I love numbers like 33, 333, 22, 222, 11, 111. They have been showing up in my life since I got pregnant. So much so, that I noticed the pattern and looked up what it meant. Here is some information on seeing repetitive numbers. I used to see them repeated 111, 222, 333, 444, 555, all the way through 999, but now it’s more only 111 through 555. I just say there’s a higher power watching over me during this time and this is the way the universe is communicating to me. I used to be freaked out about how many times I saw these numbers – once or twice every hour all day until bedtime, however now I am comforted by it.
I’ve been pretty lucky so far in the fact that I haven’t had to deal with too many bad symptoms of pregnancy. I’m in my third trimester and have had minimal swelling. The worst has been at the end of the day, I have some sock lines, but thank god no cankles yet. My right hand has been tingly all day for the past three or four days. I believe it is pregnancy induced carpal tunnel, information can be found here. The past couple nights my hips have been hurting again. That hormone Relaxin must be in overdrive again, like in the second semester for a week or two. The pubic bone should be separating and the hip bones widening in order for baby to come down and begin her decent. The pain goes away eventually, or at least I hope it will this time too. I toss and turn all night trying to find a comfortable position. I had a lot of perineum pain last week, it felt like a charley horse in the girly parts. I touched that muscle and it was super super tight, like it would just pull apart any second. I thought “how the hell am I supposed to relax this muscle enough not to tear when birthing?” I looked online and found women with the same issues, it just meant baby is getting a bit lower and causing some pressure on the girly parts.
I took an Epsom Salt bath about three days in a row, that helped with the pain a lot. Then sexual relations helps keep everything loose down there, it massages the perineum (sorry, TMI, but it all comes with the package). We’re going to start with the real perineum massage around 37 weeks to start loosening the area. Ugh, I know, it’s gross, but it’s better than having a giant tear in your va-jay-jay, right? Anywho, not many other symptoms going on. I starting taking Glyburide about a week ago, it has pushed my numbers from 130’s to 80’s and 90’s in the morning. I hope they’re frickin’ satisified.
My appointment yesterday went well. I am measuring 34 cm on the fundus (pubic bone to top of uterus) and I am 33 weeks three days along, so the measurement is pretty much right on track. Next week they want me to start the Non-Stress Test, which is when you sit for 20 minutes in the office strapped to a belt that measures the baby’s heart beat and movements. Sounds like a ton of fun to me, NOT. I really don’t think it is necessary this early. I am going to suggest to them to wait two more weeks because there is no need. I am measuring great, blood pressure is great, weight gain is great, baby’s movement is great, the only thing they are concerned about is the gestational diabetes. Actually, to tell you a little secret, if I don’t remind them what the appointment is for each time, they forget and never ask. It’s like they don’t write this stuff down. The nurse actually told me yesterday “make sure you remember to tell them next week to start your non-stress tests”. Well, sorry I won’t because I believe if it’s that important then they should write it in the file and remember it themselves. Right?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tea Parties and Diaper Demos
Last weekend, my Aunt and Sister held a tea party baby shower for me at the Hilltop Inn. They have full tea service, where we got to try a couple different teas, enjoyed home made scones with jam and cream and little finger sandwiches and sweets. It was so delicious. I had NEVER had scones like that, especially with the jam and cream. My friend Adrienne was in town visiting from Portland, ME and she pointed out this cream at a specialty cheese store here in town. I think it was called Devonshire cream. I have to get some for Christmas day morning. I have this yummy pastry I'm going to bake and I think it will go perfect with it.
Anywho, back to the party. We all dressed up like proper english ladies. Here are a few fotos.
The table was all set. I would love to get a tea set, there is one in northern Germany called "Rot Dresmer". It is a very popular tea set that many families use there. You wouldn't think it, but northern Germany is pretty well known for their teas and service too.
Check out that hat! Hil hand sewed tiny pacifiers and pink clothes pins all over it. There was even a big button that said 'Mom to Be'. It was sooooo sweet. Hil has this nack for putting together parties, she even remembered a trash bag for the wrapping paper and scissors.
We got some very awesome gifts. Much needed since we pretty much had close to nothing, I hate to say it, but thank god for baby showers. I'm feeling a bit more prepared and better now. The cute little outfits and socks are just adorable, plus the stroller and breast feeding gift sets are so essential. It's awesome everyone is so loving and supportive. Thanks to all! :)
Then last Wednesday Dan and I attended a diaper demo. If anyone is thinking of doing cloth diapers, I would strongly recommend a diaper class. A local woman who owns Living Earth Babies holds this class once a month. Seriously check out her website if you have any questions about cloth diapers. She was awesome, she went through all types of cloth.
From the chinese three fold. This is just a sized piece of quilted cloth, folded and held together with a snappy. Then a plastic type of diaper cover would go over it. Here's a foto of the cloth and the snappy:
To the fitted or pocket diapers. They are a diaper cover, which has an opening that you can slip in a cloth pad. These are good for when baby is more mobile.
Then there's the all-in-ones, which is the diaper cover with the cloth already inside of it. There is a pocket for an extra insert for naps and evenings. Some are also size adjustable, which is nice because then we could use them for a longer time.
Dan and I are still deciding what will be best for us. We were thinking of doing the chinese three fold for the newborn to about 20 lbs and then maybe go onto something like this:
It's by Gro Baby, it is a one size diaper with a pocket for an insert. They are adjustable and easy to use. There is also a nice kit you can get that includes almost everything you will need to get started.
Cloth diapers are so different from my Mom's era of babies in the seventies and early eighties. They are now easier to use and there is a TON to choose from. Accessories are going to make it easier and more convenient for us to use too, such as the toilet sprayer and the wet bags to carry the diapers in. I'll need to be carrying them from the daycare because our child care center does allow and encourages cloth diapers.
Well, that was just a sampling of what we learned. We're still going through all of the information. For one thing, using cloth diapers saves money and no, it is not that expensive to wash. We have an energy saving washer and we will line dry once the weather is nice and warmer. It is estimated that for one child, you will do cloth diaper laundry every three days, that is definitely doable. We are thinking of doing cloth wipes too, but we'll see about that.
To all a lovely holiday week,
La Sirena and her little tadpole
Anywho, back to the party. We all dressed up like proper english ladies. Here are a few fotos.
The table was all set. I would love to get a tea set, there is one in northern Germany called "Rot Dresmer". It is a very popular tea set that many families use there. You wouldn't think it, but northern Germany is pretty well known for their teas and service too.
Check out that hat! Hil hand sewed tiny pacifiers and pink clothes pins all over it. There was even a big button that said 'Mom to Be'. It was sooooo sweet. Hil has this nack for putting together parties, she even remembered a trash bag for the wrapping paper and scissors.
We got some very awesome gifts. Much needed since we pretty much had close to nothing, I hate to say it, but thank god for baby showers. I'm feeling a bit more prepared and better now. The cute little outfits and socks are just adorable, plus the stroller and breast feeding gift sets are so essential. It's awesome everyone is so loving and supportive. Thanks to all! :)Then last Wednesday Dan and I attended a diaper demo. If anyone is thinking of doing cloth diapers, I would strongly recommend a diaper class. A local woman who owns Living Earth Babies holds this class once a month. Seriously check out her website if you have any questions about cloth diapers. She was awesome, she went through all types of cloth.
From the chinese three fold. This is just a sized piece of quilted cloth, folded and held together with a snappy. Then a plastic type of diaper cover would go over it. Here's a foto of the cloth and the snappy:
To the fitted or pocket diapers. They are a diaper cover, which has an opening that you can slip in a cloth pad. These are good for when baby is more mobile.
Then there's the all-in-ones, which is the diaper cover with the cloth already inside of it. There is a pocket for an extra insert for naps and evenings. Some are also size adjustable, which is nice because then we could use them for a longer time.
Dan and I are still deciding what will be best for us. We were thinking of doing the chinese three fold for the newborn to about 20 lbs and then maybe go onto something like this:
It's by Gro Baby, it is a one size diaper with a pocket for an insert. They are adjustable and easy to use. There is also a nice kit you can get that includes almost everything you will need to get started.Cloth diapers are so different from my Mom's era of babies in the seventies and early eighties. They are now easier to use and there is a TON to choose from. Accessories are going to make it easier and more convenient for us to use too, such as the toilet sprayer and the wet bags to carry the diapers in. I'll need to be carrying them from the daycare because our child care center does allow and encourages cloth diapers.
