2011 - Talk Birth

I weigh 168 pounds now—most ever! I’d kind of like to not pass 170...
No swelling anywhere. Pretty good energy level. BP decent (slightly high at midwife’s, normal if I take
it at Wal-Mart of my dad takes it). No more leukocytes in urine. Went to chiropractor last week because I
have a persistent intuitive feeling of needing to get my pelvis aligned. So, that was good to check off my list.
Midwife says baby is lined up in ideal position in utero/pelvis and estimates her to weigh about 5 pounds
(which I think is wrong. I always surprise my care providers with the actual size of my babies. I think she’s
pushing 7lbs right now, probably–6.5 or so).
Feeling nest[2] y and have been assembling box of birth supplies, sorting
through baby clothes, and collecting expendable towels and receiving blankets. Feel like cleaning up and
decluttering big time—in with new, out with old time of year! Finished crocheting an afghan for her and
want to make a matching hat. Haven’t done belly cast yet—want to soon—and feeling the pressure to get
it done! I also need to review the neonatal resuscitation stuff I learned at the training last month with my
mom and with Mark, so that the only person at the birth who knows how to resuscitate a baby is not also
the only person who is birthing the baby....!
I also have collected materials to make a ”birth altar” for this birth. It is a shadow box/shelf that I’m
going to collage all over inside and out and then be able to set things inside on the little shelves :) Going to
have some additional pro pregnancy pictures taken on Tuesday! Haven’t really had any birth dreams. I am
expecting her to be born at night (well, wee hours of morning) on a weekend within two days on either side
of her due date. I’m also expecting her to be born very quickly. If I’m in labor for longer than four hours I
don’t know that I’ll know what to think about that! I keep imagining a sort of ”sudden” birth—like one of
those 45 minute ones! I started reading [3]Simply Give Birth again to get me in the birthy frame of mind. My
mom is reading [4]The Power of Women for the same reason. I am into week 4 with my Hypnobabies home
study. Still having ”issues” with the persistent and frequent use of the word ”anesthesia,” but finding that
the finger drop technique works amazingly well. I want to do a fear release exercise with myself soon—I’d
like to write up my various birth/baby/postpartum fears and work them through on paper, maybe doing a
drawing or art exploration, and then do a Hypnobabies fear clearing session.
Looking forward to my blessingway next weekend! If she does for some reason end up being early, that
could put a crimp in my party plans! I actually have a lot of plans for next week. I have this urge to
”wrap things up,” which is making me run kind of high/frantic, rather than rest and relax and rejuvenate
in anticipation of a nice, peaceful babymoon. My next online class starts on Jan. 10th and I’ve got some
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