a mamma in the making

things that have helped me feel better so far during this pregnancy, in no particular order

*going slow, napping, and doing less during the day

*lime-flavored popsicles, raw potatoes, chocolate anythings, mangoes & big juicy pears

*hugs

*having a very supportive partner who changed his whole life to be here for me

*having a wonderful space to retreat in for the next four 1/2 months

*weekly massage trades

*eating lots of coconut oil and rubbing it all over my body. no stretch marks and no constipation.

*supplements and vitamins: papaya when my belly hurts, b12 when im nauseous, my nightly (before bed so i don’t feel sick all day) prenatal and dha, and iron when i remember to take it. oh, and cranberry tablets and stevia to replace sugar so i dont get a UTI, and udos oil and brewers yeast on my salad to help quell sugar cravings

*yoga. especially for my lower back, which hurts like a mofo.

*swimming, in the sea and in the pool

*improv dancing and playing with choreography

*sex. obviously a good way to stay connected to my sweetie, helps me feel still attractive and apparently keeps the cervix stretchy so it doesn’t tear during delivery (yikes!). quote from melissa doucette: “sex every day makes for an easy delivery.” from a gal who HATED being pregnant. “it sucked. all of it.”

*emailed “love notes from baby” (sign up at www.lovefrombaby.com)

*daily meditations and my connection with the dharma. helps keep the mind from spinning out

*blaming bad days on hormones, and keeping my sense of humor intact

*petting the kitties

*reading about waterbirths, natural infant hygiene and co-sleeping, learning all i can about non-mainstream choices of parenting so i’ll feel more confident when the time comes to put it to practice

*remembering that women have done this for thousands of years

* doing things the way i want

*getting a good kick in the ribs from baby sea bean to remind me who’s really in charge

*wearing yoga clothes or a swim suit all day, every day

*eating more chocolate

what doesn’t help

*eating more chocolate. if i don’t cut it out, im going to end up with gestational diabetes.

*doing too much research on the web. so much fear-based info out there! it takes away a woman’s sense of personal power and puts it all in the hands of the hospital, which treats birth like a medical emergency rather than a natural, organic event

*advice, horror birth stories and other buzzkill baby conversations. some from complete strangers! makes me never want to leave the house.

*offers of used baby items from well-meaning friends. we are two virgo minimalists doing a house sit with very little personal space or storage and have no idea where we will live a month after the baby comes. it’s awkward to say “thanks but no thanks”….but them’s the facts, jack

*going slow, resting, napping, doing less. makes me feel guilty and challenges my sense of self-worth, which i now realize i equate with “working hard.” (someday i’ll truly let myself realize that making an entire human being inside my own body IS hard work)

*brewers yeast may slightly curb my sugar cravings but it also gives me tuba farts

*isolating myself from everyone

*worrying about where we will live come november

*worrying that my irritating qualities will seem magnified to this new person coming and that she won’t like me

*having less than three months left before delivery and not having a clear birth plan or any of the things we really DO need ordered and ready

*worrying that i won’t finish my book before she arrives and i’ll blow the agent deal with sharon

*wondering just how damn big my boobs and butt will get and wondering if it’ll all come off later

*worrying that rob won’t be attracted to me after seeing an entire human being exit out of my wahine

*worrying my hormones will go out of whack and ill get post partum depression

*wondering why i suddenly am not sure about a name

* worrying and wondering too much, not trusting the flow, forgetting that this being picked us for a reason and that all will be perfect as it is.