Good Morning!
It’s 5:30 am here. Why am I up so early? Well, there are several reasons, but one is that I had to get up to pee earlier.
I had heard that I would have to urinate more and more during my pregnancy, but I didn’t fully comprehend just how much I would have to go until it began happening. I’m 8 months pregnant right now; I stop drinking fluids 3-4 hours before bed, and I’m still getting up 2+ times during the night to use the bathroom!
Bathroom problems aside, I’m beginning to seriously prepare for this baby. I feel like I’m slipping into that “nesting” mode. I’ve been doing a lot of decorating on the new house. I haven’t focused on the nursery too much (I’m planning to co-sleep for a while, so I don’t feel like it’s that important), but I’ve been doing a lot with the portion of my bedroom that will house the baby. I set up the crib (completely by myself, I might add – go me!), and I crocheted some “chair socks” for the crib to be able to slide without scratching the floor.
In addition to some physical stretches, I’ve begun some mental preparations. Yesterday, I began listening to positive, natural birth experiences. About a month ago and previously, I was contemplating using some form of medical intervention, though I didn’t know what all I would need, but then I finally found a midwifery birthing center in my area (that’s what I really wanted), and I love it! I had been seeing a standard, hospital OB, but I wasn’t into it, and then we moved. The birthing center does have access to medication if needed, but it’s not on-site. I had toyed with the idea of a natural birth for years, but hearing that solidified my choice. I’m going to have this baby as naturally as possible. Hence the listening to positive birth stories. Apparently, mental preparation for a birth is even more important than physical preparation. The female body is designed to have babies, but with all the horror stories out there about birth, we’re brain-washed into thinking that birth is somehow unnatural and must be extremely painful. However, that’s not what research about natural birth shows. When birth is accepted and seen as something positive, it’s a beautiful, near painless, experience.
On the same note, I wasn’t planning on creating a playlist of positive music/mantras to listen to while I gave birth, but I actually started one yesterday. My view is that I’m beginning this mental prep pretty late in the game (we do only have a few weeks to go), so anything extra I can do now will help. I might go through my birth just fine without any music, but I’ll take every bit of help I can get.
I’m also soon to be ordering some red raspberry leaf tea. I learned (yesterday in a webinar) about how the tea helps to relax the muscles in the pelvic region.
One tip I have about food in general is to eat as healthily as possible during pregnancy. I’ve been eating plenty of veggies and fruits, and tons of beans lately. I also take my prenatal vitamin along with some extra vitamins for myself. Because of this, I’ve only gained about 15 lbs so far, and it’s all in the belly where the baby is. I also haven’t really had cravings since my diet is so nutrient-dense. I had one “craving” a while back for a really nasty combination of fast food, but it wasn’t like I absolutely had to have it. My spouse and I were at the fast food restaurant anyway, and that’s what I ordered.
When I first found out I was pregnant, I ate almost whatever I wanted for about 2 weeks (which included A LOT of sugary foods), and then I spent a month not being able to get out of bed since I felt so awful, on top of which, my eczema (that had been in check) exploded all over my body, and I spent nearly 2 months eating lettuce and cabbage. If only I would have just eaten healthy from the start, I could have avoided all of that. Spending over a month being rashy, laying in bed, and eating only rabbit food isn’t fun.
Now I have spinach and beans in a smoothie every morning with some fruit, I have a big bowl of rice with some kind of protein and greens in the afternoon, and I snack on plain popcorn throughout the day. Lately, in the evenings, I’ll have some dark chocolate (like that 60%+ stuff). I have so much more leeway now! Much better than being confined to my bed with a rash.
Even so, physical prep still only helps so much. You’re body is already on your side. It’s the mental prep that’s so important.
Metta everyone!
Frugal Treehugger 