186 replies to this topic

[Tetracyclone]

Confidence is the best medicine.

now, before little Noah learns to read, do you think you could get New Mobility to hide that interview they did with you where you crowed about faking you-know-what?

[twisted_ophelia]

Tetracyclone, on 23 May 2011 - 09:40 AM, said:

Confidence is the best medicine.

now, before little Noah learns to read, do you think you could get New Mobility to hide that interview they did with you where you crowed about faking you-know-what?

Definitely don't feel like I have to hide anything! :-) I'm honest and proud of it LOL! Didn't have to fake it for Noa's dad when I got pregnant! LOL! Funny but true! Dunno how he did it but Noa's father was the first man to accomplish it for me since my injury. Interesting because we are BOTH paralyzed and able-bodied men were not able to do what he did. It wasn't quite like what I remember pre-injury but it was definitely the Big O!

Confidence is definitely growing in me. I'm turning 31 this year but somehow I felt like a kid having a baby until just recently. It's kind of hard to describe. I feel like in the last few days, literally, I have grown up and become an adult, or more specifically SOMEONE'S MOM and as I said, feel the intense desire to put my child's needs first and do what is best for him. It's a really empowering feeling. Definitely opting for a home birth has contributed to that. I'm sure lots of people think I'm crazy for deciding on a home birth but I feel it's best for me and best for Noa. A baby doctor will still be involved to a certain extent and working with my midwife but I'll be comfortable and happy and hopefully not stressed.

[wheeliebear75]

Oh yeah.....you so need a "BOPPY" it's a pillow that can be used across your guys' laps while you feed baby, works for BABY as a pillow for YEARS (mine used them til they were well into the sippy cup age). http://www.boppy.com/how-to-use/

Happy for you! Mimi you've got bigger balls than any guy I know.....home birth? You're either one heck of a trooper, nuts or BOTH!

Edited by wheeliebear75, 25 May 2011 - 11:00 AM.

[twisted_ophelia]

wheeliebear75, on 25 May 2011 - 10:59 AM, said:

Oh yeah.....you so need a "BOPPY" it's a pillow that can be used across your guys' laps while you feed baby, works for BABY as a pillow for YEARS (mine used them til they were well into the sippy cup age). http://www.boppy.com/how-to-use/

Happy for you! Mimi you've got bigger balls than any guy I know.....home birth? You're either one heck of a trooper, nuts or BOTH!

LOL yeah, I've had a few crazy looks when I tell people I want to have a home birth. Have I mentioned I've decided to have the baby in Hawaii?? LOL again! But it's what I want, and I feel good about it, and I'm gonna do what my intuition tells me. The hospital is 30 minutes away from the town on the Big Island I'm likely going to rent a house out and so it'll be easy to get there just in case. My midwife was more concerned about my pelvis having been damaged when I got injured, which it wasn't, and that's sort of the main problem with people who want to give home births and run into problems. I'm lucky in that I never broke my hips or pelvis when I had my wreck. At this point, I'm all about lounging in my bikini in my hammock and growing my baby by the ocean in a super blissful, peaceful, happy environment. Sounds like heaven to me!

[StillFingers]

Noa is listening to Maynard...remember little one...mama said

I've been spying your facebook page and like what I see, so much love being shared, you deserve every bit Mimi

[twisted_ophelia]

StillFingers, on 27 May 2011 - 09:35 PM, said:

Noa is listening to Maynard...remember little one...mama said

I've been spying your facebook page and like what I see, so much love being shared, you deserve every bit Mimi

Love you, papajer! Yep, the baby seems to love Tool and A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, Maynard! When I drive, I tend to blast music really loudly and now that he can hear everything in there, he totally seems to be showing music preferences. He also liked Johnny Cash. I LOVE that I can sorta feel him moving around in there and he was kicking up a storm today when I had Tool blasting. So funny! This kid is totally awesome.

[edlee]

TO,, I'm SOOOO sorry that I've missed this thread for so long. I can't tell you how happy I am for you and Jeremy,, and for Noa,, to have such ,,,,, interesting,, parents.

Seems like only a short time ago you were telling us how much you loved learning to ski. Now I know why.

I have absolutely, no doubt that you will be a tremendous mother. Simply from the questions you have asked, one can see how much he is wanted,,, and how much love he will have, when he's ,,, hatched.

Hang in there, kid,,,, September's still a ways off.
ed

[twisted_ophelia]

edlee, on 28 May 2011 - 06:43 PM, said:

TO,, I'm SOOOO sorry that I've missed this thread for so long. I can't tell you how happy I am for you and Jeremy,, and for Noa,, to have such ,,,,, interesting,, parents.

