It's Not Running . . .

But this prenatal DVD workout kicked my butt this afternoon. I picked it up yesterday in an effort to find other ways to stay active in my third trimester besides running and walking.

It's Summer Sanders' Prenatal Workout. It's got great full-length and fast workouts for each trimester. Summer does each of them, despite being in her third trimester, like me.

So, of course I was cocky and decided to see what the first trimester workout was like.


These days, I can't work out after work without first eating something. Usually a small bowl of Honey-Nut Cheerios.

After I finished, I started the short-workout because I was pressed for time.


That wasn't so bad. Light stretching. Moving around. But still, as an athlete typically unimpressed by DVD training, I felt challenged from the very beginning! I kept commenting to Stephen that I wasn't bored and was certainly feeling a burn.


Now, onto the good stuff. Some squats. OK. Lots of squats. With elastic bands, which I don't have -- so I used my trusty 5 pound weights.

Uh. I haven't done squats in months, PS. I'm still feeling them!


There's a good mix of lower and upper-body strength. As well as core. At this point, I doubt I have much of a core left. Oh, and Stephen affectionately calls that last move my "sumo" pose.

Thanks a lot!

Anyway, it isn't running -- but I'd say I got a legitimate sweat session in this afternoon without plodding around my neighborhood. Actually worked some muscle groups I had been neglecting. And STRETCHED. It felt good, and I look forward to seeing what the second and third trimester workouts are all about.

Tomorrow: Prenatal yoga. I've been too busy or lazy and definitely cheap to make my way to the studio. So, I'm hoping this disc relaxes me!


If you used 'em: What was your favorite prenatal workout DVD? Or class? Anything I should check out in the 12 weeks I have left?

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The Longest Weekend Ever

It was a LLLOOONNNGGG weekend. And not the good kind. I mentioned in my 27 Week post that we were headed to my first baby shower this weekend in NJ. First, Hurricane Irene threatened our travels . . . but as Friday wore on, I decided to call my midwife about the contractions I was having. They had been getting more and more frequent over the past two weeks. But without pain or any other warning signs, I just wanted to let her know before we went out of town.

And . . . though I wasn't terribly concerned at first, I wanted her to help put my mind at ease. Instead, she told me to "immediately" go home and lay down, take Tylenol, and take a warm shower. She also suggested that traveling wasn't a great idea.

Over the past two months, I had gotten used to the mild to moderate tightenings in my lower abdomen. At first, they had worried me TREMENDOUSLY, but they would come and go with a few days of rest in between. Though I got them a few times before, I noticed them first after my 15K at 20 weeks. My midwife had suggested I was dehydrated and just doing too much.

Check and check. It made sense. I scaled back my mileage in response.


But they continued. At my next appointment, she thought that I was growing rapidly and just feeling it more than others might. I mean, look how much I grew in a week!


Unless there was pain, pressure, blood, or something else notable, I was OK. Thing is . . . I started to notice they were happening all the time: When I've been on my feet too much, when I'm stressed, when I am hungry, when I'm tired, when I'm dehydrated, etc., etc., etc.

Then, I started to notice they were happening every single day. Most recently -- less than 10 minutes apart -- even 5 minutes. I had been given the advice to "slow down" before. But I know my body, and I know that nothing I was doing helped much.


So when my midwife told me -- once again -- to drink water, take hot showers, and "take it slow" over the weekend, I wanted to do as little as possible to see if my activity level was really the cause. I spent Friday until Tuesday morning on the couch.

Very little changed.

Of course, as a result, it was an emotional weekend. Not only did we have to postpone my baby shower (and I thank my mother-in-law and all the guests SO MUCH for rescheduling) . . . but since I was doing absolutely nothing and still having a ton of painless contractions, I totally freaked out. Was I going into pre-term labor? Would I need to go on bed rest? Would I need to get muscle relaxants?

My mind ran wild. The internet didn't help.

Thankfully, my regularly scheduled appointment was this morning. I had kept careful track of exactly when I was having contractions. How strong they were. What I was doing when I had them (uh, nothing). Etc. I told my midwife that I was emotionally exhausted from the experience. I was worried that my cervix might be shortened. That I might have this baby early.

She immediately suggested we get an ultrasound (and a couple other unpleasant tests) to check out all the possibilities.


