31 weeks and the Birth Partner

31 Weeks

How Will You Feel? (Questions taken from The Birth Partner - Penny Simkin)
For a realistic idea of how the situations and feelings you may encounter as a birth partner...

How will I feel when...

- She asks me to take time off to go to prenatal appointments with her?
- She tells me that we are signed up for 12 to 18 hours of child birth classes?
- She asks me to read this book or others?
- During prelabor or early labor, she wakes up moaning every 15 to 20 minutes during the night, and I am very tired?
- She does not accept my suggestions for relaxation or coping?
- I get tired or hungry, but she needs my help with every contraction?
- The nurse is annoying or upsetting her?
- She expresses discouragement ("This is so hard," "I can't keep on," "How much longer?" "Don't make me do this").
- She vomits or needs to vomit?
- She is in pain and begins to cry, grimace, and tense her muscles?
- She criticizes me ("Not like that," "Don't touch me," "Don't breathe in my face," "Don't leave me").
- She tells me, "I want an epidural"?
- She needs me to press hard on her back with every contraction, until my arms ache?
- We are told that a cesarean will be necessary?
- Her caregiver says, "Look here! The baby's head is starting to come"?
- The baby slides out, wrinkled, soaking wet, streaked with blood, and crying?
- I am asked if I want to cut the cord?
- The little squirming bundled baby is handed to me to hold and cuddle?
- The new mother looks at me and says, "I couldn't have done it without you"?

Nesting part II: homeade nursing pads

I am learning to sew (thanks to my sewing teacher, my mom). With that comes fun projects and saving money. A good friend of mine showed me a few months ago how she made some re-usable nursing pads out of old t-shirts and anything absorbent around the house. Just a week or so ago I began collecting items that I could use in my attempt to make my own. I am pretty excited about the outcome and have been making tons to give to my other mommy friends. It is a strange thing to admit that I am looking forward to putting these to good use...leaky boobs I am prepared for you!! Below are some websites that I based my pattern off of...other women have gone before me, so why re-create?!

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/04/homemade-nursing-pads.html
http://dragoknit.blogspot.com/2009/01/nursing-pad-tutorial.html
http://diymaternity.com/accessories/how-to-make-nursing-pads-with-free-pattern/

Nesting is for REAL!

I have heard others speak of this thing called "nesting." There is something real and powerful about maternal instincts when it comes to preparing for their young. To be honest, the first 4 months of pregnancy I was content with having a corner in our room with diapers, crib, and such. I always thought it unnecessary and strange to dedicate a whole room to a baby and call it a nursery. But as the months went on, something in me knew that there was much more that needed to happen in preparing emotionally, physically, and even spiritually for our son. I embrace that every woman is different and our nesting instincts may show up differently for each of us. For me cleaning, organizing, reading, getting his room ready, sewing, and cooking/baking (so domestic eh?) have been ways for me to prepare for our future family. God's grace has been more obvious to me as I recognize the progression and process of what it means to grow and prepare for a baby. Two significant phrases for me the last few months have been "Let it be" and "You don't know what you don't know!" It is a beautiful thing to let things be what they are and embrace the maternal instincts that I have been created with.


My mom, bless her, has been helping me (doing all the work actually)

Consignment, craigslist, and freecycle finds. Good friends have gifted us with fun clothes!!

Mom 2.0: Defining A Movement