Questions to answer!

Waffle is supposedly the size of a scallion this week. (14 inches tall!!)

So, we are at 26 weeks! Woooot!!!! (This is going by the first due date they gave me of December 20th. I refused to change it to December 22nd after the later ultrasound. Yay, optimism!) Also, he supposedly weighs almost 2 lbs. That's like 2 cans of chicken noodle soup! 

Anyway, I was checking my baby info website and it had some interesting questions for me this week. I thought I'd share my answers with y'all:

• Do you want a drug-free labor or are you banking on an epidural? If you're not sure, it's okay to make a note of that. I plan on having the word "EPIDURAL" tattooed across my forehead before I go into labor. That way there won't be any confusion with this one. 
• Do you want your delivery to be a private affair (just the attending medical team and your partner)? Would you like other family members or friends in the room for support? Is it okay if medical students or residents are present during your birth? I learned last time that it doesn't really matter what you plan on for this one. When I was in labor with my daughter, my mom and sister were each holding a leg and staring at my hoo-ha before I could say boo. However, I would rather not have any students present during the birth. My husband is the only one allowed to pass out during the birthing process. 
• Do you want a mirror brought in so you can see your baby crowning? GOOD GOD NO!!! They tried to do this to me when I was having my daughter and I flat out refused to look. I'm one of those people who is still scarred for life from watching the crowning scene in "Knocked Up". I don't need to see my child tearing its way through me. **shudders**
• Would you like to have the room as quiet as possible? Have special music playing? The lights dimmed? A video camera rolling? I would like "Eye of the Tiger" blaring at full volume throughout the entire thing. A video camera would be interesting to see how everyone else is reacting during the birth, but I really would rather not have any footage of my lady parts, thankyouverymuch.
• After your baby's born, do you want your partner to cut the cord? Would you or your partner like to stay with your baby during any procedures or exams? I am pretty sure he is already visualizing this moment, and I doubt I'll be able to get him away from the baby once it's out. He's going to be a hoover-Dad. :)
• Do you plan to breastfeed? Sigh. Yes, yes I will. HOWEVER (much to my husband's dismay)...I will not be doing this once I go back to work. Waffle will get 8 straight weeks of breast milk...then he's cut off. Sometimes I can't even make it to the bathroom for 2 minutes in the middle of my shift - I'd imagine it would be almost impossible to get off the unit to pump regularly. 
• Do you want your baby to stay with you around-the-clock? Probably. I've seen too many Lifetime movies about women dressed as nurses running off with newborns from the maternity ward. That paranoia will probably heighten once he's really here.

More info to come as I find more and more interesting things on the internet! Pregnancy and childbirth make for a great combination of, "OMG did that really just happen??" and "Stop making me laugh before I pee!" I'm more than happy to share with anyone who's curious.  

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