Well, that was just a sampling of what we learned. We're still going through all of the information. For one thing, using cloth diapers saves money and no, it is not that expensive to wash. We have an energy saving washer and we will line dry once the weather is nice and warmer. It is estimated that for one child, you will do cloth diaper laundry every three days, that is definitely doable. We are thinking of doing cloth wipes too, but we'll see about that.
To all a lovely holiday week,
La Sirena and her little tadpole
Monday, December 14, 2009
31 Weeks
31 weeks and counting. Here is some fun information and a 3D picture. Baby should be about 16 inches long and weigh about 3.5 – 4 lbs now. The lungs are the only organ that is underdeveloped and needs these next 9 weeks in the womb to become mature. I’ve been feeling pretty good, a little less tired since I quit exercising in the morning. It made my blood sugar numbers go up a little in the morning, but at 8 months pregnant, I was so exhausted working out two times a day I had to cut it down. I don’t even do that when I’m not carrying a baby! Mentally it has helped me too, even though I’m a little worried about the blood sugars in the morning.
The GD nurse said to add more carbs to dinner and snack, along with a little more protein and then a glass of milk in the middle of the night. I did that, but it made the numbers go up a little, which I thought was weird. So I am back to just eating my regular amount of carbs for dinner and late night snack and I am skipping the 3:30am milk. It brought the numbers down 10 points. So weird that it fluctuates so much. I tend the eat about the same thing, but the numbers fluctuate so much.
Saturday I thought the blood sugar would go crazy with the baby shower tea party food. There was a lot of white flour and sugars, but they stayed within normal range. I have my next doctor’s appointment this Friday. I know she will want to put me on that pill, which I am nervous about because there really hasn’t been a lot of studies done to support and advise what the long term effects will be on mother and baby. They used to just put the mom on insulin shots, but now this oral pill is available. They know short term it seems to be ‘ok’. My main concern is baby’s blood sugar once she is born, it could be really low because of this pill, which then they would give her glucose water or formula right away if my milk doesn’t come in. But milk doesn’t come in until about 2 – 3 days after the birth. I would hope the colosterum would suffice (which is a liquid that comes in before the milk), but we’ll see. I’ll talk to them about it on Friday.
Tadpole has been swimming around pretty good in there. She has her days though where she is more active than others. Some days she’ll just do a few movements after meals and at bedtime, and then other days she seems to want to try out for the gymnastics team. I thought she should be moving all the time everyday, but that’s not the case. Babies also have moods, good days and bad days, just like us when we have a lot of energy as opposed to low energy. We’re going to be scheduling a third ultrasound for around 37 weeks, to track her growth because of this diabetes thing. I’ll have to pay 30% out of pocket, but it’s worth it. I would like to see what she looks like at that point……..
La Sirena and the little tadpole
The GD nurse said to add more carbs to dinner and snack, along with a little more protein and then a glass of milk in the middle of the night. I did that, but it made the numbers go up a little, which I thought was weird. So I am back to just eating my regular amount of carbs for dinner and late night snack and I am skipping the 3:30am milk. It brought the numbers down 10 points. So weird that it fluctuates so much. I tend the eat about the same thing, but the numbers fluctuate so much.
Saturday I thought the blood sugar would go crazy with the baby shower tea party food. There was a lot of white flour and sugars, but they stayed within normal range. I have my next doctor’s appointment this Friday. I know she will want to put me on that pill, which I am nervous about because there really hasn’t been a lot of studies done to support and advise what the long term effects will be on mother and baby. They used to just put the mom on insulin shots, but now this oral pill is available. They know short term it seems to be ‘ok’. My main concern is baby’s blood sugar once she is born, it could be really low because of this pill, which then they would give her glucose water or formula right away if my milk doesn’t come in. But milk doesn’t come in until about 2 – 3 days after the birth. I would hope the colosterum would suffice (which is a liquid that comes in before the milk), but we’ll see. I’ll talk to them about it on Friday.
Tadpole has been swimming around pretty good in there. She has her days though where she is more active than others. Some days she’ll just do a few movements after meals and at bedtime, and then other days she seems to want to try out for the gymnastics team. I thought she should be moving all the time everyday, but that’s not the case. Babies also have moods, good days and bad days, just like us when we have a lot of energy as opposed to low energy. We’re going to be scheduling a third ultrasound for around 37 weeks, to track her growth because of this diabetes thing. I’ll have to pay 30% out of pocket, but it’s worth it. I would like to see what she looks like at that point……..
La Sirena and the little tadpole
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
30 Week Update
10 Weeks and counting, I hit a milestone this week – 30 weeks! Here is some information on 30 weeks, I love the 3D picture they have, plus here is some info on the American Pregnancy Association Website for 30 weeks. Dan and I finished taking down the wallpaper and painting the hallway, dining room, living room and foyer this past weekend. We’re going to decorate for Christmas this coming weekend. My friend Jackie said I am nesting, but really I don’t feel like that yet. The ‘baby’s room’ is a mess, it still looks like a guest room, which it partially is. I’m thinking come Christmas time, mom will be here and then we can get some stuff in order. We need to get a dresser to start storing stuff because the things that we have been given are currently stacked in the co-sleeper bassinet and in a tote in the closet. I would like for the room to be a bit more cuter, if you know what I mean. I would also like to maybe get a glider, we’ll be checking Craigslist for some options soon.
It has been unbearably cold here, hasn’t gotten above 10 degrees in weeks. This is unseasonably cold for here, usually it ranges from 40 – 45 degrees, but this cold snap just won’t go away. I love the cold, but tt makes it really hard to go outside for a walk, so I’ve been doing the elliptical. Last week I was super on schedule, elliptical in the morning and then at night, but come the weekend and finishing painting, Sunday I just ran out of steam. I was wasted tired, I took an hour and a half nap and Dan finished the ceiling painting and hung everything. I felt like a tired blob, just sitting on the couch watching. Oh well. Then Monday no exercise, I was so tired I went into the hallway lounge at work and took a power nap for 10 minutes. It was so worth it!! I wish we were wealthy, then I could go to part time and have time to rest. But no, it’s been long drives through snow and freezing cold to get to work. Blah, the drives are what are taking so much more of my time, usually it’s only 30 minutes each way, but with the snow and slick roads, it’s taking about 45 – 60 minutes.
Update on the diabetes, I can’t get my morning numbers down to under 100. I’ve done what they’ve asked, added more carbs to dinner, bigger snack and more carbs at night before bed, glass of milk in the middle of the night, 30 minutes of exercise in the morning and at night. Ugh! That number is so annoying, it ranges from 110 – 140. The other numbers are fine they said, it’s just the morning one. Because since a person is fasting at night, not having anything to eat from say 9:30pm until 6:30am, the number should be low because there is no food in your system. However in a diabetic, the body gets confused and the liver kicks in to make up for the sugars that it thinks should be coming in – therefore high numbers in the morning.
I just wish I knew if this truly was such a huge deal because I know they are going to want me to go on that Glyburide pill. Do the benefits really outweigh the risks? What are the risks? I spoke with my diabete’s educators and they said many pregnant woman have taken this pill and it is fine, however I tried to look up studies that have been done and I can’t find any. I only found a couple that were done in rats and it effected the baby’s bones. I also read that the baby could be born with dangerously low blood sugar and would have to have sugar water IV. Which this also effects the mom, because it makes my blood sugar really low, I have to carry snacks around all of the time. Geesh. I don’t want that at all. I haven’t really heard any benefits other than keeping the baby at a healthy weight to be able to vaginally birth it. But baby is not considered ‘massive’ at this point. My fundus is measuring right on schedule – 30 cm – 30 weeks I don’t know, it’s all so confusing.
Ten more weeks, feeling pretty good other than a little more tired and actually had some nausea lately. It’s almost like the first trimester symptoms want to come back. Oh gosh, I hope not…..
La Sirena and the little tadpole
It has been unbearably cold here, hasn’t gotten above 10 degrees in weeks. This is unseasonably cold for here, usually it ranges from 40 – 45 degrees, but this cold snap just won’t go away. I love the cold, but tt makes it really hard to go outside for a walk, so I’ve been doing the elliptical. Last week I was super on schedule, elliptical in the morning and then at night, but come the weekend and finishing painting, Sunday I just ran out of steam. I was wasted tired, I took an hour and a half nap and Dan finished the ceiling painting and hung everything. I felt like a tired blob, just sitting on the couch watching. Oh well. Then Monday no exercise, I was so tired I went into the hallway lounge at work and took a power nap for 10 minutes. It was so worth it!! I wish we were wealthy, then I could go to part time and have time to rest. But no, it’s been long drives through snow and freezing cold to get to work. Blah, the drives are what are taking so much more of my time, usually it’s only 30 minutes each way, but with the snow and slick roads, it’s taking about 45 – 60 minutes.
