Monday, September 15, 2008

mantra: I will not be pregnant for the rest of my life



(meditation labyrinth used in labor)

I am three days away from my due date. Of course I know in my head this means nothing (how many times have I told my patients, "a due date is just a guess--you could have the baby two weeks before OR two weeks after"), but it's different when YOU are the pregnant lady who can't sleep at night and common movements are difficult. I keeping thinking, "oh, maybe I'll go into labor now that this low-pressure storm system is coming" or like last night "now that there is a full moon, surely this will do it." My sister Liz had her baby at 36 weeks (I am now almost a month more pregnant than she ever was!) I am glad that my baby is full term, but now that she is very very low, in a great position (left occiput anterior for you nosy types) why doesn't she just come out? I know that pregnancy and birth are all about surrender, and I find that I have had to re-surrender at multiple points during the pregnancy. Yesterday I surrendered to the fact that I can't control when she comes. I did this while Matt and I hiked up around Brighton and along Silver Lake (I'm using the word "hike" very loosely to include long strolls). So I guess this is the first lesson of parenthood: you can't control your children AND your children are not you. Last week I finally got everything done that I still needed to do before the baby came. Here was my list:

1. Can a bushel of peaches (26 bottles done on Wed - with help from my MIL, Paula)
2. Pick up breast pump
3. Clean bathroom
4. Drink red raspberry leaf tea and take evening primrose oil every day
5. Do five low squats a day (helps maintain baby's good position)
6. Wash and put away 24 cloth diapers
7. Find joy in these last days of childlessness

Of course, I'm still working, although my last day catching babies was last weekend. Now I'm just in the office seeing patients. I have contractions, but nothing regular. I guess I was right in telling my patients that these last few weeks of pregnancy are all about endurance.

10 comments:

Ben said...

Hang in there! We still remember you helping Erin through her labor with Julie (two weeks past her due date). And the child still refuses to follow our schedule...

Emily said...

Darling Celeste,
I'm so excited for you, My dad and I watched the John Stewart clip the other night and died laughing. Thought i'd let you now...our little Abby had her baby Sat. a month over due 11lb 5oz. vaginally. She insisted , and she is a stubborn one, (so is her little boy, obviously). She will come soon. Love ya!

Anonymous said...

I've been checking daily to see if she has come into your arms yet. It is good to see that we are all human, even if we are midwives! We want our babies here just like our patients do. I thought for sure it would happen during the canning though. Can't wait to see her picture.

www.ourgreatjourney.com

Deborah Barlow said...

We've staged a vigil here in Boston, waiting for the end of your interminable pregnancy. Keep the faith sister...

Mom said...

You are a planner...a curse and blessing! She'll be here sooner than we think!

Dansie Family said...

i love hearing this from you the midwife. but the last month is the best, the worst, the most annoying. but all worth when she decides to come.

Anonymous said...

You're doing it Celeste! YOU are the woman full to bursting with baby. YOU are the hips that need to open to create life. YOU are the one waiting, and waiting, and wondering WHEN? WHEN? WHENNNNNN? YOU are living through what you have watched so many, many times. So beautiful. We're all WAITING with you, Celeste. We're all with you and Matt.

christina q thomas said...

except me. i'm just whistling good king wencesslas incessantly in the corner and shooting the moon!

Amanda, Curtis, Ellis, Hugh, Rhys, Graham, Sylvia said...

I just heard the news about the early labor. Hooray! Perhaps this baby will come at the summer's culmination. At the equinox when the world is in equal parts night and day--that can be likened to giving birth, I think.

The hours of days cycle sometimes blessedly, sometimes interminably. And through that process come miracles.

You are foremost in my heart today, Matt and Celeste and little Baby.

Anonymous said...

http://yannkq.livejournal.com
http://saffronqw.livejournal.com
http://doronvz.livejournal.com
http://shaleepy.livejournal.com
http://dominicayh.livejournal.com
http://barronte.livejournal.com
http://darajm.livejournal.com
http://martinvd.livejournal.com
http://emilrw.livejournal.com
http://bryanate.livejournal.com
http://severinwt.livejournal.com
http://iurizk.livejournal.com
http://yurimarubc.livejournal.com
http://auburnpy.livejournal.com
http://elishaod.livejournal.com
http://allalj.livejournal.com
http://gigixv.livejournal.com
http://jadilt.livejournal.com
http://yolandavy.livejournal.com
http://carleyjg.livejournal.com
http://addisonye.livejournal.com
http://lillieep.livejournal.com
http://gaylehv.livejournal.com
http://evangelinacl.livejournal.com
http://lacyis.livejournal.com
http://seannadz.livejournal.com
http://savornja.livejournal.com
http://alphahg.livejournal.com
http://beverleees.livejournal.com
http://cliftonsa.livejournal.com
http://auburnoo.livejournal.com
http://statonuu.livejournal.com
http://jaimelfu.livejournal.com
http://juliuszc.livejournal.com
http://shaneikadw.livejournal.com
http://kalvinoy.livejournal.com
http://debbydm.livejournal.com
http://roseyj.livejournal.com
http://aydankq.livejournal.com
http://celindayk.livejournal.com