34 weeks and calmbirth

last week i was 34 weeks (this week i'm 35, but that is for another post).

week 34 brought us calmbirth.

we attended calmbirth classes in the southern highlands last weekend after much recommendation from my sister and a midwife at our hospital.

we drove through the beautiful hills up through robertson and bowral to arrive in mittagong. the classes were held in a new industrial estate on the top level of the calmbirth building. we met there along with twelve other pregnant couples, eager to learn. most of the women were not as far along in their pregnancy as i was. their little bellies barely noticeable under their tops.

there was a truckie, some who worked in marketing, public servants, a nurse, business owners, a farmer, a costume designer, a p.e teacher, a few others and us. we were all there for one thing - to learn how to birth our babies without fear.

the world is full of the belief that giving birth is scary, bloody, something to get done, excruciating, gross etc. we've all heard the stories, the horror stories - the stories that make these fears real. birth can be all of those things.

birth can also be beautiful, intense, happy, painless, ecstatic and enjoyable. that's what we learnt and that's the kind of birth we are preparing for, even expecting.

we know that there are some very real situations that can arise in birth that are emergencies that call for medical help. we know that if we have bumps in our road, we will be so very grateful for medicine and the saving it can do.

for now, we will breath our way through the next few weeks. using visualisation, meditation, touch and relaxation to encourage only positive feelings, hormones, perceptions and thoughts about this incredible journey we are on and the birth experience we want and know we can have.

wearing unisex gumboot, winter legging in burnt orange, polka dot chiffon oversized button-up in black and creme and 3d flower mesh jumper in black. 

a visit and an american apparel giveaway announcement

i am now 32 weeks and 3 days. my midwife appointments have upgraded from monthly to fortnightly and in not too long will become weekly. we are getting ready for this baby - emotionally and spiritually.

the other day we had a visit with beautiful jodi and her gorgeous family. we all shared croissants with delicious tasmanian homemade jam from their recent trip. i stole some time to talk to jodi about birth and labour. she is a serious inspiration. her story of the birthing of poet (baby number two for her and daniel) is one of the most beautiful i've read. she inspires women to trust their bodies and flow with the rhythm of birth. she is passionate about birth and i can't thank her enough for the empowerment she has inspired in me.

poet sat right on top of the belly - the perfect seat, and we had a little chat. i felt for a moment that rush of excitement to hold my own baby. to hold what is mine and tim's and God's.

we have a giveaway winner to announce. remember these lovely shoes?

they are going to the beautiful...

georgi! send an email to keshycc@gmail.com with your address and i'll send them on through. 

26 weeks on labour and birth with a videoooo

we've been studying up on child birth over the last couple of days. trying to educate ourselves as best we can so that we can be prepared for the incredible, beautiful experience of labour and birth.

i really am so excited for the birthing process. it is something that scared me before i was pregnant. i used to get grossed out by pictures and footage of women giving birth. now that it is a reality for me my thoughts have taken a complete turn. giving birth has to be one of the most beautiful experiences available to women. what an incredible privilege. trusting in these amazing bodies to do what they are designed to do. to see and feel my body change in the months leading to birth blows my mind.

i can't wait for those feelings of elation. feelings of my body moving and changing to allow for this child to be born into the world. i can't wait for the feelings of accomplishment for the best day/s work in my life. i can't wait to connect with timmy in a way we never have before in this completely new experience together. i know i'll need his strength to get me through, to keep me calm and focussed and to help me remember that my body was designed for this, that i have the strength and ability. i know that he'll be everything i need him to be.

the reward at the end, no matter the process, is one that will be worth any experience encountered during birth. 

most of all this little baby is the thing i can't wait for the most.

music credit goes to the national with fake empire. you can buy it here on iTunes.

wearing american apparel floral double layered full length skirt

25 weeks on the river bed with a videooooo

you like videos, don't you?

yesterday for the first time i felt properly pregnant. like, give-me-a-chair-every-five-steps-pregnant. pretty sure it was all due to over tiredness because, after my nap yesterday afternoon and a great sleep last night, i'm felling good again.

plus i found a pair of timmy's jeans this morning that i can do up. completely. yessssss.

on saturday i had acupuncture. for the first time. i was a little nervous, needles aren't my favourite but i'm not a complete wuss. my sister is a naturopath and has two awesome natural health clinics in sydney. she had a feel of my back and booked me in stat for an appointment with the acupuncturist. let me just say after my initial calming self-talk and with the help of some enya, i fell asleep with those needles in my back. i also had the best sleep of my big bellied life that night.

and also bless the person that invented the belly wedge pillow too. goodbye to the 6 foot body pillow and welcome back snuggling in bed with timmy.

for week 25 of the pregnancy timmy and i walked on the river bed at gerroa at low tide yesterday. under the bridge and over the crab holes. i also showed timmy some of my awesome t'ai chi and yoga moves. that's me shooting my arrow and doing my buddha pose. i was being serious you can tell, haha. timmy was laughing.

the awesome track on the video is called Elephant Gun by santa fe and you can buy it here on iTunes.

wearing american apparel rib nylon spandex legging in slate and denim short sleeve button up shirt in washed out lieutenant.