The days of October are snailing by, and I'm starting to get increasingly nervous. Not too long ago, I was cramming class material into my brain in a last study effort to try and pass an exam. I would wait all semester to write a research paper until the night it was due, and hit submit at 11:59pm. The last possible second. There were even times when I would find myself in the middle of an email to fellow classmates, hoping and praying someone else was as much of a procrastinator as I was.
Now, I find myself in the third and final trimester of my pregnancy. Only twelve more weeks to go until I bring another human into this world. No, I haven't been reading any pregnancy/baby/parenting books (until VERY recently) to help prepare me for what is to come. No, I have not taken any childbirth classes or any classes whatsoever (I did just sign up for three classes; today). No, I haven't started thinking about a birth plan for what my ideal delivery is, other than to have a healthy baby. So, what do I do next?
The good news is that I've signed up for the classes I want to take in preparation for baby and delivery. Hopefully, those classes do not get cancelled on me! I've also been reading through a few baby books so that in these final doctor appointments, I can ask questions pertaining to my particular pregnancy symptoms, clarification on policies, and what happens at upcoming appointments. It's a good thing that I started looking for information on what's currently happening and going to happen to my body because baby boy is currently breech. It's early enough in the third trimester that I might be able to help him turn into the vertex position by doing some specific stretches and exercises.
If you don't know what a baby being in a 'breech' position is, it's when their head is at the top of your uterus and their butt is over the cervix. For delivery, you want baby's head down and butt up so that you're able to push baby out during contractions. If the baby doesn't move into the vertex position by a certain point in your last few weeks, doctors will usually have you scheduled for a cesarean. (If you're reading this and you're baby is breech, don't panic! Ask your doctor what you can do to help give baby room move into the vertex position.)
Overall, I'm still way behind the eight ball when it comes to preparations for baby. It's completely my fault for allowing the fear of losing another pregnancy rule me over the past several months, and now I'm paying for it trying to scramble and prepare myself last minute. Though the nursery is coming along well, and we have a lot of things baby might need, I have no idea what I'm doing as a pregnant woman getting closer and closer to her due date. Don't be me and procrastinate, prepare yourself early for what is to come! That way, when the time arrives, you can relax and reel confident that you know what you're doing, and everything will work out just fine.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Friday, September 30, 2016
Follow Your Instincts
Every so often, I tend to go on these binges of loving/hating certain areas of my life. The areas I love get all the attention, and the ones I don't love as much get pushed by the wayside. Maybe it's a global phenomenon, or maybe it's just me. Either way, figuring out how to manage the effort and time put into life's events is difficult. Especially for me.
Lately, I've been trying to prepare my future son's nursery (yes, it's a BOY!). This is something that not only am I looking forward to finishing more than anything I've started in my life, but I also never want to set foot in that room. Why? Because there are boxes, unopened toys, clothes piles, diapers, wipes, and so many other things you need to have for a baby that it's overwhelming. So my thought is out of sight, out of mind. Sound logic, right?
Wrong.
Now, I'm only a week away from my third and final trimester. That means this little nugget is going to be here before I know it, and I can't even keep my house clean on a daily basis, let alone organize and build an entirely new room for an entirely new human. It's a daunting task for anyone.
There are other areas of my life where I wish I would have spent more time enjoying the moments than choosing to cling to a toilet bowl (though I rarely had the actual choice not to). If only I could go back in time and read more parenting books, pregnancy blogs, learn about all the different classes you can take while pregnant, but instead I was afraid. Yes, afraid. Terrified is a better word. I was afraid because I didn't want to be prepared for no reason. I was afraid because I had gotten my hopes up once before, and everything just ended in the matter of eight words: "I'm sorry, but I can't find the heartbeat." Now, there IS a heartbeat; one that's been beating for the past 27 weeks. He is here to stay, and I have no idea what to do.
It just so happens that my husband is no better at this than I am, preparation for baby that is. We both have only recently started trying to get the nursery together, and honestly our efforts are in vain. It's barely even started. As excited as he is to be having a son, he hasn't quite grasped the fact that he's having a SON. The responsibility of another person's life is in his hands, is in my hands. We could royally screw this up.
But through the terror, there's something inside of me that's started to emerge. Something stronger than I've ever been, something I've never had before. A mother's instincts. People everywhere give you advice on everything when you're pregnant, even people who have never been pregnant feel the need to put in their two cents. Though they feel their intentions are noble and that their suggestions will be your saving grace, follow your instincts. Honestly, I've had a lot of unsolicited advice from people over the past seven months, and the only advice I've actually put into practice is this: ___________ .
Nothing.
