Just in case you didn't read my comment on my April Fools post, I'm still here and still pregnant. No baby just yet, though her head dropped two weeks ago so I'm really feeling all these contractions.
I'm now 35 weeks and feeling a little impatient. Luckily, I've got some busy things on the calendar between now and my due date, so I have something to look forward to -- nothing's worse than just sitting around with nothing to do but wait for a baby. This next week is spring break. Next week, we have a normal week, then the week after my husband and Lillian are going to New York for a week. DH has a conference and we were able to get Lillian a ticket for $99. I'm a little bit jealous, as they plan to go to the Phantom of the Opera, hang out in Central Park, and eat delicious food. But even though I've only been really early once (3.5 weeks with Michael), it's probably best I don't get too far from the hospital. They'll get back when I'm 38 weeks along.
On April 29th, nine days before my due date, I get to go to Women's Conference at BYU -- Want to come along? I'm thrilled to go, even if I only get to go on Thursday and not Friday (DH couldn't get off work on Friday). And it gives me a reason NOT to feel so anxious about the baby coming.
The Monday after, May 3rd, is the day I may or may not decide to be induced on. I'd rather not be induced, but I'm leaving open the possibility just because I know how miserable those last weeks can be. After giving it some thought and reading several books, I've decided I AM going to try for a natural, epidural-free delivery this time. The clincher for me was this morning when I talked to my doctor about it and she said the magic words: no IV necessary.
See, I have this thing about getting IVs. I hate them with a passion. I don't mind being pricked, poked, prodded, cut or even stitched, but please, don't put a needle in my veins and leave it there for several hours! I've always felt it a bit silly that the biggest complaint I have about giving birth has always been that mandatory IV, but there you go.
But though I'm going to try for a natural delivery, I'm not a masochist. Knowing my history, I've decided I'll give myself two hours of labor after my water breaks. If the baby hasn't arrived by then, then I'll ask for an epidural. With the exception of my second birth, when Joey's head was transverse, every child of mine has arrived within two hours after my water is broken, so I'm pretty confident this birth will go quickly and probably painfully. Wish me luck!
In other news:
* We loved listening to General Conference this weekend! So many talks geared towards parenting and families. I really needed the ideas and the motivation and I look forward to listening even more closely in the next few weeks while I do housework.
* Happy Easter! I took my four little girls to meet the Easter Bunny and do a fun hunt at our local grocery store on Friday, then on Saturday, we had a little hunt in our family room, thanks to the work of Joey and Lillian (I love having older kids!)
* We ran out of homemade strawberry freezer jam about a month ago and have been watching for strawberries to go on sale every since. DH bought five flats this weekend (FIVE!) and we've used up all our containers and pectin processing just two of those flats. I either need to get to the store and buy more containers and pectin, or I need to figure out how to use three flats of strawberries up quick. Harmony's addicted to strawberries, though, and she'd probably eat a whole flat in one sitting if we let her.
* I think the weather is playing its own April Fool's joke on us. What happened to my warm beautiful spring?
* I've been taking some lovely photos lately of some beautiful newborns and cute families! Check out more on my photo blog! I have an opening on Saturday the 17th if anyone wants some family or individual photos taken.
* We ran out of homemade strawberry freezer jam about a month ago and have been watching for strawberries to go on sale every since. DH bought five flats this weekend (FIVE!) and we've used up all our containers and pectin processing just two of those flats. I either need to get to the store and buy more containers and pectin, or I need to figure out how to use three flats of strawberries up quick. Harmony's addicted to strawberries, though, and she'd probably eat a whole flat in one sitting if we let her.
* I think the weather is playing its own April Fool's joke on us. What happened to my warm beautiful spring?
* I've been taking some lovely photos lately of some beautiful newborns and cute families! Check out more on my photo blog! I have an opening on Saturday the 17th if anyone wants some family or individual photos taken.
Comments
Good luck during these next few weeks. And you can do it naturally!! It really isn't that bad.:-) Actually I had three of mine without anything and two with epidurals. The recovery without anything was so much nicer. Howevery, I did practice lamaze A LOT before the babies came. That was a huge help.
It looks like you have a lot going on before your due date! Have fun at the women's conference!
Congrats on your decision to try and go natural. You'll do fine. Trust me. =)And it does help when you are in the midst of hard labor that it will not go on forever.
I wish I could go to Women's conference. Another friend asked if I could go. But think of me and share thoughts and insights gained! Please!
I have found that strawberries freeze very well. Just clean them and freeze. They are easy to use in smoothies, which are delicious. We also like making strawberry sauce from frozen strawberries for Swedish pancakes. Yummy!
Loved General Conference too. There is a lot to learn and implement from those talks. I really enjoy listening to conference while I clean. It makes chores seem more productive.
Too bad you couldn't get $99 plane tickets for the whole family. We lived in New York for a while-- great place.
Enjoy Women's Conference. It will be nice to be truly busy and have a break just before the baby. Those last weeks are really hard. On the other hand, if they were easy it might seem easier to stay pregnant. So I guess they prepare one well too.