Hypnobirthing - I am a convert!

As I mentioned before, we opted to take the "Hypnobirthing" natural childbirth class, rather than the standard childbirth prep. Who knows what will really happen during labor and delivery or whether I will have a completely uncomplicated and unmedicated natural birth ... but I have to say that I am a total convert to the Hypnobirthing language and methods.

First, I am actually excited about delivery (not just the end-game, but the process). Second, I love that Steve believes in the power of the human body and positive thinking too and is also excited to be part of the delivery. But most importantly, I swear that the relaxation and meditation exercises I learned in class have done wonders for me and my body. Since I have been doing them, I have a newfound sense of energy; I sleep great again; and my body feels better than it ever has. I even had the energy and desire to go to spinning class a few times last week, including the greuling 90-minute class on Saturday morning. I have also done longer swim workouts than usual and I feel refreshed after doing them, rather than tired and achy.

I should admit, though, that despite my newfound energy and vigor, my ever-expanding belly does make me a bit awkward and I am starting to have some difficulty bending down to put on my shoes or getting up when I am laying on my back. I will deal with that, as long as the aches and pains stay away.

The Triple Baby Shower

Three faculty in the sociology department are pregnant ... I am due in mid-June, Heather is due in early July, and Julie is expecting in mid-July. Kim & Tess hosted a triple baby shower for all three of us. The food was fantastic, the company was fun, and the bingo entertained all. Baby Carolyn got a few more items to make sure she is adequately spoiled before she ever enters this world. By the way, I hate the picture. I think I look terribly fat. I never should have opened my sweater like that to show my belly. I really do not get why people think the pregnant body is beautiful. Sure, it is pretty amazing what the female body can do, but beauty... I am not so sure about that. I would much rather NOT have any pictures to document this phase of my development.

Becky turns 33

Wow - I received so many e-mails, e-cards, and phone calls while I was at work today. When I got home, my mailbox was full of cards, too! Thank you everyone. You made an otherwise ordinary Thursday pretty special. Steve bought me a new pair of hiking shoes, and now I can't wait to strap the kiddo on me and go hiking this summer.

31-Week Appointment

Saw my doc again today ... add another pound to the scale for me, BP was normal (120/70), and fundal height was 30 cm. She confirmed that, indeed, she is NOT going to schedule an early c-section. There is no indication of gestational diabetes, nor anything strange from my blood work a few weeks ago. Everything is still right on target. The baby continues to measure small, but still within the "normal" range.

She reminded me that we should select a pediatrician pretty soon, unless I want to use the one assigned to me on the day of the baby's birth. I typically choose my doctors based on two things: 1) they need to be involved in research as well as clinical practice, and 2) their practice needs to be close to my house/work. I also prefer docs who have the MPH degree, as well as an MD or DO degree, only because I assume (rightly so or not) that they are more willing to consider wholisitc approaches, rather than only the medically-oriented treatments. So my choices become pretty limited and I generally pick the name/person with which I am most familiar. I just hate the idea of setting up meet-n-greets with several docs in the next few weeks. I have enough on my plate as it is.

Oh yeah, she also gave me the phone number to Labor and Delivery. She told me to call them, anytime day or night, if something strange happens and to go there instead of the ER if I think I am in labor. Wow, I guess that means delivery is getting closer.

Our Favorite Weekend Visitors

Jen and Pierce arrived late Friday night and were with us until late Sunday night.

They planned a surprise birthday party and baby shower for us. They (along with Nikki) treated us, Zak, Tess, Kim, Nick, Michelle, and Todd to dinner at Ichiban Sushi, followed by a comedy show downtown. We ended the night with some cocktails and laughs at the Tavernacle, a deuling piano bar. Everyone had a great time, and Steve and I are so thankful to have such generous and caring friends like Pierce and Jen and Nikki. Wow.

On Sunday, the boys enjoyed a day of skiing at the closing day of Solitude Resort. The girls joined them for a tailgate-style picnic in the parking lot. It was an absolutely perfect spring day, with temperatures nearing the 70s. Sitting in the sunshine and looking at the beautiful snowcovered mountains, I was kind of sad that I cannot ski this year... but Steve quickly reminded me that I am doing more important things this year and that I will be back out there next season.

The Cole's may be moving back east in the next year, which would be so sad for us because I know we would not get to see them as much. Maybe they will decide to stay on the west coast for a while longer, or perhaps they will move somewhere in the intermountain west like Denver. Whatever they decide, we will make the effort to see them and will also value our time together. What dear friends they are!

30 Weeks, Ultrasound

Good news -- it looks like the placenta has stepped aside. While it is still "low lying" and the perinatologist still wrote "placenta previa" on top of her report, it is no longer covering the cervix completely, so they are NOT going to schedule an early cesarian birth. Yeah! They will let me go full-term and see what happens. Of course, there may be some complications (bleeding) at the time of delivery or even before, but we will deal with those when they come. Or maybe nothing at all will happen and this pregnancy will continue along uneventful, despite that terrible "High Risk" label that has been on my file since the beginning.

According to the ultrasound yesterday, Carolyn now weighs just over 3 pounds and is about 16.5 inches long. The images are hard to see because she is pretty big and because the bones have begun to cast shadows. Below is my favorite picture from yesterday. It is a side profile of her face, with her foot right at her mouth. She is all curled up like most fetuses at this stage, but she had her legs fully outstretched so the toes reached all the way to her mouth. Perhaps she's practicing to be a gymnast or contortionist for the circus.



I hope she keeps baking for another 9-10 weeks, but I am definitely comforted by the fact that she has a really good chance of surviving on her own if she decides she wants to come early. Really I wish I could make time slow down, so I can get the house ready for her arrival. I feel like there is still so much to do!! Steve reminds me that nothing will happen if I do not get it all done and it is not the end of the world if the flower beds and garden do not get planted this year (It is comforting, but I also wonder if that is his way of getting himself out of helping me do everything).

Childbirth Classes

Steve and I started our childbirth class. Upon my doctor's recommendations and my preference to have a birth that is as medication-free as possible, I chose to enroll in the "Hypnobirthing" class. It emphasizes the use of relaxation and visualization techniques to work with the woman's body, rather than drugs and medical interventions to control labor. It makes total sense to me. And, I am so happy I chose this particular class.

Part of the class requires us to practice a 30-minute relaxation exercise everyday. I have not once gotten through the tape without falling soundly asleep. Steve asked me something about the tape yesterday, and apparently, I have not even made it past the first 5 or 10 minutes of the exercise. I think I need to ask my instructor if I should be more conscious while doing these exercises. Also, for two nights in a row I have had dreams about me falling asleep while I was delivering the baby. I doubt that could happen, but I would be OK if it did.

UPDATE -- my instructor said it was OK to fall asleep, but that most people aren't able to because they are unable to tune out the rest of the world or let their worries leave their conscious mind so fast. I also asked her if women ever take naps during labor and she said commonly women using these techniques will take naps (or what appear to be naps) during labor. She even showed us a few videos to prove it. I was floored.