How I plan on using Hypnobabies for childbirth

I first want to apologize, I had every intention of doing a recap after every week of my Hypnobabies course. Things got so busy it just never happened. I have loved listening to the CD's every night and practicing the techniques I will be using on my birthing day. I feel so calm and confident about giving birth. The main thing Hypnobabies does is train your subconscious to think in a different, positive way. After listening to the Fear Clearing Session the other night I am even more ready.

Here are some possibilities on how I plan on using Hypnobabies during my birthing time. I also put together a little cheat sheet The Captain can refer to throughout our birthing time.

Once I start feeling regular pressure waves (contractions) I will know that my birthing time has begun or could be coming really soon. I will get something to eat and drink if it is daytime or I will go to sleep if it is night time. If things fizzle out I may do some chores to keep me busy, like bake brownies for the nurses at the hospital. Try and win them over with sweets.

While I am doing things or resting in bed I will put on the "Birthing Day Affirmations" track aloud or with headphones, if The Captain is sleeping. This track is meant to help me stay positive and get in the right mindset. I am not supposed to listen to this track until after 38 weeks, it has very suggestive language and can send me into labor early.

If things are indeed progressing then I can put on the "Fear Clearing" track I mentioned above. It is meant to help address and release any fears or concerns that are still lingering about. HypnoBabies suggests listening to this track early to quell any anxiety or issues that might slow your labor. We are planning on laboring as long as we can at home before heading to the hospital, since that is where I will be the most comfortable. I do plan on laboring in the tub, but not delivering, at the hospital but you can't get into the tub until you are 5 cm.

One of my favorite tracks is titled "Relax Me" and that is exactly what it does. I may listen to this while The Captain is packing the car. I can cycle through any of the CD tracks that I feel comfortable with as my pressure waves get stronger and closer together. Once I need to begin to consciously relax through them I will then turn to using my finger-drop technique using cue words like "release" and "peace" and moving my mental light switch to the off position.

Hypnobabies teaches you to imagine a light switch on the back of your neck. When it is in the off position it creates a conditioned response that allows me to instantly enter a deep state of hypnosis and relaxation. Sensations of pain are reduced or eliminated. If I want to open my eyes and move around I turn the switch to the center position and I can now move freely.

I will visualize and tell my body to open, open, open and that I welcome each pressure wave, which brings me closer to meeting my son.

At this point I may not know what I need, whether it be music, quiet or a specific track. I may want The Captain to read me a script. It's hard to say, we will have to just roll with it.

I have a "Pushing Baby Out" track that should be listened to aloud once it comes time to push. I will preview it so I know what is on it before the big day.

Just like athletes mentally prepare for any big game or competition, childbirth is no different. It is as much mental work as it is physical. I'm going to pull a cheesy quote out for you "What the mind can believe, the body can achieve"

I can't wait to meet my son! Only a few weeks left to go!

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37 Weeks!

The cramping I have been feeling was me dilating to 1 cm! My cervix is still long so no effacement yet but I would say that is pretty good progress for 5 days. When we went on Friday last week my cervix was still posterior, closed, hard, and long. Things are happening. I know I can stay this way for awhile but I am 1 cm closer to meeting our little boy.

Because of the Captain's work schedule our next appointment isn't until next Friday, I wonder if we will make it to that appointment. We have several votes for June 2nd. Care to take any guesses?

Best Moment of the week: Besides today's appointment, it was baby sitting on Sunday and watching The Captain play with his God-Daughter for hours.

Epiphany of the week: I need to take a tour of the hospital or at least find out what door we have to go to.

Entertaining question/comment of the week: I am in the kitchen making lunch for me and Zoey and I hear The Captain talking to her in the living room, he's saying "Mommy's getting your lunch ready". I peak my head around the corner and say "um hun, I'm not her Mommy". He says "oh duh, I guess I can't wait to say that". Ah melt!

Obsessions: Am I dilating today? Have I effaced any? Maybe I should try evening primrose oil or how about bouncing on the birthing ball?

What I am most looking forward to this week: Friday's appointment. 

 

What I miss the most: Not really anything except that my belly didn't use to rest on my legs when I sit down. :)

Symptoms: Edema, back ache, sore joints, urinating more frequently and the skin under my breasts feels like it has been rubbed raw. I think it is from him keeping a foot there.

Milestones: Baby's now the size of a watermelon!
Your full-term (yay!) baby is gaining about 1/2 ounce a day and getting his first sticky poop (called meconium) ready. He's also brushing up on skills for the outside world: blinking, sucking, inhaling, exhaling, and gripping (it's getting strong!) *Courtesy of TheBump.com

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Pre-labor or Early Labor?

