3rd Trimester : Any Day Now!

I know.

I've been neglecting this blog. Procrastination is seriously a blogger's downfall. Maybe I'll just blame 'mom-nesia', you know, how absent-minded a mum2be could be sometimes (that's me!). I get so forgetful and 'blur-minded' and my RAM gets so lagging that even simple things could be overlooked by me... Haiya, Lil' Miss Perfectionist, apa sudah jadi???

Anyway, now I'm in my 35th Week (This Friday will be Week 36), so roughly I have around 2 to 4 weeks to go until it's showtime! He he... Am I nervous? Well, I'd be lying if I say I'm not but I'm preparing myself by doing lots of reading and preparing myself. One thing that I've learnt so far is that relaxation helps to achieve a somewhat 'painless' birthing experience. Being a cognitive psychology student I do agree that our state of mind affects our physiological response. Being scared will result in the body responding in a 'fight, flight or freeze' response. The muscles (in our limbs) will be in a 'flight' mode and most blood supply will be routed to these muscles so that we can get the hell outta here! Hence, the muscles in the uterus will be 'frozen' because our body decides that it's is unsafe to give birth right there and then. Thus, painful labor lah... Because the contractions are there but the cervix won't dilate (because it's 'not safe') and this results in more panic and in the end, failure to progress usually results in an emergency C-sec... Ouch!

So what I did was I got in touch with a support group on FB, 'Gentle Birth Group', and I have learnt lots from them. I must agree with them that birth is supposed to be gentle and as natural as possible, unless there is a clear danger that requires medical intervention. Birth has been portrayed as a painful process too many times in the society as well as the media. Look at the birth scenes in the movies or TV dramas, most of it will show the laboring mother to be screaming her lungs out, with the blood vessels almost popping and bulging eyes (that's purple pushing by the way), so it's not a surprise that our psyche have been conditioned to believe that BIRTH = PAIN. Now tell me, who wouldn't be petrified by this... Oh, and those well-meaning (ye ke???) aunties and peers who gladly share their birth stories (lagi horror, gory and bloody lagi bagus) ain't doing you any help, baby! I usually just listen to their positive side, the rest I just let it slip (only if you have selective attention like me, this skill I have perfected after years of Mom's incessant nagging. Love you Mom!). Otherwise, just tell them, only positive birth stories please, save the gory ones for someone else... Surely they will understand and respect that. Kalau tak, just slap 'em la... Ha ha, sapa suruh tak reti bahasa ye tak?

I'm reading the book by Marie F. Mongan, titled Hypnobirth (What is Hypnobirth? Read here and here).. It's helpful and it does make me realize that birth is a natural process for all living animals and humans, just that we tend to over complicate things along the years. With the introductions of more and more medical interventions to make birth 'easier and painless', without understanding that each of these procedures carries a risk. So before making that decision to have selective C-sec or epidural, please read more about it... Educate yourself to enable you to make an informed decision. That's what I told myself every time someone suggested something to me. Just because you have degrees and certs lined up on the wall does not make you all the mightier and wiser than me... Heh! You have the right to decide what's the best for both you and your baby, don't just place ALL the decision-making in the hands of someone else. Hey, I changed my gynae just because both Hubby & I not comfortable with her. Turns to be a wise decision since I later learnt that she's one of the slice-n-snip-happy kinda doctor (C-sec rate quite high). Phewww!!!

So what I'm doing now is lots of relaxation exercises for both me and Baby (Baby loves Balinese Yoga Music, nasib lah Nak, kalau tidak habis lah labour room kena dengar lagu 'Moves like Jagger' during your birth... Ha ha).

So the Checklist before the Big Day:

1. Baby's clothes (diapers, suits, etc) - checked!

2. Baby's toiletries - checked!

3. Baby's Cot - checked!

4. Baby's car seat - checked!

5. Baby's stroller - checked!

6. Breast pump - checked! (Phillips Avent Manual)

7. Feeding bottles - checked! (TT anti-colic) - to be used once breastfeeding already established.

8. Storage bottles - checked!

9. Cloth diapers - checked! (6 pairs - 2 on the way)

10. Confinement set - checked! (Amway's Tropical Herbs. Chosen after thorough survey and feedback from other users)

11. Nursing Bras - checked! (Autumnz - comfy enough for me)

13. Disposable undies - checked!

14. Maternity pads - checked!

15. Hospital Bag - packed and ready to go!