Eight Weeks Tomorrow

That's right -- I'll be eight weeks along as of tomorrow. I'm in New York now (read our other blog... but realize that I'm still not announcing the pregnancy to the world on that blog) at my company's Winter Meeting, and am trying to be as good to myself as is possible at these crazy events, but I did schedule my first appointment with the midwife before I left town. The appointment is scheduled for Thursday, January 31, and I'm very excited to go just so this will maybe all seem a bit more realistic. By that time I will be closing in on nine-and-a-half weeks, and though it will still be early for an ultrasound (I think they usually do the first one around 12 weeks), I will probably get to hear the baby's heartbeat, which will be cool.

Jarrett and I have been struggling in terms of making a decision about what kind of prenatal care and delivery we really want. I'm not a huge fan of hospitals and their usual regimented take on childbirth, so I knew I'd probably want to at least go with a midwife if I opt for a hospital delivery, and definitely hire a doula to help with the labor coaching. But then I watched The Business of Being Born with my dear friend, Kate, at a viewing at my church (before I even knew I was pregnant -- we just thought it sounded interesting), and a home birth then sounded much more appealing. I've been in contact with a doula that attends our church, and she asked that I please at least talk to the home birth midwife that was on the Q&A panel after the movie showing, so I did. She seems fabulous, but the only problem is that it doesn't sound like our insurance will cover a home birth. We might still call and ask about it before completely ruling it out, but in the meantime I've decided to see a midwife who was also recommended by my prospective doula. The only problem? The OB/GYN office where this midwife practices and the hospital I would want to delivery at are both about 30 miles away from the house, but we've decided it's probably worth it if it's what I want. And I think it is. It's the only hospital in the area that offers water births, and that has always sounded like a wonderful way to give birth. I guess we'll see how this first appointment goes!