Seems like only a short time ago you were telling us how much you loved learning to ski. Now I know why.

I have absolutely, no doubt that you will be a tremendous mother. Simply from the questions you have asked, one can see how much he is wanted,,, and how much love he will have, when he's ,,, hatched.

Hang in there, kid,,,, September's still a ways off.
ed

Aw, thank you, Ed! I keep thinking September but then I realize I'm not due until Sept 24, which is the end of Sept and realize it's more like October. Seems soooo far away and I already feel like I have a huge belly. I can't even imagine my third trimester at this point. Noa is definitely very wanted and very adored and his conception alone is a miracle plus having battled with health issues this whole pregnancy and having it be high risk just confirms how much of a miracle he is. The fact that a paraplegic guy and a paraplegic girl could make a baby the old fashioned way without ejaculation and just some "leakage" makes it seem like this child has a real purpose to be here on Earth once he's "hatched" LOL. I can only hope that I'm a good mommy to him and that I can live up to my own expectations of what I feel a mother should be.

I actually did a podcast interview today with Tiffiny Carlson, who is the creator of the Beauty Ability website. It's my third interview with her and the whole podcast was entirely about my pregnancy, Noa's conception, birth plans, etc. I'm not sure when she will have it ready and online but it should be a couple days from now. I will def post a link when it's ready to go for anyone who is interested :-)

[twisted_ophelia]

Tiffiny got the interview and podcast up really fast! Here's the link:

http://www.beautyabi...nant-on-wheels/

[twisted_ophelia]

I wanted to share a little bit of a tip I got from some other moms about a baby sling. I posted on a facebook page for Wrap Your Baby (a sling website), asking the mothers there to give me advice as to what sling they think would work for me, a mommy in a wheelchair. Pretty much universally, they all suggested a "ring sling" or a "kangaroo sling" and I've checked out both of those online and it looks they would work perfectly for someone in a wheelchair. So, for anyone in a chair reading this thread, check out those slings (if you're interested in baby wearing). It will trial and error with Noa, I'm sure, but I wanted to share my little tip. Noa's father, Jeremy, is probably right that there will be little use for a stroller and I'm getting excited to start actually USING all this baby gear I've been checking out come September. I'm officially in my 6 months and seriously can't fathom that I'm already 6 months pregnant! Little Noahlani McGhee is moving along and growing up in there! Amazing miracle baby, it still blows my mind that he's in there LOL

[Edinburgh Colin]

twisted_ophelia, on 31 May 2011 - 06:33 AM, said:

I wanted to share a little bit of a tip I got from some other moms about a baby sling. I posted on a facebook page for Wrap Your Baby (a sling website), asking the mothers there to give me advice as to what sling they think would work for me, a mommy in a wheelchair. Pretty much universally, they all suggested a "ring sling" or a "kangaroo sling" and I've checked out both of those online and it looks they would work perfectly for someone in a wheelchair. So, for anyone in a chair reading this thread, check out those slings (if you're interested in baby wearing). It will trial and error with Noa, I'm sure, but I wanted to share my little tip. Noa's father, Jeremy, is probably right that there will be little use for a stroller and I'm getting excited to start actually USING all this baby gear I've been checking out come September. I'm officially in my 6 months and seriously can't fathom that I'm already 6 months pregnant! Little Noahlani McGhee is moving along and growing up in there! Amazing miracle baby, it still blows my mind that he's in there LOL

BRILLIANT Mimms, so glad you're happy and enjoying it. I remember my wife with our 3 and at this point if you are comfortable then as a woman you are glowing, literally. There is something very beautiful and warm about a woman and mum to be at your stage. ENJOY it and I hope it stays lovely and exciting for you,


EC.

[rue2you]

Mimi,

I am SO happy for you!! I do not know how in the world I missed this announcement!!! Being a Mommy is one of the greatest accomplishments in the world! And...it takes more than carrying and having a baby to be a mommy and I know you will be a great one!

Everyone has already stated what I would have said. I was 5 months pregnant when I became paralyzed and my biggest concern was that my baby boy be alright. He was!

Anyway, take a boppy pillow and have someone sew a strap around it so that you can attach it behind your back. It is wonderful for carrying them and wheeling while they are little. Once they are old enough to sit up on your lap, just take another strap or belt of some sort and buckle you too them. That way, if you are going down a ramp or something, they won't fall off.

