A stomach bug, reflux, fatigue, impending childbirth, a half-stocked freezer, a 3-year-old, and excitement to meet Baby Lollipop. I am so full of thoughts and feelings, it’s a wonder there’s room for a baby in here!
By Megan Powell
A gastrointestinal virus. Sudden severe acid reflux. And the inability to get a decent night’s sleep.
That is how Week 38 started out for me.
Any woman who has suffered a stomach bug and acid reflux will understand. Lying down is next to impossible. So sleeping basically sitting up has become my new norm, which makes for an uncomfortable night and a sore neck and back.
Add in aching hips and I haven’t had a comfortable night’s sleep in weeks.
Maybe this cruel fatigue is preparation for the world of sleeplessness I’m about to re-enter.
Thankfully, I’m feeling better from the virus now, and regaining my energy, as my fear was that I’d go into labour while still stuck in bed, feeling sick.
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And while I’m able to remedy my acid reflux throughout the day by altering my diet (goodbye to my daily oranges and anything spicy) and referring to natural remedies, I took mild medication a few nights on the recommendation of my midwife, to help me at least get a bit of sleep.
A mixed bag of feelings
These last weeks leading up to labour and birth are really full of different emotions. Having already gone through it once, the fear of the unknown is replaced by fear of the pain. Just kidding. Kind of.
I still feel like I could use more time, but I’ve started to realize this feeling will never go away. Each day there will still be things left to accomplish on the to-do list that just can’t get done and I have to accept that.
Being sidelined with a virus also means all the last-minute items I had hoped to accomplish before baby arrives are still waiting to be done.
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And I’m feeling so excited to meet this little baby, whose feet seem to almost be constantly stuck in my ribs (my hubby has long legs, too).
Last night I could almost feel that little hand reaching out to grab mine, which is quite amazing.
I’ve also really been wondering what life with two will be like. Will it be easier with the second because I’ve already done it before, or will I have an entirely new idea of what exhaustion is?
I’m guessing it will be a little of both, especially since I now have a very energetic 3-year-old to take care of. Sleeping when the baby sleeps is no longer really an option.
Plus, the baby will have to assimilate into our schedule as opposed to vice versa. When our son was born, my days revolved around his eating and napping schedule. This baby won’t have that luxury and will have to blend into the life and routine we have established, with us obviously altering it to work for this new little one.
It's nearly go time
When it comes to birth, I feel prepared in the sense that I’ve done it before and have everything set up and ready. But I’m a little less prepared in other ways. I haven’t had as much time as I’d like to read my birth books or do my prenatal exercises.
This is inevitable with another child to care for, though, and I’m reminding myself that I did it once and I can do it again.
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For now, I’m trying to catch up on my inspirational reading (thank you, Ina My Gaskin) and also getting rest whenever I can to prepare for when this baby does decide to make an entrance.
I’ve been trying to stock up on freezer food, though I haven’t made as many things as I would have liked. I have a good stash of energy bars and muffins though, and if this baby decides to hang out on the inside for a bit longer, I should be able to get a couple more meals in the freezer, which will help make dinners easier.
The first time around, this wasn’t really on my radar, but having gone through new motherhood before and now having another child to feed on a regular schedule (no more 10 p.m. spaghetti dinners), this is crucial.
Aside from that neglected to-do list, I do know that we’re likely as ready as we’ll ever be. My son is excited to meet Lollipop, my primary midwife is back on call (yay) and we have the essentials ready and set up.
Plus, with my sleep already completely disrupted, we might as well welcome this little one any day. I had thought Mother’s Day would be a nice birth day, but the baby had other ideas.
momstown pregnancy blogger Megan Powell has a blog on natural living, a 3-year-old son, and a baby that is technically overdue now that Mother’s Day has passed. Catch up on her previous posts, and watch this space for updates on Lollipop
