Who wants to see living room pictures? [link]

They're not great, 'cause the sun is coming through all of the windows, but it gives you an idea. I'll probably take more pictures tonight. The first couple are of Bastet trying to figure out how to get to the hanging tulips. It was quite cute.

I thought lying down to push was this outdated thing that only happened if you had a bad, old-fashioned OB who cared more about his convenience than what worked best for you

I think this kind of doctor is a rarity nowadays. I honestly think everyone involved, be it an OB, a midwife, and L&D nurses are there to make it as safe and easy for the mother and baby as nature allows them.

I'm all for education. I had vague ideas of what I wanted to happen. And I went to childbirth education classes so if they said they wanted to do an internal monitor on the baby or something like that, I'd know exactly what they meant and what that entailed. But for me, writing something down and handing it to another person is kind of like setting it in stone. I'm not anti-plan. I'm just more pro-flexibilty.

mostly about wanting to nurse (which didn't happen) and wanting the baby to sleep in

I had someone in the L&D room helping me nurse immediately, which was nice and encouraging.

It was kind of weird because I actually expected more instructions on what to do but my hospital was hands-off. Whatever you wanted to do, they were prepared to do it and didn't question it or make you feel bad.

Wow, that is looking just gorgeous, vw! I love those windows.

vw, those windows are amazing!!!! Very pretty. And poor, foiled Bastet.

Owen just hooked the handle of his sippy cup on the side of the playpen and was dinking out of it like a hamster bottle.

Pretty living room, vw!

I had one induced labor and one that began all by itself. They sucked equally. I don't think the induced hurt more than the 'natural'. In both cases, I had Nu-Morphan to get me through transition, and episiotomies when it became clear the perineum wasn't stretching.

And now it's a decade later, and I'm NEVER doing that again.

These days, at least at the hospital Susan was in (which is the same one I'll be in), they're very much against episiotomies, and rarely do them. They just let you tear instead. Episiotomies, it turns out, don't heal as well as a natural rip.

I'm hoping that kidlet will be in a good position for the monitors, so that I'm actually able to move around, but I'm prepared for that to not happen.

Pretty living room, vw! It looks like you live in a converted church with those windows, which are gorgeous. (Do you? Because, how cool.)

But in practice, I had to be lying down or seated leaning back for it to work

Ah. I had that with Jake, who was induced. Thing was, that was thirteen years ago, and the epidural they gave me was so total, I couldn't feel *anything* from the waist down. Not my legs, not nothin'. Which didn't help when it came time to push. (Actually, now that I think about it, his birth really did suck, but hey, it's over.) There were no wireless monitors then (at least not where I was) so being in bed was the only option. Poor Susan. An awful birth experience doesn't go away quickly.

I am looking forward to going into labor on my own this time as I think it will feel shorter and less tiring if I get to spend part of it at home.

This was very true for me, with both subsequent births.

Owen just hooked the handle of his sippy cup on the side of the playpen and was dinking out of it like a hamster bottle.

Heh. Sara has one with two handles on each side that are open at the bottom of the handle, and she likes to hang it off her highchair tray.

Offer~ma, Nora! So exciting. Fingers crossed.

You know, you could make a LOT of money with a toddler wheel, on the analogy of a hamster wheel.