"It's ALIIIIVE!" (+ we're so glad about that!)
Here's a short video of Theta moving:
+ here's a longer (2 min) one ("highlight" segments, in case 2 minutes of me breathing with occasional jerks + bumps is too long :) : 0:12-0:30, 1:17-1:31 for some kicking on the right) :
I repeatedly find Theta's movements amusing + endearing. F compared Theta's punches + kicks to a shiatsu massage -- and often it felt like that. Very often it still does, but these days Theta's getting stronger + therefore gentle massage is not always the way I would describe it... :) And have I mentioned hiccups? So cute. Theta gets them fairly regularly these days + I feel the light hops(?) in the lower left pelvic area. As our gynacologist said, Theta's a "clever child" for having gotten into position (with its head down) a while ago.
In fact, Theta has also taken the next step toward being birthed and has shifted down or "dropped". Now my belly rides lower (+ Theta can shoulder? punch? my bladder more easily....ah well!)
That's one ((rOund)) belly!
We had the sister missionaries from our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints) over for a German lesson + lunch, and part of my German culture lesson was about German healthcare + how great it is :)
So seriously, hearkening back to my first post about why it's great to be pregnant + give birth in Germany, women + men living in the U.S. -- please don't settle for less -- or at least so little! The "support" for pregnancy + child-bearing in the States seems almost so little that it's negative!
At least as far as I've gathered (I'm happy to hear otherwise!), the government seems to be operating under the assumption that "If we make it illegal/difficult NOT to bear children (e.g. birth control, abortion, etc.), then women will just keep having them. We don't have to take care of them or their offspring, -- right?" While it may be true, that many will keep having children despite current legislation, the whole process may not be very healthy (for all directly involved) in its current form...(More about that below.)
And as far as employment goes**? Good luck! You're lucky to be able to get some unpaid maternity leave (as long as you had worked enough hours in the year beforehand + your company is large enough...among other things; Wikipedia has more details here, here's an article from USA Today about paid maternity leave being an elite privilege + an article from The Cut) -- and paternity leave seems an even rarer commodity (see this article.)
And now for a brief break from our political forrays, here are a few more photos of Theta + me in the 38. SSW.
+ pushed out:
and sucked in:
Okay, back to the political:
Compared to the current situation in the U.S., in Germany, where I'm sure many women (+ men) have worked long and hard to get to the point where it is now, the government supports families during the pregnancy + the child-raising process***. They give incentives for having children + raising the next generation (the next generation of taxpayers, as F cynically put it, but still! Even if that's their logic, I feel like they're going about it in a much healthier way!). Women + men are allowed to take some time to prepare for + recover from birth -- as well as take time to bond with and raise their child. Then, as I also mentioned in my previous post, the government PAYS you for having a child! Every month for the first (in many circumstances) 25 YEARS of its life!!
Now, I'm not saying this last part is necessary at all or for this long (although I'm definitely grateful for the monetary support with the prospect of diapers + a quickly growing body needing clothing -- I know Europeans in general are more okay with nudist beaches + saunas, but a person does need to cover up sometimes! :) :-P ) But I definitely appreciate the protection of having Mutterschutz (6 weeks before + 8 weeks after birth of paid leave), so that I can mentally/physically/emotionally prepare for birth and then mentally/physically/emotionally recover from birth afterward -- as well as bond with my baby, get used to being a family of three, etc. And the fact that I can take paid maternity leave for a whole year. And that I cannot be fired from my job during this time, etc., etc., etc. ^°^happy sigh^°^
There's quite a bit of research (The Wikipedia article has links to some of it) on how parental leave (at all, but especially longer parental leave) can help women avoid/reduce postpartum depression (+ men -- they can get it too!), as well as create strong relationships with the child -- which is also good for the child's and the parents' health. So many good things! Of course, this can create challenges for businesses, but they deal with it + there is still work to be done.
And, now for some more BUMP photos. At this point I'm feeling even more like a globe with arms, legs + a head...but Theta seems perfectly happy to just remain in that warmth, so we'll just keep carrying, stroking (+ poking ;) ) until it's ready to join us out here! (from the 40. SSW)
And this one -- it just makes my heart happy!
And then at a fun church in Gettorf
Just look at the belly profile. Impressive.
