Even without a drop of alcohol…
…Baby E got the hiccups last night. Actually, they woke me up at 6 am and I had to do some Yoga stretches to get him to change positions (I might feel stupid doing those prenatal Yoga DVDs but some of that stuff really works!) so I could go back to sleep. As weird as it is watching your belly button jump up and down, I think this is by far the cutest thing Baby has done. Hiccups are so human! I was beginning to picture my baby more like an alien trying to kick its way out than a sweet little infant (although we’re still not talking about the “getting out” part).
My first birthing class at the hospital is on Monday night, which marks the start of at least one baby-related class or doctor’s appointment every week until April. Although I feel like I’ve been pregnant forever I don’t feel nearly ready for this to be over.
I wish the little baby on your ticker would bounce up and down today. That’d make me ovulate from cuteness.
I think your attitude is probably as good as any regarding labor. Maybe if I want a kid, I should just say “Well, I have to get through labor, so just get pregnant and worry about that later.”
Still figuring out if I want one, though.
You’ll make it though L&D, that’s when they finally let you have the good meds! Read up on the pos/neg of using pitocin (stimulates labor). It’s kinda grim, but you’ll be able to ask informed questions and make informed decisions.
What’s your OB’s rate of C-sections??
In the immortal words of Coupling, “Alien is not about parenthood!”
AGreenEyeDevil – I have no idea! Is that the sort of thing I should have asked, like, a zillion years ago? I’m not planning on a C-section but the last three people I know who have given birth ended up needing one. I don’t want to scare myself too much by worrying.
Some docs are more inclined to section, regardless. I just think it’s important for every woman to have some idea of how she would “like” for her delivery to evolve so she will know how/when to ask for what she needs. Some women want a C-section, some want natural, some want the epidural…each pathway has pos/neg and every woman has the right to choose their pathway. With that said, it’s good to have an idea of what you want, but it’s important to remember that L&D can throw you a curve ball, thereby DICTATING what’s safe for you/baby.
What level of hospital will you use for the delivery? Tertiary?
Ok, you just keep using words I don’t know, I’ll just keep feeling unprepared.
I’ve read a lot of getting ready for birth type books and articles and I think my only real request is an epidural. My biggest fear isn’t a C-section, it’s not making it to the hospital in time for my drugs (a kind of ridiculous fear, seeing as how I can WALK to the hospital in less than 10 minutes – probably 20 in labor). One of the reasons I try not to think about the “getting the baby out” bit is because I don’t WANT to have really strong opinions, since I know things rarely go exactly as planned.
I’m clueless about CT, as I’m a Southern gal, so I dont’ know the major hospital systems serving your area! Tertiary refers to a large city based hospital that has many, many services and a very large staff for all sorts of routine, crisis, and critical care. There tends to be 1 or 2 in a geographic region. It is certainly not necessary to give birth at this level of facility unless you’re having major complications throughout the pregnancy, which you aren’t. Babies that go into crisis of some type after birth are generally transferred to a tertiary level hosptial w/a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).
It sounds as though you intend to manage the L&D process through an epidural, so it’s good that you have a plan! Although it’s still far from “easy”, I think an epidural assisted L&D tends to be more predictable. Since this is your first delivery and you appear to be complication free, you should have adequate warning for getting to the hospital. It’s great that your facility is that close!!
From all that you’ve shared, you’ve worked very hard to have a healthy, positive pregnancy and birthing process. Every baby should be so lucky to have such a motivated mom. Hang in there and keep us posted… :)