Dana’s Avenue

My parents got out of the car and headed inside followed by Jonathan who was carrying the baby and saying to me, “Can you get the bags?”  As I stood there alone I realized I didn’t fully appreciate pregnancy. 

When I was pregnant I don’t think I opened a door…ever.  And I know I didn’t carry bags…or anything else for that matter.  I’m sure I was never left alone either.  Ah, it was nice while it lasted.  And I knew it would end.  But now that it has, I wish I had more fully taken advantage of the care and attention when I was pregnant.  Because you know next time won’t be the same.  I have a feeling your first pregnancy is special and Asher won’t give up his spot just because his mommy is pregnant.

So, you pregnant girls, live it up! 

When I was pregnant (and over the morning sickness) I thought there was no way I was really that hungry all the time.  I had to be imagining it.  I kept track of my weight and as long as I wasn’t gaining too much I kept following my hunger pains and cravings - eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.  But I never really bought into the fact that the pregnancy was making me that hungry.

Then I gave birth.

It all went away.  Now I couldn’t care less what I eat.  I just grab something and keep going.  I don’t crave anything and I don’t wake up hungry in the middle of the night.  I could actually eat 3 good meals a day and be satisfied. 

So I guess it’s true.  You really do have hunger and cravings during pregnancy.  I do think I could have indulged a bit more though.  Drats. 

Maybe next time…

…is not mine!

And these are the things they don’t tell you.  There are pregnancy books for before the birth and baby books for after the birth but what about the crazy things my body is going through NOW?!  I may be more bewildered by this body than the pregnant one.  Hmph.

How long will it take, I wonder, until I look more human again instead of like a ‘Who’ (as in Dr. Seus)?  How long until my body isn’t swollen, stiff, and sore? 

I guess I’m just grateful for how “cute” and “beautiful” everyone said I was when I was pregnant.  I sure hope no one asks me when I’m due (how embarrassing) because I still look pregnant to a certain extent (except instead of a nice, round, mound I have a balloon of jello).

But oh well.  I’m not overly traumatized but I am completely surprised.  I’ve even had to call the hospital to ask if what I’m experiencing is normal, and it is.  I just wonder why they don’t prepare you for what your body is going through as the mother.  Giving birth is quite a process for the woman’s body and deserves a bit more attention. 

I did take an after-birth tummy photo because that’s the one no one ends up taking or showing - and the one I always wanted to see when my due date approached.  So…as hard as it is for my vanity, here it is… 

On the upside, I’ve lost 17 pounds in the first week postpartum so only 9 pounds to go and I still have a lot of uterus to finish contracting which should help a lot.  I look a lot different than the picture above already so that’s very encouraging (and I just can’t get enough encouragement these days).

The time has come!  It seems Asher’s finally ready to make his appearance.  We’ll be heading to the hospital soon. 

Please pray for a safe, uncomplicated delivery and a healthy baby boy!

We’ll continue to keep you updated as we can!!

I’m getting tired of my pregnancy ticker now.  Do you see what it says?  “I should be here by now.”  Well, no he shouldn’t…apparently…  I wish he was too though.  *Sigh*  But I’ll keep my pregnancy ticker up until he’s born and then I’ll do a different one tracking his age.  Hopefully that new ticker will be up soon. 

Yes, today is the due date.

No, I have not had the baby yet.

Yes, I will keep you updated!

I want to explain how Braxton Hicks contractions feel.  But I’m not sure how.  The easiest explanation is to say your whole tummy gets really, really hard for a bit (maybe 30 seconds or longer - haven’t timed them) then relaxes.  They are painless (this is how you know you’re not in real labor).  But that’s not all.  It’s like a sensation goes throughout my body.  It’s really bizarre.  It also almost feels like my heart rate speeds up a little bit or my breathing changes or…something…  I can’t quite put my finger on it.  At first I didn’t know what was happening.  Then I had one at the doctor’s office a few weeks ago and she mentioned it.  I thought, ooooohhhh, that’s what that is.  Okay.  Now I know what to look for.  They call them practice contractions where your body does them gearing up for the real deal.  I’ve read and heard not to worry about distinguishing these from early labor contractions - that you will know the difference.  Of course, I don’t know what they’re talking about.  Yet.  But I believe them and have no false notion that labor would really be this painless.  So for now I just enjoy having my body wisely prepare for its big day. 

I know her only in the Land of Blogs.  She just had her first child last weekend.  If you want to read a beautiful, wonderfully written birth story, click on the link below:

http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com/

You’ll also get a glimpse of how you can pray for me.  :)  Enjoy!

It might be time for me to learn this lesson.  I’ve heard it, listened to it, but I’ve been living in denial.  They say at first the baby runs your life.  The reality is, apparently, that my schedule will no longer be my own.  Sigh.  And I so loved my schedule…

Jonathan and I recently got our calendar out to plan our last few out-of-town trips to visit friends and family, have our baby dedication, and host a “Meet Asher” drop-in.  Now all this is really dependent on when he arrives because he is the reason for the visiting - to introduce him to everyone.  We have had to come face-to-face with the fact that we are completely out of control.  (And since one of us isn’t a control freak it’s not a challenge for both of us.  I won’t tell you which is which.)  We’re as good at planning the timing of his actual birth as we were at timing the pregnancy itself.  And as much as I’d love to plan when we have our second child (Lord willing) I won’t even bother.  I know better.

I am tempted to put my calendar up against my belly and explain to Asher the timeline and when he really needs to come out.  I want to give him a deadline.  I’ve even prayed for my timeline.  Surely God will see the reasonableness of it.  We’ve made plans!  We need to order invitations!  But I know better on this one too.  I just haven’t lost that shred of hope that somehow I can influence the timing of all this.  When my deadline comes and goes, that hope will be gone and I’ll come back to reality with everyone else.  Maybe that will help me to transition into a life run by an infant.  There’s a lesson and something to gain in everything, right?

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.  ~Proverbs 16:9

Well, I’m pretty much there.  My due date is Friday and I had my doctor’s appointment yesterday.  Everything’s still looking good although I may be keeping the baby too happy in there.  :)  I go back to the doctor (midwife, actually) next Wednesday which is 2 days before I become 41 weeks pregnant.  I seriously hope I don’t make it to that appointment. 

I am still 50% effaced, 1 centimeter dilated, and the head is not fully engaged.  But I know he’s trying to get down there because sometimes he grinds into my pelvis and really gets my attention!  I’ve been having Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing more.  I’m grateful that we’re both doing fine and the midwife said that I’d go see them twice a week beginning in my 42nd week - so they’re not worried at all of me going that much past my due date.  Again, I hope I never make it to 41 weeks but I’m just glad no one is panicking and mentioned the big “I” word or anything. 

I really think, and based on statistics it would reasonable to predict, that I’ll go into labor sometime next week.  So I can relax a while longer dreaming my crazy dreams (that’s a whole ‘nother blog post I’ll probably never write) and preparing a little more, if not just mentally and emotionally.  I don’t mind hanging out a while longer and waiting for the perfect timing of the birth of our first baby.  He’ll come when he and God know it’s time for him to.