I kept my baby in a onesie or one piece outfit all the time. I would hang on to my rim/wheel with my left hand and lean over and grab a handful of baby clothes with my right hand (in the center of the baby) and use my left hand to help sit me back up and just hoist the baby up into my lap. I did this from the time he was a newborn until he was old enough to help climb onto my lap. He wouldn't even wake up sometimes he was so used to it. I kind of felt like a mommy cat. People would look shocked when they saw me do this, but once they saw that the baby never cried and it was quite normal for us, they would giggle and say it was the neatest thing they ever saw. It is important that they are wearing something that snaps around their crotch though as that keeps their whole body moving up, not just the top of their body where it could bend them wrong. I hope I am making sense!

I think the hardest thing for me to manage was the whole carseat routine. It is kind of hard getting them in and buckled up with the height/balance issues. Car seats are made to carry and snap in and out but it is impractical (and probably almost impossible) to carry one of those car seats on your lap. You got the FreeWheel right? Pat has a new attachment that he attaches to the top of it to carry luggage or something. I wonder if you could adapt that someway to hold the car seat someway and act as a stroller for you also? I would have definitely tried it if it would have been available when my baby was little (he is almost 2 now). Here is the link to what I am talking about. It is the 3rd picture down. http://www.gofreewheel.com/default.asp

Okay, if I think of more, I will let you know! Keep us updated!

[twisted_ophelia]

Edinburgh Colin, on 31 May 2011 - 06:54 AM, said:

BRILLIANT Mimms, so glad you're happy and enjoying it. I remember my wife with our 3 and at this point if you are comfortable then as a woman you are glowing, literally. There is something very beautiful and warm about a woman and mum to be at your stage. ENJOY it and I hope it stays lovely and exciting for you,


EC.

Thank you, Colin! I get told regularly I've got a pregnancy "glow" which is cool because most of the time I have felt really fat. LOL

rue2you, on 31 May 2011 - 05:57 PM, said:

Mimi,

I am SO happy for you!! I do not know how in the world I missed this announcement!!! Being a Mommy is one of the greatest accomplishments in the world! And...it takes more than carrying and having a baby to be a mommy and I know you will be a great one!

Everyone has already stated what I would have said. I was 5 months pregnant when I became paralyzed and my biggest concern was that my baby boy be alright. He was!

Anyway, take a boppy pillow and have someone sew a strap around it so that you can attach it behind your back. It is wonderful for carrying them and wheeling while they are little. Once they are old enough to sit up on your lap, just take another strap or belt of some sort and buckle you too them. That way, if you are going down a ramp or something, they won't fall off.

I kept my baby in a onesie or one piece outfit all the time. I would hang on to my rim/wheel with my left hand and lean over and grab a handful of baby clothes with my right hand (in the center of the baby) and use my left hand to help sit me back up and just hoist the baby up into my lap. I did this from the time he was a newborn until he was old enough to help climb onto my lap. He wouldn't even wake up sometimes he was so used to it. I kind of felt like a mommy cat. People would look shocked when they saw me do this, but once they saw that the baby never cried and it was quite normal for us, they would giggle and say it was the neatest thing they ever saw. It is important that they are wearing something that snaps around their crotch though as that keeps their whole body moving up, not just the top of their body where it could bend them wrong. I hope I am making sense!

I think the hardest thing for me to manage was the whole carseat routine. It is kind of hard getting them in and buckled up with the height/balance issues. Car seats are made to carry and snap in and out but it is impractical (and probably almost impossible) to carry one of those car seats on your lap. You got the FreeWheel right? Pat has a new attachment that he attaches to the top of it to carry luggage or something. I wonder if you could adapt that someway to hold the car seat someway and act as a stroller for you also? I would have definitely tried it if it would have been available when my baby was little (he is almost 2 now). Here is the link to what I am talking about. It is the 3rd picture down. http://www.gofreewheel.com/default.asp

Okay, if I think of more, I will let you know! Keep us updated!

Aw, thank you! Well, I'm now into my 6 month and I'm just shocked that I'm already at this point. It seriously seems like I JUST got pregnant. One of the boppy pillows on my registry (I have two on there) actually has a strap so that's a cool tip because I was really debating about whether or not the strap would annoy me. I think my Phil & Teds Pepe carrier is going to work well.