Yesterday and now this morning I keep having stomach or menstrual type cramps on and off. I sometimes feel like I need to go to the bathroom but then I don't need to go. I am wondering if this is because he is engaging or are these pre-labor pains? I have been having BH contractions for weeks but these feel different. I go back to get checked tomorrow for my 37 week appointment. I can't help but smile through them though if this means things are getting started. I know I can be this way for weeks or days but that just means I am this much closer to meeting our son! 

Hip Hip Hooray!!

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Weekend update

Saturday - I didn't do a dang thing all day. Well, that's not true, I ran to Joann's for some fabric. It was so nice just being lazy and relaxing all day. I tried really hard not to feel guilty about getting some much needed rest. I could sit for hours with my feet propped up, just feeling the baby move and talking to him. I am still amazed by him everyday! I can't wait until he gets here to kiss those tiny feet and hands. I want to pat the little butt that has been sticking out for the last month or so.

Sunday - The Captain was off yesterday and we had such a good day just spending time together. We rarely get time off at the same time. We got to babysit our 9 month old God-Daughter, Zoey, yesterday from about noon till 5:00. Originally The Captain said he was going to go work on his boat during that time but when he woke up, he just sat on the floor with her and played for hours. He even put together Baby P's jogging stroller so that I could take her for a walk. (I don't think anything of Baby P's is not going to be broken in by Zoey. I sure hope they share well when he is here.) He even fed her her lunch. He is going to be such a wonderful father. I loved watching him interact with her and try to get her to crawl.

Once her parents picked her up we were able to make a trip to Target and get the remaining items we need for our hospital bags. Now all I have to do is finishing putting the stuff in the bags and we are ready to go to the hospital anytime.

I don't know if it was because I rested all day Saturday or maybe I am starting to nest a bit but I had so much energy yesterday. I didn't even feel like I needed a nap. Gasp! Maybe things are ready to get started down there? I know he has dropped significantly over the last few days cause I can bend over a heck of a lot easier.

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36 weeks!

What?! Only 28 more days! Where has the time gone? I think these next few weeks are going to go by so slow. My 36 week check up is on Friday and I can't wait to see if she is planning on checking me. I feel like he has dropped some because I have way more pressure on my bladder and pelvis than before. I have been having what I thought were Braxton Hicks but according to the doula, that taught our birth classes, they were regular pressure waves (contractions). She said if your entire belly gets hard it is a regular one, if only parts are hard then it is BH. Interesting. 

Our bags are almost completely packed. I have a few more things to pick up from the store. She gave me some great advice on snacks to bring that I didn't think of. 1) Don't bring anything you want to see a second time. 2) Don't pack anything for hubby that you do not want to smell (I am regretting buying him energy drinks because they make me nauseous smelling them). 3) honey sticks or packets are great for keeping your energy up. 4) Dum Dum lollipops are good because the sugar will give you energy and there is a pressure point on the roof of your mouth that helps induce labor.

Best Moment of the week: My mom hired a cleaning lady to come every two weeks until July. I can't wait to get home tonight to a scrubbed clean house. Is it wrong to pay someone else to nest for you?

Epiphany of the week: Always, always go pee before you leave the house because you will absolutely, without fail have to go half way to your destination.

Entertaining question/comment of the week: It's 2:00 am and I get up to go to the bathroom for the hundredth time and I can barely walk. My hips are locked up and it is painful. The Captain asks if everything is alright and I tell him "my hips are hurting". I make it to the bathroom and he rushes in and says, "Are you dilating?" I just had to chuckle and tell him to go back to bed.

Obsessions: Washing and putting away all the cloth diapers. My good friend, Kerry, Hi Kerry!, gave me all of her cloth diapers from her first baby! My stash is complete now I have 35 diapers as of now.

What I am most looking forward to this week: Friday's appointment. What am I not looking forward to? The scale!

What I miss the most: Sleeping on my back or tummy, just another position besides side lying.

Symptoms: Edema, back ache, sore joints, urinating more frequently and the skin under my breasts feels like it has been rubbed raw. I think it is from him keeping a foot there.

Milestones: Baby's skin is getting smooth and soft, his gums are rigid, his liver and kidneys are in working order, and his circulation and immune system are basically good to go. His lungs are the only organs that still need to fully mature, but every day he gets a little closer to breathing on his own. *Courtesy of TheBump.com

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Maternity Pictures - group 2

* Updated - I am not sure if the first post of pictures ever posted, you can find the post here. 


Here are the rest of the maternity pictures. I am in love with them! I can't wait to get the hi-res images so I can get some printed.

 

P.S. This is my 250th post!

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The star of this blog...