Update on the diabetes, I can’t get my morning numbers down to under 100. I’ve done what they’ve asked, added more carbs to dinner, bigger snack and more carbs at night before bed, glass of milk in the middle of the night, 30 minutes of exercise in the morning and at night. Ugh! That number is so annoying, it ranges from 110 – 140. The other numbers are fine they said, it’s just the morning one. Because since a person is fasting at night, not having anything to eat from say 9:30pm until 6:30am, the number should be low because there is no food in your system. However in a diabetic, the body gets confused and the liver kicks in to make up for the sugars that it thinks should be coming in – therefore high numbers in the morning.
I just wish I knew if this truly was such a huge deal because I know they are going to want me to go on that Glyburide pill. Do the benefits really outweigh the risks? What are the risks? I spoke with my diabete’s educators and they said many pregnant woman have taken this pill and it is fine, however I tried to look up studies that have been done and I can’t find any. I only found a couple that were done in rats and it effected the baby’s bones. I also read that the baby could be born with dangerously low blood sugar and would have to have sugar water IV. Which this also effects the mom, because it makes my blood sugar really low, I have to carry snacks around all of the time. Geesh. I don’t want that at all. I haven’t really heard any benefits other than keeping the baby at a healthy weight to be able to vaginally birth it. But baby is not considered ‘massive’ at this point. My fundus is measuring right on schedule – 30 cm – 30 weeks I don’t know, it’s all so confusing.
Ten more weeks, feeling pretty good other than a little more tired and actually had some nausea lately. It’s almost like the first trimester symptoms want to come back. Oh gosh, I hope not…..
La Sirena and the little tadpole
Monday, November 23, 2009
28 Weeks
Oops, I accidently put my baby post on my other blog last night, I must have been out of it since it was later than I usually stay up. So I reposted today on Tree of Life. Enjoy!
Today is the start of 28 weeks and I have reached a new milestone, no doctor's appointments this week! Ha! For the past four weeks, I have had to go to the doctor's once a week. Blah, that really messes with the routine. Plus then I have to work late on the other nights, which brings me home late and then I miss my yoga or eliptical time.
However, with my new blood sugar testing I've been getting up in the morning and doing the eliptical. I did an experiment this weekend. I took my blood sugar before I did the eliptical and then after. It actually lowered it by about 10 -12 points. That really confirmed to me that I should be doing some morning workouts to get the blood pumping and the sugars down. This weekend hubby and I went to go see 2012, it was pretty cool, a must see for the big screen. Well, we had movie theatre popcorn. We only go see about two movies a year in the theatre so I didn't feel guilty having some yummy popcorn. However when I got home and tested the blood sugar, it was pretty high at 143. I balanced it with two hours of yard work and a low carb dinner. Blood sugar was back to normal by bedtime.
I've been getting normal numbers, they consider anywhere between 60 - 120 'normal'. At 80 though sometimes I feel really tired and hungry. Mine has only gotten to 80 one time in four days. The other times I'm hovering around 90 - 110. This makes me feel better after all the fear it caused by them creating so much anxiety and telling me I have gestational diabetes. It seems that if I had it full blown, my blood sugar would be testing WAY out of the range of 'normal'. A woman I talked to at work said that her's never went down below 200 and they made her get on the pill. Well, if they say mine is still too high, I'll tell them where to put that pill and find a new practice.
A new week with Thanksgiving coming up. We have our third meeting with our doula Michelle Wednesday night. I really need to get on here to talk about our homework and the birth art project. Mine's almost done, but Dan's been procrastinating.....LOL.
I better get going. It's 10:30 and it's a miracle I am even up at this time. Must have been the chai I had at 7pm, but it was worth it. Sometimes it's nice to be able to actually stay up until a later time instead of falling into bed at 9pm in a deep sleep.
La Sirena and my little tadpole
Today is the start of 28 weeks and I have reached a new milestone, no doctor's appointments this week! Ha! For the past four weeks, I have had to go to the doctor's once a week. Blah, that really messes with the routine. Plus then I have to work late on the other nights, which brings me home late and then I miss my yoga or eliptical time.
However, with my new blood sugar testing I've been getting up in the morning and doing the eliptical. I did an experiment this weekend. I took my blood sugar before I did the eliptical and then after. It actually lowered it by about 10 -12 points. That really confirmed to me that I should be doing some morning workouts to get the blood pumping and the sugars down. This weekend hubby and I went to go see 2012, it was pretty cool, a must see for the big screen. Well, we had movie theatre popcorn. We only go see about two movies a year in the theatre so I didn't feel guilty having some yummy popcorn. However when I got home and tested the blood sugar, it was pretty high at 143. I balanced it with two hours of yard work and a low carb dinner. Blood sugar was back to normal by bedtime.
I've been getting normal numbers, they consider anywhere between 60 - 120 'normal'. At 80 though sometimes I feel really tired and hungry. Mine has only gotten to 80 one time in four days. The other times I'm hovering around 90 - 110. This makes me feel better after all the fear it caused by them creating so much anxiety and telling me I have gestational diabetes. It seems that if I had it full blown, my blood sugar would be testing WAY out of the range of 'normal'. A woman I talked to at work said that her's never went down below 200 and they made her get on the pill. Well, if they say mine is still too high, I'll tell them where to put that pill and find a new practice.
A new week with Thanksgiving coming up. We have our third meeting with our doula Michelle Wednesday night. I really need to get on here to talk about our homework and the birth art project. Mine's almost done, but Dan's been procrastinating.....LOL.
I better get going. It's 10:30 and it's a miracle I am even up at this time. Must have been the chai I had at 7pm, but it was worth it. Sometimes it's nice to be able to actually stay up until a later time instead of falling into bed at 9pm in a deep sleep.
La Sirena and my little tadpole
Friday, November 20, 2009
Before & After
I had my gestational diabetes class this week on Wednesday. I had written a post before the class on Tuesday and one after the class on Thursday. As you can see, I was not in a good place on Tuesday, but after the class, some much needed soul searching, and loving support from hubby, I am doing much better now. Here are the posts I have been meaning to put on here!
Before – written on 11/17/09
I’m really trying to find a good place in my heart for this. I struggle because I have a huge problem trusting doctors. I always feel like they are so impersonal, looking at my numbers against a ‘norm’, which may not be the norm for all people. I’ve heard horror stories about how insurance companies have a huge influence on statistics and procedures doctors use, that I am frightened that my care is not the best care for me, but rather for the insurance company. How does one start to trust what is going on?
I went from low risk, easy pregnancy to high-risk high-alert pregnancy in the eyes of my Dr. All with just a test of borderline numbers which say I have gestational diabetes. My first meeting with my diabetes nurse is tomorrow. It’s two hours long, they will go over meal plans and glucose testing. The nurse said that if I can’t control this disease with a meal plan and exercise, then I will have to start taking some pill. And if the pill doesn’t work, then insulin shots. This may not sound like a big a deal, but what woman wants to go on a diet when they are pregnant? What woman wants to be told to get in an hour of rigorous, yet not-too-rigorous, exercise every single day when they are in their third trimester? What woman wants to be told to eat at the same time everyday and check her glucose levels four times a day while holding a full time job? I know I’m freaking out because I keep thinking “What if I fail? What if I can’t control it through diet and exercise? What if my baby turns out to be macro size and I can’t vaginally birth it? What if they make me get induced too early thinking the baby is big which causes complications for my baby? What if the baby is still born? What if, what if, what if, what if?” My insurance doesn’t cover ultrasounds so I have to pay $330 every time they do one and with GD, they do a couple in the last month to check the baby’s size. I can’t afford $330 each time. What if I deny the U/S and my Dr. turns around and denies me care saying I am putting my baby at risk by not allowing U/S I can’t afford? UGH!
Plus this is all happening in the last trimester where things do get a little harder like sleeping, walking, heart burn, etc. Plus the holidays and my showers are coming up and I can’t partake in anything a person considered ‘normal’ will get to partake in. This sucks and I hate it. Change is hard, especially hard when you know you are eating for two. I was trying to eat a balanced diet, getting all food groups in and exercise, but I was also allowing my body to tell me when it’s tired, when it’s hungry, what it’s craving. Now I have to be a meal plan and exercise nazi and this does not fit into my idea of pregnancy. It causes me way too much stress and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the constant “Oh I am so sorry to hear that” or the “I’m sorry you are dealing with such a bad diagnosis” or the “I’m sorry you are suffering from this disease”. Well, the only suffering I’ve been doing is mental, physically I’m feeling great, despite the occasional hip pain at night. I haven’t had any ‘symptoms’ per se.