Did you ever use those sleeping sack things? I have a bunch on my registry and I have some clothes on there that is like a long night dress because I thought that might work easier than undoing his onesies and taking off his pants all the time. The night dress thing is unisex. Have you seen it? Your method of picking up the baby is pretty much what I see myself doing, using his clothes to pull him up. At what age did you start to do that? Because when he's a newborn, I don't think that's possible with their whole floppy head thing? I'm also getting a moses basket (or similar bassinet) and plan to have him sleep in that and I figure it will be easy to pick him up in there by just grabbing the handles.

I dont have the FreeWheel no but I have considered getting one since Sportaid sells them and I'm planning doing the rest of my pregnancy in Hawaii and can't wheelie over the sand because I don't want to fall. That's an interesting idea! I'm amazed at the amount of baby gear out there and at first I wanted ALL of it (haha!) but now I'm realizing I probably would use very little of it ie. a stroller. I think I still want a stroller but I've sort of decided I'm gonna try find one used or get a cheaper one since I really don't see myself using that thing much. I think able-bodied friends who baby sit him or something would use it but that's really it. I'm much more interested in "baby wearing".

I noticed in the last couple of days my belly has gotten bigger. It's weird! I had a little belly (though visible) but it seems like it's starting to "pop". And as much as I LOVE being able to feel himself despite SCI, it's keeping me up at night because he seems to be the most active when I'm trying to relax. If there is noise and people around, he seems more mellow in general but at night, when it's silent and I'm trying to sleep, he starts to boot me from the inside. It's pretty cool that I can tell when he's asleep or awake though!

Oh, a question. I think I've narrowed down the breast pump thing. I'm probably going to go with a Medela pump. Any reviews on those for any of you ladies who used breast pumps? Also, I'm looking to find some bottles made of more natural materials. Do you guys suggest glass? Glass scares me in case he breaks it. I'm just thinking about all those crazy chemicals in plastic. Bottle brand recommendations would be good.

[lavenderthistle]

Madela rocks!!! Even the cheesy cheap hand pump they give you in the hospital is awesome. It really has the best suction with no pinching. I didn't research very well and got one that just pinched and did little else. I think Madela really is ingenious.

I used glass bottles at first, but then my dear sweet beloved mother in law decided I needed plastic so she tossed my glass ones out. Avent seems to cause less gas, my niece and nephew used those. Madela usually has a bottle or two with the pumps, at least mine did.


Ah the belly button pop! Pull the bottom edge of your belly button down and it pops right out We called it the turkey timer.

Our son Rocco knew our voices when he was born and any friends we spent a lot of time with.

Yes, they do get active at night. I craved bananas after midnight.

I love this thread so much!! Thanks for sharing, it brings back so many fun memories

[twisted_ophelia]

lavenderthistle, on 01 June 2011 - 03:23 AM, said:

Madela rocks!!! Even the cheesy cheap hand pump they give you in the hospital is awesome. It really has the best suction with no pinching. I didn't research very well and got one that just pinched and did little else. I think Madela really is ingenious.

I used glass bottles at first, but then my dear sweet beloved mother in law decided I needed plastic so she tossed my glass ones out. Avent seems to cause less gas, my niece and nephew used those. Madela usually has a bottle or two with the pumps, at least mine did.


Ah the belly button pop! Pull the bottom edge of your belly button down and it pops right out We called it the turkey timer.

Our son Rocco knew our voices when he was born and any friends we spent a lot of time with.

Yes, they do get active at night. I craved bananas after midnight.

I love this thread so much!! Thanks for sharing, it brings back so many fun memories

I love this thread too, it's cool to go back and read the stuff from when I first told you guys I'm pregnant up until now. I feel like glass bottles are better but I'm afraid of them smashing to smithereens if they are dropped. I can't remember what bottles I put on my registry. I know they were eco-friendly and I also put some of the Medela breast pump bottles on there but I really need to research and talk to my midwife about bottle choices. I got a book that I think will be a really informative read, it's Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. She's a really well known midwife and I figure that since Noa's birth is only 16 weeks away unless he comes early (or late), I want to start being really educated about birth. I'm really thinking a lot about my birth plan and the one thing I want to see if I can find more research on is AD and labor/birth.

On another note... my son now has a middle name! It could of course change but as of now, it's Ocean. Noahlani Ocean :-) A little bit hippie but I'm cool with that!

[twisted_ophelia]

Took some belly pics tonight and since I was sharing it with friends on Facebook, I thought I'd post a little cropped version of it here :-) 24 week belly! There's a Noa in there!

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[ClaraTaylor]

Some how I think Ocean suits the way his parents will be bringing him up!

