Itty Bitty Things

Today I got out all the little things that our friends have passed down/given to us so far and got a bit choked up. They're all so little and adorable, and it blows my mind that we're going to have a little person in our lives who is actually going to fit into these tiny little togs. Thanks for all the hand-me-downs and gifts so far. We really appreciate them!

Musings at 34 Weeks

As Itty's birth is getting closer and closer, I thought I'd take a minute to put down my thoughts so far about being pregnant, giving birth and becoming a mom.

Being pregnant . . . I'm starting to feel like a real professional pregnant woman. I rub my tummy, put my feet up every chance I get, waddle around completely ungracefully, and make little grunting noises everytime I have to stand up or sit down or move around too much just like you see all the pregnant ladies do on the tellie. Despite everyone telling me how well I'm handling it all and how radiant I look, I have to admit I'm starting to be just the eentsiest bit tired of being a fat cow. It's not that I'm ready to evict Itty from his/her warm little nest just yet, but everything is starting to get really uncomfortable.

Around Christmas time, my feet, especially my heels, really started to hurt. Apparently, this is a common ailment in pregnant women (and obese people) as our already loose ligaments in our feet strain under our extra weight. Common or not, it's not much fun and has pretty much put an end to any walking that Paul, Nacho and I used to do. Instead we've continued on with our yoga class twice a week and going to the public pool a lot to swim/walk laps (Paul and I anyway, Nacho isn't too keen on swimming or yoga). But then, almost two weeks ago, I started getting this intense pressure deep in my groin which has changed into sharp pain every time I try to move my legs. The midwives assured us that Itty wasn't trying to make an early entrance just moving down lower in my pelvis and stretching things out to get ready for his/her big day. Unfortunately, this has made it nearly impossible to do yoga, swim or anything else very active (except the great Pilates for pregnancy exercises in the book the Paul's mum, Yvonne, gave me).

So now I do a lot of laying around on the couch and wishing I could do more to get the house and my body ready for Itty's arrival. Paul thinks it's nature's way of forcing me to take some time out to rest and get mentally prepared for the months ahead of me, but I'm not sure if Oprah and afternoon cooking shows are really helping all that much.

Giving birth . . . I have to be honest and admit that not so very long ago I was pretty freaked out about the whole birth experience. Going through what I did with the miscarriage was so painful and scary and out of control that I have been terrified of going through labor and birth (especially with everyone telling me how big Itty is likely to be). Early in December, I spent a few very emotional weeks realizing that if I went into birth feeling the way I did that it was pretty much guaranteed to be traumatic and decided to do something about it.

First thing was to start reading lots about positive birth experiences and tuning out all of the women who love to share how horrible their labors/births were. Why do women do this? Is there a prize to be won? Next, I decided to find myself a doula to be with me during labor and birth to help support me and what I want (and more importantly what I don't want). After some searching around, we were referred to a woman who lives in Kelmscott. And when Paul called her to see if she was available, she asked where we lived and started laughing and wanted to know if I was the pregnant lady who's always mowing the lawn (which I totally am or was before the pains set in). Anyway, it turns out she lives across the side street from us, agreed to be my doula and already has been really helpful in explaining what to expect during labor and birth.

I've also been asking way more questions of the midwives and I'm feeling really confident that we chose the right place to give birth. They're a really kind group of women who support us neurotic pregnant ladies with pretty much wherever and however we want to give birth. They also don't believe in intervening any more than absolutely necessary which I quite like. Paul and I have also signed up for some positive birth workshops with this new-age doula/water aerobics instructor to learn all about natural pain relief, massage and meditation/visualization during birth. I've read her book and she's a bit out there (she eats her placenta!), but I'm hoping that she'll have a lot of really positive things to share.

And now, believe it or not, I'm actually starting to look forward to going through labor and giving birth and not just for the terrific reward we get at the end. It's pretty unbelievable to think about the amazing things that women's bodies are designed to do, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing it. And if these hips of mine weren't made for birth then I don't know what else they're good for!

Becoming a mom . . . Holy cow! This fact has just not sunk in yet. Of course, I realize that there's no going back and that I'm in this for the long haul, but sometimes I just can't remember why Paul and I decided that this having kids thing would be such a great idea. I'm too immature and unstable to be a mom. I can't even remember to brush my own teeth every morning how can I be trusted to look after a completely helpless little human person. Paul keeps reassuring me that we're going to be great parents, but what does he know? He hadn't even held a baby before he met me. And besides, he's not the one who will be home with Itty 24/7, is he? All I can do is hope that once Itty and I finally get the chance to meet that I'll be so overcome with motherliness that everything will just come naturally . . . and if it doesn't, I just hope that any damage that I may cause our little one will be minimal.

And to be honest, after all this time sharing a body with the little one, I'm just busting to meet Itty Bitty.

Kaz Cooke

This has been my hands-down favorite book to read throughout the pregnancy so I thought I'd give the author, Kaz Cooke props for being so incredibly cool. Kaz is very funny and feminist and down-to-earth and never preaches about gaining too much weight (or anything else for that matter). I just found out that this book is available in the U.S. (under the title Bun in the Oven: The Real Guide to Pregnancy) and I highly recommend it to any pregnant ladies or anyone curious about what being pregnant is all about. She's also written at least three other books, Kid Wrangling: Real Guide to Caring for Babies, Toddlers, and Little Kids, Girl Stuff: Your Full-On Guide to the Teen Years, Real Gorgeous: The Truth about Body and Beauty, that I've perused and they are all awesome. Hooray for a modern voice on womanhood, pregnancy and becoming a mother!

Itty Bitty Footage at 33 Weeks

And now even more ultrasound videos for your viewing pleasure . . .

Video (part 1)
Video (part 2)

(Paul was trying out our new video camera and accidentally stopped recording in the middle.)

To be honest, the videos are kinda long and not too exciting. But if you do decide to skip them, I should mention that doc remeasured Itty and now guesstimates that Itty will be about 8.5 pounds on his/her birthday. After imagining a 10 pound baby, that is downright petite! Other than that, everything is looking very good for a natural vaginal birth . . . all that worrying for nothing.