Part 1: Setting the Stage
Part 2: Before the Hospital
Part 3: It’s a Boy!
So if I had to do it all over again… (and I hope to one day!)… would I:
Wait until birth to find out the gender?
Absolutely! We loved this. I had no problem bonding with the baby in utero and the extra suspense and anticipation made pregnancy more bearable. It also motivated me during the delivery.
We borrowed a few newborn boy outfits “just in case” and since we typically dress our babies in jammies for a solid month or two after they are born, there really wasn’t that much we needed. We are blessed with wonderful friends who brought clothes and blankets when they heard we had our first boy. 🙂
And, we had accepted all hand-me-downs people had offered us in the past, including boy clothes and they were waiting in the sidelines as well.
Get my membranes stripped to bring on labor?
Very likely. With multiple children at home to take care of, knowing the timing of delivery is hugely helpful though I still think being taken by surprise would add excitement. 🙂
Having my membranes stripped was uncomfortable and probably dragged the beginning of labor out some, but it was a big blessing to have Daniel come when he did.
Plan on a drug-free delivery?
Scott says I’d better plan on this, because he thinks my labors will get faster and there really won’t be time for an epidural in the future.
Honestly, the delivery is still too recent for me to wish for that amount of pain again. 😉 But, I did love how connected I felt to the process of birthing my son.
And, in hindsight, I was coping pretty well right up until transition. That’s a crazy but mercifully brief period of time. I wouldn’t describe pushing as pleasant but it was incredible to recognize my body’s instincts and to follow them to bring a baby into the world.
It was certainly nice to avoid having numb legs and a ton of extra fluid from IVs.
Of course it needs to be said that WHEN and HOW a baby comes into the world are far less important than their safe arrival. Welcome, Daniel! 🙂