[madhouse73]

Just seen this congrtualtions to you both

Edited by madhouse73, 08 June 2011 - 08:44 PM.

[mellowgator]

be sure to get a hard copy of his birth certificate in case he is president one day. apparenly the hawaiians keep crap records.

[Edinburgh Colin]

mellowgator, on 09 June 2011 - 12:00 AM, said:

be sure to get a hard copy of his birth certificate in case he is president one day. apparenly the hawaiians keep crap records.

That's a +1 on the rep scale for that Mellow!

[twisted_ophelia]

mellowgator, on 09 June 2011 - 12:00 AM, said:

be sure to get a hard copy of his birth certificate in case he is president one day. apparenly the hawaiians keep crap records.

LOL! That's got to be a quote of the day or something, so funny! I think I may be the only parent in the world who DOES NOT want my kid to president one day though. That is one stressful job. I'll be 25 weeks tomorrow! So exciting! I keep putting the endless "finishing touches" on my baby registry since I keep changing what I want and at the end of the day, I'm realizing that of all the stuff I have on there, he probably won't use half of it. Someone bought me a pregnancy body pillow a couple days ago though and OMG... amazing. I was using regular pillows to support my belly and in between my knees but the pregnancy belly-supporting body pillow is fantastic. It takes up a rather large part of the bed though.

[LeahC]

I, like many others, missed this thread and as soon as I saw it was by you clicked it and wow I am over the moon for you :-D :-D this is fantastic, all the best yay! xxxxx

[isobar]

I see you're budding well with Noah growing inside of you ........ a beautiful thing. In case you didn't know stay away from cats and their litter boxes.

[twisted_ophelia]

isobar, on 10 June 2011 - 10:29 PM, said:

I see you're budding well with Noah growing inside of you ........ a beautiful thing. In case you didn't know stay away from cats and their litter boxes.

Aw thank you. Yes, no litter box cleaning for me but I have two cats who are still getting lots of snuggles. My mother made a horrified face when I told her I'm still letting the cats sleep with me all through this pregnancy as they always do and I had to laugh a bit. I've been told cats are ok but the litter boxes are a definite no-no since they carry that toxoplasmosis thing. I'm cool with not cleaning the kitty litter for 9 months! I wonder if the litter box rule also applies to breast feeding. Hmm.

I got the first presents off my baby registry tonight which was awesome and made me go "awwwwww" like a cheesy pregnant mommy LOL! One of the presents was a baby carrier wrap from Baby Buddha (http://www.babybuddha.ca). I figure the carrier is pretty much the most important piece of gear at this point. I ended up returning the Phil + Teds one because I loved the merino wool interior but decided I hate the exterior which is REALLY rough material and the newborn insert was TERRIBLE. I also plan to get the Mei Tei carrier from BabyHawk. Seeing the baby stuff sitting in the room in front of me makes excited to meet Noa. And the stuff is so cute! Noa got the a surfboard "tummy time" play mat, an Ocean Wonders thing for his crib which makes ocean sounds and has light up dolphins and whales, and a Ocean Wonders Seahorse that is supposed to soothe them to sleep when they cuddle it and makes ocean sounds. LOL I really didn't think I'd be excited about this type of stuff but I totally am! A girlfriend of mine is starting to plan my baby shower for me and I have INSISTED that there be no horrible baby games and that it be co-ed.

LeahC, on 10 June 2011 - 08:23 PM, said:

I, like many others, missed this thread and as soon as I saw it was by you clicked it and wow I am over the moon for you :-D :-D this is fantastic, all the best yay! xxxxx

Thank you, Leah! Yep, very very exciting and special time :-) It's totally been an interesting ride with having and SCI and the kidney issues but so far, he's a healthy little dude who regularly kicks the crap out of my insides LOL

[isobar]

Have you decided on the type of birth you'll have or is it too early for that ? They say water births are natural and less stressful for the baby since they're in fluid away. I love your level of excitement could you post a close up of you ..... women look so pure / beautiful when they find love or carry a child ....... as if magic had filled them with special light.

You're welcome momma - to be.

[twisted_ophelia]

isobar, on 11 June 2011 - 04:01 AM, said:

Have you decided on the type of birth you'll have or is it too early for that ? They say water births are natural and less stressful for the baby since they're in fluid away. I love your level of excitement could you post a close up of you ..... women look so pure / beautiful when they find love or carry a child ....... as if magic had filled them with special light.

You're welcome momma - to be.

