Kris's Prepregnancy Thoughts
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The Decision We've been talking about having kids for a while, maybe for a little more than a year. When we decided to have four children, I figured that I needed to start this year in order to have them before I turn 40. Among the mix of things that we considered before trying to get pregnant - we will most likely move this summer, John's next job should pay more and offer benefits, I would like a pisces baby, and I would love to be pregnant during the holidays. I've had baby fever for the past year, and I think John has had a touch of it as well. Wherever we go, we notice babies. John even points them out to me. But I'm not the one making funny faces trying to get a reaction out of babies and small children - that's John. I tell him people are going to think there's something wrong with him the way he acts sometimes. But I'm the one that asked one mother if I could touch her baby's feet. Until my little brother was born when I was 22, I wasn't sure that I would have children. But being with him for the first few weeks of his life made me realize I had to have kids. Anyway, this seems to be the time for us. Books Some of the many books I have read through in the past few months -  Misconceptions : Truth, Lies, and the Unexpected on the Journey to Motherhood by Naomi Wolf  Gentle Birth Choices: A Guide to Making Informed Decisions About Birthing Centers, Birth Attendants, Water Birth, Home Birth, Hospital Birth by Barbara Harper  Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon  The Thinking Women's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer  Breeder: Real-Life Stories from the New Generation of Mothers by Ariel Gore (Editor)  How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby : The Method Best Supported by Scientific Evidence by Landrum B., MD Shettles, David M. Rorvik  Prenatal Parenting: The Complete Psychological and Spiritual Guide to Loving Your Unborn Child by Frederick Wirth MD  My Boys Can Swim!: The Official Guy's Guide to Pregnancy by Ian Davis Family My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer in early May. A confusing conversation with him following surgery to remove the tumor made me believe that cancer was in his lymph system. This would have meant that his life would deteriorate rapidly. At the time, one of the thoughts going through my mind concerned putting off having a baby until after the enormous stress I expected to come quickly. While working on Dr. Wirth's book, I learned that a mother's experiences duing pregnancy have a profound effect on her child. A women's emotions can trigger the release of certain hormones that directly influence the development of her growing fetus. However, I discovered that my dad's prognosis was not as bad as I had initially believed. In fact he should have many years left in his life. This is a good thing because I want him to enjoy being a grandfather. Insurance After moving to Columbus, leaving a great job with pretty good insurance, I figured it was time to stop taking the pill and other prescription medications to get my body ready for pregnancy. John's present job does not offer any benefits and due to a screw up, I have not yet been enrolled in my company's health plan. I am expecting to be enrolled shortly, though. I hope. The next job John gets should offer benefits. However, the midwife group I've spoken to does not submit invoices to insurance companies until after birth, so couples are put on a payment plan through week 36. Some insurance companies cover midwife care while others do not. So it may not matter much. Labor After reading Naomi Wolf's book Misconceptions, I began reading everything about labor and birth that I could find. Consequently, I've decided to go with a midwife for birth either at a birthing center or at home. I want to minimize any type of interventions during the delivery process thereby increasing the odds of a natural happy experience for me and my baby. |
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