Since a few days ago when I wondered if what had arrived were contractions or not, and how it went away 6hrs later, I woke up the next morning feeling very different. The baby had "dropped", or it felt so anyway. Just above my pubic bone I can place my fingers, and feel the side of the baby's head and him/her moving it side to side. Quite a strange feeling! My stomach appeared smaller, which is normal when a baby drops.
The hardest part for me though, is how it changed what I could get done. This has been the easiest pregnancy from the beginning, but now my feet move slower... my legs feel like there's weights on them and my theighs feel like there's something sitting on a nerve (a head? lol), my bladder feels like it's shrunk even more and there's a head in the way from it all coming out when I use the restroom. I have to be careful when I cough, or my pants could pay the price. I am definitely tired, everything feels like it takes so much more effort now. I struggle to muster up the energy to clean the house, or even to work on the yard.... not necessarily for the energy for my body, but to move these darn slow legs, and then bending over with this head in the way can be very difficult. Sleeping.... ahhhh.... definitely sleeping A LOT more.... which really is a good thing actually :) Nothing like slipping in a quick nap or falling asleep early. But, with falling asleep early comes early rising.... like this morning, I was awake just after 4am.
As difficult as this last stretch can be physically, it's also one of the sweetest. Feeling this child move around inside is just the sweetest feeling in the world. S/he's still not kicking my ribs, or pushing his/her head hard against my cervix, or anything else that is painful. S/he's still so gentle and sweet. I feel his head with my hand and think about placing it on his head after he's born and cuddled up against me in bed.
I am so in love - so deeply and completely in love. No doubt that love will grow even more after this baby is born. Every day I thank the dad for this child.
Yesterday my water tub arrived. Finding this tub took so much patience and trust that it all would turn out as it's suppose to. And it did. Where I was looking for 150g trough, the one I ended up with is 300g - and the chance to know two very kind people who love animals very much also. They had bought this big tub as a home for three goldfish :) The goldfish came too, and they're beautiful.
The tub is big, and a perfect size. Should the dad wish to climb in to help deliver, he'll be able to - or any of my children. I'm starting to think more about how I hope for it all to go, and a larger tub opens up more options. After the birth, I plan for the tub to be turned in to a beautiful water fountain in the garden area, it should turn out quite beautiful :)
I'm able to deliver at home any time after 37 weeks. The timing is perfect. I receive my next paycheck on the 14th, and will be purchasing the homebirthing kit (a box full of things the midwife needs for the baby and mom) as well as the supplies needed for the water tub, and other items on the homebirthing list. The nice thing, having gone through this all before, is I know for the most part things that I wont end up needing and what I know I will. Even better, to have a friend (Jen) to sit down with and say, "Do you have any of these things I can borrow?" Some things that are of no question: Shower curtain for the bed, thick pads, aleve, and a heating pad.... talk about killer cramps that one gets after delivering!
Life is amazing.
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