Dates: They kind of look like roach bodies, but they’re pretty darn delicious!
First of all, who goes on a job interview at 9-months pregnant? Crazy me apparently. While I haven’t been looking for jobs seriously AT ALL, I do occasionally browse Craig’s List to see what’s out there, especially in my new area. Last week I found an intriguing listing for a legal investigator position, basically a private-i that helps attorneys exclusively locate and prepare witnesses for trial. The firm I interviewed with also does surveillance and jury profiles. After two years, I’d be asked to become a licensed private investigator. How totally freaking COOL! Talk about a job that would never get boring. Clearly they are aware that I am ready to pop (I warned them before I went in for the interview, which they appreciated) and wouldn’t be able to start for a few months, but nonetheless I have my second interview with the big boss tomorrow. Between my forensic psychology masters classes and law degree, I can truly think of no better job. Fingers crossed that I DO get it, but that they are fine with a very delayed start time (ideally 12 to 16 weeks from now).
Second, I could quite literally go into labor ANY minute. I am 39 weeks 1 day pregnant. My due date, April 9, looms like a much needed California rain cloud. The anticipation is the worst part, guys. I’ve decided it’s best not to dwell too much on how I have no idea WHEN and HOW it’s going to happen. I am terrified, excited, and this weird combination of anxious and calm. My bags are packed, the house is prepared, so now I need my mind to catch up with the idea that I’m finally going to be a mommy!
Speaking of preparations, here’s what I’m doing to prepare for labor (thanks MLACS for the suggestion to include this in my next post), if you really can prepare for such a thing:
1. Dates, date, and more dates (I may have already mentioned this, but can’t remember!). Since about 34 weeks I’ve been a date eating machine. Word on the street is that they increase the body’s production of oxytocin preventing the need for pitocin, while speeding up labor and dilation. Here’s the study if you’re interested: The effect of late pregnancy consumption of dates. I’ve been sprinkling chopped dates on my cereal each morning and eating at least three whole after dinner. Today and going forward, I’ll aim to eat at least six as the study prescribes. Since they are so high in sugar, I’m making an effort not to consume sugar from any other source since pregnancy weight gain has been entirely too easy for me (up 42 lbs. as of last visit). Interestingly, I ran out of dates last week for about three days and noticed in that time far less boob leakage which makes me think that there’s something to this whole date fruits = more oxytocin in the body thing.
2. Raspberry leaf tea. I don’t particularly care for it, but I’m making a point to drink it whenever I remember. I wish it were espresso mocha yummy coffee flavored, but alas…
3. Walking/exercise. Last week I did two barre videos with modifications (I can’t believe how GOOD these videos felt after not doing them since the second tri). Barre classes are great for pregnancy because they incorporate stretching, pelvic tilts and squats. Interestingly, I actually lost a pound at last week’s weigh in without changing my eating habits and wonder if just two days of moderate strength training helped. I also walk daily for at least 30-minutes with my two spoiled dogs. Supposedly walking helps keep the hips open, as does pulling my now rather large body (I weigh 191 lbs.!) up our stairs several times a day.
4. Birth ball bouncing. At the suggestion of my doula, I purchased a birth ball for labor. I have been gently rotating my hips on it when I remember to. Unfortunately the ball I purchased is a little too small. Your hips are supposed to be in line with your knees (according to Spinning Babies) and mine are not. Regardless, the ball has been great for stretching.
5. Visualization. Starting a few days ago, I’ve been spending a few minutes daily visualizing a productive and easy labor. I picture myself pushing Daphne into this world, her perfect head sliding easily through the birth canal. Since this concept is SO totally bizarre and foreign to me, it’s a little difficult at first, but I’m getting better at it! I used to visualize a healthy sperm meeting a healthy egg when I was TTC and laying on the acupuncture table, now here we are, 39 weeks later. I have no proof that it works, really, since I was throwing the kitchen sink at TTC, but it certainly can’t hurt.
I’d like to add perineum massage to this list, but I’ve been really bad about doing that. Maybe I can just visualize a perfectly intact post birth vajayjay and magical things will happen. A girl can dream.
