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prego saucy: September 28 - October 7, 2006
September 28, 2006
I read "Confessions of a Dissident" by epidemiologist and midwifery proponent Marsden Wagner in Childbirth last night.
The perinatal death rate during a C-section is 6 times higher than during normal delivery -- but that's generally not revealed to the woman, and instead the convenience factor is played up.
Also, there are statistically fewer births in the evening and on weekends -- whether from induction or scheduled c-sections.
Also episiotomies done as a matter of course...oi. Much higher rate of those in hospitals than with midwife assisted births.
Obstetrician, stay away from me-hee / obstetrician, let me n' baby be-hee!
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Doin' mah kegels, kegels, kegels... kegels, kegels, kegels...
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I love soup more than Andy Warhol did.
October 4, 2006
Since IÕve started going to town with the hot sauce, with the red pepper flakes, with the salsa I have had zero indigestion.
I keep a bottle of Bufalo chipotle "very hot" sauce on my desk and pour it on my omelet, on my nitrate-free chicken snausage...mmmm, so good.
What else...I had my teeth cleaned: ahhh, so slippery and smooth feeling they are! Why do I put it off so long? The only weird part is I had to swish out my own mouth and spit it out. When I regularly went to the dentist as a kid, I always had one suction tube hoovering up one side of my mouth and another squirting a stream of water on the other side. I guess that's dentistry in a desert for you.
Oh yes, and I successfully fought off my first irrational craving today. I thought all morning about getting the coffee malted milkshake from Grill at noon -- 24 ounces of malted ice cream lusciousness. I planned out when I would leave the office, how to combine it with two other errands I needed to run, and where I would park, I even contemplated calling ahead so that it would be ready when I got there because Grill is slow.
Instead, I avoided Grill altogether and bought some grapes at the convenience store, and ate the chicken chile verde I'd packed for my lunch. Less exciting than a malted, but I don't want to look like a pregnant weeble wobble by month 9.
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Swimming is going swimmingly, although it may be time to haul out the pregnant lady swimming outfit, as my top doesn't cover my tummy any longer.
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The Mamatoto book arrived. Despite being a Body Shop product (!) it's very charming and very informative -- much of the same information as the Childbirth and Authoritative Knowledge book but minus the metadata and epistemological stuff, so much less dry. Scooter can be born in the tub at the Birth Centre and everything will be just fine -- kiddoes all over the world are born in hammocks, jungles, rivers, and on the veld at midnight with lions and hungry monsters roaming about (and mom alone to boot) and they do just fine. That is if mom isnÕt anemic or malnourished.
Which I am not.
So there we go.
I loaned the book to D&K next door; it's great that they share the same attitude about childbirth and are going to the Birth Centre as well. It's not like I'm the only crunchy granola kooky girl in a neighbourhood of Biffs and Muffies who tolerate "ohhh, that Molly!"
Yeah, I got your ohhh that Molly right here, pal. Riiiiiight here.
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I decided the Angel Botello serigraphs need to belong to Scooter. There won't be space to hang them in Scooter's room in our current house because the room's too small and the only long wall faces the window, but in our next house... I like the prints in the dining room right now, but every time I look at them, I think they need to be in ScooterÕs room -- I loved those prints when I was a kid.
October 5, 2006
I cannot bend over to see the inner workings of my cookie anymore. So, I will alleviate my disappointment by preparing kung POW chicken -- with cashews, oh yes please -- for this evening's repast.
October 6, 2006
I ate a piece of celery that I chopped with the same knife I chopped up the raw chickenses for dinner last night. Somehow, I don't believe I'll come down with salmonella. But if I do, we know how.
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The pain thing. More readings, and it seems the intensity of pain during childbirth depends on the woman and the circumstance. As much as you can permit the natural hormones and endorphins to do their thing -- for mama and the kiddo -- the better...skip the epidurals and opiates that can interfere with mama nature.
During an undisturbed birth, women experience the fetus ejection reflex -- the first stage of labor is uncomfortable with the crampings and whatnot, and then during the second stage if they are partially standing and work on their breathing and ignore the urge to push, finally the baby pops out. The placenta is delivered quickly after, and tearing is reduced or eliminated -- the perineum "fans" out like a lotus flower.
Certainly, there is considerable perineal massage going on at the same time with the coconut oils, and of course the incense. And an all over private and secure environment...
During the first part of labour, I want to be able to walk around or maybe groove to some tunes...then, when the serious business starts, I want as few distractions as possible -- just me, JB, the midwife. No talking, maybe some music, low lights. I also want to catch Scooter if possible (if I'm not hanging onto something or biting my nails).
And for whatever reason, I don't want to be naked -- even the natural childbirth books all show the mama naked. Obviously I can't be wearing panties, but I think I need something on...kimono or lounge dress.
With the oils and perfume and incense
Now you're groovin',
Put on a cool '70s groove
A funky groove to parturiate to
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Interesting piece from Mothering magazine. I want to find an issue -- seems much more intelligent than the mom and baby mags at the grocery store. One of the mass market mags had a bit on what to expect in the delivery room -- the photos had the poor woman surrounded by half a dozen people. No way I could give birth with an audience -- too inhibiting. What some people consider "normal" is beyond me...I just give up.
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Joyous Motherhood arrived. It is cute and pop psychology-ish -- and full of dated photographs...moms on ten speeds wearing bell-bottom pants. But great ideas about dress up, and kids' instruments, and fun learning through play. $3 well spent for the novelty factor alone.
October 7, 2006
We went to the "stork sale" used maternity and kids stuff sale at Tucson Medical Centre today with D from next door.
The Next Generation Diaper Service people were there and they seemed very cool -- I was happy to talk with them and check out the diaper covers with froggies on them and the breast pump contraptions. Weird to think about storing bodily fluids in the fridge.
Also the Waldorf school people were there -- I need to learn the difference between Waldorf and Montessori...
Otherwise, lots of plastic crap toys and stupid looking baby clothes. None of us were very impressed with the used goods for sale. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised -- 80% of consumer goods in general don't impress me, I don't see why kid stuff should be any different.
Although we did win a raffle for a nursing pillow that seems kinda swell and well designed. I figured I'd just use a giant Domo-kun pillow for nursing, but really the other makes more sense -- I don't think Domo would appreciate the spit up.
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