I wish I could find a non-angry place about this. I hate it too because it’s a huge warning sign that I will have diabetes as I get older, or maybe this GD will never go away, it will just transform itself into regular Type II diabetes. I feel like such a loser, a diagnosis, a pre-existing condition, a number. I no longer feel like the beautiful curvy woman that is awed by the magic and wonderment of pregnancy and birth. A little bit of my excitement has been turned into dread. We’ll see what happens tomorrow though.
After – written on 11/19/09
The clouds have lifted and I can see the horizon. It’s a bit brighter than I thought it was, especially when I was in a dark place Tuesday. I went to my gestational diabetes education class yesterday which was held privately with a registered nurse and a dietician at the hospital, both very nice and empathetic women. The nurse went over the science behind all diabetes, Type I, Type II, and gestational diabetes (GD). The nurse gave me a glucose testing meter from Walgreens, which I need to buy the strips and lancets (pokey needles) for. She showed me how to do it. I have to test my urine in the morning for ketones, then test my blood before breakfast, 2 hours after breakfast, 2 hours after lunch, and 2 hours after dinner. It is a lot of scheduling. She also would like for me to exercise in the morning, take a half hour walk after lunch, and a half hour walk after dinner. More on my new routine later.
In looking at my numbers, they both agreed that I am borderline and this can easily be regulated through diet and exercise. The dietician looked at my food intake the past 5 days and said I was already doing relatively good. She rearranged eating fruit and yogurt to the afternoons and eliminated all candy. She said I could keep having my Kashi cookie and milk at night, I love those cookies! They keep me regular and it’s so nice to have a dessert at night. We also discussed the holidays. She said to just eat all day and not all at once, make good choices, take a long walk after the meal, and maybe forget my meter……. I was happy to hear that because I was scared about what would happen with the holidays and my showers coming up. At least I know what I can have, not have, and what I need to limit now.
As for a schedule. Let me just say Virgos do well with a schedule, however on the flip side we have a tendency to go crazy if they are not perfectly followed. We are perfectionists at heart and that is what I have been working on for many years now, letting go of the rigid structure and beating myself up for going astray or not following it. I have given myself enough flexibility to be comfortable. As of yesterday I had to introduce a very structured and rigid schedule that I have to follow up through six weeks after baby’s birth – apparently that is when the sugar levels should go back to ‘normal’. I wanted to share what this schedule looks like, I tried to find other women’s blogs and posts about GD and their schedules, but there wasn’t much out there. Maybe it’s from embarrassment because it is kind of embarrassing to say you have diabetes as a pregnant woman and have to follow a diet…….
Good thing is, they are not limiting calories, they are limiting carbohydrate intake and when to eat them. They said I was already pretty much on a good eating routine, which was nice to hear. The dietician said some women are scared to eat the carbs and they will bring in their schedules and food logs and not have eaten breakfast or just eat lunch and a snack in the evening. Nope, not me, I was trying to eat balanced anyway, plus exercise, so really, this new routine isn’t so bad, I just have to make sure to follow it, no matter what.
I sat down this morning and it took me a half hour to plan out my day’s worth of eating. It shouldn’t be that way soon, once I get used to knowing the carb counts and foods, I can do all the planning on the weekend and have everything ready to go. So here is a typical schedule they want me to follow, which is based loosely off what I was already doing – except for the morning exercise:
6am: Wake and check Ketones in Urine
6am – 6:30am: 15 minutes elliptical, stretch and some weights
6:45: Check fasting blood sugar and record in book
8am: Eat breakfast - 30 grams of carbs, plus protein
10am: Check blood sugar and record in book
10:15am: Eat snack – 15 grams of carbs plus protein
12pm: Eat Lunch – 45 grams of carbs plus protein and veggies and fats
2pm: Check blood sugar and record in book
2:30pm: Eat snack – 15 grams of carbs plus protein
5pm - 5:30pm : yoga, stretch, breathing
6:30pm: Eat dinner – 45 grams of carbs plus protein and veggies and fats
7pm: Half hour brisk walk
8:30pm: Check blood sugar and record in book
9pm: Eat snack – 30 grams of carbs plus protein
When someone has diabetes, any type, eating a snack in the evenings will help keep their fasting blood sugar from spiking over night. A person eats all day, however at night you can go without food for 8 – 10 hours, which is when your liver would kick into producing your blood sugar for you and sometimes can’t regulate as well as food and therefore, a spike in blood sugar will happen come morning. Interesting as I had never know that. So for most people a small late night snack is actually a good thing……..
As for the extensive amount of exercise, I will keep up the walking. With working all day, I will try to walk at lunch although that may not always happen because of meetings. My department has been really great about this, they are making it especially fun too because they are making sure I am eating my snacks and they think it’s cool how I check my blood sugar with the little meter. I totally was embarrassed all day, but they have lightened the mood. Plus we have a couple ladies in my team that have similar issues, they are either allergic to something or they have some health things they need to watch closely. I don’t feel so alone.
It’s a bit of a struggle and today I am feeling relatively positive. I know this will change with days to come and I will have bad days where it’s hard to follow the schedule and I’ll feel bad for going astray, but that’s something to work on. If the majority of days are done right, then I won’t feel so bad about a few bad days. I am anticipating what my Dr will say in two weeks, I have an appointment with her the day after my check up with the dietician and nurse. They will be reporting my numbers back to my Dr. I have a lot of questions and comments for her and I need some feedback from her. From what I’ve heard from two other woman that used that practice and also had GD, they are pretty good about being lenient and not too freaked out about it, especially if my numbers are good. They both gave birth naturally to 7.5 and 8 lb babies. That was some good news I had to hear!
This has been an adventure and an eye opener. I can remember my grandma checking her sugars all the time and her little book she had to write in. She had type II diabetes and had to take insulin shots. I think back to what it must have been like for her, she was diagnosed much later in life. I think about her a lot when I do this and ask myself “do you want to be doing this the rest of your life?” No of course not, but it is in my genetic makeup and what I can do now, will only help prevent it in the future.
Before – written on 11/17/09
I’m really trying to find a good place in my heart for this. I struggle because I have a huge problem trusting doctors. I always feel like they are so impersonal, looking at my numbers against a ‘norm’, which may not be the norm for all people. I’ve heard horror stories about how insurance companies have a huge influence on statistics and procedures doctors use, that I am frightened that my care is not the best care for me, but rather for the insurance company. How does one start to trust what is going on?
I went from low risk, easy pregnancy to high-risk high-alert pregnancy in the eyes of my Dr. All with just a test of borderline numbers which say I have gestational diabetes. My first meeting with my diabetes nurse is tomorrow. It’s two hours long, they will go over meal plans and glucose testing. The nurse said that if I can’t control this disease with a meal plan and exercise, then I will have to start taking some pill. And if the pill doesn’t work, then insulin shots. This may not sound like a big a deal, but what woman wants to go on a diet when they are pregnant? What woman wants to be told to get in an hour of rigorous, yet not-too-rigorous, exercise every single day when they are in their third trimester? What woman wants to be told to eat at the same time everyday and check her glucose levels four times a day while holding a full time job? I know I’m freaking out because I keep thinking “What if I fail? What if I can’t control it through diet and exercise? What if my baby turns out to be macro size and I can’t vaginally birth it? What if they make me get induced too early thinking the baby is big which causes complications for my baby? What if the baby is still born? What if, what if, what if, what if?” My insurance doesn’t cover ultrasounds so I have to pay $330 every time they do one and with GD, they do a couple in the last month to check the baby’s size. I can’t afford $330 each time. What if I deny the U/S and my Dr. turns around and denies me care saying I am putting my baby at risk by not allowing U/S I can’t afford? UGH!
Plus this is all happening in the last trimester where things do get a little harder like sleeping, walking, heart burn, etc. Plus the holidays and my showers are coming up and I can’t partake in anything a person considered ‘normal’ will get to partake in. This sucks and I hate it. Change is hard, especially hard when you know you are eating for two. I was trying to eat a balanced diet, getting all food groups in and exercise, but I was also allowing my body to tell me when it’s tired, when it’s hungry, what it’s craving. Now I have to be a meal plan and exercise nazi and this does not fit into my idea of pregnancy. It causes me way too much stress and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the constant “Oh I am so sorry to hear that” or the “I’m sorry you are dealing with such a bad diagnosis” or the “I’m sorry you are suffering from this disease”. Well, the only suffering I’ve been doing is mental, physically I’m feeling great, despite the occasional hip pain at night. I haven’t had any ‘symptoms’ per se.