The short of it: My cervix is one of the longest and most closed of anyone they have seen recently. (TMI??? BUT YAY FOR ME!) Though the "usual" length is 4 cm or something like that -- mine measures in at a 4.17! Baby A. looks PERFECT . . . and she's huge. Her face looks like a baby's face.

And she looks way more like Stephen than she looks like me.

Diagnosis: Irritable Uterus. The contractions don't seem to be impacting anything, despite the number of them. Now, I'm not totally satisfied with this result, but for me, it seems frequent contractions might be the norm. My midwife didn't put me on any restrictions, but she suggested that from here on out, taking it easier is probably a good idea just for my own comfort level.

This post is getting super long. I just wanted to update you all on what's going on and why I've been somewhat MIA. More tomorrow on what this means for my and the rest of the third trimester!

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27 Weeks . . . Third Trimester?

27 weeks. I read conflicting things about if this marks the beginning of the third trimester or if in one week I'll be at that stage. Anyone know for sure? Of course, I like to think of it as the third because it means we're getting ever-closer to meeting our little girl.

Either way, in 10 short weeks, I'll be considered full-term.

I'd been utterly convinced that my belly hadn't grown much in recent days. That I was somehow staying the same size. Stephen had assured me that I was indeed getting larger, but I still didn't feel that way.

That is, until I saw these photos.


Last week, I wrote all about my dwindling wardrobe. It's not fun having to pack away so many clothes. So, I indulged in another pair of maternity jeans this weekend. This time, with a full panel.


Thing is, I have a long torso, and I think the panel doesn't come up quite far enough on me. Still, these jeans are much more comfortable while sitting for long periods of time than my other ones (with the demi-panel) are. AND I got them at Old Navy for only $25!

What else is going on this week?

• Only 4 days till my next midwife appointment! Thank GOODNESS. I think I'm almost to the point where I start going every two weeks. I look forward to the frequency -- I tend to worry a lot. About everything!
• Though we have borrowed baby gear from friends already, my first baby shower is this weekend in NJ with Stephen's family. I can't wait -- though I will admit I'm feeling some anxiety heading directly into the path of hurricane Irene. We're hoping it won't impact our trip and time with family too much.
• Pequeña had her first hiccups this week! Or at least the first ones I could feel. They lasted 4 or 5 minutes -- just a rhythmic tapping that I, at first, thought was a gentle kick. But it was rapid enough that I knew it couldn't be that. When they ended, she thrashed around. I read hiccups are a sign of a healthy baby who is practicing breathing.
• Running is progressively making me more tired. My pace is steady -- usually around 9:30 to 9:45 miles (and feeling much better with some cooler temps). But, as you'll see below, I'm sticking between 3 and 4 miles. And that's really all I feel like doing. I don't know how far I thought I'd still be running at 27 weeks . . . but it's still feeling good, thankfully.
• Still haven't toured hospital number 2. I mentioned on the main site that I've started back at a 9 to 5 schedule this week at work. It's sort of thrown off my daily routine, and I haven't felt like rushing to tour the maternity ward. More like take a nap and eat a bowl of cereal.
• In general, I'm starting to feel more exhausted. I've been sleeping 9 to 10 hours a night and needing that rest. We've also been running all over the place on weekends and even week nights, so I can't wait to slow down after this trip to NJ.
• Oh, and I'll need to confirm it at my appointment, but I think my total weight gain is 14-15 pounds.

This week's exercise included 18 miles total -- with a mix of walking and running. Total running mileage was 12 miles. Walking 6 (but likely more, I don't always keep careful track). I don't think I've written much about it, but I also started doing a few push-ups again. Once my stomach got used to being stretched, it started feeling more comfortable to do them again. Usually every-other-day, two sets of 15 to 20.


Last, I want to publicly thank Stephen for making me dinner for the past month. He's become quite the cook, especially with pizzas (the recipe for this one will be up soon!) Really, Stephen's been great throughout my entire pregnancy. He's picked up a lot of my slack and is helping to get the house "ready" (according to my specifications) before baby A.'s arrival.

That's right. Her name starts with an A. -- and it isn't Ashley. But that's all you're getting out of us!

NEED TO CATCH UP?

26 Weeks and My Ever-Dwindling Wardrobe
25 Weeks and Running
25 Weeks
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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An Early Thanksgiving

Though I've finished creating registries at both Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us, my showers are soon, and I've been shopping sales . . . I've been slowly accumulating many things we need for Pequeña without spending a dime. The generosity of my friends and family has been overwhelming throughout my entire pregnancy. It's something I certainly didn't expect.

