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September 3, 2003
***Pregnancy***
Seven weeks pregnant and still sick as a dog. It sure doesn't help that my kids wake up around 7 a.m. and like to get into bed with me. Not to sleep, but to bounce, tumble and crawl all over me. Does wonders for inducing the vomit reflex.
OK, I'm done complaining and would now like ask you all what the deal is with denim maternity overalls. Did/do any of you actually wear denim overalls during pregnancy, and for what reasons? Don't send me hate mail, I'm not putting them down, just trying to understand why denim overalls are so overwhelmingly popular (and this is not only a North American phenomenon) for pregnant women. I can't imagine wearing overalls ever, and certainly not during pregnancy. I'm sure I'm wrong (or maybe my figure is just weird), but it seems like overalls would be really uncomfortable, putting pressure on all the wrong places.
I ask, because my suit skirt is digging a trench around my waist. I was perusing the internet for maternity wear (though it's still way too early) and there seems to be an overabundance of denim. I'm a work outside the home mommy, one of those grey-suited briefcase-wielding drones you can see in the financial district of any major city. I can't come to work in denim overalls. I'm hoping to stay at work as long as I can (oh please please please I don't want to be on bedrest for this pregnancy). Andrei and Anna have a wonderful full-time nanny, and let's face it, with 3 kids, every penny counts, especially since after the baby is born, I won't be going back to work any time in the near future.
***Birth***
Don't you just love the "active labor isn't the time to make big decisions" banner that flashes across the I-Parenting pages?
In my personal opinion, a birth plan is maybe a good idea, but it could be setting a woman (and her husband) up for big disappointments. Unfortunately, very often big decisions have to be made in active labor, and only then, like it or not.
That said, I had beautiful natural labor with both of my children. I may have had a very difficult second pregnancy, but the birth experience made up for it 1,000 times over. Andrei and Anna were both born in under 4 hours from first contraction to first cry with minimal medical intervention. No epidurals, no drugs, no episiotomies .... BUT ... here in St. Petersburg, as in North America, I think the idea of "active birth" is really popular. Birthing stools, balls, baths, squatting, moving about, you name it. Not for me. Both times, all I wanted was to lie on my back with my legs spread. Fortunately my wonderful OB (you can have your personal doctor deliver the baby) knew me well and didn't try to coax me into doing anything differently. Andrei was born right in the admittance room, since there was no time to get into the birth room. Both times Dima was right there with me, which is still very rare for Russia. Usually maternity wards don't even permit the husband to VISIT his wife and child during their 4-day stay in the hospital (4-5 days is standard here). He must resort to screaming at her from the street and bribing nurses to take her food, clothing and notes. That's changing a bit now, at least in the big cities.
***Russian medical system***
I could go on forever, but will limit myself to a couple of observations. Rubber surgical gloves are washed and re-used, or simply used to examine a number of patients. Our nanny, formerly a nurse in a maternity ward explained that the gloves are not to protect the patient, but to protect the doctor (nurse) FROM the patient. Most medical establishments require you bring your own surgical gloves/syringes/food ....
***Nyus and Andrei***
Nyus can get fully dressed and undressed by herself. She can put on her underwear, tights, T-shirt, pants, sweater and, drum roll please SOCKS. The socks are a new development. She is 1 year and 7 months old. Andrei only began dressing himself (at our insistance) when he was 2 1/2 and oy! the screams that entailed.
Andrei interrogated me about balloons this morning. I blew up balloons for them and the questions began: Mom, why are they so fragile, why do they pop so easily, what are they made out of, who invented balloons, why does my hair stick to them, where are they made? That and about a zillion other questions without even coming up for air.
Anyone know who invented balloons?
Warm regards,
Lisa
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