I wish I could find a non-angry place about this. I hate it too because it’s a huge warning sign that I will have diabetes as I get older, or maybe this GD will never go away, it will just transform itself into regular Type II diabetes. I feel like such a loser, a diagnosis, a pre-existing condition, a number. I no longer feel like the beautiful curvy woman that is awed by the magic and wonderment of pregnancy and birth. A little bit of my excitement has been turned into dread. We’ll see what happens tomorrow though.
After – written on 11/19/09
The clouds have lifted and I can see the horizon. It’s a bit brighter than I thought it was, especially when I was in a dark place Tuesday. I went to my gestational diabetes education class yesterday which was held privately with a registered nurse and a dietician at the hospital, both very nice and empathetic women. The nurse went over the science behind all diabetes, Type I, Type II, and gestational diabetes (GD). The nurse gave me a glucose testing meter from Walgreens, which I need to buy the strips and lancets (pokey needles) for. She showed me how to do it. I have to test my urine in the morning for ketones, then test my blood before breakfast, 2 hours after breakfast, 2 hours after lunch, and 2 hours after dinner. It is a lot of scheduling. She also would like for me to exercise in the morning, take a half hour walk after lunch, and a half hour walk after dinner. More on my new routine later.
In looking at my numbers, they both agreed that I am borderline and this can easily be regulated through diet and exercise. The dietician looked at my food intake the past 5 days and said I was already doing relatively good. She rearranged eating fruit and yogurt to the afternoons and eliminated all candy. She said I could keep having my Kashi cookie and milk at night, I love those cookies! They keep me regular and it’s so nice to have a dessert at night. We also discussed the holidays. She said to just eat all day and not all at once, make good choices, take a long walk after the meal, and maybe forget my meter……. I was happy to hear that because I was scared about what would happen with the holidays and my showers coming up. At least I know what I can have, not have, and what I need to limit now.
As for a schedule. Let me just say Virgos do well with a schedule, however on the flip side we have a tendency to go crazy if they are not perfectly followed. We are perfectionists at heart and that is what I have been working on for many years now, letting go of the rigid structure and beating myself up for going astray or not following it. I have given myself enough flexibility to be comfortable. As of yesterday I had to introduce a very structured and rigid schedule that I have to follow up through six weeks after baby’s birth – apparently that is when the sugar levels should go back to ‘normal’. I wanted to share what this schedule looks like, I tried to find other women’s blogs and posts about GD and their schedules, but there wasn’t much out there. Maybe it’s from embarrassment because it is kind of embarrassing to say you have diabetes as a pregnant woman and have to follow a diet…….
Good thing is, they are not limiting calories, they are limiting carbohydrate intake and when to eat them. They said I was already pretty much on a good eating routine, which was nice to hear. The dietician said some women are scared to eat the carbs and they will bring in their schedules and food logs and not have eaten breakfast or just eat lunch and a snack in the evening. Nope, not me, I was trying to eat balanced anyway, plus exercise, so really, this new routine isn’t so bad, I just have to make sure to follow it, no matter what.
I sat down this morning and it took me a half hour to plan out my day’s worth of eating. It shouldn’t be that way soon, once I get used to knowing the carb counts and foods, I can do all the planning on the weekend and have everything ready to go. So here is a typical schedule they want me to follow, which is based loosely off what I was already doing – except for the morning exercise:
6am: Wake and check Ketones in Urine
6am – 6:30am: 15 minutes elliptical, stretch and some weights
6:45: Check fasting blood sugar and record in book
8am: Eat breakfast - 30 grams of carbs, plus protein
10am: Check blood sugar and record in book
10:15am: Eat snack – 15 grams of carbs plus protein
12pm: Eat Lunch – 45 grams of carbs plus protein and veggies and fats
2pm: Check blood sugar and record in book
2:30pm: Eat snack – 15 grams of carbs plus protein
5pm - 5:30pm : yoga, stretch, breathing
6:30pm: Eat dinner – 45 grams of carbs plus protein and veggies and fats
7pm: Half hour brisk walk
8:30pm: Check blood sugar and record in book
9pm: Eat snack – 30 grams of carbs plus protein
When someone has diabetes, any type, eating a snack in the evenings will help keep their fasting blood sugar from spiking over night. A person eats all day, however at night you can go without food for 8 – 10 hours, which is when your liver would kick into producing your blood sugar for you and sometimes can’t regulate as well as food and therefore, a spike in blood sugar will happen come morning. Interesting as I had never know that. So for most people a small late night snack is actually a good thing……..
As for the extensive amount of exercise, I will keep up the walking. With working all day, I will try to walk at lunch although that may not always happen because of meetings. My department has been really great about this, they are making it especially fun too because they are making sure I am eating my snacks and they think it’s cool how I check my blood sugar with the little meter. I totally was embarrassed all day, but they have lightened the mood. Plus we have a couple ladies in my team that have similar issues, they are either allergic to something or they have some health things they need to watch closely. I don’t feel so alone.
It’s a bit of a struggle and today I am feeling relatively positive. I know this will change with days to come and I will have bad days where it’s hard to follow the schedule and I’ll feel bad for going astray, but that’s something to work on. If the majority of days are done right, then I won’t feel so bad about a few bad days. I am anticipating what my Dr will say in two weeks, I have an appointment with her the day after my check up with the dietician and nurse. They will be reporting my numbers back to my Dr. I have a lot of questions and comments for her and I need some feedback from her. From what I’ve heard from two other woman that used that practice and also had GD, they are pretty good about being lenient and not too freaked out about it, especially if my numbers are good. They both gave birth naturally to 7.5 and 8 lb babies. That was some good news I had to hear!
This has been an adventure and an eye opener. I can remember my grandma checking her sugars all the time and her little book she had to write in. She had type II diabetes and had to take insulin shots. I think back to what it must have been like for her, she was diagnosed much later in life. I think about her a lot when I do this and ask myself “do you want to be doing this the rest of your life?” No of course not, but it is in my genetic makeup and what I can do now, will only help prevent it in the future.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Hello Third Trimester!
27 weeks starts today, hello third and final trimester! Is it becoming more real every day? YES. Am I starting to freak out a little bit? YES. Can I believe this is really happening? YES.
There have been some pretty fun things happening lately and some not so fun things. Hmm, what first to discuss? Let's do not-so-fun so we end this blog post with a positive BANG! I heard back from my three hour glucose test and yes, thank you heritage and age, I have gestational diabetes. According to the nurse, mine really isn't that bad compared to other women who have had a lot worse numbers. When I looked up my numbers on a few websites, I am just barely above abnormal. I have to go to a two hour diabetes class with this nurse on Wednesday 2-4pm. She runs a private diabetes education class at the hospital. Of course my insurance won't cover it because I haven't reached my deductible and I have to pay $130 out of pocket. I don't know if that even covers the glucometer though. Yes, you heard it, they are making me test my blood sugar four times a day. The nurse said this could be temporary though because if I prove during my two weeks that my meal plan and testing and my blood sugar looks good, I won't have to then everyday. But who knows, I'll learn more this week. I'm a bit freaked out because I don't want to go on pills or insulin though. I hate that while I am pregnant, I've been exercising and watching what I was eating and I still have to crack down even harder. It sucks because we are heading into the fun holidays and I have other things to focus on and now this will most likely take over my frickin' life up until baby is born. Shoot, the stress of having to do this probably effects baby more than a little sugar rush.
On to brighter things. Someone actually touched my tummy the other day at work, it was so cute, then she leaned down and started talking to it. I think it's funny and I like it whereas I know some other women hate it. I was at Kohl's yesterday and the cashier asked me when I was due. That was the first public stranger that has asked or recognized I was pregnant. So fun! Then this is crazy. Friday night baby was especially active, she was all over the place. I wish she was like that everyday because it is so reassuring. Dan has this super powerful flashlight, it has a very small tip, I think it's for electrical work or something. Well, since we've read baby can now see and hear, he put it to my tummy and guess what?! She kicked at it!! Maybe it was just coincidence, but that was pretty darn cool!!
At Border's I got myself a pregnancy journal called The Belly Book. I thought it would be fun to track the pregnancy in a book, where I can put the ultrasound pics and jot down a bunch of stuff. They prompt the mama to answer all kinds of questions, some things I have forgotten about and would love to remember one day. I thought it would be fun to share at my showers too. Speaking of showers, my sister Hil made these absolutely beautiful invites to my baby shower on December 12th. My aunt is holding an authentic English tea service for it. One of my best friends Adrienne will also be visiting that weekend and I can't wait. They are also going to hold a Blessingway on December 27th. It's getting so exciting!
