Birth Marathon- My 9 Month Plan

I viewed my pregnancy as preparation for a "birth marathon" I was about to embark on at the end of 9 months (coincidentally, my son was born a few days before the NYC Marathon). I knew this would be one of the most difficult things I would do in my life and like the "straight A" student I always was, I decided to study and prepare for it.

I began prenatal yoga classes in my first trimester- I was the skinniest one in the room and almost felt embarrassed by my non-existent baby bump (I kept puffing out my belly to fit in with the other women that were closer to their due date than I was).  I knew that learning how to move my body at this early stage in my pregnancy would be beneficial.  I would later buy a Prenatal Yoga DVD by Gaiam and practice in the comfort of my own home (a snow storm would not stop me from getting some movement in).

I also cut alcohol and caffeine immediately after finding out the news. I know some women indulge in the occasional drink during the 9 months - but I had been drinking since I was 12 years old- if I could not quit now, I knew I had a problem...Plus, why take any chance with your newborn baby developing inside of you? I've never smoked, so this was not a factor. Other than that, I continued to eat healthfully the way I always had and added more red meats to my diet (Iron is so important!) and less fish and seafood (beware of high mercury fish and seafood!). 

I do not believe in "pregnancy cravings" - I think women indulge in foods they always craved because they somehow feel that they can. This is a recipe for disaster.  If you craved chocolate cake before you got pregnant but didn't indulge then, you shouldn't now just because you are pregnant. Your belly is expanding as is - no need to expand your butt and thighs!

I became an avid reader about pregnancy. The one book I avoided was "What to Expect When Your Expecting" - a pregnancy book that has a Hollywood film in the works was not what I wanted to expect...so this book did not end up on my reading list. Instead I read great positive birth stories... Ina May's Guide to Childbirth is a must read! Wonderful stories of positive birth experiences - did you know there is such a thing as an "orgasmic birth"!

While popular culture would lend you to believe that all birth has to be "painful." The idea of pain was totally obliterated from my mind as I prepared for my birth.  The books I read discussed "pressure" "intensity" but not pain. Another great book I read was called Adventures in Natural Childbirth by Janet Schwegel. This book shared some wonderful birth stories as well as one's that had been had using Hypnobirthing. I decided to take a hypnobirthing class as a result.

In addition to eating a healthy diet and yoga - my last two months leading up to my due date I began swimming. This was a fantastic form of exercise especially as my belly got bigger and even some yoga poses were getting to be a bit more difficult.  Swimming completely relaxed me, got my heart rate up and gave me a feeling of weightlessness- which was wonderful to relieve pressure on my legs and back.

My husband also bought me a birthing ball. I sat on this constantly to open up my hips and keep myself in a position that promoted gravity (versus reclining on the sofa). Daily squats and sitting on my birthing ball helped open up my hips and pelvis.

Kegels are so essential - I did these beginning my first trimester and continued to do them throughout my pregnancy - The proof is in the results - I only had two stitches after delivering my baby vaginally.

My mother always taught me that "Prior Proper Planing Prevents Piss Poor Performance" - these words I lived by throughout my schooling and my career - I took these words to heart during my pregnancy as well. You can't just "wing it,"you have to prepare for it mentally and physically. I know many women that write their "birth plans"  - but just writing a list of things you want without working towards them does not work in the real world and it won't work in your L&D room. Sure, I want to make millions but how am I going to accomplish that goal? You need to get specific ie I'm going to get an MBA and work at a top firm for 10 years etc .... or I want to fit into a size 6 dress - I will go to the gym 4 times a week, eat lots of fruit and vegetables, limit my alcohol to one glass of wine a day etc...

I viewed my pregnancy as preparatory time to get informed and get in shape (I started off my pregnancy in good shape as well). I felt positive throughout my pregnancy and worked until a week before I gave birth. I had the energy and the support team I needed to help me through one of my most intense days of my life that ended at 3:45pm on Nov 2, 2011 with a baby boy in his mommy's arms - it would also be the beginning of my new life as a mom...

(I will share my actual birth story in my next blog post).