And -- lately -- it's caused our nursery to go from looking like this:

To looking more like this:


First, those two big wooden things? They are actually a shelving unit to be put in the closet. My parents had them hanging around their house, and they're in excellent condition. We're hoping to pop them into place tonight and start organizing all this stuff!

What else? My friend April, who has two adorable girls of her own, lives around the corner. Last week, she sent us home with a bag of clothes, a bag of shoes . . .


And all kinds of other baby gear to borrow.


My friend Erin (Luke's mom -- featured in the photo shoot on the main page) has given me her unused breast pumps. Yeah. I just typed that sentence. But she had 'em and didn't end up using them -- so we benefit!


Of course, I've already been enjoying the maternity clothes that I'm borrowing from my friend Sarah. The books I've borrowed from Heather and Lindsey. And Lindsey has also let me borrow an adorable snowsuit and some sleep sacks.

My biggest takeaway from all my friends: Not all babies like the same things. One baby might LOVE a swing or sleep sack, for example. And another might absolutely hate these things. And baby stuff is used for such a short period of time, it's still in great condition from family to family. That's why borrowing is such a fantastic thing. Plus, we can't wait to share what we end up gently using. It's all paying it forward, which we love.

What kinds of things did you end up borrowing or inheriting throughout pregnancy? Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

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26 Weeks and My Ever-Dwindling Wardrobe

I'll hit week 26 tomorrow. The big story this week is that I've had to pack away a HUGE majority of my pre-pregnancy pants. I've been wearing mostly maternity styles for a while now, but I'd been able to stick on some of my old favorites with the bella band.

Not anymore . . .

Of course, I knew it'd happen eventually. And I'm not so much upset about my new shape or the number on the scale (I've gained a pound since last week). Still, it's weird. I'm really having difficulty understanding that that's ME in these photos.

Exercise-wise, I ran 18 miles last week in a mix of 3, 4, and 4.5 milers. Felt great. Took walks on my days off from running. I'm also eating well, but have some major heartburn. I started popping Tums Smoothies in the Mint flavor. But, I'm growing a baby. And getting bigger all over. Despite staying a fit and healthy as possible, that won't change my fate. I've got a lot of growing to do.

Which is also pretty exciting . . . because she's getting stronger and more ready for this world with each passing day. This week, she's 14 inches from head to toe and a pound a two-thirds!


Back to my ever-dwindling closet: I have tons of shirts (including the one I'm wearing in the photos -- which is borrowed from my friend Sarah). But now I have only 3 pairs of pants that fit comfortably.

Not that I enjoy wearing them much at all. The minute I get home from being out, I throw on a loose skirt. Or anything else that doesn't put pressure on my belly. Like this outfit:


Not much else is new this week. I'm still having those contractions. They are starting to really bug me. They aren't increasing in intensity or frequency, but I still feel like I'm having them way more than most people do. They aren't really related to exercise. But I do get them whenever it seems I have any type of out-of-the-ordinary mental, physical, or emotional experience. (For example, if I get spooked by someone coming up from behind me. Or if I'm stressed. Or if I get in an uncomfortable position.)

So, I'm looking forward to my next midwife appointment on August 30th. When I'll be 27 weeks. Oh, man. The third trimester!


We've tried twice this week to tour hospital #2 -- I want to do a post on picking a hospital -- and both times, it's been completely booked. I don't know if this is a negative point just yet. I mean, if I were to go into labor . . . are they just . . . full? Will my experience be rushed as a result? I'm not sure. It's definitely a question I'll ask.

For now, that's all I've got. But there will be more soon! Including the most exciting part of my week, which has been receiving our supplies for cloth diapering (minus the diapers -- those are on our registry).

NEED TO CATCH UP?

25 Weeks and Running
25 Weeks
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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Crafty Momma

So, though most of our purchases have been directly for baby-on-the-way, I -- myself -- recently acquired a new toy.

This machine was on sale. I don't use the word "sale" lightly in this sentence. It was a whopping 50% off its original price. Yes, please!

I've mentioned how I've made a few items for our nursery. A crib skirt, which was my very first solo-sewing project. I've also made a cushion cover for our rocking chair. (I simply took a memory foam pillow. Traced it on some fabric. And when to town with straight stitching.)


But this weekend's project is by far my favorite. I'll be the first to admit it looks better the farther away you stand from it (these photos are forgiving) . . . but it's coming along and should be finished later in the week.