Pregnancy is different for every single woman. Do what your instincts tell you. (See, even I'm guilty of a little unsolicited advice.) If something someone has told you in the past just so happens to be what your instincts are telling you, then cool. If not, just do whatever is best for you. Be forewarned, there are going to be moments when you want nothing more than to just throw in the towel when it comes to listening to other people telling you what to do, but stand strong. Eventually, you'll be able to tune it out.
This blog originally started as a way for me to be super negative about life because I had a miscarriage. It turned into something else, and I'm not entirely sure what that 'else' is. Don't think this is turning into a full blown mommy blog where I start doing monthly freezer meal recipes. (I'm not bashing those blogs or moms, but that just isn't me.) Having it all together is something that I've yet to do in my brief time here on Earth, and I don't think that I'm going to have it together anytime soon. So if you're like me, then stick around because this ride is about to get wild. A newborn baby, a dog who's still classified as a puppy, only having been married a year, and living a thousand miles away from family is going to make things pretty hectic. But hey, it wouldn't be life if it wasn't chaos!
Thank you all for your patience with my erratic/nonexistent posts, and thank you even more for taking the time out of your hectic lives to read what I have to say. If anyone has anything they would like to add or say, feel free to do so down in the comments. You can also tell me about some of your pregnancy advice war stories if you have them. ;)
Live long and prosper.
Lately, I've been trying to prepare my future son's nursery (yes, it's a BOY!). This is something that not only am I looking forward to finishing more than anything I've started in my life, but I also never want to set foot in that room. Why? Because there are boxes, unopened toys, clothes piles, diapers, wipes, and so many other things you need to have for a baby that it's overwhelming. So my thought is out of sight, out of mind. Sound logic, right?
Wrong.
Now, I'm only a week away from my third and final trimester. That means this little nugget is going to be here before I know it, and I can't even keep my house clean on a daily basis, let alone organize and build an entirely new room for an entirely new human. It's a daunting task for anyone.
There are other areas of my life where I wish I would have spent more time enjoying the moments than choosing to cling to a toilet bowl (though I rarely had the actual choice not to). If only I could go back in time and read more parenting books, pregnancy blogs, learn about all the different classes you can take while pregnant, but instead I was afraid. Yes, afraid. Terrified is a better word. I was afraid because I didn't want to be prepared for no reason. I was afraid because I had gotten my hopes up once before, and everything just ended in the matter of eight words: "I'm sorry, but I can't find the heartbeat." Now, there IS a heartbeat; one that's been beating for the past 27 weeks. He is here to stay, and I have no idea what to do.
It just so happens that my husband is no better at this than I am, preparation for baby that is. We both have only recently started trying to get the nursery together, and honestly our efforts are in vain. It's barely even started. As excited as he is to be having a son, he hasn't quite grasped the fact that he's having a SON. The responsibility of another person's life is in his hands, is in my hands. We could royally screw this up.
But through the terror, there's something inside of me that's started to emerge. Something stronger than I've ever been, something I've never had before. A mother's instincts. People everywhere give you advice on everything when you're pregnant, even people who have never been pregnant feel the need to put in their two cents. Though they feel their intentions are noble and that their suggestions will be your saving grace, follow your instincts. Honestly, I've had a lot of unsolicited advice from people over the past seven months, and the only advice I've actually put into practice is this: ___________ .
Nothing.
Pregnancy is different for every single woman. Do what your instincts tell you. (See, even I'm guilty of a little unsolicited advice.) If something someone has told you in the past just so happens to be what your instincts are telling you, then cool. If not, just do whatever is best for you. Be forewarned, there are going to be moments when you want nothing more than to just throw in the towel when it comes to listening to other people telling you what to do, but stand strong. Eventually, you'll be able to tune it out.
This blog originally started as a way for me to be super negative about life because I had a miscarriage. It turned into something else, and I'm not entirely sure what that 'else' is. Don't think this is turning into a full blown mommy blog where I start doing monthly freezer meal recipes. (I'm not bashing those blogs or moms, but that just isn't me.) Having it all together is something that I've yet to do in my brief time here on Earth, and I don't think that I'm going to have it together anytime soon. So if you're like me, then stick around because this ride is about to get wild. A newborn baby, a dog who's still classified as a puppy, only having been married a year, and living a thousand miles away from family is going to make things pretty hectic. But hey, it wouldn't be life if it wasn't chaos!
Thank you all for your patience with my erratic/nonexistent posts, and thank you even more for taking the time out of your hectic lives to read what I have to say. If anyone has anything they would like to add or say, feel free to do so down in the comments. You can also tell me about some of your pregnancy advice war stories if you have them. ;)
Live long and prosper.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Decades Apart from Posting
Hello world, once again.
