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Monday 20 April 2015

Thinngs I would do differently.... Pregnancy and Birth Edition

After a few jokes from my partner about me being pregnant it has gotten me thinking about if I were to be pregnant what would I want to do differently for the duration of the pregnancy and what would I want for the birth.

For one thing I wouldn't be eating the runny eggs that I am now. I like my yolks to be a little runny which is a total no no in pregnancy. Oh I would also have to stop eating sushi and ham sandwiches. Though I must admit a small change in diet like that is not a big ask, I coped last time I could easily do it again.

One of the two big things that would change with my next pregnancy is breastfeeding and exercise. I was very lazy when I was pregnant with my son and I think that didn't help with my stamina during labour. I think next time I would like to get into a routine of walking or swimming regularly, though if I were to be fully honest with myself I could do with that now. My stomach is getting a bit big again and I had to put my fat fat pregnancy jeans on this morning. I have been feeling a bit frumpy these past few weeks so maybe its time to get my A into gear and do some walking.

My stance on breastfeeding would change. Don't get me wrong here I was and still am pro choice when it comes to breastfeeding but due to the medication I was taking while pregnant and for a few months after my son was born it was bit up in the air about whether I could breastfeed. I spent most of my pregnancy thinking that I couldn't breastfeed or only when my medication levels were at their lowest. However after a long discussion with a lactation consultant shortly after his birth I decided the benefits outweighed the risks so he was fully breastfed. So now that I am off the medication if I were to be pregnant again I would be thinking about breastfeeding and everything I would need right from the start of the pregnancy not after the birth like last time.

Now onto the big change, the birth. Yes I know that sometimes you can't get the birth that you want. But if everything were to go smoothly and have no complications like last time I would love for a few things to change. I think I would like a home birth or at least to birth in one of the great birthing centres that we have here. I would only home birth if my house were tidy and organised enough which it is not. I do know that I would like to avoid a hospital birth if possible. It was in the birth plan last time, but I think next time I would like to try somewhere a little less stressful.

I would like to use a birthing pool even if I don't birth in it and any other active labour tools that may be accessible. My son was posterior and didn't present with the correct part of his head so labour was quite difficult for me. So for next time I think me trying to be more active in labour will help.

Overall I think, no I dream of a pregnancy and birth that isn't too stressful and that next time if there is a next time that I would like to say I coped with the pain better. For now however I am busy concentrating on surviving a toddler who likes to turn my house into a bomb site within an hour of waking.

If you were to have another child what would you change about your pregnancy/birth? Or if it was your last, what would you have changed?