Well, I've got tons more to write about, but I've had just enough of this computer this morning. Time to move onto housework and chores that must get done this wintry Sunday. I'll be back to write about my Doula classes, the homework I've been doing for them, birth art, and I would love to share some of the books I've been reading.
La Sirena and her wee little tadpole
There have been some pretty fun things happening lately and some not so fun things. Hmm, what first to discuss? Let's do not-so-fun so we end this blog post with a positive BANG! I heard back from my three hour glucose test and yes, thank you heritage and age, I have gestational diabetes. According to the nurse, mine really isn't that bad compared to other women who have had a lot worse numbers. When I looked up my numbers on a few websites, I am just barely above abnormal. I have to go to a two hour diabetes class with this nurse on Wednesday 2-4pm. She runs a private diabetes education class at the hospital. Of course my insurance won't cover it because I haven't reached my deductible and I have to pay $130 out of pocket. I don't know if that even covers the glucometer though. Yes, you heard it, they are making me test my blood sugar four times a day. The nurse said this could be temporary though because if I prove during my two weeks that my meal plan and testing and my blood sugar looks good, I won't have to then everyday. But who knows, I'll learn more this week. I'm a bit freaked out because I don't want to go on pills or insulin though. I hate that while I am pregnant, I've been exercising and watching what I was eating and I still have to crack down even harder. It sucks because we are heading into the fun holidays and I have other things to focus on and now this will most likely take over my frickin' life up until baby is born. Shoot, the stress of having to do this probably effects baby more than a little sugar rush.
On to brighter things. Someone actually touched my tummy the other day at work, it was so cute, then she leaned down and started talking to it. I think it's funny and I like it whereas I know some other women hate it. I was at Kohl's yesterday and the cashier asked me when I was due. That was the first public stranger that has asked or recognized I was pregnant. So fun! Then this is crazy. Friday night baby was especially active, she was all over the place. I wish she was like that everyday because it is so reassuring. Dan has this super powerful flashlight, it has a very small tip, I think it's for electrical work or something. Well, since we've read baby can now see and hear, he put it to my tummy and guess what?! She kicked at it!! Maybe it was just coincidence, but that was pretty darn cool!!
At Border's I got myself a pregnancy journal called The Belly Book. I thought it would be fun to track the pregnancy in a book, where I can put the ultrasound pics and jot down a bunch of stuff. They prompt the mama to answer all kinds of questions, some things I have forgotten about and would love to remember one day. I thought it would be fun to share at my showers too. Speaking of showers, my sister Hil made these absolutely beautiful invites to my baby shower on December 12th. My aunt is holding an authentic English tea service for it. One of my best friends Adrienne will also be visiting that weekend and I can't wait. They are also going to hold a Blessingway on December 27th. It's getting so exciting!
Here's a 27 week picture!
Well, I've got tons more to write about, but I've had just enough of this computer this morning. Time to move onto housework and chores that must get done this wintry Sunday. I'll be back to write about my Doula classes, the homework I've been doing for them, birth art, and I would love to share some of the books I've been reading.
La Sirena and her wee little tadpole
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday Morning Filled with Needles!
Tuesday morning I arrived at the Dr’s office at 8:30. The nurse pricked my finger to draw a little bit of blood and said that if the sugar levels were high, I wouldn’t have to do the glucose test. They would just confirm I have gestational diabetes and send me to nutritional counseling. Thank god they were low though because I would rather do the test than have this from just fasting. She then drew a vial of blood and had me drink about 12 oz of glucose. I sucked it down. She said that was the fastest she had ever seen anyone drink it. I told her I pretended it was an Irish car bomb, she about died, probably thinking I’m a drinker now. Ha! I didn’t go on and tell her I was craving one because they taste like a milkshake! Next St Patty’s day I’ll be enjoying one for sure!
Then I had to go back to their office at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 to have blood drawn. This is all done while fasting, only water was allowed. I didn’t feel too bad at first, but then I was really tired near the end. The office is connected to the hospital so I just stayed in the hospital lobby during the time between blood draws. They have a fireplace in there, I sat and read and watched the people go by. It was pretty relaxing. I am glad it’s over though and I should have the results on Friday. If they do find that I have it then I have to classes on nutrition and education for it.
Sleeping is getting a bit more uncomfortable. Pregnant women can only sleep on their sides, preferrably the left side so the uterus doesn't squish the liver. This is hard though because the pressure on my hips is almost unbareable by 3am. There is this hormone called relaxin that makes your bones softer when pregnant, preparing the pelvis and hips area to open up and be flexible in order to slide a baby through. Well, that makes for a long and painful night. Sleeping on the sides is essential because sleeping on the stomach hurts and then sleeping on the back can cut off blood flow to you and the baby in the vena cava - the artery going from the heart to the legs. Ugh! Since my bed has these backrest things, I sometimes sit up with my pillows and look out, just resting, letting my hips settle down and then about a half hour later I slide back down to my left side and sleep about another hour, then switch sides and sleep another hour or so. All this tossing and turning makes for a very long night. I do feel a little tired during the day, but not too bad that I can't function. I guess it's just practice for what's to come. Ha! Poor hubby, I always ask if I am bothering him, but from the sound of it, he doesn't even notice. Most of the time he is just snoring away.
We have our second meeting with our Doula Michelle tonight. I haven't been doing all of my homework though and I feel bad. I'm just going to be honest with her that it's been a long and trying two weeks. With two Dr's appointments, friends in town, tons of stuff to get done, yardwork, and a full time job, it was hard to focus on exercising, kegels, pelvic rocks, tailor sitting, squatting, and logging my food intake, not to mention all of the workbook activities. But I did get a few walks in and most of my kegels. My schedule has not been conducive to keeping a routine. Plus we've had to take the van into the shop a few times for a few minor things for winter and we had a huge blizzard. Anyway, I hope she's understanding, which she probably will be as she's been through it all herself.
La Sirena and her little tadpole
Then I had to go back to their office at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 to have blood drawn. This is all done while fasting, only water was allowed. I didn’t feel too bad at first, but then I was really tired near the end. The office is connected to the hospital so I just stayed in the hospital lobby during the time between blood draws. They have a fireplace in there, I sat and read and watched the people go by. It was pretty relaxing. I am glad it’s over though and I should have the results on Friday. If they do find that I have it then I have to classes on nutrition and education for it.
Sleeping is getting a bit more uncomfortable. Pregnant women can only sleep on their sides, preferrably the left side so the uterus doesn't squish the liver. This is hard though because the pressure on my hips is almost unbareable by 3am. There is this hormone called relaxin that makes your bones softer when pregnant, preparing the pelvis and hips area to open up and be flexible in order to slide a baby through. Well, that makes for a long and painful night. Sleeping on the sides is essential because sleeping on the stomach hurts and then sleeping on the back can cut off blood flow to you and the baby in the vena cava - the artery going from the heart to the legs. Ugh! Since my bed has these backrest things, I sometimes sit up with my pillows and look out, just resting, letting my hips settle down and then about a half hour later I slide back down to my left side and sleep about another hour, then switch sides and sleep another hour or so. All this tossing and turning makes for a very long night. I do feel a little tired during the day, but not too bad that I can't function. I guess it's just practice for what's to come. Ha! Poor hubby, I always ask if I am bothering him, but from the sound of it, he doesn't even notice. Most of the time he is just snoring away.
We have our second meeting with our Doula Michelle tonight. I haven't been doing all of my homework though and I feel bad. I'm just going to be honest with her that it's been a long and trying two weeks. With two Dr's appointments, friends in town, tons of stuff to get done, yardwork, and a full time job, it was hard to focus on exercising, kegels, pelvic rocks, tailor sitting, squatting, and logging my food intake, not to mention all of the workbook activities. But I did get a few walks in and most of my kegels. My schedule has not been conducive to keeping a routine. Plus we've had to take the van into the shop a few times for a few minor things for winter and we had a huge blizzard. Anyway, I hope she's understanding, which she probably will be as she's been through it all herself.
La Sirena and her little tadpole
Sunday, November 8, 2009
26 Weeks.....Missed 25 Weeks!
26 weeks now. I was going to write a 25 weeks post after my Dr's apt last Wednesday, but I got some stinky news and couldn't muster up the motivation to post. For some 25 week development information, click here. This week starts my 26 weeks. I unfortunately have to go back to the Dr. this Tuesday because last week I didn't pass their glucose test. I got a 170, which 140 and under is considered passing. At least I didn't have a 200 because that means it's full on gestational diabetes. If your not sure what this is, it is a temporary form of diabetes some women get while pregnant. It can cause some health issues and needs to be monitored. But it can be helped with diet and exercise. Geesh, I'm talking as if I already have it.
