Friday Top 5 - Things We're Looking Forward to After the Baby is Born

Kathryn:

The top 5 things I'm looking forward to after the baby is born are always the 5 most anxiety-causing parts of pregnancy for me. I hate the unknown, or being unprepared for things, and everyone who has had a baby before will tell you that nothing can prepare you for how life will change when your first child is born. So as excited as I am for all the changes that are coming, I am feeling a little anxious about all of the unknown things. Here’s my list of the top 5 things I’m looking forward to after the baby is born:

1. Being a mother – and everything that comes along with it. Just seeing, holding, caring for and loving that little baby and knowing that he or she is mine, that he or she is a product of the love between me and my husband, is a feeling I can’t wait to experience.

2. Finding out if it’s a boy or girl and seeing what he / she looks like. I have spent countless hours lying in bed dreaming of this little baby. I imagine naming him or her, dressing him or her and, more than anything else, that moment when the doctor says, “It’s a ___!”

3. Being done labour – I’m pretty scared for labour. Not only the pain that is inevitable, but all the unknown that goes along with it. Will the baby be healthy? Will there be complication? Will I have a short or long labour? Can I make it without getting an epidural? I’m really looking forward to all that being done and over-with!

4. Sleeping on my back / rolling over in bed – I know I can’t realistically say I’m looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep, because everyone knows that wont happen, but I am looking forward to being comfortable in bed. I'm a back-sleeper, so I’m excited to sleep on my back again. But I'm now finding it difficult to even roll from one side to the other now that my stomach muscles are less-than-functional.

5. Breastfeeding – Another brand new experience for me as a first time mom. I'm really looking forward to that special bonding time between baby and me, even if it can often be difficult at first. I'm determined to push through the beginning stages and to do what’s best for me and for my baby!

Natasha:

#1 - Finding out if it's a boy or a girl. The suspense is killing me now!!! On a visit to labor and delivery a few weeks ago, the basinnette in my room had a pink and a blue knit hat in it, which is what they do when they don't know which gender you're having. It made it so much more real to me that in only a few short weeks, a nurse is going to put one of those little hats on my baby! Which one will it be??

#2 - Introducing the baby to the kids. They are all so excited about this baby, and have been very involved in my pregnancy right from the start. I remember always begging my parents to have another baby when I was a kid (what kid doesn't do that??) so it's fun for me to watch especially the older ones be excited for a new baby. 

#3 - Being able to take a deep breath. I can't believe I still have eight more weeks of growing to do! As this baby gets bigger the space inside my belly gets more and more cramped. I often have trouble breathing and finding a comfortable position to sit in, and as much as I love feeling the baby move around inside of me I have to say that I really can't wait to be able to sit and watch TV with my husband, and be comfortable.

#4 - The late nights. This one surprises me, but I have this stupid, romantic feeling whenever I think about being up in the night with this baby. I remember it so fondly with my last little one, and I've done it enough times now to know that it passes quickly, and so instead of dreading it I am looking forward to it. My current baby awoke in the middle of the night for the first time in forever the other day, and rocking him to sleep and looking at his little sleepy face reminded me that once upon a time, we did that almost every night. There is something so peaceful in the magical combination of a sleeping household and having a baby all to yourself that makes being awake so worth it.

#5 - Enjoying food. As the baby grows, heartburn is setting in for me. And while I am able to enjoy food so much more now than I did in my first trimester, I usually end up paying for whatever I eat not long after it makes its way through my crowded inner system. I keep gum closeby and chew it constantly (one of the best heartburn tips I've ever gotten!) and that seems to keep it at bay. But I do have to say I am looking forward to that day in the near future when I can indulge in a really delicious meal and not have it come back to haunt me!

Friday Top 5 - Things to Bring to the Hospital

Kathryn:

I really feel like I have no idea what to expect when it comes to labour (probably because I really DON’T know what to expect!). So I’ve made a top 5 list of things to bring to the hospital, but it’s all based on what I THINK I will need or want. I’m sure by baby #2 my list will change!

