Getting Ready

I've been blessed to have several photographers as friends and blessed even more because they offer to take maternity pictures of me! I've had the most maternity pictures ever with this pregnancy. I did a session with my first child, and I don't think I ever had any of my 2nd (poor emma!), but this is my 2nd time getting maternity pictures with this baby. Lucky me! These are two of my favorites my friend Rachel took.

The past week I've been getting all my supplies ready for my home birth and today I got some of the last few items. I'm feeling prepared! I need stuff like painters plastic (for my bed), chux pads (absorbent pads like the ones they have you sit on when you deliver in the hospital), hydrogen peroxide, diapers for the baby, diapers for me (seriously. The adult kind. She said its better/easier than using pads for after delivery.), wash cloths, old towels, old sheets, safety pins...and a few more things I can't think of. Some midwives include all this stuff in their price and bring it. Mine doesn't. She's not as expensive as some midwives though, but definitely experienced! And that's ultimately what I care most about. I feel like I'm in good hands with her.

My midwife is into all herbal remedies, so she has me taking this "5 weeks formula". It's a powder made up of a few different ingredients that I put in capsules and take twice a day. It's suppose to help prepare my body to have a shorter/better labor and help with recovery after labor. So I had to stuff pill capsules for the first time ever. It was kinda fun! A little messy though. She gave me a device that holds 50 pill capsules that helps make the process easier. I'll have to take a picture and show you when my new lens finally gets here. I miss my camera!

I've also been reading a couple books. The Bradley Method, and On Becoming Baby Wise. The Bradley method is a birthing method that using relaxation techniques to get through labor and is very husband involved. It has a lot of great illustrations that help explain the birthing process. So far I like it. I read the Hypnobirth book last prenancy and liked that too. It's sort of similar, in that they both focus on relaxing. Hypnobirthing goes even deeper into relaxation techniques though. I want to re-read that one. On Becoming Baby Wise is a book on how to get your baby sleeping through the night by around 7-9 weeks. I'm reading it because I know a few people who swear by it. So far I'm liking that one too. I haven't gotten too far into it yet though.

I'm just working on getting as ready as I can. Taking advantage of these last days with out a newborn and little sleep! The apartment's looking great, but there's still a few organizational things I need to do. At least I have a few more weeks. I hope! You never know I guess.

Tomorrow go check out my post I did for Today's Mama. I'm taking part in her birth stories series. (She's getting birth stories from all different kinds of births.) This is part one of mine. I'll do a follow up after my delivery and let you know when that posts.