Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Too much information



We made a really important decision this week. Or rather I should say we didn't make one.

For the past three weeks I've been 2 cm dilated. This was all good news until my due date came and went. Now I feel like a ticking clock. I'm also a somewhat impatient person by nature so walking around feeling like I should be doing this really HUGE life-changing thing without being able to actually DO anything about it has been beyond weird.

I have been incredibly blessed to have enjoyed a healthy, happy pregnancy. All along I've been blissfully out of control - just letting my body doing its thing naturally. On Wednesday we had our first opportunity to take things into our own hands.

During my exam the doctor told me that I am now 4 cm dilated. He gave us the option to break my water to hopefully get things going (too much information?). At first it seemed a simple decision but on reflection, talking to my doula, family and a few trusted friends, I realized there was no reason for us to do anything. I'm not miserable. It's perfectly normal to be late (my mom had her three babies 8-10 days after her due date). And most importantly, the baby is still healthy.

Medical advances have given us resplendent information (after an exam on Thursday I know the approximate weight of the Babe, the circumference of his head, how he reacts to my contractions...), but it's almost too much information. For me, being able to affect the way you bring your child into the world was overwhelming - akin to playing God. (I suspect I'm overanalyzing this a bit, but hey, I'm hormonal.) Plus we felt inducing labor would force us to forgo our desire to have a natural childbirth.

It is now officialy one week past my due date and I'm antsy. But we're happy we've decided to wait it out.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tuesday Tangents

It's Tuesday which means it is "pick up my veggies from the farm" day. Granted I'm not actually going to the farm, rather a church near Central Park, but either way it gives me an excuse to get my hands at least a little dirty.

There was a great article in The New York Times last week about the rise of CSAs (community supported agriculture) across the nation and specifically in NYC.

If you want to know more and that doesn't satiate you, a great link about sustainable food in the New York region is Just Food.

Local Harvest is a great online tool to find local farms in your neck of the woods. Check out this awesome map of farmers market across the country. (Green dots are farmers markets; orange dots are CSAs)

Monday, July 14, 2008

Let's Go Green!


In my professional life, I research Sustainability trends so I'm constantly trying to understand what people are doing (recycling, taking shorter showers, taking public transportation) to try to lessen their environmental impact. Moms specifically are increasingly attuned to the toxins that seem to infect our homes - from the plastic tupperware we store our food in and the baby bottles we nourish our children from to the cleaning supplies we rely on. It's enough to make your head spin. I'm always encouraged when our research affirms that consumers are trying to make significant changes within their homes to improve their personal and environmental health and wellness. But I'm often dismayed at the cost it takes some households to "go green."

Fortunately, there are sites like Let's Go Green Biz that makes the daunting task of becoming more sustainable easier and cheaper. The site features a host of everyday household products, including recycled toilet and tissue paper, non-toxic, biodegradable all-purpose cleaners and detergents, and BPA-free plastic water bottles.

They also have Green Home Starter Kits that make really unique housewarming gifts!!


I highly encourage you to check out the site. Also, use the coupon code FRIEND during checkout to save an additional 25% off your order! You can thank me later.

Friday, July 11, 2008

The Babe's Unofficial Birthday

© johann35 - Fotolia.com

Today is our due date ... and the Babe is not here yet. But in honor of this important date I thought I would jot a few things I will and will not miss about being pregnant.

I will miss...

-Random people smiling at me on the street
-An excuse to buy new clothes
-Nice people giving me their seat on the subway
-Generous servings of ice cream
-Having a sweet little baby cruising around with me all the time
-Prenatal yoga
-The exciting feeling like we're on the cusp of a thoroughly new life

I will not miss...

-Weird people pretending not to notice me so as not to have to give me their seat on the subway
-Swollen ankles
-Forgoing sushi and wine
-Decaf
-Leg cramps
-Flats every day of the week
-The same three outfits I've been wearing for the last three weeks

I'm most excited about...
Well, lots of things really, but today I'm pretty excited to see the tiny little heels of the sweet little feet that have been kicking me lately.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Making a deposit in the birth account

"Preparing for childbirth seems sort of similar to training for a marathon."



I first wrote these words precisely one month ago today. It feels even more accurate now - literally days away from my due date (Friday July 11th for anyone keeping track). For the last 9 months I've been working out consistently - weight training, walking, running or practicing yoga. At first I did so because I didn't feel any different and thankfully I didn't have morning sickness to contend with. As the weeks passed, my motivation became more about keeping my energy levels up. And to be completely honest, I was increasingly wary of my changing shape. But somewhere at around the six month mark, working out became akin to training - training for the marathon that is birth. Whether you have a two hour delivery or a 24 hour labor, it is still a distance (mental and physical) that women travel.

I decided several months ago I wanted to have as natural a birth as possible. I have managed expectations that everything will go exactly as I've envisioned it, but nevertheless this is my training goal (my marathon goal is 4:15 and I've got managed expectations about that too!). I need my body to be in optimal condition to get me through. Each visit to the gym feels like a deposit into an account that I will draw from later. As I look back on the last few months, I also have pretty awesome memories of the activities the Babe and I have done together. We have:

1. completed the 4-mile Midnight Run on New Years Eve in Central Park
2. logged over 60 visits to my local New York Sports Club, where I...
3. must have clocked at least 40 hours on the eliptical machine
4. lapped the reservoir in Central Park more times than I can fathom
5. made lots of new mommy friends at YogaWorks in some of the most challenging and rewarding yoga classes I've ever taken

So, with that, I'm off to the gym ...