We love our little Theta already (+ are trying to wait patiently for it to join us out here :) ). We'll let you know when that happens, so until then, cheers!
**Then again maybe the government is working under the assumption that women should stay out of the workforce........ Germany has recognized that they need women in the workforce to keep up with things in the economy, but hm. I'm actually all for letting people decide if they want a household where both parents work or just one -- as opposed to "forcing" (via regulation or too low pay) in the one direction or the other.
Here's a short video of Theta moving:
In fact, Theta has also taken the next step toward being birthed and has shifted down or "dropped". Now my belly rides lower (+ Theta can shoulder? punch? my bladder more easily....ah well!)
That's one ((rOund)) belly!
So seriously, hearkening back to my first post about why it's great to be pregnant + give birth in Germany, women + men living in the U.S. -- please don't settle for less -- or at least so little! The "support" for pregnancy + child-bearing in the States seems almost so little that it's negative!
At least as far as I've gathered (I'm happy to hear otherwise!), the government seems to be operating under the assumption that "If we make it illegal/difficult NOT to bear children (e.g. birth control, abortion, etc.), then women will just keep having them. We don't have to take care of them or their offspring, -- right?" While it may be true, that many will keep having children despite current legislation, the whole process may not be very healthy (for all directly involved) in its current form...(More about that below.)
And as far as employment goes**? Good luck! You're lucky to be able to get some unpaid maternity leave (as long as you had worked enough hours in the year beforehand + your company is large enough...among other things; Wikipedia has more details here, here's an article from USA Today about paid maternity leave being an elite privilege + an article from The Cut) -- and paternity leave seems an even rarer commodity (see this article.)
And now for a brief break from our political forrays, here are a few more photos of Theta + me in the 38. SSW.
 |
| The facial expressioms actually say it all, so I probably didn't even need the descriptions :) |
Compared to the current situation in the U.S., in Germany, where I'm sure many women (+ men) have worked long and hard to get to the point where it is now, the government supports families during the pregnancy + the child-raising process***. They give incentives for having children + raising the next generation (the next generation of taxpayers, as F cynically put it, but still! Even if that's their logic, I feel like they're going about it in a much healthier way!). Women + men are allowed to take some time to prepare for + recover from birth -- as well as take time to bond with and raise their child. Then, as I also mentioned in my previous post, the government PAYS you for having a child! Every month for the first (in many circumstances) 25 YEARS of its life!!
Now, I'm not saying this last part is necessary at all or for this long (although I'm definitely grateful for the monetary support with the prospect of diapers + a quickly growing body needing clothing -- I know Europeans in general are more okay with nudist beaches + saunas, but a person does need to cover up sometimes! :) :-P ) But I definitely appreciate the protection of having Mutterschutz (6 weeks before + 8 weeks after birth of paid leave), so that I can mentally/physically/emotionally prepare for birth and then mentally/physically/emotionally recover from birth afterward -- as well as bond with my baby, get used to being a family of three, etc. And the fact that I can take paid maternity leave for a whole year. And that I cannot be fired from my job during this time, etc., etc., etc. ^°^happy sigh^°^
There's quite a bit of research (The Wikipedia article has links to some of it) on how parental leave (at all, but especially longer parental leave) can help women avoid/reduce postpartum depression (+ men -- they can get it too!), as well as create strong relationships with the child -- which is also good for the child's and the parents' health. So many good things! Of course, this can create challenges for businesses, but they deal with it + there is still work to be done.
And, now for some more BUMP photos. At this point I'm feeling even more like a globe with arms, legs + a head...but Theta seems perfectly happy to just remain in that warmth, so we'll just keep carrying, stroking (+ poking ;) ) until it's ready to join us out here! (from the 40. SSW)
 |
| Look! Mom's here! |
**Then again maybe the government is working under the assumption that women should stay out of the workforce........ Germany has recognized that they need women in the workforce to keep up with things in the economy, but hm. I'm actually all for letting people decide if they want a household where both parents work or just one -- as opposed to "forcing" (via regulation or too low pay) in the one direction or the other.
***If this kind of govermental support for families + the raising of children is (gasp!) "socialism" then I'm rather confused why socialism is such a problem...I really appreciate the healthcare system here. It's working great for us!
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