No Baby Yet: Lessons Learnt/ Learning

Baby's comfy cozy so it is staying put for now. I am 41 weeks/ 4 days along. People say I look small but frankly my belly is NOT small. I have put on about 27 lbs. I weigh 150 lbs!

Patience is a virtue. Babe will come when it is good and ready.


People are surprised at how mobile I am. I have been able to stay active: swimming, doing my weights, walking, attending Feldenkrais lessons, prenatal yoga and my last bike ride was about a month ago. I am getting massage every second week from my Douala and yesterday delved into acupuncture to release my CHI.

I stopped working November 7th so now I am getting a tad bored. I am careful every time I feel that way that I STOP and appreciate the calm, peace, spare time and rest I am so fortunate to have each day.

I have kept busy with triathlon projects: I am creating a 2009 Whistler Tri Club calendar for sale to fund raise for our club; it should be available for purchase by Dec10th.

I have begun the planning for the 2009 Whistler Kids of Steel Triathlon and the Whistler Try-A-Tri on May 23rd.

I have learnt a lot from the many people I have listened to over the last 40 weeks about A) being pregnant, B) labour, and C) being a parent. I have been engaged by stories and lessons received from everyone ranging from siblings, grand parents, general practitioner doctors, OB/GYN's, nurses, massage therapists, TCM's, personal trainers, moms and dads, physiotherapists and even people who do not have kids or any experience with kids! Everyone wants to share their experience, some even want to tell you what to do.

If I had can sum it up


Expect nothing and be prepared for anything


Plan but be flexible


No one person has had the exact answer or accurate prediction for my pregnancy.


I know my body better then any one. Most of the advice I have received I have tried to take with a grain of salt. I have filed away the stories into my general knowledge bank and plan to sort through what makes sense to me when it is most appropriate and when it will work for me and my baby. I have read and taken advice from what I have judged are credible sources.

Two women friends, both moms, one also a grandma, gave me very similar advice. They shared with me that there will be days that will be hard, days where I may even want to "give the baby back" but that though days will pass and it will be OK. That the days where I just want to cry are OK and will pass. It is normal. I took comfort in receiving that tid bit from these two ladies I admire so much. I believe them and trust them. That is what has made their advice so comforting. It was not sugar coated nor was it negative. My sister has given me great candid advice and has listened to my questions and concerns with a kind and loving ear. Bob has been a great support! He has been part of the team by learning all he can by coming to all the doctor's appointments and to prenatal class. He has weathered my moods and my dramatic changes of perspective.

People have said do this or that, eat this or that or don't eat this or that, that I will feel this or that. I have found that what is more important is to observe my own body and listen to my own intuition about what is happening to my body during the pregnancy. I have been FORTUNATE; my pregnancy has been uneventful. My baby and I have been healthy. I have been able to work till 38 weeks, exercise at least every second day, eat almost anything I want, no crazy cravings or massive weight gain, swelling has been under control, varicose veins minimal. Albeit the first 18 weeks were GROSS. I felt TIRED and SICK the whole time but looking back there was nothing truly wrong. It was a mental battle to feel that crappy and be brave through it. I railed against being pregnant and feeling sick. I fought and lost the battle so to speak. Once I surrendered to not being in full control of my body I felt much better.

My birth plan will be to SURRENDER to the action of labour and allow it to happen as it wants to. I will need to remember to Breathe.

Wu Wei: Effortless Action: Yield and Overcome: Empty and Be Full.

The Birth Plan will be more of mental plan like I prepare for a race then a specific "How To " for the labour, because I do not know what labour will entail. I have never done it before. I also have learned that no one labour is the same as any other. I will need to have faith that my body knows what to do. I am confident my body will know what to do and that I will need to ALLOW the labour to happen.

FORBEARANCE. Endurance. Pain vs Suffering.

Labour P.A.I.N. = Productive, Anticipated, Intermittent, Normal

I am pretty sure it's gonna hurt! No doubt about that but I have faith that I am built to endure it. That I am in the most amazing company of women who have had babies and that they all have come out in the end with a good result.

Identity as a Triathlete Racer & Mother

Planning for next year's race season is a bit overwhelming. I am not sure what to expect juggling a baby, my recovery, breast feeding, and training. I am sure I will want to I am just not positive how will all come together. SO I SIGNED UP for a 1/2 iron man in June! Maybe that is ambitious but at least it is a goal to strive for.