1. My Husband - Right now I can’t imagine doing it without him. When I get scared or anxious the thought of him being there with me to help me through calms most of my fears.

2. Music - Relaxing praise and worship music can get my mind of just about anything. For the early part of labour I plan to listen to music on my ipod to keep my mind off the pain of contractions. (My rosary will go hand-in-hand with this, as it helps me to relax and to focus).

3. Fan - I HATE being hot! In some of the labour stories Ive heard the woman has said that one of the most uncomfortable parts in early labour was being too hot. I feel like that’s going to be me, so I plan to have a fan (and lots of cold water or ice) on hand to help with that discomfort.

4. Camera - I think this one’s obvious. I want pictures, and lots of them, as soon as our little one arrives!

5. Pyjamas - I don’t plan on wearing the hospital gowns (Johnny Shirts) at all, if I can avoid it. I’ve got lots of nighties, housecoats and slippers ready to come to the hospital with me. 

Natasha:

#1. My husband. This may seem obvious, and of course he'll be there, but if possible it's my hope that he will travel to the hospital with me, and not have to meet me there. It's always been the case that I've gone into labor while he's been home, meaning he is around to help get the kids ready and help me get to the hospital, and I can't imagine needing to do that without him. We live 45 minutes away from the hospital, so if I ever did go into labor while he was at work I would probably get a neighboor to come stay with the kids until Jeff's parents could make it over, and I would need to call an ambulance to take me in. Which, naturally, I hope I never need to do. 

#2. Comfy day clothes. I HATE Johnny shirts! If you look back at my post-delivery pictures for any baby, you will see me in jeans and a t-shirt. Not because I'm some kind of superwoman, but because I really don't feel comfortable in hospital getup (especially when people are coming to visit me and the baby). They need to be loose fitting (since I won't be back to my pre-pregnancy size yet) and easy to nurse in (yay!) but - they need to be my own, and not hospital-issued.

#3. A list of phone numbers for people to call. Of course there are people whose numbers I won't forget, and people (like siblings) that other people will look after calling for me (God bless them!) But there are always a few people that I don't know numbers for off the top of my head (like my best friend's work number) that I want to make sure I have, for the calls I want to make myself. This time around we're going to use texting more than we did before too, because my poor husband felt like he missed the first hour of baby #5's life by being on the phone from the moment he was born to deliver the happy news! We'll likely text right away, and then make our calls in the evening when we've had a chance to bond with the baby and process the day's events.

#4. New pj's. My Mom bought me a new pair of pj's when I was expecting my first baby, and I've kept it up ever since. It's so nice on that first evening in the hospital, after a crazy-long day where your body when through some pretty miraculous (albeit, messy) feats, to slip on a crisp, new pair of comfortable clothes and settle into that first blissful evening processing the fact that your little one can now snuggle with you from the outside.

#5. The Rosary. Okay, so I rarely have the actual beads with me (my fingers do the trick!). But the rosary is my go-to prayer when I am nervous or can't sleep. And for me it takes on special significance in childbirth. I never really had a strong devotion to Mary until I had children of my own, because with everything that a normal birth entails I couldn't even imagine how much more intense hers would have been knowing she was bringing our Saviour into the world (not to mention conceiving out of wedlock in a time where people were put to death for that, and the knowledge of the life of suffering her Son would lead). It made her "Yes" so much more profound for me. I usually have a hard time sleeping in the hours before the baby is born after I arrive at the hospital, and I count on Mary for comfort and grace to be as strong and holy as she was in my own circumstance (which is so much less demanding than hers).

Friday Top 5 - Sources of Pregnancy Wisdom

Kathryn:  As a first time mom-to-be, I seek advice and wisdom anywhere I can get it – books, tv, internet, friends, coworkers and even strangers! It seems like I’m meeting new challenges and changes every day, but I’ve been very blessed with wonderful women in my life to help me through all the challenges I face. Here’s my top 5 list of sources of pregnancy wisdom:

1. Mom – I don’t think I’ve ever called my mom as much as I do now that I’m pregnant. Every little ache, pain or question I have she’s always there with advice. I’ve especially enjoyed learning about what her pregnancies and labours were like. So far my pregnancy has been exactly like hers were. And seeing as her labours were short and babies small – which helps to ease my labour fears! Lots of advice has come from my mother-in-law and sister-in-law too, which has been very helpful and a new sort of bonding experience with both of them.

