Childbirth

“Of all animals, the boy is the most unmanageable.” – Plato

It’s true.  Especially if he’s two.  Although, I have to say that I am relieved to find out why he’s been so lately:  He’s finally getting in his two-year molars.  One is completely in and two more are erupting.  Poor kid.  No wonder he’s been such a pill lately! 

I’m glad that they’re finally coming in.  Teething is really no fun.  But I am a little sad too.  They are the last of the baby teeth.  He’s getting so big!  And it has gone by so fast!

The last few weeks have been interesting though.  He’s adjusting to his toddler bed well, and usually stays put when he goes down for bedtime now.  He’s very busy, using his imagination.  Really learning a LOT in a small amount of time.  It’s unbelievable.  He’s talking more and more too, not to mention learning to dress himself and walk in cowboy boots.  But he’s been testing a lot of boundaries lately.  And Yikes!  I was not born with the patience needed to parent a toddler.  But it helps knowing now that some of that recent fit throwing can be attributed to sore gums. 

I’ve been busy too.  I’m finally feeling mostly human again… not so sick all of the time.  Though there are still days of constant or near constant puking, they are fewer.  And most days I get by with just a routine morning barf, and can then, thankfully, move on.  I know Rick is grateful for this too… it means I am suddenly capable of cleaning the house, doing laundry, and on a really good day, making dinner again.  Things he’s been mostly taking care of.  Poor guy.

I’m excited to go to my first midwife appointment this week.  I’m already 15 weeks (that seems fast to me, sheesh!), and I feel kind of lame that I haven’t gone yet.  But it’s not becasue of anything except that it took us a while to choose a midwife.  Then once we did that, we had to save up for the deposit for her fee, and then, of course it was the holidays.  So… first appointment at 15 weeks it is. 

We chose Julie Hughes as our midwife.  (Her website link is on the right side of the blog).  I worked with her for the short time that I worked at the birth center after Henry was born.  At that time, she was an intern under Tracy (the midwife we worked with for Henry’s birth).  I really love both Tracy and Julie, but since Tracy doesn’t do homebirths anymore, it made choosing Julie that much easier. 

We did interview several midwives though.  I was comfortable with Julie already, but I wanted to make sure that Rick was too, and that he had some choices to make sure she was the one.  I met a wonderful midwife named Sena, that we very nearly went with… she seems great.  But Rick could tell I was more at ease with Julie, so he was too, I think. 

This pregnancy has been so different from the last time.  I mostly feel the same physically, but mentally and emotionally I am so much more relaxed.  Rick and I were discussing if I was too relaxed.  I did eat sushi twice on my birthday, and last weekend I tried raw oysters for the first time at Papadeaux’s (they were good!).  And I had a sip of Rick’s birthday beer.  And I mostly have craved nothing but salty, horribly unhealthy foods, like ramen.  Ok, so that looks really bad when I write it all out like that.

I generally don’t stress over that kind of stuff though.  I mean the whole big concern with eating raw foods when you’re pregnant has to do with the slim chance of getting a parasite that would take nutrition away from your baby.  Well, if I thought the sushi I was eating had parasites, I wouldn’t eat it, no matter if I was pregnant or not!  SO, I don’t feel too guilty.  It was my birthday after all, and I probably won’t get the chance at sushi (0r oysters) again for another year anyway.   

Another difference between this pregancy and the last, is that with Henry, I couldn’t read enough books about childbirth.  This time, I really don’t feel all that concerned.  I will definitly read through my “Natural Childbirth The Bradley Way” book again, when things get a bit closer.  Just as a reminder on some of the relaxation techniques and the process.  I might see if I can find something new at the library to read.  I don’t want to procrastinate too much, I guess.  But I just don’t have the fear I had before.  I’m kind of excited actually.  And I’m curious if Rick meant it when he said he was interested in catching the baby this time. 

Well, that’s probably enough of my rambling for one day.  I better start thinking about my TT tip for tomorrow.  And Henry will be up soon to play with me.