Birthing Classes

Having a natural birth is something that I started thinking seriously about a few years ago.  Being an inquisitive person, especially when it comes to pregnancy/babies, I have never been afraid to ask my friends questions about their pregnancy and birth experiences.  It was in some of these conversations that I decided that when I got pregnant, a natural birth was something that I was going to look into doing.  Fast forward to now, Daniel and I are deep into 12 weeks of natural birth, birthing classes.  There are several different methods that one can chose from to prepare: Lamaze, hypno-birthing, the Bradley method, etc.  We opted for the latter because of their emphasis on the role of the coach (Daniel) and because I had a friend who is a trained doula and was offering a course starting in early September.  We signed up and just finished our 5th class last week.

Daniel was none too thrilled when he learned that we would be spending the next 12 Tuesday evenings learning about birth and all the things associated with it.  However, I have been pleasantly surprised at the level of commitment he has put into his coaching job: he does all his readings, is very active during class and has recently been very concerned that I do all my practice exercises each day.  It's great having him as "into" this a I am.  I think he finally sees his job as something that is necessary in order for us to do this.  I need his support and that's the bottom line.

When we tell people we're preparing for a natural childbirth, people (usually the ones who have given birth before) look at us like we're moving to another planet.  I get it, I know this is going to be tough, but we'll be prepared and I'm filled with determination and know this is what's best for our family.  The classes have been great at preparing my mind and my body for what will be happening in 10ish or so weeks.  We will be delivering in a hospital so if any complications should arise, we will be prepared.  We have also hired our doula coach and friend Carla to be with us in the birthing room as a support for Daniel and another coach for me.  We are very happy with the decision and are looking forward to welcoming our little bundle of joy, drug free.

On an entirely other note, a miracle happened this week and I have found myself walking, sitting and sleeping pain free once again!  Monday afternoon I was walking in the hallway at school and stopped dead in my tracks when I realized I was walking-walking, not waddling-limping-gimping-walking but really walking! I'm not sure if it was the massage, the chiropractor, the acupressure, the resting, the magnesium vitamins or the pregnancy belt that did it, but I am one happy lady!  My spirits have lifted as well, simply because I am feeling so much better. Oh happy day!

And for more happy news, construction at Casa de Hillman is officially under way!  We currently have workers in our backyard tilling up all the weeds (I won't even try to call what we had grass) and will be laying new pipes for a working sprinkler system, putting in a boarder for flowerbeds, laying a few walkways and putting in mulch around the perimeter of the yard.  I can just picture playing in the grass with Bubba next summer, I am so excited!  Next week work inside the house will officially start with the building of a hallway to our back room (no more walking through the bedrooms!), taking out a half wall and creating a bar top in our kitchen, putting in new windows (no more cold single pane for us!) and walling in one of the two doors in the baby's room.  After that's completed we'll get some paint on the walls, order a crib and it'll officially be time to bring home a baby! Woo hoo!

Third trimester has started with a bang! Bubba is a big as a butternut squash--76 days to go!

~Mama Jess