The good news is I'm alive. The bad news is I haven't been posting in months and months. First, let me apologize for the leave of absence without notifying you all. There was much traveling, many a hospital visit, and enough vomit that there is now a record held by yours truly. If I were to start explaining away where I've been in detail, you would be reading for the next three weeks. Instead, I'm going to leave the interrogating up to you guys! Those of you who would like to know more about what's been going on, leave a comment and I will be more than happy to share my life's events with you!
Anyway, down to the meat of things. I'm still pregnant, and at this point, I've got everything pregnancy can throw at you. Ladies, if you are pregnant or are trying to conceive, let this be a warning. You'll be miserable and uncomfortable and everything will make you sad, angry, and you'll never eat your favorite foods ever again. I don't know who pulled the wool over the eyes of women and told them the lies that pregnancy is a joy. Being pregnant is awful.
Now, before you exit out and think I'm just another soon-to-be mother ranting about circumstances that I've brought on myself, let me tell you about what is a joy.
There is a very good chance that you're going to be too sick to function, and even going to the OB to see your baby is going to turn your stomach. But the second you see that little blip on the screen, those first heartbeats you hear from your baby... nothing in the world has ever looked or sounded better. Nothing. Then, another month is going to go by and you'll wonder how your little bean is doing in there. At your next appointment, you'll get to see the arms and legs. Baby will start to look human instead of alien, and that heartbeat is going to be pounding away. For me, hearing the heartbeat always makes me cry.
But that's not even the best part.
In the past few weeks, I've started to actually feel baby moving. The first time, I wasn't sure what just happened. Then, baby bean moved again!!! From that moment, I've been housing in my womb the world's next karate master. Music, movement, certain foods, and even napping can make baby start to wiggle. The bean I'm currently growing, they love music. I play a plethora of different instruments, and it makes bean want to dance! When my husband sings, baby gets even more active. I'm sure there are scientific reasons as to why that happens, but for now I like to think that baby is starting to recognize our voices.
Instead of making some big long post about my baby, I'm going to leave this as a drop off kind of post because I want to hear about what all of you have to say! Any experiences you've had, or are looking forward to having, please leave a comment below! You can also give me a piece of your mind for the inactivity, you can leave a comment with that too.
Until next time!
Amber
The good news is I'm alive. The bad news is I haven't been posting in months and months. First, let me apologize for the leave of absence without notifying you all. There was much traveling, many a hospital visit, and enough vomit that there is now a record held by yours truly. If I were to start explaining away where I've been in detail, you would be reading for the next three weeks. Instead, I'm going to leave the interrogating up to you guys! Those of you who would like to know more about what's been going on, leave a comment and I will be more than happy to share my life's events with you!
Anyway, down to the meat of things. I'm still pregnant, and at this point, I've got everything pregnancy can throw at you. Ladies, if you are pregnant or are trying to conceive, let this be a warning. You'll be miserable and uncomfortable and everything will make you sad, angry, and you'll never eat your favorite foods ever again. I don't know who pulled the wool over the eyes of women and told them the lies that pregnancy is a joy. Being pregnant is awful.
Now, before you exit out and think I'm just another soon-to-be mother ranting about circumstances that I've brought on myself, let me tell you about what is a joy.
There is a very good chance that you're going to be too sick to function, and even going to the OB to see your baby is going to turn your stomach. But the second you see that little blip on the screen, those first heartbeats you hear from your baby... nothing in the world has ever looked or sounded better. Nothing. Then, another month is going to go by and you'll wonder how your little bean is doing in there. At your next appointment, you'll get to see the arms and legs. Baby will start to look human instead of alien, and that heartbeat is going to be pounding away. For me, hearing the heartbeat always makes me cry.
But that's not even the best part.
In the past few weeks, I've started to actually feel baby moving. The first time, I wasn't sure what just happened. Then, baby bean moved again!!! From that moment, I've been housing in my womb the world's next karate master. Music, movement, certain foods, and even napping can make baby start to wiggle. The bean I'm currently growing, they love music. I play a plethora of different instruments, and it makes bean want to dance! When my husband sings, baby gets even more active. I'm sure there are scientific reasons as to why that happens, but for now I like to think that baby is starting to recognize our voices.
Instead of making some big long post about my baby, I'm going to leave this as a drop off kind of post because I want to hear about what all of you have to say! Any experiences you've had, or are looking forward to having, please leave a comment below! You can also give me a piece of your mind for the inactivity, you can leave a comment with that too.
Until next time!
Amber
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