This blog helped me get through our infertility struggles more than I ever thought possible. Now a days it has taken a different direction, with less venting about heartache, bitterness and disappointment it is about joy, happiness and a certain little boy growing away. I want to be able to look back and read over these posts to remember every moment of this pregnancy. I am not naive I know this maybe our only pregnancy, maybe not. That is up to God. So from now on the star of this blog is Baby P. 

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Cloth Diaper stash

Our cloth diapering stash has begun to increase! Thanks to my friends and my awesome Mom.

We registered for some Bum Genius 4.0 All-in-ones (I call these Daddy Diapers), which we received a few of but my main stash is coming from GoGreen Pocket Diapers. You can peruse their website here. The reason I am going with GoGreen the most is because one of my best friends uses their cloth diapers and she raves about them. They are half the cost of some of the more popular brands like, BumGenius, Fuzzibunz and G-Diapers. GoGreen Pocket Diapers range from $8.99-$14.99 for the new Champ versus $20-30 for the other brands. I have changed quite a few of her little girls pocket diapers and must say I love them.

Last night the owner of GoGreen announced on Face.book that she had new inventory and a new version of her diapers called The Champ 2.0. I have been waiting weeks for her to get inventory again. All she had left were girl colors and prints, I don't think she has quite gathered how popular her diapers are yet. Anyway I called my Mom and let her know and she said "I want to order you 10, here's my credit card number". Wow, thanks Mom! We now have a total of 15 diapers but still need a few more to be able to go more than one day without doing laundry. So far, personally, I have only spent about $75.00 on diapers that will last me until he is potty trained. I'd say that is a pretty good deal. Of course I still want to buy quite a few more diapers so that number will increase but it will in no way reach what we would spend in disposables.

I can't wait to put him in his new diapers and start writing more about our experience. Now all I need is some laundry detergent so I can wash all these new diapers.

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Maternity pics :)

Well I can cross one thing off my to-do list and that is take maternity pictures. My wonderful brother-in-law asked his roommate, who is a professional photographer, if we would do it for us. He basically charged us nothing in the world of photography. We went yesterday and I already have all the proofs and edited photos. I want to show you a little sneak of how they turned out, I am really happy with them. It was important for me to get this done since there is no guarantee I will ever get to experience this again. I want to immortalize this moment in our lives forever. The Captain was right when he said that once we got pregnant there would be so much joy that all the pain is in the past. That is true even though I still live with it everyday it is not at the forefront of my emotions anymore. Everyday I get a little bit stronger and count the months since I haven't cried.

Happy Mother's Day to all you new mommies, veteran mommies and mommies to be!

P.S. I got a Coach purse from The Captain! He knows me all too well. . .

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34 weeks! (and one day)

I didn't get to post yesterday since I was out of town for work all day. When I got home all I wanted to do was sleep. That is a recurring theme these days, I get home from work and sleep for about an hour. I am tired, dog tired. Dog. Tired.

Monday night The Captain and I went to BRU to pick up a few of the last big items we need. We had such a good time running around the store, I think he was a little less over whelmed this time. We had to get our stroller, his car seat base, the infant swing and a glider. Of course we waited too long to go get the stroller and it was discontinued in the store, only available on-line, so we tested them out all over again. I actually like the one we picked better than the first one. I now have three huge boxes in my living room, I am currently realizes how much stuff one little person needs. Where do I put this stuff?

I love to go into his room and just imagine him using his crib and his toys and dressing him in all the cute clothes we have collected. I can't wait until next month!

Best Moment of the week: Shopping for our little guy together.

Epiphany of the week: If I do not put my feet up at the end of the day they are balloons. and they HURT!

Entertaining question/comment of the week: "How far along are you? 5 months?" The best compliment so far and when I told the clerk I was 8 1/2 months pregnant her face was priceless. 

Obsessions: Still obsessing over my to-do list and the overwhelming pile of laundry to be washed. Scary!

What I am most looking forward to this week: Mother's Day! I am still in shock that I get to celebrate this year. It has been a long time coming. This holiday was one of the darkest days of the past few years.

What I miss the most: My ankles. . .

Symptoms: I hate to sound like I am about to complain about this pregnancy because I love every single second of being pregnant, even the miserable ones. There are things that have started changing that are not so comfortable and I just need to be real about it. The swelling in my feet and ankles is slowing moving up my legs, the skin is so tight it's painful. I am hot all the time, all the time. My joints hurt, even my finger joints. How is it possible to have to pee every half hour or less all day long?

Milestones: Baby can recognize and react to simple songs...time to start practicing your lullabies! In fact, baby will recognize frequently sung tunes after birth and probably find them soothing. Less cute news: He now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready! *Courtesy of TheBump.com

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