Learning Labor
We are 36 weeks preggers now, getting ready for childbirth in various ways, some pretty common, like the prenatal yoga and the childbirth classes offered by the hospital, others rather special, like having our own British midwife Linda come over to North Carolina to initiate us into the rituals of breathing "light like a featheaaaaa" when the pain will strike. We had a lovely time with Linda and her knitted uterus that helped us to visualize how the baby is going to pop out - if she is willing to act according to our quick and easy birth plan.
Thiemo is doing a great job coping with the new curves that have become part of our life. Recently he found himself in a couple of 'unmanly' and 'un-macho' situations. In one of the childbirth classes he had to put on a sad and sagging sack that only remotely evoked the shape of a pregnant lady. Poor guy. I believe Thiemo made enough of a contribution lately. He desperately asked to skip "Bootcamp for New Dads", a very American class for expecting fathers in which advice, doughnuts and a new born baby are passed around. That was fine with me, I don't believe that chocolate covered babies and doughnuts will really prepare us for what lies ahead.
Well, we all have to carry our burden these days. My little burden isn't as heavy as it's supposed to be. Our last ultrasound showed that we are running pretty low on amniotic fluid. Unfortunately we are on bed rest now, lying around on the sofa in an eager attempt to accumulate more fluids! Keep your fingers crossed that the water level will rise again, otherwise baby will be induced before our actual due date. I already received a steroid shot for baby's lungs to mature, just in case they'll gonna get her early. Meanwhile my blood sugar levels are in their upper highs, throwing a great, big party, but "you gotta do what you gotta do", as Jose would say. So baby and I are resting and cuddling on the sofa, counting the days...