2. Baby Centre – I have the BabyCentre App on my phone, which gives me daily updates on my baby’s growth and development, changes in my body, and tips/advice for dealing with pregnancy. The website has also been a great resource for research questions, concerns, aches and pains, as they arise

3. Natasha / friends – Seeing as Natasha has already done this 5 times, and that she and I are doing the blog together, she’s been a huge source of pregnancy wisdom. Other friends have been there to offer advice as well, but none quite have the experience she does. Her friendship has been invaluable throughout this pregnancy!

4. Laureen – My massage therapist, who has two young children, has been a huge help. Not only do my massages relax me, but the long chats with her have taught me a lot about preparing for a baby and taking care of my body. The biggest I’ve gotten from her was the suggestion of a babysitter. We went to meet her babysitter this week, and we loved her! She lives in our area, is affordable and speaks Spanish! We are so thankful for that contribution from her!

5. Prenatal Class – this may seem like a given, but prenatal class has been a HUGE source of pregnancy wisdom! After only 2 weeks I feel like I’ve learned more about labour and delivery than I did from all of my reading and talking to other in the last 6 months! The best part of the class is that my husband is there with me, learning the same things I am (which isn’t as easy when it comes to talking to friends or reading a book). It’s been a great learning and bonding experience for us both and getting us very excited for the arrival of our baby!

Natasha: 


1.  My definite, number one source of pregnancy (and parenting) information is my mother, and my mother-in-law.  There are no two women who are more closely linked to the journey I am taking than these two, no one who could be a better predictor of how my pregnancies and babies are most likely to be, and no two women I trust more than these two.  Particularly when facing something I haven't faced before, it's nice to have someone to call and say, "did this ever happen to you?" or "how did you handle this?" 

2.  My doctors.  I only actually have one doctor, but my mother also works for a doctor, and the two are invaluable resources when it comes to any of my medical questions, pregnancy-related or otherwise.  I have the amazing (and rare) blessing of having a family doctor who delivers babies, and she has delivered every one of my five children.  We have an excellent relationship between her, me and my husband, and I am more confident in her medical advice than just about anyones. (As an aside, there is a possibility that I may not be able to have my GP deliver this baby because it is pregnancy #6 - I would really appreciate your prayers in this regard.  I can't imagine having someone different at the helm of my birthing team!)  My mother's boss is usually just a phone call away, and always very eager to give sound, level-headed advice that I trust.  So when I can't reach my own physician, he is the one I check in with.

3.  "What to Expect When You're Expecting".  Over the years my friends have given me a hard time when they see this book laying around my house.  "Do you really still need to read that book?" they often ask.  YES!!!  I devour it chapter by chapter when I am expecting!  It is full of practical pregnancy information, and there is a surprising amount of information you forget, even when it's your sixth time around. 

4.  Babycenter.com.  I have subscribed to Babycenter's weekly pregnancy updates since my very first pregnancy, and they are the first source I look to when I type a pregancy-related question into an online search engine. 

5. Other "grand-multips" (women who have had six or more babies).  Especially Catholic ones, and especially homeschooling ones. I am sort of in unchartered territory in average social circles, and I am fortunate enough to know a good number of holy, Catholic women who are the mothers of very large families, and have played a foundational role in my own family life, even before I got married.  I wish I had time to have weekly tea with any one of these women, but sadly this is not the case.  And yet, the small amount of time I do spend with them, maybe even only once or twice a year greatly affirms and strengthens me in my conviction that what I am doing is worthwhile.  I get so much encouragement when I ask one of them, "how did you make it through such-and-such" and they say, "oh boy, just by the skin of my teeth!" Because it shows me that these women are no different than me, and struggled the same way I do.  What I see and admire in them are the fruits of a lifetime of laboring for the good of their family, walking the same road I am walking.