Friday, June 24, 2011

bump: time flies

Last week I noticed that my cheekbones have disappeared beneath the softness of late pregnancy. I'm welcoming the desire to stay close to home, avoid crowds, steer clear of questions from strangers. I think every woman craves anonymity at the end of pregnancy - it's tiring to discuss, over and over and over again, how many weeks to go, the possible sex of the baby, the 'due' date. "I don't do dates," I say. And then I turn and leave.

I have most definitely reached that stage where I'm starting to internalise; cutting off the outside world in preparation for the transition of birth. Going about daily tasks with the slowness of a woman who can feel, day by day, a head nudging down into her pelvis.

Incredibly low iron levels have encouraged me to take it easy, spend a little more time preparing iron-rich foods and upping my herbal tonics. If my iron levels don't increase I may not be able to birth at the low-risk birthing centre I had intended to. Which is ok. I'm not attached to a certain place or time or date. My baby will be born when it wants to - wherever I am. I'm just ready to surrender to the journey, wherever it takes me. Trusting in the knowledge that all will be well in the end.

37 weeks. Not counting.

39 comments:

  1. Your writing is so poetic sometimes.

    Just reading that reminded me why I love being pregnant.

    The last few weeks are amazing, enjoy every moment of it.

    I hope your iron levels pick up. I had low iron too despite taking vitamins for it.

    Have a lovely weekend, xx

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  2. Gosh I'm getting excited for you. It's so close! And look at you, running along the beach. Amazing. Hope your iron levels pick up. Kellie xx

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  3. You sound like you're in the perfect place mentally and emotionally. What will be, will be. And it will be right.

    Sending iron fairy dust your way - although not entirely sure you need it if you can manage to run in the sand at 37 weeks! ;)

    x claire
    P.S - received my eco nino change mat cover. LOVE it! Thank you! :) :)

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  4. I can't wait to experience all of it.. the good the bad and the ugly. (I will probably later regret saying that) lol, but I've had baby brain for the past 2 years and it's only been growing stronger.

    I used to think I'd love all of the questions and discussion of my hopeful future pregnancy (but the more I think about it, and hear others' stories, I start to imagine otherwise).

    Your photos are brilliant! Does your hubby take a lot of them? I really wish my man was more photo-inclined so I would have a little creative help in documenting our lives! (Oh well!) I guess I'll just have to settle for his constant cropping of body parts. *sigh*

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  5. such a beautiful post and the pics are adorable. Claire said it perfectly, you are in a perfect place and look so darn cute aswell.

    enjoy the journey, hope you are eating your broccoli ♥

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  6. Beautiful imagery in your words - and that top photo is stunning! Good luck with the iron levels.

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  7. I love your attitude towards your 'due date'... I wish I was like that. I was crossing off the days on the calendar and getting upset when I went 10 days over with my first :-) I was slightly better 2nd time 'round. I had very low iron levels and after only 2 weeks of taking supplements (Ferrograd with Vit C - from Megasave) they increased dramatically.

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  8. Beautifully said. The baby will be born when it's due, only the baby knows.
    I do hope your iron levels go up, just so you have the energy you need.
    Have a peaceful weekend!
    xoxox

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  9. i see the journey is going beautifully for you.

    i remember having very low iron levels and took double dose of iron in the last trimester so that i could birth at home and our staff development midwife at work had an iron infusion so that she too could birth at home. it makes such a difference. i felt like gold afterwards!

    blessings for a truly wonderful birth.

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  10. you are a strong woman Jodi. Lucky baby, lucky che lucky daniel.

    xo em

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  11. It's so important not to cling to one possible outcome as far as birthing is concerned, isn't it? Your sound completely serene on that point.

    Although Floradix has fairly low iron levels it is, as you surely know, totally natural and it saved me during the final months of my last pregnancy. It is also good during those breastfeeding months which deplete a mother's iron levels too.

    Relish those last weeks!

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  12. good luck getting those iron levels up. i too am trying to increase mine at the mo though i'm not pregnant. it makes such a wonderful difference to life. that photo of you running on the beach is lovely. i love your attitude.

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  13. Sipping my morning coffee while reading your blog = perfection :) I love your spirit and outlook on life, you're certainly inspiring me.

