Category: Growing Anticipation

Jan 11

Natural Birth Stories | Birth Center Birth | Allison S | Growing Anticipation

Anticipation is simple not strong enough a word to express what has developed over the course of the pregnancy.  My husband and I have traveled through so many stages and phases it’s hard to believe we are the same two people who stared wide-eyed at those two pink lines and then hugged as I whispered, “Holy crap.”  Amidst all the changes OUTSIDE of expecting a baby (leaving my job, moving cross country, returning to school full time, and my husband beginning a new job) we have had to do a great, great deal of adjusting, evaluating, and slow, deep breathing!  I have been a yo-yo of emotion, fear, irritation, and excitement trying to find my new role as a dependant, a student, a member of a new, very different community, and expectant mother.  The transformation (both physically and emotionally) has been probably the greatest surprise of all.  From day one until today I have graduated through phases of disbelief, regret, and submission to absolute joy, elation, and awe.

I remember in July at just 11 weeks pregnant when I told all my siblings (we had gathered for July 4th) and how I felt fat and bloated while we cruised around Charleston on a friend’s boat.  I remember in October when I took early maternity photos for our anniversary and how I couldn’t IMAGINE how I could get any bigger!  I remember in late November when we had our actual maternity shoot how amazed I was at the growth that has occurred over five short weeks.  I remember the first flutters (that didn’t seem like flutters at all – more like full-fledged assault) in May and the gradual progression to an unbelievable array of rolling, poking, stretching, jell-o shaking.  Sometimes I catch my husband watching me put lotion on my belly (as I do every night before bed) and when I ask him what he’s looking at, he just shakes his head in disbelief at the transformation that has occurred.

Being far from friends and family I am saddened that they have missed most of the growth.  I send videos of my belly and the baby rolling around, I’ve sent maternity photos, and I’ve taken a weekly photo since my 23rd week.  We have had a few visits from friends and family and I can only imagine their shock after having not seen me since pre-pregnancy or since the earlier stages.  My mom can’t keep her hands off of me and my mother and father in law give me what I call a “Buddha belly rub” every time they see me.  My younger brother (who is in Cambodia with the Peace Corps) jokes that he’s glad he doesn’t have to see me “all gross and lopsided” but I was able to show him my belly at about 33 weeks during a skype chat.  Even his host family in Cambodia is following my progress.  This will be the first grandchild in my immediate family and a first grandchild for my husband’s mother so everyone is poised with almost paralyzing excitement and anticipation.

Along with comments and surprise at my physical growth, jokes and guesses fly endlessly as to how big or small she’ll be, whether she’ll look like me or look like my husband, whether she’ll be quiet and sweet or an absolute terror.  Everyone has taken a stab at nicknames and some have even taken a shot at RE-naming her.  I need to start a list of all the guesses, predictions, names and nicknames offered as suggestions or demands so we can have a good laugh once we get to meet her for ourselves!

You can read more of Allison’s Birth Journey by…


…turning back to read more about what she is doing to prepare for this birth… Preparations

…reading the next page, how she feels as labor draws near… Almost There 

 

 

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Posted in Growing Anticipation

Dec 20

Natural Birth Stories | Birth Center Birth | Ashley B | Growing Anticipation

I have such a small belly with this pregnancy that its just now starting to get to the point that I’d call it “big”. My husband has always gravitated towards my belly since I first started showing, but now our son has taken notice too. He’s too young to understand that there’s a baby in there, but he loves to pat my belly. We were trying to get him to say “baby” when he does it. That backfired though because now he either thinks everyone has a baby in their belly or that everyone’s belly is called baby. He loves to lay his head against my belly and when the baby moves, he looks at me funny. His reaction is what I’ve loved most about these past few weeks. I can’t wait until he actually sees his brother or sister.

We really wanted maternity shots to capture the pregnancy. I’m only pregnant with each baby once and its such a special and anxious time. Granted, its not great to be this heavy and puffy, so I don’t look the best in photos right now, but that’s part of pregnancy. I want to have the pictures to treasure forever, even long after the baby is born.

 

You can read more of Ashley’s Birth Journey by…


…turning back to read more about what she is doing to prepare for this birth… Preparations

…reading the next page, how she feels as labor draws near… Almost There 

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Posted in Growing Anticipation

Dec 13

Natural Birth Stories | Birth Center Birth | Bitty Mama | Growing Anticipation

My family loves my growing belly. I’m happy to let close family members pat it, rub it, and talk to it. My firstborn is not so sure about it though. She has noticed Mommy’s belly button getting bigger. She’s also noticed how much attention this huge belly gets. I sometimes sit on the couch and lift my shirt to rub on my belly and give baby some attention. Twice now, my firstborn has hurried to my side to pull my shirt back down! She seemed genuinely bothered that someone (other than her) was getting Mommy’s attention and affection. But then again, she’s been bothered before by Mommy and Daddy hugging in the kitchen after work. She wants to be included in all hugs and kisses. She has heard us talk about “baby” and “baby sister” but she is not yet 2 years old. She doesn’t understand there is a baby in Mommy’s belly. And she doesn’t understand why we keep taking pictures of it – since it can’t say “CHEESE” like she can!

