hypnobirth class 4

It's been awhile since I wrote about my hypnobirthing class, but is has been awhile since I had one. Life took over for us and Ben and I haven't been able to have a session with Dr. AnnaLynn, tonight will be our last one.

Last class, believe it or not, Ben did not fall asleep during our hypnosis session. I think he was trying very hard to keep alert, my mom sat in to watch me go into hypnosis a bit, so she would know what to expect when she was there with us in the birthing room. And I have been practicing a whole lot since then. I try to do it every night before bed, then I use it to lull me to sleep, and once in the mid-afternoon. The afternoon practices are harder because the boisterous energy of True and Brave in the room sometimes won't let me relax.

I know I am the guinea pig for all my friends and some people are still weirded out by the whole idea. It really isn't that strange friends, it is just getting to a place of deep relaxation and using your imagination. It really is quite nice. Some people try to get me to put myself in hypnosis in front of them, but I think that is just too weird, so I don't. Plus, I need my music and anchors and need to be super comfy and being in the middle of a pizza parlor ain't the comfiest.

I am at 36 weeks now and normally go somewhere in my 38th week (what?! can I really be that close?!!), and I am pretty excited about my body doing the birthing process this time around. I am not quite ready yet, as there are things that still need to get done before this baby makes an appearance (I need to put together a hospital bag and a going home outfit) and try to clean more of the house. I am just anticipating when it will be time to put all I have been practicing into action. Really, I am so excited! I have dreams all the time that this baby just slides right out of me!

At the same time, I am really cherishing these last few weeks as this will be the last time Ben and I will be in this place. Unless God pulls a fast one on us, four is as high of a number as we will go, so I am trying to memorize and enjoy every little bump and kick I feel inside of me. I will really miss feeling a baby inside me. I think I am also finally slowing down as I have been more tired these days and though I have been working out this entire pregnancy (I try to do 5-6 days a week with Ben), today was the first day I felt like, "Whoa! This workout is kinda hard now."

I was telling Ben last night that maybe we should make a papier-mâché out of my belly. Strange, I know, but I am just trying to figure out a way to capture these last days in this stage of our life. My heart is really full trying to fathom and enjoy it all and not let it escape too quickly, but at the same time we are super duperly excited to meet the newest one! I think we may even have a name. Maybe. Almost. We will see...

class 3...

class 2...

class 1...