    I adore the name you chose for your son, so much meaning and after what you told me, it was obviously meant to be! :)
    Natasha xox

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  14. Oh dear I hope you are doing okay. That doesn't sound like much fun : ( At least your little girl or guy will be here soon!

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  15. You look beautiful!
    I'm enjoying following your amazing journey.
    xx

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  16. Oh what beautiful words you choose to share with us.... and images, too... a little like climbing inside your thoughts for a second... I do appreciate the need to just be nearing the end of pregnancy... just so much reflection, preparation, and even speculation to take place. In due time... que sera sera. I do, too, wish that your iron levels rise and everything goes well. Very exciting!

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  17. I'm feeling your energy Jodi. You are in the right place. It will be wonderful. Jane x

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  18. You're so close mama.
    Enjoy those last slow days... your three is nearly to be four.

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  19. Beautifully put, as always. Hope you're enjoying a sun-filled weekend x

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  20. your post brought such sweet memories to me! it´s just the most wonderful thing, isn´t it? I know it´s your second baby, but please don´t forget to smell your newborn all day the first few days, that smell is magic!!!

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  21. beautiful words jodi, i liked and that quiet stage of my pregnancies, visualizing the moment i would meet that new little person.
    I enjoyed both my birthing experiences and hope you do too.
    Hoping the iron levels pick up.
    take care. xx

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  22. Well said and well taken photos :) Hoping your iron levels increase. I've started drinking nettle tea...apparently good for iron (?) xx

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  23. You look more beautiful in every post. I'm so excited for you guys.

    And divine pictures, as always xx

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  24. I've always thought it must be kind of irritating for pregnant women to always be asked the same questions. It's not really the same thing, but because I live in australia and i have a canadian accent EVERY SINGLE TIME i meet someone new i always get asked the same things: "where are you from?", "oh, i hear canada and australia are pretty similar", "why are you here?" etc. I don't want to sound rude because i get why people do it, it just gets kind of tedious sometimes. xx

    p.s. love these shots! did daniel take them?

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  25. You're in our thoughts for an amazing and joyous birth experience. It's lovely to see your updates. Sending lots of love to your gorgeous family xxx

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  26. I forgot about feeling like this - I pulled inside myself too. I don't think people understood, but, there it is. I hope you get to enjoy this quiet time.

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  27. Wishing you a lovely last few weeks Jodi. I have no doubt time will whizz by... gxo

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  28. You are so Beautiful Jodi! if i could I would send you a bowl of fresh quinoa, edemame, sweet potatoes and spinach right from my israeli kitchen to Australia!

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  29. Good Luck! You look amazing and will definatly be a yummy mummy :)

    P.S I had the same problem with my iron levels being low towards the end of my pregnancy (i had 4 weeks to go). So i was asked by my doctor to take iron tablets (double dose) and in 2 weeks my levels were really good :)

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  30. Lovely post, lady...I so enjoy hearing about your calm and centred approach to pregnancy. It's very inspiring. So refreshing to hear someone who is content to go with the flow of birthing and has such an open approach...I'm aiming to surround myself with these kinds of positive stories and will visualise being in a similar mind frame for when my time comes...
    x

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  31. i remember it well. retreating to get the nest ready. i'm so excited for you. wondering how your birth will unfold . . .

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  32. oh my! you look beautiful. this is a lovely photo set.

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  33. Thank you for saying you don't do dates. As our baby draws closer I feel more pressure from people to somehow male the birth happen on the arbitrary number we've been given. I'm grateful to hear someone else say the baby will come when it's ready.

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  34. you look wonderful jodi. i loved that inner-ness at the end of my pregnancies too. a bit like having your ears under water. take care of yourself.

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  35. Wow, you look amazing! Your attitude is so refreshing, too. Such wisdom in letting go and letting it be. Beautiful...

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  36. PS - I had low iron too, (and restless legs from it...argh!) and deandelion root tea helped me a lot - thought I'd pass it on... :)

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  37. xoxo((((((OOOooooommmmmmmm)))))

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  38. Those are amazing pictures! They reflect your inner peace and calm. Hope the iron levels pick up!

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