1.3.11

Made It!

March 1, the day I start my maternity leave...2 wks before the due date. Ah. When I was pregnant with Maggie I worked until the day after my due date, and she was born the next morning, so in some ways I feel like a little bit of a weenie stopping 2 wks early. It seems different this time, though. I don't know if it's the 6500 ft altitude, the entirely uphill + 3 flights of stairs walk to the hospital every morning, the toddler I now have to chase around when I come home, or maybe just amnesia about what exactly happened last time, but I am exhausted!


Preparing to have a baby in Kenya seems completely different to me as well. Eric and I had to come up with a plan last night. No longer is it just, pack a bag, wait for labor, and go to the hospital where I know all the nurses and can request a nice private room with hardwood floors, a delivery bed, and a jacuzzi tub (and the possibility of an epidural, just in case I need it). I do have 2 great OBs (the Popps!) who know me and will do a great job, I'm sure. But no private room, minimal privacy, no nurse to monitor my baby's heart beat on a regular basis, and definitely no jacuzzi tub! In fact, I packed a bag this morning and included things like, my only baby monitor, a hat, diapers, and a blanket...because the hospital doesn't always have these items on hand. Eric and I came up with plans on how long I actually needed to stay at the hospital after the delivery if things go ok (2hrs? 4?) and the best way to get home (walk down the hill? drive the van?). I am even making my own ice packs, since the hospital has no ability to make ice. I thought that the second baby would seem easier because I've been through it all once before, and maybe it will be, but the unknowns are so much greater! I don't even know if this kiddo will be a boy or a girl, since our ultrasound machine isn't very good. All I really want, all I really pray for in the end, though, is a healthy baby.

Things I look forward to being able to do in the next couple weeks:
Meeting/holding my son or daughter
Being able to set my son or daughter down
Breathing
Bending over
For Kenyans to stop staring at my gigantic belly (apparently not so rude here?)
For clothes that fit again

Hopefully we'll be posting an update soon! :)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes. Prayers for healthy mom and baby. I keep envisioning you walking up the hill in labor as opposed to the car, wheelchair route. Title might also be: The Looonnnng Journey.
And it will be nice for someone else to hold the baby for awhile.
Can't wait to meet our new little darlin'.
Already know (s)he is beautiful.
Love, Mom

Anonymous said...

Haha. I like the setting them down one. YES!

Sami

wayne 'n barb said...

thanx for sharing your tho'ts, plans and questions of having a baby in rural Africa~ bless you !! remembering you in prayer and look forward to your news~what a blessed baby to come into your family and to have Maggie as the big sister :)
blessings. barb 'n wayne

James said...

For that trip home from the hospital, the most important consideration must be what story will your son/daughter have to tell.

That suggests either a donkey or an oxcart, doesn't it?

Love you all,

James

Kimberly said...

I can't wait to hear how it goes! I appreciate that you are also ready to breathe and put the baby down! Happy Laboring!

Anonymous said...

We pray all those things for you too and can't wait to meet our niece/nephew. Love you guys!
Mariah, Jonathan, and Sierra

Haller4307 said...

Wow, you guys are on an awfully big adventure. Good thing you know so many doctors and, even more importantly, good thing God is watching out for you guys!!

Anonymous said...

Rachal is so sweet. I can't wait to meet Ben (the baby born yesterday night) and Maggie is so cute! Love you, Eric, Rachal, Maggie, and baby Ben.