Things I Will Do Differently If I Have Another Baby...

I think my grandma thinks I'm already trying to have another one. As if I'm even ovulating...  Really grandma?!

OK, first of all, a few weeks before my due date I will get my hair done - cut or high-lighted or whatever I'm feeling...at 4 months post-partum, I am wanting a trim and high-lights so badly! Hard to make the time. Definitely doesn't happen with a newborn.

ALSO, I'm getting a doula. Especially if I'm going to the hospital again. Yes, it is expensive. But birth is so profound...I want another woman in on it - for hip squeezes, for comfort measures, for advocacy, for possible hypnobabies help, and to help me remember the darn story! As I got closer to due date with Lucy, and thinking I might have to be induced, I especially wished that I had one. I "wung it" and had a great birth, but really, I think it was a mistake not to get a doula. As a side note, I definitely bonded to my midwife. Husbands are important, but they are just not women. (Thank goodness.)

I will eat dates in the final 4 weeks. (the consumption of date fruit in the last 4 weeks before labour significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome. The results warrant a randomised controlled trial.)

Moving on! When I'm in labor, I will...

1. Watch happy birth videos! They make me so emotional they must be doing something good hormonally! I bet that's a good hormone high during labor. I had no idea what I was working toward with Lucy, but just thinking about her arrival makes me emotional now. Heck, maybe I'll just meditate on that.

2. Go to my chiropractor. At a recent visit with her, she mentioned that a lady in labor was coming in soon. I thought "SHOOT why didn't I think of that?! I was in labor long enough, and it wasn't a weekend!" Hopefully she's available...  That would be such a relief. I partially credit her with getting labor going for me. 

3. Take more baths. My midwife told me not to after our first visit to the hospital - said it would slow me down. Naturally, I did it anyway. But honestly, that was what I needed. It was WOW relief and rest. The only way I was able to lie down. Karen told me to take baths. She was right. 

4. Make sure I'm listening to hypnobabies while pushing instead of my husband... Enough said. I mean, to his credit, he did ask if I wanted to listen. My intensely focused labor self said NO (AH!). He should have just put the headphones in my ear. 

For after I have the baby...

1. If we are in the hospital, and healthy - I will make every effort to get the pediatrician to sign off on us leaving ASAP  ... I didn't know this was the hold up this first time. Our stay in the hospital felt way too long. I wad dying to get out and go the heck home! 2 whole nights after my delivery 'night!' Crazy.

2. I will bring sweatpants or pajama pants. I told some friends about this. I only had my maternity leggings and a sarong. Leggings are a no-no after birth. The sarong was fine but immodest and ridiculous.

3. I will have pads at home. Funny story about how I didn't have these, and neither mom nor husband were willing to get them, or even knew what to get.

4. Dark chocolate. Such an easy thing to bring...No explanation required?

5. Go to chiropractor on the way home if possible.

Those are the biggies for now!

Also : Microbiome/GBS (podcast on the mama station) - antibiotic avoidance?? AND pelvic floor physiotherapy??  -   visitors...in the hospital please, VERY short at home