Amanda M

PregTASTIC Panelist | View all Bios

“Geez, three kids?  I feel like I should high five your uterus or something.”

Was this pregnancy planned? This pregnancy was definitely planned.  My husband found out that after being gone all summer, he should be home for about a nine month period.  After that, his deployment schedule is anybody’s guess!  So, we took advantage of the opportunity to have him home for both a birth and the newborn period, and I got pregnant the first month we “tried.”  Our second son had just been weaned, so it was also the first month we could really “try” anyway.  We are apparently very fertile people.

What are you most excited about? Every pregnancy is exciting to me, since each new life I get to grow is a unique individual.  Even though I may already know what to expect, it doesn’t lessen the excitement when I see that little person on an ultrasound or feel him moving inside of me (still such a surreal sensation!).  I’m very much looking forward to labor this time around. Since I’ve gone through natural childbirth once before, I have a lot more confidence in my body’s ability to give birth and know what to expect.  I also look forward to raising three little boys so close in age.  The older my kids get, the more they interact with each other on their own.  I can’t wait to throw another little one into that mix!

What’s the best part about being pregnant? Besides the obvious perks of getting to wear elastic waistband pants and cookies and french fries whenever I get a “craving,” I love getting nine months to myself with my baby.  It’s such a privilege to get to be the one to nurture and grow this new little life, and it makes me thankful I’m a woman, cheesy as it sounds.

What type of food are you craving or have an aversion to? I’ve had strange cravings this time around for specific foods – Thai curry one day, french fries from Chik-fil-A the next.  It’s strange!  I always also crave a lot of fruit during pregnancy, but I don’t really want vegetables (unusual for me).  With my last pregnancy, I couldn’t even smell broccoli without throwing up.  Interestingly enough, my second son hates the stuff!  This time it’s not such a severe aversion, more like an excuse not to eat green vegetables.

What is something silly, verging on ridiculous, that someone has said about your pregnancy? I’ve had some good ones, but these two were the best so far: “Well, where are you going to put THIS one”?  and “Geez, three kids?  I feel like I should high five your uterus or something.”

Have you experienced “baby brain” or “momnesia” yet? Any funny stories to share? I have terrible “placenta brain.”  It’s so bad that I feel the need to constantly check and make sure I have both my children with me.  I’m afraid I’m going to forget one of them at home or in the car!

How involved is your husband? My husband is very involved.  He read everything I tabbed for him to read last time around when I decided to go the natural childbirth route.  We decided against getting a doula, so he knew he had a big job ahead of him!  He made a play list for labor, went with me to a special “Daddy yoga” class, and got me through labor like a champ.  He’s also great after the babies arrive, a very hands-on Dad when he’s home, and he really misses his boys when he’s not.

How is your energy level compared to “normal”? My energy level is sluggish!  I am chalking it up to chasing around a one year old and a four year old, but I just can’t seem to find the motivation to exercise and do as much as I did during previous pregnancies.  It seems really easy to be lazy this time around.

What clothes are you finding most comfy? I have declared this the “summer of sundresses”!

What are your plans for the nursery? This poor baby is going to get a third-time-hand-me-down nursery, just like everything else in his life.  We have a helicopter motif, since my husband is a helicopter pilot.

What aspect of pregnancy has surprised you (so far)? It takes a lot to surprise me these days!  I think what surprised me most about pregnancy is how much this little person changes your life before he’s even breathing on his own!  You give up control over your body and you make a lot of sacrifices for your baby before he or she is even born.  I guess, in short, I was surprised that I really felt like I became a mom before my baby was even born.  I was also surprised with how frequently strangers will touch your belly or tell you the most graphic version of their own birth stories.

What words of wisdom or piece of advice do you wish you knew about pregnancy, before getting pregnant? I really wish that during my first pregnancy I had taken the time to read and educate myself about labor and delivery.  I was focused more on what to do with a baby after we brought him home (which is also very important, by the way!).  I went into labor wanting a natural birth, but I didn’t have a clue what to expect and hadn’t prepared myself properly for it.  I trusted the medical staff more than my own body, and I didn’t get the birth I wanted.  The second time around was much different and much improved. I would also advise someone to savor time alone with your partner before the birth.  Life changes completely once the baby arrives, for the better of course, but the quality time with your partner is hard to come by afterwards.  Babies are a lot easier to care for while they’re in the womb, so you should take advantage of that time, even if you don’t feel like it! I also wish someone had told me that it’s ok to feel overwhelmed by it all.  It’s ok not to have all the answers, and it’s definitely ok to make up your mind about something and do your own thing when it comes to pregnancy and birth, especially if you’ve done your homework! One last piece of advice.  If you plan on breastfeeding, take your partner along to a breastfeeding class.  My husband was the only Dad present at the class for our first son.  However, he was the one that actually latched our son onto my breast for the first week of his life. He knew more about breastfeeding than I did and was an amazing support.  If he hadn’t been there, I would have quit right away.  Instead, I breastfed my first son for a year.

If your delivery day turned out perfectly, what would it look like? I visualize this day all the time!  Here’s how it will all play out (in my head!).  My husband will be home when labor begins.  I’ll call family to come get my two older sons, then my husband and I will go into labor mode – soft lighting and the special iPod playlist my husband made for labor.  We’ll stay laboring at home until I get that wild look in my eyes that tells him it’s time to go.  Then, we’ll drive the three miles to the hospital in record time (163 will have unusually light traffic, of course).  My own midwife will be on duty, and she’ll check me only to find that I’m almost fully dilated and ready to have a baby.  Our third son will be born happy and healthy with few interventions and no drugs. Of course, this is a fantasy!  I’ve learned over time that while it’s great to have a birth plan, you must also be prepared to be flexible in labor.  This is great practice for motherhood, where flexibility is the key to survivial and sanity. The most important aspects of my little visualization are giving birth to a healthy, happy baby and doing so with minimal medical interventions.  My first drug-free birth experience was the most amazing, empowering experience of my life, but the day did not go according to my master plan.