With all that said, this may be my last post before my baby girl is born. Holy bat balls the miracle of birth and motherhood is almost upon me! Gods, Goddesses, fellow bloggers and friends, I pray this major life event goes as smoothly as it can for the health of me and my bambino!
Love this post! Thanks for writing about how you’re preparing. At 34 weeks now, everything is starting to come together (stuff-wise) and I’m beginning to wonder how I will stay occupied over the next several weeks. It seems like you are as ready as someone can be. Best wishes for an easy and beautiful labor!
Awe thank you! You will be here before you know it too… Wishing us both the best of luck. 🙂
Awesome- a second interview!!! Fingers crossed.
How interesting about the dates. I didn’t know that.
I can’t believe how soon you will become a mom. I need to talk to you at least one last time before you are busy for the next few months. =)
One last time, eh? Be prepared because I plan on calling you with all my Mom questions!!! Hehehe! And who knows if the dates really work…. I certainly have had very few Braxton Hicks and don’t have any hunch whatsoever that she is going to come soon despite my over consumption of these darn glorified raisins!
Haha…perineal massage. My best lady friend is going to be my birthing partner and I told her to bring some coconut oil to massage my perineum….she didn’t really like that idea! She thought it would bring our friendship to an all new, slightly awkward level. I am almost to 35 weeks and I am running out and buying dates NOW! My acupuncturist also claims she can get me half way to full dilation w/o any pain. BRING IT ON!! Let us know how it goes. I would love to know how all of these interventions turn out in the end 😉
Good luck Steph. Beautiful post as always. You are a rock star for going to an interview 9 months pregnant. Classic. Exactly the kind of broad I would want doing PI work for me…
Awe! Thank you for such a wonderful compliment. Second interview went well so we’ll see what happens!
I love dates! And I was eating a bunch of them (like 6 or 7 at a time) a couple of weeks ago, but I don’t think it helped move anything along. Maybe it’s worth another try, though, if it means avoiding induction.
Best of luck with the interview! And with a smooth, easy delivery!
I’m about to go force feed myself some… I can honestly say I’m pretty dated out!
So looking forward to the day I see Thumper’s birth announcement via blog in my inbox. I’m almost as excited for you guys as I am for us!
Eek! Good luck Steph. I’m looking forward to hearing good news and seeing some pics soon 🙂 xxx
Thanks BB! I too am looking forward to hearing how your story unfolds…. I sense that 2014 will be a magical year. Unicorns will fly!
Hopefully all our preparations smooth our baby girls’ transitions into the world! I love that we have joined the women who have been doing these things for hundreds of years. Still, a good date is a good date! 🙂
🙂 Indeed! I’m counting down the days until Friday for you… So look forward to hearing how your experience goes! And of course seeing pics of Abigail Nichelle!
Here are my words of wisdom about preparing for labor – and while they may not be the most exuberantly positive words, they ARE honest – just know that whatever happens during your labor, at the end of it you will have your baby. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t go “perfectly,” it will be hard no matter what, but it will also be amazing and then you will have your baby! Which makes it so worth it. Good luck and enjoy the ride!
p.s. My midwife had me doing the perineal massage in the shower with olive oil. Making it part of the shower routine made it not so bad somehow. Also, the olive oil softens the tissue to prevent tearing.
Did you feel the massage helped?
And thank you so much for your wisdom! I’ll take anything I can get.
Ha…again, I am not the most positive in the world about my birth. In fact, if you haven’t already read it, DON’T go read my birth story right now. Seriously. But, I would say I have no idea if it worked because I ended up having to have an episiotomy. I think, in the words of my midwife, “it can’t hurt!”
Can’t believe you’ve come so far so fast… best wishes for a fast and easy labor and life full of love with your daughter.
Awe thank you so much!
Ahhh! You’re so close! Maybe after little Daphne arrives, you can write a post about whether you feel these things helped in the end or not (you know, in the oodles of time that you’ll have with a newborn)? I’d be interested to know! And I did perineal massage — not super fun and I’m undecided if it did any good. So you may not be missing anything at all! Good luck with your delivery!!!
I will totally do a post to see if the darn dates have been helping (just ate several and I’m getting quite over it!). And I agree, the perineal massage really isn’t fun which is exactly why I’ve shied away from it!