Due April/May 2016

@ sonsbaby, haha, some natural birth videos will def scare you off. When i have some time, ill you-tube a couple and put up some links.
I think you should be able to download the "Rainbow Relaxation" soundtrack. Basically you listen to it every night while in bed or on the couch, and meditate and relax your body.
I can only imagine, its become so frightening the no. of woman who opt or end up having c-secs due to complications. In saying that, we just want healthy babies and healthy mummies!!

Natural birth is intense and it is a long process.
I did not know I was having contractions, I was just uncomfortable and had some cramps in my lower back, and what felt like period pain. and it continued for a good couple of hours before my water broke. Some woman have their water breaking before anything. Others dont even have their waters breaking. What you need to prepare for is when they do a physical check to see how dilated you are. I have no idea what they do, but it is awful!
Most woman do tear during natural birth. they say doing perinneal massaging and kegel exercises decreases the probability. I had a few tears which needed some stitches, but some woman tear alot worse, and they might have to cut. So rather doing the massage (even though its weird!) than risk being cut.

As I am typing this, am wondering if you should maybe start a new topic asking woman to give you their experiences on natural unmedicated birth. It really helps knowing how others experienced things, and what are possible things you could experience, etc. Though I dont mind you asking at all.

@ Maj - I am now 27 weeks 5 days and my due date is 29 April getting so close now! Hahaha my hubby also a deep sleeper but he seems to be on alert these days so wakes up easier if he feels me move around allot at night. I will definitely look into the hypnobirth video and look out for books and CD's. I haven't looked at natural birth videos was too scared it scare me off natural birth lol!

I have no idea what to expect in natural birth I tried to read up on it allot but somehow I don't think that will fully prepare anyone for the reality of it! And I tried to speak to a few friends who has given birth and when I bring up natural birth they freak out as they all had C-sections. frustrating really!

The dreams yeah I have experienced one or two of those!! I read about the vivid dreams near the end of pregnancy apparently very common!

@ sonsbaby, how far along are you?
It would take more effort on my side to wake hubby up, then to get out of bed! I can play heavy metal music and he wouldnt hear!

@blousonneblom, i dont no if I have a high threshhold for pain as such, i think im just not squeamish about hospital and birth, etc. I wouldnt say the birth was painful, rather it was intense, but bearable. They did not believe I was ready to push when I got to the labour ward. Once they checked between my legs though, there was no doubt.

Birth without meds has ALOT to do wih your mindset, and the preparing yourself for it. We are so bombarded by labour being painful, that we expect to be. Please please google hypnobirhing birh video (dont ever watch a non-hypnobirth video!)
The time in labour should be about the bond with your child, it needs to be in a relaxing environment, where you can be calm, and focused on the experience. my water broke at about 3am, and i spent about the next 3 hours by myself. Changing positions when I felt the need, but just finding in my "zone". i did not want to be disturbed or spoken to, etc.
When I first heard of hypnobirth (and told hubby about it) we both thought it might just be something gimicky, and hypnosis to me was associated with one of those weird performers trying to get you to do things without you knowing. but its self-hypnosis, you are changing your mindset and making it a reality.

@sonsbaby perhaps look at getting the book, and the CD for meditation.

Regarding maternity leave, probably 2 weeks before my due date, so end April. I dont want to leave too early as I know I will get bored, but not even get stuff that needs to be done sorted.

I had a dream last night about the baby being born! it was quite bizarre as she was huge and born earlier than expected.

Hi Ladies!

@Maj I think I need to invest in that exercise ball!! Sleeping at night is becoming a challenge as my hips get so sore lying on one side and if I need to get up in the middle of the night to empty the full bladder (again) its like a old lady getting up! Last night I had to wake hubby up to help me up! I am very interested in the hypnobirth you talk about but here in the "backwaters" aka Vaal triangle I have never heard of a place offering it. I am also struggling with the epidural question, should I, should I not!

@Monei - glad you getting excited about your little boy! I am also getting excited and cant wait to meet our little one! Lucky for us my hubby and I are like minded we are not doing the "snip" if one day he wants to do it, it will be entirely his choice! Just remember to register for the Dischem baby program before you start buying as the points only count after the registration! Can I ask how much is your photographer charging? I have not even thought of a photographer!!

@ Blou - Wow your baby room is just amazing! It looks so professionally done!! And your baby pics is gorgeous!! Glad your little one is growing so well!

I decided to go for the 4D scan. Going to a place that offers a nice package of a 2D&4D scan, a DVD of live recording, a CD with still pics, a diagnostic report and colour prints. They charge R800 which was cheap for me seeing as my gynea charged more for just his 2D scans!

How long before the due date are everyone going on maternity leave?

Hi ladies!

Just an update on my scan today, everything still fine with baby, he is about 30cm and weighs about 1.4 kg. Here is my scan picture



@Maj, how would you say the pain of natural birth without meds was? Was it manageable? I also think everybody scares you into thinking that you will not be able to cope with the pain, spoke to a lady recently who did a vbac hypnobirth, she had no pain at all, but I think you have to be in the right mindset for that

@Maj, Exactly why i'm going to my mother's during that time. Well that and that's either she would've come over or i was gona go anyways for my first few weeks of maternity.

@ blou sonneblom, cute baba pic. the nursery looks amazing! I wish my bedroom could look half as great
Hope the scan goes well.

I was amused by your story about your friends kid!! i have a 3.5 yr old daughter. As a baby she was a relatively relaxed kid. Not jumping off things, not a ridiculous amount of crying or screaming, etc. But now, she talks so much some days that ears pain! But you have 3 years before that happens and you lead up to it. A "crying baby" is a bigger worry for me than a talkative pre-schooler!

About natural birth with no meds-have you looked into hypnobirthing?
I had a natural with no meds, and am planning to do the same this time around.
We believe it should be painful, and so it is painful. And because we are so afraid of the pain, we dont let our bodies do what they are meant to do, which in turn creates more pain.

@ monei I have no idea how you will manage having renovations done around the time you are due-i would go mad with the builders around, the mess, dust and just not having things where they should be!!