Yes, I'm having a natural home birth with a midwife who will be working concurrently with an OB/GYN at the hospital. That way, if I need to go to the hospital, the hospital will be 'on stand-by'. Thank you for the sweet and kind words about pregnant women looking pretty but I'm not posting close ups of my face just to protect my privacy. There are lots of photos online floating around of me online, especially since I do the Quickie Wheelchairs ads, but with all the devotees and weirdos, I don't post ultra personal pics. Sorry! :-) I hope I look pure and magical, it's definitely a magical time!

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 11 June 2011 - 04:48 AM.

[LeeS]

sad to say ive not been on erhe for a few months! so im a bit behind everyone :L

Congratulations to you both! gives us all hope for the future, im still a teenage so nto at the kids stage yet but if the day comes I know that it is definately possible

good luck for the rest of your pregnancy, the lad is lucky to have such awesome parents!

I shall keep an eye on this thread to see how your all doing too
x

[isobar]

twisted_ophelia, on 11 June 2011 - 04:46 AM, said:

isobar, on 11 June 2011 - 04:01 AM, said:

Have you decided on the type of birth you'll have or is it too early for that ? They say water births are natural and less stressful for the baby since they're in fluid away. I love your level of excitement could you post a close up of you ..... women look so pure / beautiful when they find love or carry a child ....... as if magic had filled them with special light.

You're welcome momma - to be.

Yes, I'm having a natural home birth with a midwife who will be working concurrently with an OB/GYN at the hospital. That way, if I need to go to the hospital, the hospital will be 'on stand-by'. Thank you for the sweet and kind words about pregnant women looking pretty but I'm not posting close ups of my face just to protect my privacy. There are lots of photos online floating around of me online, especially since I do the Quickie Wheelchairs ads, but with all the devotees and weirdos, I don't post ultra personal pics. Sorry! :-) I hope I look pure and magical, it's definitely a magical time!

You're welcome sounds like you've got it all planned and i understand about the photos ........ you'll have the look down to a science .

[lavenderthistle]

i kept a diary in the beginning...i read it when i feel like sending my lovely son on a trip far far away....(sassing and 12). All those little words they start with....dis, baw, deetdeetas (an hour of screaming it at the top of his lungs standing in the fridge before we figured out it was tortillas) belly measurements, nicknames. I felt so moved by your story about his name! The day before I found out I was expecting, I was in church (no the building did not crumble) praying to conceive and I felt like I was outside myself looking in and could see a white light in there. There is so much magical and amazing stuff waiting for you three.

I'm glad you are doing well and you two will ace this mommy daddy thing. I've only known one person who actually knew what the cries meant...she was a genius and had no friends. I was terrified I would screw up but so far so good, he's still alive...so are we, he only fell on his head once and still has a high IQ

[twisted_ophelia]

Giving a little update! I'm now 29 weeks pregnant and into my third trimester. Yay! It really does feel like I've been pregnant forever though. One thing I never expected about pregnancy, even though I knew it logically, is how incredibly long the whole process feels. I still have 11 weeks until my due date and I feel HUGE. My belly feels like I'm carrying around a giant ball in front of me but luckily still fitting into my chair LOL! I'm mostly on bed rest and have been for a while which makes life pretty uneventful. Lots of time spent online looking at baby gear and nursery decor. I'm allowed to get up but not much. I'm having pretty serious issues with my kidneys but I'm very determined to get as close to (or all the way!) to my due date as I can in order to give Noa the best chance at a healthy start in his life. My kidney issues have unfortunately made a home birth not a possibility but I've reached a happy medium and will have a midwife-assisted natural birth (as long as everything goes according to my birth plan) in the hospital. I switched baby doctors because my original obstetrician was not keen on this idea and she wasn't budging. As anyone who's been following this thread is well aware of, I was not a big fan of my obstetrician anyway and working with a midwife and my kidney doctor for my prenatal care anyway. Now I've got a really awesome young male doctor who's supportive of my birth plan and willing to let the midwife have an active role in the delivery room. I also found a doula (labour assistant) and pretty much just spending my days relaxing and resting and growing Noa! I'm having a small (co-ed! hehe) baby shower/BBQ in August which will be fun I'm sure. No cheesy baby games though! My house is slowly starting to have baby stuff everywhere I look now that friends are giving me presents for Noa. I'm trying to keep it to a minimum so as not to have explosions of baby gear everywhere. Seeing all the baby stuff is making Noa's upcoming birth really sink in. Kinda scary but mostly just awesome :-)

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 10 July 2011 - 03:10 AM.