I've gotta tell you the truth, I really thought I would pass that test. I feel like I've failed myself and my baby. I am disappointed because I eat pretty good and exercise and have so called symptoms, which yes, I know, some women don't. So now on Tuesday, I have to go in at 8:30am and stay until noon, drinking glucose and having my blood taken four times. This totally sucks. I really really really hope I pass because I have zero symptoms and I am feeling great. I don't want to be put into the category 'high risk', because Dr's can turn that around on you, use it as an excuse to do a cesarean.
One reason I am upset too is that they said my hemoglobin was low at 12.3 and I should start taking an iron supplement. Well, from what I have read on the American Pregnancy Association website (and a million other websites and books), any score between 12 - 14 is a normal level. I called my Dr back and spoke with the nurse who acknowledged that yes, 12.3 is a normal level, it's just low normal and they like to supplement when that's the case. Ok, no, sorry. I'm not anemic. I'm not going to go spend a bunch of money on iron supplements, which make most women nauseated. They didn't even suggest iron rich foods or anything, just go get yourself a pill. Now, if my future blood tests are to show lower levels or that it does keep decreasing, yes, of course I will supplement, especially since you need a good level for delivery.
That is just another reason why I don't like or trust Dr.'s. I do have a slight tolerance for mine, but I would much rather be using a midwife. However since insurance doesn't have any in network in my county, that's impossible. Gotta love insurance, hopefully one day we'll have better more affordable options.
It was a rough week last week to say the least. I am sorry to say, but I'm not looking forward to this week either, but attitude is everything. Seriously, it's everything and if I want to make this week tolerable, I'm going to have to buck up and make it more positive. The hormones have been in overload these past weeks so I've been more sensitive to things, crying and feeling stressed. I have some really great things to write about though soon and I know that will lift my spirits. I'm going to take it day by day. Breathe in breathe out.......
Stretch, laugh, love, sleep, and exercise........
La Sirena and her tiny tadpole
I've gotta tell you the truth, I really thought I would pass that test. I feel like I've failed myself and my baby. I am disappointed because I eat pretty good and exercise and have so called symptoms, which yes, I know, some women don't. So now on Tuesday, I have to go in at 8:30am and stay until noon, drinking glucose and having my blood taken four times. This totally sucks. I really really really hope I pass because I have zero symptoms and I am feeling great. I don't want to be put into the category 'high risk', because Dr's can turn that around on you, use it as an excuse to do a cesarean.
One reason I am upset too is that they said my hemoglobin was low at 12.3 and I should start taking an iron supplement. Well, from what I have read on the American Pregnancy Association website (and a million other websites and books), any score between 12 - 14 is a normal level. I called my Dr back and spoke with the nurse who acknowledged that yes, 12.3 is a normal level, it's just low normal and they like to supplement when that's the case. Ok, no, sorry. I'm not anemic. I'm not going to go spend a bunch of money on iron supplements, which make most women nauseated. They didn't even suggest iron rich foods or anything, just go get yourself a pill. Now, if my future blood tests are to show lower levels or that it does keep decreasing, yes, of course I will supplement, especially since you need a good level for delivery.
That is just another reason why I don't like or trust Dr.'s. I do have a slight tolerance for mine, but I would much rather be using a midwife. However since insurance doesn't have any in network in my county, that's impossible. Gotta love insurance, hopefully one day we'll have better more affordable options.
It was a rough week last week to say the least. I am sorry to say, but I'm not looking forward to this week either, but attitude is everything. Seriously, it's everything and if I want to make this week tolerable, I'm going to have to buck up and make it more positive. The hormones have been in overload these past weeks so I've been more sensitive to things, crying and feeling stressed. I have some really great things to write about though soon and I know that will lift my spirits. I'm going to take it day by day. Breathe in breathe out.......
Stretch, laugh, love, sleep, and exercise........
La Sirena and her tiny tadpole
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Halloween Scary
Something scary to share with you on Halloween. I was reading this blog Stand and Deliver and she had this sign posted. This frightens me that hospitals can actually turn you away for wanting to have a natural child birth or be assisted by a doula. As women, we should be able to choose any way we want to birth our children.
This sign to me, is Halloween scary!
This sign to me, is Halloween scary!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Hospital Tour
Last week Dan and I took the tour of The Birth Place at the hospital. I was nervous. Everything I have read about, heard about, and seen about hospitals has been all negative. I was ready for a fight, armed with a thousand questions. If you’ve ever seen the Business of Being Born or read Ina May Gaskin’s Spiritual Midwifery or Guide to Childbirth, you know what I am talking about.
The tour was super busy, there were probably 15 couples. Let’s just say, I needed this tour to settle my nerves and I was pleasantly surprised, so was Dan. First they took us to the Labor and Delivery rooms on the west side of the floor. The rooms are nice and private. There are no machines out in the open, it looks like a hotel room. The monitoring computers, IVs, and oxygen are all hidden in a giant armoire around the bed. The floors are hardwood, there is a couch that folds out to a bed and also a rocking chair. The bathrooms are private with a shower, jetted jacuzzi tub and toilet. There is also a TV with cable, DVD player and free WI FI internet. The bed breaks down to either push on your back or to use a squat bar. I am leaning towards the squat bar method, but we’ll see. Then once the baby is born they promote placing her right on my chest to bond immediately and start nursing right away. They believe in family oriented labor and delivery and promote rooming in – which means there is a bassinet that is left directly in the room so the baby never goes to a ‘nursery’. The ‘nursery’ is for high risk infants that need special treatment or care.
Once the labor and delivery are over, everyone rests, relaxes, the nurses will take the Apgar test of the baby, weigh her, clean her, swaddle her and then we will all be moved to the east side of the birthing floor to recover on our own private room. I was also pleasantly surprised we can request early check out if everything goes well. There is a complimentary massage the next day. The floors smelled fine, not really like a hospital, thank god. The lights were very dim and there was no rushing around even though they said they were busy, didn’t look like it. They also advised that there are birth balls and options for laboring like positioning, walking, tub, shower, etc. Since I am going natural, I don’t have to be monitored full time like a woman getting an epidural. I will only have to be checked every 30 minutes, unless something takes a turn for the worst. I will have the freedom to move around.
It was a good visit. They talked a lot about what to expect, how to check in, pre-register, how to order food, and everything about the rooms. It makes me less nervous, but it’s still a hospital.
The tour was super busy, there were probably 15 couples. Let’s just say, I needed this tour to settle my nerves and I was pleasantly surprised, so was Dan. First they took us to the Labor and Delivery rooms on the west side of the floor. The rooms are nice and private. There are no machines out in the open, it looks like a hotel room. The monitoring computers, IVs, and oxygen are all hidden in a giant armoire around the bed. The floors are hardwood, there is a couch that folds out to a bed and also a rocking chair. The bathrooms are private with a shower, jetted jacuzzi tub and toilet. There is also a TV with cable, DVD player and free WI FI internet. The bed breaks down to either push on your back or to use a squat bar. I am leaning towards the squat bar method, but we’ll see. Then once the baby is born they promote placing her right on my chest to bond immediately and start nursing right away. They believe in family oriented labor and delivery and promote rooming in – which means there is a bassinet that is left directly in the room so the baby never goes to a ‘nursery’. The ‘nursery’ is for high risk infants that need special treatment or care.
Once the labor and delivery are over, everyone rests, relaxes, the nurses will take the Apgar test of the baby, weigh her, clean her, swaddle her and then we will all be moved to the east side of the birthing floor to recover on our own private room. I was also pleasantly surprised we can request early check out if everything goes well. There is a complimentary massage the next day. The floors smelled fine, not really like a hospital, thank god. The lights were very dim and there was no rushing around even though they said they were busy, didn’t look like it. They also advised that there are birth balls and options for laboring like positioning, walking, tub, shower, etc. Since I am going natural, I don’t have to be monitored full time like a woman getting an epidural. I will only have to be checked every 30 minutes, unless something takes a turn for the worst. I will have the freedom to move around.
