Preparing for Delivery Day

I wouldn't call it worry. No. But maybe a recent, powerful preoccupation. As I mentioned last week, I am beginning to realize our baby girl -- the one that holds nightly raves in my uterus -- will emerge at some point in the next 16 weeks. It's going to happen. And I need to prepare.

I've received mixed opinions on the best way to do so. Everything ranging from "try not to think about that part" to "arm yourself with knowledge -- learn everything you can" to "your body will know what to do" to "that's what the epidural is for!"

My current birth plan? I haven't written one. My midwife and I have discussed it little up until this point, but what I have expressed is that I'm flexible. I've always been extremely squeamish about medical interventions -- needles and such. I'd like to try things naturally for this reason foremost. Of course, I'm also fascinated by the entire process and understand that women have done it drug-free since the beginning of time. So, for me . . . that would be the best-case scenario.

However, I also understand that I'm hyper-sensitive. I can deal with a lot of pain and have much endurance. But only when it's still somewhat under my control. I've never experienced childbirth, so I find little reason to be rigid with my plan. It's a great unknown.

At this point, I'm favoring personal experience over clinical write-ups and textbook-style info (I've read most of all these books already) about the entire pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy thing.

• Guide to Childbirth (Ina May Gaskin): Though a bit on the super-natural end, I like reading through all the personal experiences. My midwife suggested this book, but also warned me about the hippie-dippy references to The Farm, etc. I haven't yet reached the book's second half, which should explain more about the mechanics of it all.
• It Sucked, Then I Cried (Heather Armstrong)
• Exploiting My Baby (Teresa Strasser)
• Tons of blogs (Emily listed them all conveniently in her pregnancy resources post), including my recent-favorite, Marvelous Kiddo.

Mama Natural's 3-Part natural childbirth video series on YouTube.


Part I: Labor
Part II: Delivery
Part III: Reflections

• There are a lot of childbirth videos on YouTube, but I decided I liked this series best because of the honesty. Especially in the reflection part, where Mama Natural explains how -- though she had prepared in multiple ways before the labor/delivery of her son, all that stuff sort of left her mind during the actual process.
• I've also watched Ricki Lake's The Business of Being Born. For those of you who haven't seen it (though, most have, I'm sure), it's available instantly on Netflix.
• Thankfully I'm not home much to watch A Baby Story and like-shows on TLC. But in the event that I am around, I do sneak a few in from time to time.

• This week, we're touring both of our local hospitals to see what options are available at each. Tubs, birthing balls, private versus shared rooms, pre-registration options, IV policies, food, etc. Anything else I should ask about?
• We're signing up to take the birthing class given by my midwife and the other one in her practice. The date is October 1st, and it's an intense 1-day session.
• I'm trying my best to stay fit and active. I've started practicing prenatal yoga at home. I continue to run and walk. All the activity is good for my body. And it's also keeping my stress at bay

Ultimately, I'm trying not to focus on the negative/painful aspects of the birthing process. I know not how my own experience will go, so I don't want to paint it with anything I hear/see/read. I'm learning what I can . . . leaving room for a bit of mystery with the rest . . . and trying my best to focus on the bigger picture. I sit in our nursery each night for at least 10 minutes just thinking about the GOOD that will come out of it all.

How did YOU prepare for childbirth? Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

NEED TO CATCH UP?

23-Almost-24 Weeks
22 Weeks: I Gave In
21 Weeks & Nursery Progress
20 Down, 20 More/Less To Go
19 Weeks and Babymoon
Week 18 -- It's a GIRL!
17-Week Video Post
17 Weeks and Preggo Brain
16-Week Belly Shots
15-Week Video Post
15 Weeks and Counting . . .
14-Week Video Post
13 Weeks and Cravings . . .
How We Found Out
So long, 1st Trimester!

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