Here comes week 19! Week 18 was fairly uneventful. No funny stories this week...but we did start our birthing classes and I want to tell you all about it!
We decided to use a birthing technique called HypnoBirthing. Essentially it is a form of self-hypnosis that allows you to put your body and mind into a state of complete relaxation. The idea is that by relaxing all the muscles in your body, the muscles that control contractions can work unrestrained. It is often the tension between muscles that causes the severe pain of labor, so learning to relax the muscles that oppose the natural birth process can help lesson the pain. There's actually quite a bit of biology/science behind it that makes it make a lot of sense.
We decided to use a birthing technique called HypnoBirthing. Essentially it is a form of self-hypnosis that allows you to put your body and mind into a state of complete relaxation. The idea is that by relaxing all the muscles in your body, the muscles that control contractions can work unrestrained. It is often the tension between muscles that causes the severe pain of labor, so learning to relax the muscles that oppose the natural birth process can help lesson the pain. There's actually quite a bit of biology/science behind it that makes it make a lot of sense.
We loved our first class, in which we were one of twelve couples. Justin was worried he'd be the only guy there, but every woman had her husband or partner with her. We spent the class talking about our perceptions of birth and what informs them (media, friends, family, personal experiences, ect). We talked about what our fears and hopes were. Then we talked about the science behind labor, what makes it start, what is happening during and how HypnoBirthing can help the process. Then we did a relaxation exercise that was pretty darn awesome. I'm really confident in the program. I don't expect birth to be painless, but I do feel confident that I will be able to accept the pain and use it to my advantage rather than it being uncontrollable or unbearable.
One cute story from this week...At 18 weeks they say that babies can begin to hear noises from outside the womb. So, I talk to my little girl throughout the day. Justin has also started talking to her: he reads her scriptures (seriously awkward to have a guy talking to your stomach, but um...it's adorable), he tells her goodnight, and he kisses her goodnight. The first time he read to her she went completely *nuts* in there, turning all around, and generally having a party. I'm pretty sure she already loves her daddy a lot. Heck, I can't blame her. He's a pretty lovable dude.
One cute story from this week...At 18 weeks they say that babies can begin to hear noises from outside the womb. So, I talk to my little girl throughout the day. Justin has also started talking to her: he reads her scriptures (seriously awkward to have a guy talking to your stomach, but um...it's adorable), he tells her goodnight, and he kisses her goodnight. The first time he read to her she went completely *nuts* in there, turning all around, and generally having a party. I'm pretty sure she already loves her daddy a lot. Heck, I can't blame her. He's a pretty lovable dude.
Overview This Week
The Bump: Noticeable. I had one random person touch my tummy, a couple of people ask, and several people take notice of the bump, some strangers. It makes me feel good to know I'm not just looking fat. She's growing straight out, though, so it makes my waist and hips look small. Yay!
Symptoms: Morning sickness...I had about 2 days of morning sickness. Then my morning sickness meds also ran out...but weirdly, the 2 days of sickness were while I was still on them. I've been doing great without the medication! I'm also having some hand and feet swelling and leg cramps (it almost feels like I have giant bruises...) and my back has been aching pretty regularly. I also find myself short of breath and having more difficulty climbing stairs, sitting down, and standing up. A waiter at a restaurant tried to sit us at the high top bar tables and I could barely get up. I honestly still love all of these symptoms. Certainly some of them are uncomfortable, but I still love *feeling* pregnant and I love knowing my body is doing what it should to provide a home for my little Harper. I'm also much much more hormonal. It's really easy to make me cry, but I don't get angry or irritable really at all.
Cravings: Krispy Kreme glazed donuts. Smoothies. I love my smoothies, especially in the morning.
Aversions: Eggs. I even thought about getting a breakfast sandwich this morning and the idea repulsed me.
Looking Forward To: Our 20 week appointment next week (where I'll really be 19 1/2 weeks), continuing birthing classes, feeling more consistent movement.
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