as well. But by the time our guests left and I was putting Jonas to sleep, he had a definite fever. He was happy and had been energetic all evening (trying to get everyone to check out his 'dedroom') But he was hit with a fever and again this morning he awoke with a fever and a cough. So far no stomach issues. Also, Jordy had to call in another back up Doula for a client that was giving birth while she and her family were sick. Too bad.
Today was spent on the fold out couch, resting, reading and watching cartoons. Too rainy for a stroller walk with the sick little guy. We took a trip to the store and bought some yummy sick treats like grapes, strawberries, waffles and orangess and are now relaxing again on the fold out couch.
I am telling myself that I will remain healthy and not get this sickness. I had been thinking that tomorrows full moon would be a nice time to begin labour but now I am hoping baby waits a few more days until its big bro is feeling better. Afterall Jonas is still super keen to be around for the birth and helping to cut the cord. Either way things will work out how they are meant to be....
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
38 Weeks
I am ready and waiting. I've done everything I need to do to prepare for this new baby. The head is halfway down my pelvis and I am drawing my focus inward. I actually did a visualisation of the birth the other day - not what would be the perfect birth, but more the stages of labour and the sensations my body would go through as it worked with the baby to bring it down, open the cervix, release more great hormones and finally ease the baby out. It was simple. It made me smile. I think going into labour is always a surprise. With Jonas I wasn't expecting it when it started at 39 weeks and once I realized what was going on I was so giddy with excitement! This time around I am finding that I am really looking for signs of labour and wondering each day if this is the day that we will all meet the new baby.
I met with one of the back up Midwives today for my weekly visit. I did some complaining of my soreness and told her that I don't ever remember being this uncomfortable in the pelvis for the first pregnancy. I am also having alot of rib pain which was never an issue with Jonas. In all honesty I am sore and tired. My body is beginning to feel depleted. But then some days I wake up with lots of energy. Its like a physical rollercoster rather than an emotional rollercoaster. My one main hope is that I am as well rested for this birth as I was with Jonas'.
Through some bloodwork I have learned that I am now iron deficient and my ferratin levels are getting low. Maybe that is the reason for the increased fatigue and low moods these past few days. Funny about the iron because I have been craving my old green smoothies lately and have begun to blend and freeze batches of spinach, kale and parsley to make easy smoothies after the baby comes. I also made some energy balls with Jonas tonight (almond butter, agave, goji berries, cherries, sunflower seeds etc).
So tonight my feelings are that I am ready and waiting. Excited to meet the baby. Looking forward to moving about freely, running, chasing Jonas, hot yoga and everything else I can't physically do at the moment.
Monday, March 8, 2010
36 Weeks
Last week Jonas and I returned home after spending 9 days on the Island. It was very refreshing to be back home and I got a few opportunities to rest and enjoy some massage/cranial sacral sessions. It was great to catch up with everyone and also celebrate Jonas' 3rd birthday with family. We ended up having two different cakes/parties while on the Island and then another cake/party with his LRH friends. I hope Jonas doesn't expect to have 3 parties everytime he has a birthday!
I have felt much stronger and healthier over these past 3 weeks than I had for the previous month. With those two back to back colds I had, I almost felt like I would go into labour early because of my exhaustion. Yet after a visit with my Naturopath and following through with several of her suggestions and treatments, I am feeling great these days.
The baby has been in the same position for as long as I can remember. Kicks on the left side, back on the right side. The head has been engaged for a few weeks now, so I am hoping that it is in the best position possible for both my pelvis and the big exit. Hiccups are common throughout the day and as always the Braxton Hicks are on top of each other. I am now becoming abit swollen in the hands and feet and still suffer from some restless leg at night. My pelvis is often sore and feels very loose and expanded. I usually stop to rest because of pain here and there and not because of fatigue. My energy is great and I just went through several days of extreme nesting. I was never like this with Jonas - maybe abit of nesting, but this time I am an organized freak. Everything is ready to go, including my hospital bag. It could still be another month until labour, but I just felt a very strong need to get everything ready. I do not want to be surprised with labour. I just want to be ready for when the baby decides to make its way out. I am so excited to begin this labour and am so anxious to meet the little baby that has already become a big part of our family. I think I will have to dedicate a whole post to Jonas's excitement about the baby. I didn't think he would be so interested and involved with the baby before it has even arrived, but he is absolutely fascinated. I guess my bulging belly also helps to remind him all the time of the baby growing inside.
Indeed this 2nd pregnancy has been very similar to my first one and yet it is so different on so many levels. I have loved and enjoyed them both so much and have really appreciated the differences and uniquness of both pregnancy experiences. Of course each pregnancy seems to have presented different difficulties and adjustments - there have been difficult times during each and I also expect that after this birth everything will be entirely different again compared to when Jonas was a newborn, I am looking forward to the birth but I am also resting and enjoying the moment.
36 weeks...
I have felt much stronger and healthier over these past 3 weeks than I had for the previous month. With those two back to back colds I had, I almost felt like I would go into labour early because of my exhaustion. Yet after a visit with my Naturopath and following through with several of her suggestions and treatments, I am feeling great these days.
The baby has been in the same position for as long as I can remember. Kicks on the left side, back on the right side. The head has been engaged for a few weeks now, so I am hoping that it is in the best position possible for both my pelvis and the big exit. Hiccups are common throughout the day and as always the Braxton Hicks are on top of each other. I am now becoming abit swollen in the hands and feet and still suffer from some restless leg at night. My pelvis is often sore and feels very loose and expanded. I usually stop to rest because of pain here and there and not because of fatigue. My energy is great and I just went through several days of extreme nesting. I was never like this with Jonas - maybe abit of nesting, but this time I am an organized freak. Everything is ready to go, including my hospital bag. It could still be another month until labour, but I just felt a very strong need to get everything ready. I do not want to be surprised with labour. I just want to be ready for when the baby decides to make its way out. I am so excited to begin this labour and am so anxious to meet the little baby that has already become a big part of our family. I think I will have to dedicate a whole post to Jonas's excitement about the baby. I didn't think he would be so interested and involved with the baby before it has even arrived, but he is absolutely fascinated. I guess my bulging belly also helps to remind him all the time of the baby growing inside.
Indeed this 2nd pregnancy has been very similar to my first one and yet it is so different on so many levels. I have loved and enjoyed them both so much and have really appreciated the differences and uniquness of both pregnancy experiences. Of course each pregnancy seems to have presented different difficulties and adjustments - there have been difficult times during each and I also expect that after this birth everything will be entirely different again compared to when Jonas was a newborn, I am looking forward to the birth but I am also resting and enjoying the moment.
36 weeks...
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