La Fin de Lamaze

Last night was our final Lamaze class. It was a fun vibe, we started by watching a short movie featuring several vignettes of women breathing through labor pains over a new-age soundtrack laced with narration by a jovial female. Then we practiced pushing, which I am sad to say I was horrible at - I couldn't locate the correct muscles to push, particularly with so much baby in the way. We were to engage our stomach muscles, but I haven't been in touch with those since the baby took up residence in there, it was just really confusing and disappointing. Then we learned the pushing breathing pattern, which involves making a buzzing noise through almost closed lips as you exhale; again complete failure. I couldn't make the noise to save my life. So there I am, hunched over trying to locate the muscles to push down, floundering with my buzz-less exhalations which are making me feel like I'm going to pass out, and trying to focus on the inhalation and exhalation pattern as K is coaching me to relax and I just felt completely overwhelmed and incompetent, not such a good feeling to have so close to delivery. I tried not to let it get me down, and K knows me so well, he came right in with encouragement and told me that he thinks my labor is going to go quickly, detecting the wheels of defeat starting to spin in my head. We then continued a full review of the entire stages of labor and correct breathing responses. I redeemed myself by answering the most questions about transitional labor to the class' amazement (the most painful part of labor, right before you are fully dilated and ready to push), so I felt a little bit better - but then again, they aren't going to be conducting a quiz in the labor room. I just hope that once I am in labor, it will be obvious and natural what muscles I need to push, because the need to push will be there. And as for the buzz breathing, I've never seen anyone do it in any of the footage I've seen of labor, so maybe it's okay that I can't buzz (although the instructor did say that if you don't make the buzzing noise when you exhale, you can develop broken capillaries in the face and hemorrhoids). But in all honesty, I left the class feeling like natural childbirth may be beyond me (this is just how I felt) - I hate failing and I hate feeling incompetent, always have, and maybe I should just grab the epidural and cut down the odds of beating myself up, which can't be helpful when delivering. Or maybe I should just buck up and practice more - I tend to think, erroneously, that I should be able to get everything right on the first try! I guess the consolation is that in a little over 5 weeks, I'll be in labor and the anticipation, the guessing, the unknown will be over.

Poladroid Madness

My friend mentions this Poladroid site on her blog Marvelous Kiddo and it sounded like so much fun, I had to check it out, and you should too. On this site, you can download the FREE Poladroid Software which allows you to convert your digital photos into Polaroid simulations (i.e. "polaDROIDS")! It is addictive and fun, as you can see. Again, completely unrelated to pregnancy, but I had to include it just for kicks!

Lazy-Boy

I am so excited because two days ago, K and I found a wonderful, comfy reclining armchair that also rocks - which is exactly what I wanted for baby feedings! I was told by my parent friends that a comfortable chair is an important and worthy new-baby purchase - there are many things that you don't necessarily need, but the chair is a good buy. The best thing about the purchase is that K and I were able to use a store credit that we had been saving up for over a year from when we moved into our current apartment. So the chair was bought at a ridiculously reduced price! Hooray!

I've been feeling really anxious the past day or two because there are a little less than 6 weeks left until my due date and still so much I want to get done. It won't take long to get it done, but it still occupies my mind. The good thing is that the past two days, I've been feeling less fatigued, so perhaps that will help.

It's A Baby Shower

Yesterday was our Baby Shower, and it was absolutely WONDERFUL!!! Thank you so much EDB for your amazing planning, hosting and execution - we had a blast. Thank you LW for all your help as well. And really, thank you everyone for your love and support and presence and presents and for sharing in our special day!! There was amazing food, fun games with prizes ("Guess The Belly Circumference", "Name That Tune"), a onesie and bib painting station, dogs playing (Brooklyn was POOPED by the end!), adorable kids, and just a chill family vibe. The walls were decorated with pictures of me taken by our host from the time I was about 8 weeks pregnant up until the present - so wild to see the transformation. And I laugh at the weeks where I thought I was big! Little did I know how much bigger I'd get. Yes, a wonderful time was truly had by all!

La More Lamaze

K and I finished our third class of Lamaze - one more to go. We practiced different breathing techniques, different positions to combat back pain during labor, and learned more about what we may encounter from labor to delivery and beyond. It is a little hard to keep my head and attention about me, I am just so excited, and there is just so much information to absorb. Especially after taking so many classes back to back. There is some crossover of information, which helps to reinforce some points, but still, it is a lot. And I don't know how much I'll remember when the time comes; I don't think I'll be pulling out my notes during contractions! I am sure that natural instinct will kick in and my memory will squeeze out facts that I didn't realize I had retained. I just get nervous that once I am labor and I am trying to breathe and remember the patterns, that it will be too overwhelming and I'll throw it all out the window and not be able to focus, what with both the pain and excitement. I hope I can keep my wits about me to just stay in control and concentrate.

Preparatory Measures

Lately my head has been swarmed with so many things that I would like to accomplish before the baby arrives, and it is overwhelming. The things separately aren't too taxing, but the accumulative effect feels daunting. So, I had to get everything out of my head and onto paper, so that I can keep a grasp and actually check things off as they get accomplished.

One of my "projects" is to gather necessary baby items that will be needed in those early days - diapers, ointment, baby oil, nasal syringe, pacifiers, etc. And it was so surreal being in the baby aisle in the store and knowing that I was buying these things for MY baby. I've only been in that aisle on my way elsewhere. It was really a defining moment.

I stepped up my Brooklyn prep a bit yesterday. I downloaded more baby sounds (not just crying) and played them all on a loop for hours so that we could both get used to them. And I continued to watch TV over the crying, since I imagine that there will be other noise in the house when the baby cries, just so Brooklyn can get an idea of what to expect. She seemed fine. I then held a towel wrapped up in a shirt to simulate a baby and walked around all night holding it. I packed the end of the shirt in a newborn-sized diaper (I couldn't believe how small and cute the diaper is), and I rubbed baby lotion all over the diaper, so that Brooklyn can start getting used to the smell. I also rubbed baby oil on me for scenting purposes. What did Brooklyn think? She LICKED the diaper and me - great, Brooklyn is going to be licking the baby! I also reviewed commands with her. She's not good at "OFF", not sure how to get that one solid in the next 6 weeks. Everything else she was pretty good at.

My belly cast sits waiting for attention - another "project" waiting to be fulfilled. When all is said and done, it will get done. And if it doesn't, I don't think the baby will mind!

Vote For Brooklyn

I know this has nothing to do with my pregnancy, but I just entered Brooklyn in a photo contest and if you click on the photo below, I believe you will be redirected to the site where you can vote for her. I don't even know what the prize is!! Oh, man, if I am like this with my dog, just imagine what my son has in store!!