I was delighted to take maternity photos in a nearby park recently. I feel my most beautiful when I’m pregnant. I think a big pregnant belly is amazing and natural and am happy to lock these memories in time with photos. I wish I had more photos of my mother, aunts, and grandmothers when they were expecting. Pregnant women just seem to put off a positive and warm energy. People are drawn to them and their glow!

I don’t want to remember the back aches or tired days of being pregnant. I’d be happy to forget the leg cramps, heartburn, and sleepless nights. However, I’m happy to remember the sweet moments I’ve shared with our unborn daughter already… when Daddy felt her for the first time, or when I sing to her, or when my firstborn rests her head on my growing belly, or when I’m reading my firstborn a book at bedtime and baby starts moving with familiar joy, showing me that she’s listening and learning already.

I’ll never forget my baby shower, and when my niece and nephew, ages 5 and 3, came up and gave her (my belly) a kiss at the same time. It was a great photo opp and they seemed genuinely interested in the new family addition. I’ll also never forget being at a family event recently and getting to pose and take pictures with my best friend, my first cousin, who’s also pregnant at the same time as me! We grew up together and were thrilled to touch our naked bellies (shirts lifted) for the paparazzi.

As I think about the life growing inside me, I wonder about a woman’s capacity for love. How much love can one person give out and what happens when that love has to be divided? Will I still be able to show my husband the love and attention he needs and deserves? Will my firstborn feel neglected or jealous of Mommy’s shared attention? Will I be able to give and show enough love to our new baby, even on days when I’m tired and focused on several other people or tasks? My firstborn got so much attention and one-on-one time with Mommy from the very beginning. I quit my job to stay home with her and bonding was natural and easy. Will it be the same with this new baby? Will she feel loved and appreciated enough? Will I feel like a successful, well read mother, or will I doubt myself and question whether I’m doing enough or giving enough love? I hope I’m able to show all my family members just how much I love them. And I hope I am able to keep my sanity in tact at home with two babies 2 years old and younger!

You can read more of Bitty Mama’s Birth Journey by…

…turning back to read more about what she is doing to prepare for this birth… Preparations

…reading the next page, how she feels as labor draws near… Almost There 

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Posted in Growing Anticipation

Oct 16

Natural Birth Stories | Birth Center Birth | Michelle F | Decisions, Decisions

Two years after making the decision to have a natural birth, we had moved to Portland, Oregon (AKA birth choices capital of the US).  After becoming pregnant, we had discovered not only can midwives deliver in hospitals, but there are multiple birth centers as well!

I made 2 appointments, one with a midwife at a hospital, and another with a midwife at my birth center.  The hospital midwife (although a midwife), still felt very hospital-oriented and I feared it would be very similar to my previous hospital experience because they would still be bound by the hospital’s guidelines.

My husband came with me to the birth center for our orientation, and the moment we walked in, it felt right.  It was so relaxed.  The midwife asked us questions and answered all of ours while we sat on couches in an oversized room.  I had a lot of anxiety about birth (especially at the beginning) but once we met our birth team, things started to improve.

My husband and I went back to our car, held hands, and knew that *they* were going to be our practioners, and that *this* experience was going to be better, because of their support.

You can read more of Michelle F’s Birth Journey by…
…turning back to read why she chose a natural birth…Why Natural?
…reading the next page, a little bit more about her prenatal appointments during pregnancy…Preparations

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Posted in Birth Stories, Growing Anticipation

Oct 15

Natural Birth Stories | Birth Center Birth | Sabrina S | Growing Anticipation

Since this is my third birth there aren’t really any surprises about my body changes. I do feel huge and since I’m almost 40 weeks now I’m having a lot of discomfort and am ready for the baby to get here. Overall I feel pretty good and really have felt pretty good most of the pregnancy. I am ready to be through with the aches that come at this point though!

You can read more of Sabrina’s Birth Journey by…


…turning back to read more about what she is doing to prepare for this birth…Preparations

…reading the next page, how she feels as labor draws near…Almost There 

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Posted in Birth Center Births, Growing Anticipation