Why doesn’t the stork just bring the baby again?
Steve and I had to cut our weekend camping trip short in order to attend our birthing class on Sunday. It was an all day event because over the summer they don’t offer the 6 week course. We debated skipping it but decided that one really ought to attend this class when one has decided to create a life. And mostly thought it would be a great opportunity to meet people.
It wasn’t a great opportunity to meet people, and a very, very long day. We basically watched films that let us know about drug options, comfort management (walking/massage/baths) and interventions. We did do some deep breathing and massage exercises that were quite lovely. Who doesn’t like a massage?!
There was a little bit of talk about what happens after baby comes home, and that’s basically it. We didn’t really learn anything we didn’t already know except that the best way to progress labour is to be walking or standing (as opposed to sitting or lying down) and to receive an epidural you have to sign a consent form. Besides a c-section, an epidural is the only other procedure that you’d sign a consent form for in labour. I’m hoping not to use an epidural, although I’m not the kind of person to never say never and we’ll just see how it goes.
I’ve also concluded that other woman take this pregnancy business to a level that I don’t really understand. During introductions the Moms-to-be really seemed to have a lot to say about preparations and feelings and blah, blah, blah. If I hadn’t been the last to introduce myself I would have said “I’m Amber, my due date is September 24th” and then I would have probably said that I’m an unemployed engineer (hey, you never know who you might meet that can get you a job!). I also had a hard time trying to determine what has been the most emotionally challenging thing about being pregnant. I can think of a number of physically challenging things but I’m apparently cold and empty inside.
Steve also didn’t do that fake knee-clasp gesture when he introduced himself as my husband (What is it suppose to signify? Ownership?), was the only man there to mention what he did for a living and didn’t declare in that fake, boisterous tone how “excited” he was. I was actually day dreaming during the introductions because they didn’t say anything interesting, it was so predictable. I would have liked to have known what they did for a living, how long they’ve lived in the area and that sort of thing. I can basically assume that as a general rule, couples are excited about the arrival of a new baby, there’s no need to reiterate it.
The other thing that sort of irked me was that I had mentioned that I’d like to have the baby at home but Steve would prefer we go into the hospital (and before you get your panties in a knot, yes, we’re going to the hospital. This time anyway.). This brought on a long winded opinion from the nurse teaching the class about how an emergency can arise instantly and that its better to be in the hospital, at least for the first birth because you don’t know how a woman will birth a baby. This annoyed me. Emergencies very seldom happen “instantly”, there are signs and a midwife/doctor is trained to see these signs and have you at the hospital as need be. Second, hospital births are a western practice, woman all over the world give birth at home. Giving birth is not a medical procedure, its a natural process. Yes, things go wrong, and if I were having twins or there was something else that meant I was high risk I would most certainly prefer to be in the hospital seeing as I live in this rich society. I’m not having twins, my pregnancy has been very normal and there’s a very good chance my labour will be normal, too.
My reasons for wanting to have the baby at home are really simple, I’m comfortable at home and not comfortable with strangers. I believe that being comfortable helps to create a better environment for labour and makes the process easier (not less painful, but easier, and to me there is a difference). Steve and I are a quiet sort of people. We don’t like to be the centre of attention, we don’t like confrontation, and labour isn’t exactly a quiet and peaceful affair. At home while labouring you can just be yourself. I can walk my own acreage where there isn’t anyone around to judge me, with Steve, and I wouldn’t have a problem stopping during a contraction and working through it with him. I have a really hard time imagining us doing that while walking the hospital halls, we’re just not that couple. Maybe we’ll become that couple but I just sort of imagine myself more comfortable at home in a place where I feel in control.
I guess it irks me because I always sort of feel like I’m being spoken to like I’m an idiot and have some sort of romantic notion of the process. That drives me insane. I get the same sort of response when I mention that we’re using cloth diapers.
I recognize that I don’t know, yet, what its going to be like. I’m the very first person to admit that. But I’m not afraid of labour, I trust my body, Steve, my midwife and most of all, I trust nature. What I am afraid of is how Steve and I will cope with a newborn, I don’t have any experience with newborns and Steve and I aren’t exactly that great at coping when we’re tired, confused and unsure, which we both freely admit to. I’m also not sure how well I’ll cope not being able to control everything in my environment. That’ll be the real test!
Hot, Hot, Hot
We spent the past week out at Greenpoint Campground on long beach with Michelle and her family and it was fun! And a very valuable lesson in safe-guarding the trailer. We kid-tested the trailer on Michelle’s kids who went home with various scraps, bruises and uh, well, my god-daughter sort of looks like she’s been attacked by a bear. She fell head first out of the trailer and really banged up her, well, head and face.
