Ok, so yes this is my second baby but last time I was induced. I didn't have any of the worries about where my waters would break and how I would get to the hospital so this time it's freaking me out. I like to have a plan and know how things will pan out and while I know this is completely impossible with something like a natural birth I still want to know how it's going to happen.
The thing is, even when I was being induced I didn't realize that the period-like pains I was experiencing were contractions. I had read books and atteneded the antenatal classes but I still didn't think anything of it.
So now everytime I get a twinge I start wondering "Is this it?" The last thing I want to do is take numerous unnecessary trips to the hospital but at the same time I want to make sure that I get there in plenty of time.
Because I will be treated for Group B strep when I go into labor my midwife has advised me to call the hospital when I go into labor and to head to the hospital when my contractions are 15 minutes apart. Ok, so there's a plan but unfortunately I'm not very good about keeping track of things... like my period for example. Some people know when theirs will come down to the hour, I usually have about a 7 day window of when I expect it. This very problem led to my midwife and I having conflicting ideas of when baby would be due... I am happy to say that the dating scan backed up my guesstimate. I suppose that I'll have to organize myself and make sure that I am able to time my contractions when the time comes, I know it will give me peace of mind and probably help me get there in time and avoid giving birth to my baby in the hospital parking lot.
Thankfully I've found some great tools to help track contractions. For those of us who have iphones there is a fab app that only costs £0.59 which will time your contractions for you. Unfortunately my husband has decided that this ingenious piece of technology does not warrant buying me an iphone... I'm still trying though. So, after some research I have found this:
http://www.thebump.com/calculators/contraction.aspx
a contraction calculator available on the internet. Now all I have to do is make sure that I am near a computer when I go into labor!
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Monday, 13 June 2011
My Relationship with Food
Food. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. Over the years I've had a crazy relationship with food. As a child I was insanely picky. I hated meat and would quite happily pick at the veggies and starchy foods on my plate while secretly hoping that my meat had enough life left in it to stand up and run off of my plate. I remember negotiating the number of bites I had to choke down to earn the right to dessert. That's right, I have a sweet tooth!
My mom has always been interested in nutrition and cooking. Dinners were always packed full of healthy foods and delicious, although I do remember turning my nose up at quite a few dinners as a young child. Thanks to my mom I too really enjoy cooking and serving my family healthy and delicious meals. I rarely use ready meals or prepared sauces or for that matter recipes... I try to make everything myself using fresh ingredients. To me it's a creative outlet!
I haven't always loved food though. There was a time when I was at college that I hated it. Or more so I hated what I thought it was doing to me. Like many college freshmen I started to pack on the pounds. What I found very frustrating was that I WAS exercising. I was on the field hockey team and worked out pretty intensely every day. I wouldn't say that I developed a full blown eating disorder but I certainly dabbled a bit and danced very close to the lines. A health scare in my senior year thankfully pulled me out of my bad habits and since then I've been very health conscience.
Do I limit what I eat? Yes and no. I pay close attention to portion size and try to plan balanced meals but I don't restrict myself from eating anything. If I feel like eating chocolate I might have a few peanut M&M's as a treat, but I won't snack on them all day.
Right now I'm eating for 2. I'm not eating double, if anything my portion sizes are even smaller now! I just eat more frequently. I do indulge my cravings at times but for the most part I feel that I am eating a very healthy diet and providing my little baby with the best food possible.
I think that over the years my relationship with food has grown and matured. I not only see it as a necessity for life but also something to be enjoyed.
My mom has always been interested in nutrition and cooking. Dinners were always packed full of healthy foods and delicious, although I do remember turning my nose up at quite a few dinners as a young child. Thanks to my mom I too really enjoy cooking and serving my family healthy and delicious meals. I rarely use ready meals or prepared sauces or for that matter recipes... I try to make everything myself using fresh ingredients. To me it's a creative outlet!
I haven't always loved food though. There was a time when I was at college that I hated it. Or more so I hated what I thought it was doing to me. Like many college freshmen I started to pack on the pounds. What I found very frustrating was that I WAS exercising. I was on the field hockey team and worked out pretty intensely every day. I wouldn't say that I developed a full blown eating disorder but I certainly dabbled a bit and danced very close to the lines. A health scare in my senior year thankfully pulled me out of my bad habits and since then I've been very health conscience.
Do I limit what I eat? Yes and no. I pay close attention to portion size and try to plan balanced meals but I don't restrict myself from eating anything. If I feel like eating chocolate I might have a few peanut M&M's as a treat, but I won't snack on them all day.
Right now I'm eating for 2. I'm not eating double, if anything my portion sizes are even smaller now! I just eat more frequently. I do indulge my cravings at times but for the most part I feel that I am eating a very healthy diet and providing my little baby with the best food possible.
I think that over the years my relationship with food has grown and matured. I not only see it as a necessity for life but also something to be enjoyed.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Let the countdown begin!
I am back from a fantastic week in Cornwall with my lovely little family, our first and last family vacation as a unit of 3. It was amazing and absolutely what I needed. I came home full of wonderful memories and love for my family, fully appreciating what a wonderful life I have. I am one lucky girl.
Today I am back at work and not feeling so fortunate! So, in an attempt to stay positive I am officially starting my countdown.
4 more weeks of work, which works out to 14 more days
9 more weeks of pregnancy, which is exactly 60 days until my baby is due!
I am trying hard not to think about all of the things that need to be done before I am ready for this baby to be born. Hopefully I'll get some time to relax!
Today I am back at work and not feeling so fortunate! So, in an attempt to stay positive I am officially starting my countdown.
4 more weeks of work, which works out to 14 more days
9 more weeks of pregnancy, which is exactly 60 days until my baby is due!
I am trying hard not to think about all of the things that need to be done before I am ready for this baby to be born. Hopefully I'll get some time to relax!
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