The best part: Cost was minimal. I made it with . . . scraps.


Those photos are just of the front. I then found a cute owl print fabric for the backing and stitched together that part, too. I think it may have been one of my proudest moments. Ever.


I envision this quilt being a traveler. Going where we go. Being tossed on the ground at friends' houses, on grass in the backyard, etc. The fact that it isn't perfect is . . . perfect.

It'll be well-loved regardless.


All I have left to do is the actual quilting part. I need to sew stitching throughout to attach the front, middle, and back layers. I started this process on my own with poor results -- the fabric would gather too much on one side as I moved it along my machine.

I have several hours of seam-ripping ahead of me. Then, my mom has promised to help me do it the "right" way. I can't wait till it's done.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TILL SHE'S HERE. (Sorry to scream!)

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25 Weeks and Running

Now that I'm 25 weeks pregnant, running has been getting . . . EASIER. I bet you thought I was going to write more difficult. I thought I'd be writing that, too. I'm not taking anything for advantage -- especially with all the new symptoms I'm experiencing otherwise -- but here's what I mean.

• First, I've been taking it easier since the 20-week mark. My new approach is to run mostly every-other-day. There are exceptions, of course, but I go between 3 and 5 miles every other day and it feels far less demanding. The other days, I walk, do prenatal yoga, or plan to head to the pool. (I just haven't gotten there yet -- need to find more time in the day!)
• This brings my weekly (running) mileage to between 12 and 15 miles. A far cry from last year's marathon training . . . when that would be a conservative estimate of my long run for the week. Still, I know keeping my legs used to the sensation of running as long as possible will help me in the figurative long run.
• My pace is still slower, but for whatever reason, I feel like I can breathe better. My heart rate isn't racing. I attribute the change to the slightly lower temps, my slower speed, and just getting used to my new body.
• My center of gravity is different. I can tell it has made some difference in my form. But thankfully I haven't had any IT-band flare-ups or other aches and pains to complain about. However, I do need to stretch after each run. This is new for me. If I don't, my legs feel it way more the next day.
• On Tuesday evening, I had my first 4+ mile run where I didn't feel like my bladder might explode! I've mentioned it before, but my need to pee has been SUPER uncomfortable. I'm wondering if she was just in a different part of my tummy at that time. I hope she enjoys hanging out there. It was incredible. I felt like my old self!
• I'm not planning on doing any races for the rest of my pregnancy. Right now I know I could do 5Ks or 10Ks . . . but I feel like there's no reason to. I'm just happy to be plodding along. I also choose to save money this way -- you know, to put in Pequeña's piggy bank.

Speaking of investments, I did recently indulge in a few new pieces of running gear (above). I bought a pair of shorts at Target in a size bigger than normal. I also started wearing my microfiber preggo tanks (also from Target) versus my tighter-fitting pre-preggo shirts. I CAN'T STAND tight clothing right now. Neither can Pequeña.

I'm not sure yet if I'll buy a pregnancy running belt. Does anyone have experience with them?


Right now, I feel like I'm not bouncing around too much. But I did read that my belly might start growing my 1/2 an inch per week soon. So, I could see support being in issue in the near future. I'd love your experience with the belt if you have something to share.

That's about it. I will say that I'm experiencing a bit of sadness this month. Usually I'd be ramping up my mileage for marathon season. My long runs would be nearly 20 miles. I don't love the marathon race, but those long runs . . . I DO love. They give me time to think. Time to being outside. Time to revel in the changing of the seasons (autumn is my FAVORITE -- leaves are already starting to fall!).

Hopefully I'll be back at it next year with our new training partner. This year, it's all about her. And my "marathon" is delivery day.

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25 Weeks

Over the past several weeks, not much had changed in my pregnancy. I have been growing -- yes -- but otherwise feeling the same day to day. The past week, however, has been different. I'm still feeling great, but I am starting to encounter some new symptoms, thrills, and thoughts.

My belly is still ballooning like crazy.

Just when I think I look BIG I get even BIGGER. I've always had a slim upper-body, so when I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror or see a photo -- it takes me a minute to realize it's actually me. I think I'm sticking around 11 pounds for weight gain, but my scale isn't the most sensitive. It could be 12.

I can't believe I thought I was showing at 13 weeks:


But I am enjoying my new shape. And I'm sure in 10 weeks, I'll think I was crazy for saying that I'm HUGE in these photos.