The campground was also home to a Mama Bear and her cubs, which A actually saw on one of his trips to the beach with his son, but the rest of us weren’t so lucky. It would have been to cool to see the bear, from a safe distance. The drawback to sharing nature with bears is that everything (and we do mean EVERYTHING) has to be stored in your car unless you’re using it. It means keeping your campsite immaculate at all times and having to bring in your tablecloth after every meal.
Steve and A went on a 6-hour kayak trip that must have been amazing because Steve hasn’t stopped talking about it. And all of us took a hot springs tour to this natural hot springs on the edge of the mainland that you can only get to by boat. It was beautiful, although if you’re ever in Tofino with kids, the hotspring tour really isn’t suitable, no matter what the tour guide says. It really wasn’t the best place for a 7.5 month pregnant woman either. The rocks are dangerous and its a 2 km walk up and down STAIRS. At this point in pregnancy, we hate stairs. A lot. No one mentioned the stairs to me when I asked if it was ok for me to take the trip.
My usual griping aside, the area was gorgeous, the hotsprings were really fantastic (there is an actual hot waterfall, it’s like having a shower naturally!) and on the boat trip to the area we were right beside a grey whale, the closest I have ever been to a whale (and I’ve been whale watching a couple of times before).
We returned home to a freaking sauna. It was 40 C (104 F) today and 32 C (89.6 F) in the house. We’re miserable and hiding out in the living room under this really little fan. My plants are doing remarkably well (the few still surviving) as it seems my neighbour is better at caring for them than I am!
In other news, the grape arbour in the backyard is no more. It is now clear that the previous owner was an idiot and built the arbour with untreated lumber (and the fence, and the clothes line which fell down last year). When we got back Steve noticed that the arbour was leaning a lot. There was some discussion early last week that it seemed to be leaning and then yesterday it appeared to be really leaning. Steve walked over there and gave it a push and the whole thing shifted. That structure is HUGE, it shouldn’t shift just because you push on one post! It got torn down today before it fell on someone’s head and now my backyard looks very, very empty. I’m pretty pissed off about it.
And the water cooler broke. Just a random tidbit. I’m bitter about that, too.
A Baby Post
First off, we all need to send good wishes to Marnie because she is having a really crummy third trimester. Her gallbladder is being stupid (what is it with gallbladders anyway? Truly the stupidest organ we’ve got) and because she’s carrying her boy, she isn’t allowed any operation or pain medication. I’d be whining constantly if it were me.
Second, Tarrah is spawning! Hee!
Third, the nursery is looking SWEET. When I’m done, pictures will follow. Have you noticed I promise a lot of pictures and then never deliver? yeah. I suck. But I will take pics of the nursery because if I don’t, my family will very likely beat me.
Director = More Work Than Anticipated
I went to my first “meeting of the board” last night, and damn, its going to be more work than I first thought. It’ll be a really interesting experience though, and I think I’ll meet a lot of people in the field I’m interested in. I’m looking forward to it, and hope I can still pull it off once the spawn makes his appearance. Steve said that he hopes the meetings are in the evenings because then I can just go and leave the kid with him. It really is a good opportunity for me to be involved in this sort of thing.
Speaking of the spawn, damn that kid moves around a lot in there. He’s started to stretch or something that involves moving his little limbs along my belly. The feeling is unbelievably creepy and a little nauseating. Plus, you can see it. Totally weirds me out and makes me giggle.
Miss Fearthainn booked her flight out here this fall! hee! For the second year in a row she’s spending her birthday out here, and then a week later my Mommy is coming to spend her birthday with me (for like, the 4th year in a row!). This is starting to become a tradition, the year they decide to spend their birthdays elsewhere I’ll be all dumbfounded 
.
Today I’m spending the day with my girls out here and we’re going antiquing in Ladysmith (its a beautiful little town about an hour from where I live). I’m looking for a rocking chair for the nursery. I’ve found rocking chairs but they are $150 used, and well, I’m not willing to pay that much for a used rocking chair!
For Michelle
|
You Are A Poplar Tree |
 People tend to look up to you, and it’s a bit lonely at the top. Inside, you are not always self confident, but you show great courage. Mature and organized, you are reliable in any situation. You tend to have an artistic or philosophical outlook on life. You are very choosy in love and take partnership seriously. |
So, it was cloudy ALL DAY and not a drop of rain fell. I spent the day putting the first coat of paint on the spawn’s bedroom so at least the sun wasn’t burning up the bedroom or anything. It took me hours to get the first coat of paint on and at one point I fell off the damn ladder (from the bottom rung, no big deal, I more rolled than fell actually). Being pregnant is starting to grate on my nerves
My house looks like a hurricane went through it and I don’t think it’ll be in any better shape before Michelle and family show up on the weekend. eh, sorry guys 
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In other news, I was nominated and voted to be a director on one of my streamkeeper groups I volunteer with. I’m not entirely sure what this means but it sounds cool being a “director”. heh.
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