The days are rolling by so ridiculously quickly at the moment, I seriously can't keep up. One minute I was back in Australia lapping up the big wide streets, hanging out at Balmoral and chatting to the family about Jean-Pierre Chang Holmewood (our French/Chinese/Australian nick-name for our baby), and the next, I'm sitting here at my dining table in Honkers with the sun streaming in and a cool breeze blowing, 2 weeks since my last blog post (gulp), 3 weeks since I got back from Sydney, having already welcomed and farewelled my first of many visitors. I mean, where the hell does the time go? LOTS has been going on since I got back from Aus..... Here's the lowdown, in a list. 'Cause I love me a list.....- JP Chang is happy and healthy in the belly and already 2kg, with a slightly big head. Which basically means we're looking at a front row forward of a baby. Oh yeah, I'm excited about pushing that out. I got a scan on Tuesday (you get one every time you visit the doctor here) and I was lying with my hand behind my head watching the ultrasound, and wouldn't you know it, little JP Chang was doing the same!! Hand behind head, chilling out, just like his mama. Too cute ;)
- We started our ante-natal classes the other day and I looooved it. We've chosen to bypass the medical-based (let me sell you an epidural for $400,000 million) hospital classes and try Calmbirth classes instead. The concept was initiated by an Australian midwife a few years back and the philosophy is based on dispelling feelings of fear and tension which actually inhibit the labour process, and empowering parents-to-be with the knowledge and tools they need to get through the birth naturally, i.e. no drugs. Now I'm not being narrow-minded thinking I will definitely be able to get through it sans chemical (especially considering there is a 90% epidural rate and 55% caesarean rate here in Honkers) but I've done my research, spoken to lots of people and am really keen to try to experience labour as it was intended. The philosophy of breathing through it, keeping as calm and relaxed and focused as possible really resonates with me. It sits so well alongside all the yoga I've done over the years and has already got me excited about giving it a go! Who knows how it will end up but it feels good to be thinking about it this way.....
- We are now officially broke. Well not really, but that's how it feels. The weekend we got back from Sydney, we went to our local baby store and bought up big. And I mean biiiiiiigggg. Cot, pram, car seat, change table, baby bath, baby bjorn.....you name it, we bought it, all in one hit. After two and a half hours there, we then somehow managed to drag our drained and lifeless bodies to Ikea. Seriously, of all places to go on a Sunday, after hours of baby shopping, what were we thinking? Anyway, we got everything we needed and satisfyingly ticked the majority of things off our list. Love me a list..... Then last weekend, everything was delivered!!! So we're now fully stocked and ready to roll should Jean-Pierre Chang decide he wants to come into this world a little early. Granted, most things are still in boxes, but at least it's all here people. At least it's all here.- It's been spring cleaning central around here. Our third bedroom (which was our dressing room come study come junk room) has been cleared out, the second bedroom has been totally de-junked and our bedroom reconfigured to fit everything that was in the third bedroom. Gosh, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. All of a sudden though, everything feels like it is in its rightful place. And I find myself more often that not, just hanging in the doorway of the nursery, staring, thinking, imagining. It'll be my little baby's room in no time at all..... .
And after all that, the scary thing is? I'm starting to feel ready. So ready. I am SO excited about meeting our little baby and am desperate for those first hugs, that first eye contact, that feeling of finally having him in my arms.
And only 8 weeks to go ;)
17 comments:
Glad it is all going well.
SSG xxx
Sydney Shop Girl blog
aww nesting and spending! makes me a bit nostalgic!
sounds like you have the perfect attitude for the birth. I remember having a nagging feeling that I was going to somehow "get it all wrong" and end up having all sorts of interventions that, deep down, I didn't want.
As it turned out, my labour was so fast that all I had time for was gas&air. It certainly wasn't calm, relaxed or focused, but it was still wonderful! The thing that I somehow ended up concentrating on was a pain scale (something that we used to use when I used to work with anxious dental patients). I imagined a 10cm line and at each stage of labour I would keep scoring how I was feeling as a mark on that line. I was constantly surprised and pleased that I wasn't at 10/10 yet and then suddenly, she was born and it was all over bar the adrenaline and the happy tears and the snuggling. (uh-oh I'm welling up here!)
Not long to go now, it sounds like you are really ready and in a good headspace. Reading this brings back memories. Looking forward to hearing all about him when he is born. Leahx
So pleased to read this info-packed update and sending you expanded happy hugs from Oz and delighting in your delight as you stand at the threshold of this new life.
Happy day!
xx
32 weeks already?! Wow, time has really flown! You look amazing, and I can only imagine how excited you must feel :) xxx
wow ..the time has gone so fast! you look really well.
x
Oh look at that belly, you're so lucky you're not pregnant all-over, my face was pregnant, i was lucky to hold onto my ankles & wrists!! JP Chang sounds like a designer jeans brand, well done!!
Don't be too alarmed by head size, apart from the tiny tiny part of your body it has to fit through - my children all had big heads at birth & small heads in real life (seriously, my first born was head circumference of 36.5cm - that is a 2L coca cola bottle, my husband so kindly measured & told me, while she was still on the inside, she still wears a size small hat at high school!!)
So excited for you, yahoo, you're going to be a mummy with one very lucky husband & baby. Love Posie
Oooh the nesting phase - love it!
I'm sooooo jealous of your bump....mine looks bigger than yours and I'm only 21 weeks *sob*
Glad to hear you are well and yes, time is flying! x
Awww you're so lucky, only 8 weeks to go!!! I have FOREVER to go haha... all the very best for this hugely exciting change and it sounds like you're all prepared to bring your little man into the world!
I'm due in May 2012 and the time couldn't be crawling at a slower pace :)... p.s. I'm planning on doing Calmbirth too! My friend did it in Australia and had a very loooong and complicated labour (around 24 hours) and said Calmbirth was excellent - she said it changed the entire experience and she couldn't recommended it highly enough. I'm still quite keen on an epidural though ;) xxx
Very excited for you! I know what you mean about feeling ready. With twins I am physically 6-8 weeks further along, so I am feeling VERY ready to deliver! In truth, my maximum is less than 3 weeks out and my minimum? Any day now. It does feel good to have everything at hand. I give you a HUGE thumbs up for attempting natural. When I learned that the epi doesn't cross over to the babies, I threw in the towel. Still, I am sure that the whole relaxed concept you mention here will really help me, so thank you! Best!!!
I can't wait to read about your experience with the classes and the natural birth. If you do any research at all it seems pretty easy to choose against epidurals...because its just better for the baby and easy for labor. Good for you! You look great!
You sound really connected to your baby and your birth. Be guided by what you are learning and seriously, given that you are educating yourself is the biggest bonus. The best thins I learnt at my ante natal classes was to tell my husband before hand not to ever ask me if I am ok, tell me I am ok and support me. The first question just puts doubt in your ability. I have had three sans drugs and they ranged from 8lb to 10lb! And everything bounced back.
Fullmarks for Calm Birth!!! I've used a similar idea both times and avoided drugs (plus I'm a massive scaredy cat..needles make me shudder which helps!) Good luck Bridge xxx I bet you are just desperate to meet him!!
Fullmarks for Calm Birth!!! I've used a similar idea both times and avoided drugs (plus I'm a massive scaredy cat..needles make me shudder which helps!) Good luck Bridge xxx I bet you are just desperate to meet him!!
So excited for you!
Actually Jean-Pierre Chang is my name haha.
Funny you nicknamed your baby like this.
Wish him a successful life and a lot of happiness
Post a Comment