Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Any Day Now
Yesterday we reached a pregnancy milestone - 37 weeks (aka full-term). Molly can come any time between now and week 42 and be considered "on-time". She's got everything she needs to survive on her own outside the womb now. She's a genuine baby!
We had a great doctor's appointment yesterday. Noel was able to come along to talk to Dr. Oyebanji about our birth plan. Turns out everything we want is pretty standard stuff and nothing that will ruffle any feathers come the big day. After much thought and talk we are going to attempt to do the birth naturally with our doula by our side but we are under no illusions that this may not be what happens...I just figure I'd rather go in trying. My doctor is awesome in this regard - no pressure for induction or epidurals there. She did warn us yesterday that the nurses working might not be so open to the option.
One of my requests in the birth plan is that people try to NOT offer me any drugs at all and just let me ask for them when (if) I feel I need them. I realize I'm not made of steel and in the grip of contractions my resolve may be weakened so the last thing I need is people holding drugs and relief out in front of me like some sort of carrot...they wouldn't hold chocolate out to a person fasting so why offer me drugs when I've already said I'd rather try without? Hopefully Noel and Tania or Jen will help to keep these comments from me and/or remind the people in the room about the "plan" and our wishes.
Noel's big thing is that he doesn't want to be pressured into more involvement than he is comfortable with. He wants to be there with me but he wants to control where he is and what he's doing. Again, the last thing he needs is well meaning people trying to coerce him into catching the baby or cutting the cord if he's really not comfortable with that role. And really, I'm cool with that so why shouldn't everyone else be???
Part of me wants to simplify our wishes to these two requests and print them in 72 pt type just to reinforce how important they are to us. Then I realize that the entire experience is somewhat out of our control so we may as well just take comfort in the fact that we've tried to make our wishes known and accept that whatever will be will be!
I still find it hard to believe that this pregnancy is actually coming to a close and that any day now we could be at home with our new baby. I keep making plans for the weeks to come...for projects at work or for dinners out or lunches with friends but somewhere in the back of my mind I know that all that can change at any point if Molly decides its time to see what the world is all about. I can't say I'm in any rush for her arrival. I still enjoy being pregnant (even when I'm bored with taking it easy) and I'm really enjoying these last few weeks with Noel all to myself. But I am getting more interested in meeting our baby and getting to know her personality...it's all such a mystery!
We had a great doctor's appointment yesterday. Noel was able to come along to talk to Dr. Oyebanji about our birth plan. Turns out everything we want is pretty standard stuff and nothing that will ruffle any feathers come the big day. After much thought and talk we are going to attempt to do the birth naturally with our doula by our side but we are under no illusions that this may not be what happens...I just figure I'd rather go in trying. My doctor is awesome in this regard - no pressure for induction or epidurals there. She did warn us yesterday that the nurses working might not be so open to the option.
One of my requests in the birth plan is that people try to NOT offer me any drugs at all and just let me ask for them when (if) I feel I need them. I realize I'm not made of steel and in the grip of contractions my resolve may be weakened so the last thing I need is people holding drugs and relief out in front of me like some sort of carrot...they wouldn't hold chocolate out to a person fasting so why offer me drugs when I've already said I'd rather try without? Hopefully Noel and Tania or Jen will help to keep these comments from me and/or remind the people in the room about the "plan" and our wishes.
Noel's big thing is that he doesn't want to be pressured into more involvement than he is comfortable with. He wants to be there with me but he wants to control where he is and what he's doing. Again, the last thing he needs is well meaning people trying to coerce him into catching the baby or cutting the cord if he's really not comfortable with that role. And really, I'm cool with that so why shouldn't everyone else be???
Part of me wants to simplify our wishes to these two requests and print them in 72 pt type just to reinforce how important they are to us. Then I realize that the entire experience is somewhat out of our control so we may as well just take comfort in the fact that we've tried to make our wishes known and accept that whatever will be will be!
I still find it hard to believe that this pregnancy is actually coming to a close and that any day now we could be at home with our new baby. I keep making plans for the weeks to come...for projects at work or for dinners out or lunches with friends but somewhere in the back of my mind I know that all that can change at any point if Molly decides its time to see what the world is all about. I can't say I'm in any rush for her arrival. I still enjoy being pregnant (even when I'm bored with taking it easy) and I'm really enjoying these last few weeks with Noel all to myself. But I am getting more interested in meeting our baby and getting to know her personality...it's all such a mystery!
# posted by Dana Corkey @ 8:36 AM 
