2011 - Talk Birth

ductions about 6 years ago! She seems to think I will have the baby early—baby’s head is very low (which I
can feel, for sure!) and she said my amniotic fluid has decreased. She also thinks baby is on the small side,
but I think I will fool people once again. I only measure 33 weeks, which is kind of funny, because I wonder
what I would look like measuring 40 weeks—I guess pretty extreme! I have been having a lot of pre-birthing
waves (trying out my Hypnobabies words!). I always do, but they’ve definitely increased in frequency to
about every 15-20 minutes throughout the day. I also reminded her that I don’t expect to call her until near
the end, because what I want from her is immediate postpartum help—I like being almost alone during my
birthing time (more Hypnobabies words. I like this one especially—it isn’t ”labor” it is my ”birthing time.”
:))
After the midwife left, my mom stayed and we went through my box of birth supplies so she knows what is
where. I also made sure she knows how to use my camera because she is on picture-duty. I also showed Mark
and my mom the things I learned about neonatal resuscitation at the training I attended last month and we
practiced with my resuscitation bag so that we all know how to do ”positive pressure ventilation” and chest
compressions on a newborn now. I know this might seem kind of over the top, but I find it very empowering
to know how to do these things now—they always seemed ”mysterious” and specialized before—and it
doesn’t make me feel like I’m planning for a ”worst case,” but that I’ve completely resolved any fear I had
about things I wouldn’t know how to do for my own baby if I was giving birth alone! We’ve been talking
about needing to do this since the end of Dec., so it felt very good to get everything all squared away in this
manner.
Really the only things left I’d like to get done now before she is born are the belly cast and my blessingway
and to crochet one more hat for her! (Of course, I have non-birth/non-baby things in abundance
that I’d also like to get done—double checking the exam questions for my online class, finalizing the FoMM
newsletter, submitting two articles, finalizing some the blog posts in my drafts folder, etc., etc., etc. , ),
but right now my mind is on the specifically getting-ready-for-baby to-dos and I’ve done ’em! Go, me!
1. http://talkbirth.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/birth-altar/
2. http://talkbirth.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/img_0217.jpg
3. http://www.hypnobabies.com/
4. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22615&id=117518641642270
5. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22615&id=117518641642270
dancersummer (2011-01-06 07:36:47)
Yay! I do hope you get your belly cast supplies today so you can finish that up too and then only have your blessingway
left! I’m so glad it was not uncomfortable to have the Midwife there, in your home, and that you were able to clearly
state what you want/need from her. That’s really huge. :) Almost there!!!
Barbara (2011-01-06 08:42:28)
Woohoo! I feel relief and a sense of accomplishment also. I’ve been reading loads of birth stories (love those stories
in Simply Give Birth and stayed up half the night reading them). Also, I’m feeling honored to be the picture-taker,
in light of ill-advised comments of the past (which I own, and were about the quality of my photography rather than
the qualities of the subject!). This time, I will capture the power and beauty of your birthing self!!!
Mary Alice (2011-01-06 09:54:49)
My heart literally bumped against my ribs when I read your post, Molly. It’s as if I could see into your heart. I can’t
explain it except to say I heard your voice as you ’talked’. I wonder if you plan to have an extra person there to help
with the boys? Participating in a birth is a wonderful but overwhelming thing for children. Will Tom be available
for duty if the need arises to distract Z? You’ll certainly be too busy to focus on him and so will Mark and Barbara.
Okay, enough of my advice. The only thing left to say is this: Molly, your strength, planning and thoughtfulness are
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