My midwives are coming over today, to our house, for our big pre-birth home/prenatal visit. This is the visit where they peruse the house and our supplies and make sure we are all ready to go for labor and delivery. I cannot believe that this day is actually here! The impending home birth of our babe is becoming so real. Wow!
Craig and I have been slightly scrambling over the last few weeks to gather all of the supplies and materials we will need to have on hand for our homebirth. These include an inflatable birthing tub, tarp for under said tub, new lead-free, eco-friendly hose to fill the tub, adapter for connecting the hose to the faucet, and air pump. There’s also PVC-free shower curtains for the bed and floors to protect them, food and drink that I will want in labor, a glass or metal bowl for the placenta, flashlight, hand mirror, garbage bags, heating pad, and various sterilization packs I have created of towels, washcloths, and baby clothes… and the list goes on.
Preparing for our homebirth has been such an extraordinary experience. The “work”—both physical and mental is gratifying because I am very much forced to visualize what type of birth I desire. I am claiming my territory and surrounding myself with the energy and supplies I need at home to settle in and focus on the work ahead. And at this stage in my pregnancy, it’s a bit exhausting physically running errands and gathering items on our lists—but so totally worth it.
I spend my days thinking through relaxation techniques, pain management, what rooms I may want to be in while laboring, what I will wear, who will be with me, etc. And I understand that any and all of this is subject to change once I am in the actual moment. I am okay with that. I have such an extraordinary amount of faith in the capacity of my body to show me the way—no matter what happens. My whole pregnancy has really opened my eyes to this unwavering faith and trust in my body, and it has been such a delightful discovery.
And I think all this reading and gathering and visualization is very powerful preparation. Craig and I have been reading voraciously at night—tackling the Bradley method, Hypnobirthing, Birthing from Within, pioneering midwife Ina May Gaskin’s collections of positive birthing stories in her Guide to Childbirth and Spiritual Midwifery, and the list goes on. We’ve rented documentaries and watched online videos of homebirths, water births, and midwives explaining the mechanics of the stages of labor. We’ve been learning about labor positions, labor activities, visualization exercises, and more.
Dare I say I am actually pretty darn excited about the whole event. Don’t get me wrong… I hold no illusions that it won’t be hard work. I recognize that I may indeed doubt my abilities in the thick of it. I understand that circumstances may develop that are beyond my control. But I am confident in my body, Craig’s coaching, and my midwives to champion and support me at each stage.
Soon theory and practice will collide when I go into labor. And with labor will come a wonderful unfolding of self-discovery and growth. It will be here soon enough. I feel a primal sense of embodiment and wisdom burbling deep within my core.
When my body is ready, it will let me know. And until then, I plan to nest away and savor these last days of just me.
Tags: alone time, gratitude, home birth, pregnancy, spring
Posted in On the Subject of Parenthood, The Daily Balance | 1 Comment »
March is drawing to a close. Wow. I cannot believe how fast time is passing for me right now! I am 33 weeks pregnant. And I still feel really, really good. However, I am starting to slow down a bit. I can’t seem to get all the chores done that I used to without having to stop and rest. My back starts to get sore after a bit. And I have to pee lots and lots. But I suppose that is to be expected. I still love being pregnant. My belly is quite round at this point, and The Bump juts out this way and that making me look lop-sided. She’s still very active in there, but I dare say she’s starting to run out of room.
March has been such a wild month—it started out cold and icky. But then it suddenly got not just warm, but downright stupid hot. Before it was even officially Spring, we had a string of days in the low 80s. In New Hampshire! Just didn’t seem right. Craig and I loved that warm weather though. We even took off for the beach, and I had a blast walking along the sand and cooling my slightly swollen toes in the freezing Atlantic waters.
But that was all a few weeks ago. In that time everything started sprouting outside—there are already trees in bloom here. Croci and daffodils are up. Hyacinths are in full effect. It’s just so strange because it is so early. And yet now it’s back to more seasonably cool Spring weather. Very chilly nights, windy days, clear blue skys, nice sunsets. Today it reached a high of 50°F. That’s more like it. I figure there is plenty of time for it to warm up.
I am in no rush right now. I am doing my best to enjoy these last weeks of “me”. A whole lot is about to change. And I am okay with that. Just going with the flow, taking in the wonder.
Happy Spring!
Tags: alone time, gratitude, spring
Posted in On the Subject of Parenthood, The Daily Balance | 1 Comment »
It is snowing right now in Southern NH! Yes, this is worth mentioning because we haven’t had any snow for over a month. And suddenly we are in the midst of a snowstorm that may drop 6–10″ of snow in our area. It is a wonderful, welcome change to see the snow falling outside as I write this.
And that is really all I have to report. I’m nesty. Reading up a storm and prepping for my upcoming birth this spring. Pregnancy is still amazing each and every day. I am filled with gratitude. My body is still growing and expanding. Very content.
Posted in The Daily Balance | No Comments »
It has been a blustery, cold, icy, snowy, gray last few days. We finally got more than a dusting of snow here in southern New Hampshire. Granted, we only got a few inches of snow, but it is rare and strange for it be mid-January and for there to be so little accumulation on the ground. Our last snow of note was in October, when we had that crazy storm that dropped 10″ right before Halloween and caused massive power outages and tons of downed trees and limbs. Since then, the weather has been uncharacteristically mild.
So I permitted myself to get a little giddy about some snow and ice. And I used it as an opportunity to snap some pics…. with our NEW CAMERA…. finally…. yeah! Happy Winter!
The garden beds are sleeping soundly.
It’s a little bit slippery out there.
And of course the plow missed the end of our driveway by several feet. Time to shovel!
Tags: gratitude, winter
Posted in The Daily Balance | 1 Comment »
The weather today was amazing. Mid 50s! It was warm last weekend, then freezing this week, and now warm again. Perfect day for a hike and a little visual documentation. We’re halfway there, baby!
Posted in Let's Get Physical, On the Subject of Parenthood | 4 Comments »
