Braxton Hicks
So I think I’m having Braxton Hicks contractions. Absolutely the weirdest feeling: my belly tightens up until I could bounce a quarter off it. No pain at all, or even discomfort. Just tightness.
And my belly hasn’t been tight since I was approximately 14.
It’s weird and sort of scary in a “this is new!” kind of way, but according to doctor Google, it’s also perfectly normal for where I am. It’s happening every day or so, but rarely more than once a day (that I notice, anyway.) It’s made me more aware of drinking more water, so that’s good; and it’s made me more aware of the fact that mighty Thor is a’growing and my body’s getting ready to expel him eventually, via a process which I will have very little control over.
Yep. Time to start thinking hard about labor and delivery.
I’m planning to go tour the hospital in June, and I’m going to start the hypnobabies at-home study course soon. I’ve checked out the intervention statistics for my OB’s hospital (ugly, but not hideous) and have been pleasantly surprised by some of said statistics and unpleasantly surprised by others. I have decided against using my doctor’s nurse as a doula, and unfortunately, my college roommate’s doula certification is not yet complete, so that option’s out. I think I might just go this one sans assistant (other than the Boy, of course.) I don’t know if this is the right decision, but it’s a decision, which is better than the half-hearted waffling I’ve been engaged in up to this point. I’m not yet sure how we’re going to deal with the dog while I’m at the hospital – if the boy has to bail on my laboring to go walk the dog I’m going to be cranky-Sprogblogger. I’m not yet sure if we’re planning on him driving me, catching a taxi, or asking a neighbor to drive us there in my car (so we don’t have to spend Thor’s college tuition on multi-day parking in Manhattan – again, see the note about me not wanting the Boy to leave my laboring side to attend to errands…)
But otherwise? Otherwise I think I’m feeling ok about all this. It helps that I only have about 2 more months of work before my enforced “maternity leave”. It helps that I’m really looking forward to a serious bout of nesting, come August, wherein I expect to get all sorts of crazy about all the stuff I haven’t been worrying about to date.
In other “aint this changing body thing strange?” news, I had a bit of a gurgly gut last night, only the gurgling was coming from my ribcage, not my belly. Everything really has shifted around in there.
Thor’s still my little dancing man, and even though he woke me up in the wee hours of the night, it was a relief, because I hadn’t felt him moving when I laid down to sleep (usually the time he gets the most active.) And I’m greedy now, and expect constant reassurance, and get cranky and scared when I’m not getting it.
There he is – tap tap tapping at me. And again. And again. Blessed reassurance. Dancing baby. Wonderful, wonderful, dancing baby.
Even though your college roommate is not finished with her certification she may be in a program that requires that she have so many hours of deliveries under her belt, so to speak as part of her program, so if you are interested in having her her there, even as a friend or as your extra support person, then I would recommend it. If you feel that she would be confident to back you up should you need it and be able to support you through the process then, I am sure that she would be grateful for the experience.
That way you can have the best of both, a friend and a doula. Or you could look into hiring her instructor with the condition that your friend be part must be part of the package.
When I was in nursing school I was always willing to help and assist those friends and family who were ill and or hospitalized. Not only because they were friends and family, but because it was good experience for me and helped to insure that they got good care.
I know what you mean about the gurgling. It’s so weird when it comes from so high up. So happy to be going through pregnancy with you!
If I didn’t feel movement for a while, I’d start poking the poor baby to try to make her move. Didn’t always work, but usually I got something out of her. Sad when my first thought at 5am when waking was that I haven’t felt her in a while, hope nothing’s wrong!
I enjoy reliving my own pregnancy through yours. I never had one contraction (that I felt anyway), Braxton-Hicks or otherwise. And, because I was having a scheduled c-section, I didn’t have to think much about giving birth or birth plan (although I did have some requirements in the OR).
It is thrilling to me, to only have “known” you a short time, and to be so excited about all your planning, and hoping, and dreaming. Fun times!
I am going to be different…and say skip the doula if your husband is a good support person…mine got on my nerves and I had to ask her to leave!
Susan Reply:
May 22nd, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Yes! That’s exactly what I’m afraid of! I figure I’m not at all shy about expressing myself, I’m relatively well-educated about what I might be offered & why I might not – or might – want to avail myself of those offerings, and to have yet another person in there telling me what to do? Pfffft.
I decided against a Doula as well. Although now I think I shall have someone for the first week home from the hospital as long as they are not too annoying. Since your guy has been through this I can only think he will know what to do and be a great help?
Still go.lowing younevery post and so excited that you are starting to think about labor and delivery. I say definitely have your college roommate there. Especially if the boy likes her. Doula can be good for you and the boy. Especially to provide so,e reassurance that what you are going throng is normal when the boy thinks you are in pain. Not sure if he had experienced natural childbirth previously?
Anyway so so excited for you. Even though I don’t always comment. I love readi g your posts when am up in the middle if the night with crying babies!
Good for you for making decisions!!! and for Thor being a dancer!