• I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping. I wake up every 45 minutes -- but it isn't to pee like it had been. I just wake up. I don't feel anxious. I'm not thinking about anything. Nothing is stirring me. I just wake. So, I've been extremely tired. About an hour before my alarm goes off (5 AM), I finally feel like I could rest a while. And then I have to get up. So, I'm living for the weekends right now. I cherish my rest and need lots of it.
• I've been experiencing reinvigorated food aversions. Up until this week, I had been stuffing a heaping helping of collards down with my garlic knots each night. The past several nights, I have to spit them right back out of my mouth. Ick. I tried kale last night and it seemed to work better. I also can't stand several other foods, but I'll go into that more in another post.
• On the flip side, I can't get enough peanut butter M&Ms. (Maybe THAT explains my growing size!) Other foods I'm loving: nectarines (any sweet fruits), Honey-Nut Cheerio's (any cold cereal), and Chinese or Thai food.
• We're touring the first hospital tonight and the second one on Monday, and I'm immensely excited. It's all feeling much more real, and I'm hoping to learn a lot.
• I think we've chosen our pediatrician. We're still looking around, but the one who is accepting patients at our preferred office has received some excellent reviews online. For example, reviewers say he "never misses a thing" and that he "loves kids." He also "doesn't dismiss concerns" and "errs on the side of caution." We'll see!
• Pequeña now responds to my touch. Before her movements were quite random and sporadic. But when I sense she's active, I gently poke and press . . . and she MOVES in that area! At first I thought it was coincidence, but it's definitely interaction. Oh, and she did her first track workout yesterday morning. I'm not kidding. I felt a foot or a hand kick around my stomach in a circle right before I woke up. She's already a daddy's girl.

Though I have gained over 10 pounds mostly in my belly area, I hadn't thought my balance was terribly impacted. WRONG. Here's my favorite go-to yoga pose for photos. I can could hold this post all day long if I needed to. And even pregnant, like when we were on our babymoon at 20 weeks:


Now, I can still hold the pose for a good while. I'm strong and steady.


BUT when I turned my head to see if Stephen had taken the photo, I lost my balance!!! It took me by surprise!


No to-be babies or moms were harmed in the making of this post. It looks much worse than the actual stumble was. Still, it's good I'm switching to prenatal yoga!

I can't believe I have only two more weeks left in the second trimester. I can't believe Pequeña measures 13-1/2 inches and weighs nearly a pound and a half! And I can't believe how her nursery is coming along. But more on that in another post . . .

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!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Material Girl

Pequeña's wardrobe is expanding by the day. And now that we have a huge dresser to fill, we're seeing our stack of clothing grow. But it's not all new purchases. Nope, far from it!

SOMETHING OLD:

This is Stephen's favorite thrifted find. We actually bought it years ago at a Salvation Army in Ithaca. We bought several items that day, including my favorite -- this adorable sleep sack:


We plan to hit thrift stores again soon to see what else we might find. From experience, it's extremely hit-or-miss. But definitely worth the adventure.

SOMETHING NEW:


This adorable sleep sack was given to us by our friends Lindsey and Sarah. It might be the cutest thing I've ever seen. It's super warm and plush -- which will be perfect because our little girl will be arriving in the coldest season.

SOMETHING BORROWED:


Speaking of arriving in the coldest season, I'm in LOVE with this one-piece warmth suit that Lindsey let us borrow. I know for a fact that Pequeña will be wearing it almost every single day.

SOMETHING . . . PINK!


Stephen and I are both more-than obsessed with this pink shark robe from Baby Aspen. Not only does it speak to the marine-life lover in each of us . . . but it's also monogram-able. Sigh. We may just need to buy it. Purchased.

SOMETHING ON SALE:


Old Navy was having a mega-sale a few weeks ago. I picked up just a couple things (because I'm trying my best to stop shopping for anything more than basics at this point). If I remember correctly, this dress only set us back $10.

SOMETHING HOMEMADE:


I fell behind on my sewing pursuits during the month of July. After the reversible pants my mom and I stitched together, I had made nothing else. I'm back with full force now. This sleep sack isn't finished (can you tell?!), but it's on its way.

I wanted to thank you all for your thoughtful and helpful comments and emails regarding the Preparing for Delivery Day post. I had to take an unexpected day off from blogging yesterday, but will be finishing reading through them all/responding very soon.

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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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