Thursday, January 26, 2006
instant parenthood?
For the record, I am pregnant...very pregnant. My "official" due date is February 5th, though just as officially, the pregnancy is at term anytime between 37 and 42 weeks. I often tell expecting friends that the last two weeks make the rest seem like you weren't even pregnant. Let's just say it's not a barrel (though I feel like one) of laughs right now. :-)
My husband, Tom, and I were sitting on the couch last night talking about the weird, time-warpish nature of our feelings during this time. We have two children, ages 6 and 3, but it's amazing how it's still a mystery, still feels risky, still scares the hell out of us, even as it's one of the best feelings of our lives.
So this time 'round, I haven't felt "ready" to give birth until this week. Finally bought diapers and all the stuff on Dotti's (our midwife) list for the auspicious day. Fi-na-lly finished organizing our room for baby. And Tom has been working on a couple of jobs (he's a residential contractor) in which the materials have been mis-ordered and come in damaged three times in a row. He really wanted to finish these before baby came and has felt unready too.
Thus, we've been avoiding sex the last few days because it can induce labor. Tom was contemplating the rest of the week's work with materials and without interruption. I've been finishing judging the contest entries mentioned in a previous blog.
When Dotti came yesterday for the home visit, she clarified exactly how sex can induce labor. I told Tom about it, and it brought out our often-relied-upon hilarity.
You have sex and boom! out pops a baby!
What if it was like that? Would babies be considered less valuable? Would there be a population boom? Or not? Would people have sex? Or not? What would it be like? How would it change society and interpersonal relationships?
Because that's a bit how it feels right now. Though we know baby's coming soon, we don't want to cause the process to start and then stall; and Tom politely begged for those two more good days of work (sans sex). (Yes, he had to beg. See forthcoming blog on the injustice of pregnant hormonal lust.)
For now, it really feels like: sex>labor>baby! is a possibility. Voila! Instant parenthood.
Birth Matters Midwifery - tons of great info on birth and pregnancy. I highly recommend this option for childbirth; and Dotti is a terrific midwife and just a stellar person.
http://birthmattersmidwifery.com/
The most info on nonpharmaceutical induction I have found...maybe TMI
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/natinduc.html
Shorter article, explaining the roles of prostaglandins (in semen) and oxytocin (a hormone released by orgasm in the mother's body)
http://webcenter.health.webmd.netscape.com/content/article/62/71738.htm
My husband, Tom, and I were sitting on the couch last night talking about the weird, time-warpish nature of our feelings during this time. We have two children, ages 6 and 3, but it's amazing how it's still a mystery, still feels risky, still scares the hell out of us, even as it's one of the best feelings of our lives.
So this time 'round, I haven't felt "ready" to give birth until this week. Finally bought diapers and all the stuff on Dotti's (our midwife) list for the auspicious day. Fi-na-lly finished organizing our room for baby. And Tom has been working on a couple of jobs (he's a residential contractor) in which the materials have been mis-ordered and come in damaged three times in a row. He really wanted to finish these before baby came and has felt unready too.
Thus, we've been avoiding sex the last few days because it can induce labor. Tom was contemplating the rest of the week's work with materials and without interruption. I've been finishing judging the contest entries mentioned in a previous blog.
When Dotti came yesterday for the home visit, she clarified exactly how sex can induce labor. I told Tom about it, and it brought out our often-relied-upon hilarity.
You have sex and boom! out pops a baby!
What if it was like that? Would babies be considered less valuable? Would there be a population boom? Or not? Would people have sex? Or not? What would it be like? How would it change society and interpersonal relationships?
Because that's a bit how it feels right now. Though we know baby's coming soon, we don't want to cause the process to start and then stall; and Tom politely begged for those two more good days of work (sans sex). (Yes, he had to beg. See forthcoming blog on the injustice of pregnant hormonal lust.)
For now, it really feels like: sex>labor>baby! is a possibility. Voila! Instant parenthood.
Birth Matters Midwifery - tons of great info on birth and pregnancy. I highly recommend this option for childbirth; and Dotti is a terrific midwife and just a stellar person.
http://birthmattersmidwifery.com/
The most info on nonpharmaceutical induction I have found...maybe TMI
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/natinduc.html
Shorter article, explaining the roles of prostaglandins (in semen) and oxytocin (a hormone released by orgasm in the mother's body)
http://webcenter.health.webmd.netscape.com/content/article/62/71738.htm
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