nappies, blue books and caesars

YAY! February is finally here... my last full month before becoming a mum! Last week at class, I got laughed at a few times for talking like an american. I said "diaper bag" at one point... only to be corrected with the proper term "nappy bag"... and another time I used the word stroller... instead of pram.

We are on to learning all about bub after birth. In Australia when a bub is born they are given a "blue book" that looks like a car manual. In this blue book is the bub's complete medical history and developmental checks... this blue book is meant to be kept with bub at all times up until the age of 5. Is there something like this in the US? We also looked over the paperwork for registering bub as a citizen and declaring guardianship, etc.

We need to figure out if this paperwork needs to be done for Parker before we take him to get a passport or do we just take him to the US consulate straight away... I am personally not worried about it because I know Tyler is on the case. 

We also learned about caesars (aussie slang for caesarian section) and I am feeling fine about it all. Our teacher predicted that 2 out of the 7 of us in class will end up having to get one. She said it is better to prepare yourself with as much information as possible, so that if it is what needs to happen you will feel prepared and calm. She also emphasized that although it may not be the amazing birth you have imagined, it is still the birth of your child and is beautiful! She is correct, just because I want to have a natural water birth does not mean that if I need a caesar it will be any less special. At the end of the day I will get to hold my Parker, and that is all that matters. I will be a mum! 

I was initially worried about recovery time before having to fly for 24 hours to get home... but because (if I need one) they will most likely do it at 37 weeks (the beginning of March) there will be more than enough time. I would need to stay in the hospital for 3 days and then once I am home, a midwife will come for three visits over the next few weeks to check on my health and answer any questions. Our teacher said that if mum takes care of herself with pain medication and makes sure to stretch her abdomen so that the scars to not bunch... she should be able to make a reasonable recovery in 2 weeks and be completely healed by 6 weeks.