Wednesday night…7:00 on the West Coast, all is well with the world. For the most part anyway. Today I finished up shopping for the last few necessities for the baby and for the homebirth. It was fun, but all the walking was a little taxing…I found out yesterday I have an umbilical hernia (more on that in a bit). But the good news is we are set for Sonny!Disposable Underpads: CHECK!
Protective Covering for Mattress (vinyl table cloths): CHECK!
Hospital Sized Sanitary Napkins (complete with stylish and comfortable belt): CHECK!
Large Bowl for Placenta (a mixing bowl will be fine, right?): CHECK!
Receiving Blankets: CHECK!
Funny, I never thought I’d have such a good time shopping for sanitary napkins! I’m going to set up a little “Homebirth Station” on our coffee table with all of our supplies. That way everything is easily accessible when the big moment comes. I don’t know about your husband, but mine can’t find anything without my direction. I swear he wouldn’t find his sock drawer without me to point it out each morning. The last thing I want in labor is, “Honey, where do we keep the thermometer? Smoochy, do you know where the large bowl for the placenta is?” AAAH!
Most of the items on the homebirth list we already had: rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide (gets blood out of everything!), cotton balls, etc. So my shopping list wasn’t too long. Receiving blankets threw my hubby off. I actually purchased them about a month ago. When I was telling Smoochy about it he innocently asked, “Won’t they have those at the hospital?” Hmmm…they DO provide those at the hospital, but since we won’t be going there (God willing) I don’t think they’ll be too keen on providing us with blankets.
We both chuckled at his little slip. But it makes a good point; there are several things the hospital just provides that at a homebirth you have to step up to the plate on. The first thing that comes to my mind is the friendly orderly who changes the sheets and cleans up the afterbirth! Oh well, I am gladly willing to buy my own receiving blankets if it means the piece of mind of knowing my baby won’t have to have a mandatory and unnecessary two hour OBSERVATION period in the nursery. How can having to buy your own underpads possibly compare with having to deal with some episiotomy-happy, clock-watching, pitocin-ready OB propping your legs in stirrups and telling you to PUSH!? OK, maybe I’m being a touch melodramatic, but the bottom line is that I am proud that it’s my hubby and I who are taking responsibility for our birth.
As for the umbilical hernia; I’m fine. I had been noticing some extreme tenderness around my naval for days. But, yesterday morning it hurt and was turning a little black and blue. My midwife (who absolutely rules) fit me in to her day and so last minuet she checked me out. Diagnosis: hernia. It’s not a big deal, nor is it uncommon. I just have to take it easy. Honesty, I have been very careless when it comes to lifting heavy things and maybe being a TINY BIT competitive in yoga class. I can’t help it! I’m a show off! All I can say is lesson learned. I bought bulk dog food, landry detergent, and fabric softener at Costco today, and I promise all of it will stay in the trunk of the car until Jacob gets home and unloads it! I swear!
3 comments:
Silly girl I love you!
Take it easy babycakes, you need to rest! Hubby will be home tomorrow and all will be right with the world.
Getting all the birthing supplies ready must be really bringing it home for you that you're going to have an actual BABY very, very soon.
The coolest homebirth story I've read in a while is Hathor the Cow Goddess's, here. And here is an unassisted home water birth story that is very nice.
I've never heard of a mandatory 2 hour observation period. My hospital only took the baby out of the room if we requested she be brought to the nursery, and that could only be done between 11 PM and 7AM. I don't imagine many new moms would want to give birth in a hospital that had that sort of protocol...after waiting nine months all you want is to be with the baby.
Post a Comment