It was a good visit. They talked a lot about what to expect, how to check in, pre-register, how to order food, and everything about the rooms. It makes me less nervous, but it’s still a hospital.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
24 Weeks - Childbirth Prep Class Starts
24 weeks, I still am kind of surprised I am now starting into 24 weeks. Seems like yesterday we were standing in our old bathroom reading the pregnancy test. This week is a big week. I need to pre-register at the hospital, we have our first childbirth preparation class with the doula (Bradley Method Information here), and we need to finish up the registry. I can't believe there is so much to do to have a baby. It seems insane, sometimes I wish I was a cave woman and I wouldn't have to worry about all this stuff. In the following weeks, we have to research pediatricians, vaccines, life insurance, start a 401K, child care, breastfeeding classes and so on and so on and so on. I wish I didn't have to do all of this stuff. I wish I could just spend my days exercising, meditating, doing yoga, reading, but all of this other stuff only allows me a small portion of the day to really have fun and enjoy being pregnant.
The only fun thing we did do this weekend was the registry, even though it was a bit overwhelming. We are registering at two stores, the typical stores Babies R Us and Target. They seemed like they had everything, Babies R Us had a little more variety. We had and have no idea what to get. It took an hour to decide on a stroller and an infant car seat. It was crazy. Then we looked at pack'n'plays, co-sleepers, high chairs, boppies, bumbos, layettes, so many things. At the end of two hours walking around the store we only had 6 items and a headache. When we got home I looked through this book they gave us and there was so many things listed as 'essentials'. I just want to have someone who knows how to do this go and choose these things for us.
What makes me the most nervous is figuring out this breastfeeding thing. I have to choose a breast pump and I have no idea. There are like 20 different varieties, plus I don't know if you keep the milk cold or warm or how long it lasts, do I get bottles and nipples? inserts? I have no clue. I have to find a breastfeeding class especially designed for women who are forced back to work when baby is 10 weeks old and need to put a machine to their breast to suck out the milk instead of the baby doing what it is born to do. If the baby is breastfed from the breast to start and is forced to drink from a bottle starting at ten weeks, will she take the breast and the bottle? Or will she only want the bottle? Yes, I admit, I'm nervous and I'm bitter and I'm sad about it, but I guess this is what the majority of working women have to do. We just have to do it and make the best of it. No choice. Did you know in Denmark, women are provided one year maternity leave paid? Thanks America for nothing!
On another note, here are a couple pics. One of me at 24 weeks and a few of Jorge. He climbed into the baby cradle my uncle's father made for my Grandma's kids. It is so cute.
Exercise is going pretty good. I have been doing yoga twice a week, walking at least 5 days a week, and eliptical one day a week plus weights. It's been hard to keep a total routine and I have skipped days, but like I said, there has been a lot to do that has taken away from my body and mind health. However, I am focused and want to make it more of a priority now, it can only help in the end.
Plan for this week:
Monday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Tuesday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Wednesday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Thursday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Friday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga30 minute walk
Weekend - Not sure yet!
Swimming in this sea of life with my little tadpole,
La Sirena
The only fun thing we did do this weekend was the registry, even though it was a bit overwhelming. We are registering at two stores, the typical stores Babies R Us and Target. They seemed like they had everything, Babies R Us had a little more variety. We had and have no idea what to get. It took an hour to decide on a stroller and an infant car seat. It was crazy. Then we looked at pack'n'plays, co-sleepers, high chairs, boppies, bumbos, layettes, so many things. At the end of two hours walking around the store we only had 6 items and a headache. When we got home I looked through this book they gave us and there was so many things listed as 'essentials'. I just want to have someone who knows how to do this go and choose these things for us.
What makes me the most nervous is figuring out this breastfeeding thing. I have to choose a breast pump and I have no idea. There are like 20 different varieties, plus I don't know if you keep the milk cold or warm or how long it lasts, do I get bottles and nipples? inserts? I have no clue. I have to find a breastfeeding class especially designed for women who are forced back to work when baby is 10 weeks old and need to put a machine to their breast to suck out the milk instead of the baby doing what it is born to do. If the baby is breastfed from the breast to start and is forced to drink from a bottle starting at ten weeks, will she take the breast and the bottle? Or will she only want the bottle? Yes, I admit, I'm nervous and I'm bitter and I'm sad about it, but I guess this is what the majority of working women have to do. We just have to do it and make the best of it. No choice. Did you know in Denmark, women are provided one year maternity leave paid? Thanks America for nothing!
On another note, here are a couple pics. One of me at 24 weeks and a few of Jorge. He climbed into the baby cradle my uncle's father made for my Grandma's kids. It is so cute.
Exercise is going pretty good. I have been doing yoga twice a week, walking at least 5 days a week, and eliptical one day a week plus weights. It's been hard to keep a total routine and I have skipped days, but like I said, there has been a lot to do that has taken away from my body and mind health. However, I am focused and want to make it more of a priority now, it can only help in the end.Plan for this week:
Monday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Tuesday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Wednesday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Thursday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Friday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga30 minute walk
Weekend - Not sure yet!
Swimming in this sea of life with my little tadpole,
La Sirena
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Most Wonderful Thing (so far)
Dan felt the baby kick for the first time last night. He said he was surprised she kicked so hard. Little Miss Dinky was practicing her boxing skills along with her gymnastics skills last night before bed.
I think it is the most beautiful, wonderful, amazing and exciting thing to feel baby move inside my body. It fills me with waves of love during each movement. I’m changing, not only physically, but also emotionally.
To my little tadpole, stay strong and healthy my love, less than 17 weeks to go.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
23 Weeks and Doula Interviews
Well, you might have already read on my other blog that I forgot the groceries in the van for about 6 hours last Tuesday night. I am forgetting A LOT of things these days. Sunglasses, keys, books, calls to make, bills to pay and even words in sentences. I’ll be talking away at work and then BAM! I forget what I am even talking about. Not good. I sometimes get really dreamy and will just start thinking about something and forget about completing what task I was trying to do at hand. I also drop things a lot. This is not like me. I am pretty quick at grabbing something, but now, I just look down and say oh shoot, I dropped that. Then I wonder how I’m going to pick it up because I don’t want to squish baby. Squats are essential these days.
I took a picture on Sunday, but I don’t think I look any different. I’ll post it this week if I get around to it. Or maybe I’ll wait for next week’s pic at 24 weeks. Click here for some information on 23 weeks. Baby should weigh about a pound now and is about 11 inches long. I can feel her more and more each day. I can’t wait for Dan to feel her kicks. Sometimes when she is active at night, I will have Dan put his hand on my belly, but nothing. Sometimes she stops and Dan says “that proves I have a calming hand”. So cute. The kicks just aren’t strong enough yet for them to be felt on the outside. Most of the kicks are under my belly button, sometime around my pubic bone. I can also feel her kick to the back, on my bowels. That is the weirdest feeling. Some days she is more active than others. Last Saturday she wasn’t moving much like the days before and I got nervous. They always talk about making sure the baby moves the same each day and to alert your Dr. if the movements aren’t as active or diminish. It’s nerve racking, but I decided just to go with the flow and relax about it. The reason she wasn’t as active Saturday is probably because I was up and moving around a lot, which puts baby to sleep because it’s like being rocked. When I sit in a chair all day, she floats around kickin’ and havin’ fun.
This past weekend hubby and I interviewed three doulas. Doula “A” is an Aries. She has classes available along with her doula services. She teaches the Bradley Method, which is the way I am leaning towards in regards to preparation. The Bradley Method focuses on natural childbirth, breathing, relaxation, animal instinct. Doula “B” is a Taurus. She only has doula services available, no childbirth preparation classes. She is also pregnant and would be seven months along at my birth. Doula “C” is an Aries. She offers all kinds of goodies in her doula and childbirth preparation packaged. She has a one weekend prep class, which is based off of yoga, chanting and focusing on being in the moment. She also provides reiki, massage, and aromatherapy in the package. She is the most expensive of the three, but because she has a lot of extras. She spoke a lot about being intuitive, working with energy fields, and being empathic. Doula “C” has never given birth herself, so this profession has to be a calling. She is very young, probably early twenties and hasn’t had that much experience. Doula “A” has been a doula for about 20 years, I think she said something like over 300 clients and offered a ton of references. Doula “B” was a trauma therapist, but got into doula work after she helped numerous mothers heal from bad and traumatic birth experiences. She has had a handful of clients.
I checked our sign compatibility and Aries – Virgo works pretty good together, not the perfect combo, but tolerable. Virgos generally know exactly what they want and Aries can deliver. Aries is also the first sign in the zodiac, the birth sign. I thought this was a good omen. The Virgo – Taurus compatibility is very good. Two earth signs that are mechanically minded and practical. However, Doula “B”, who is also pregnant didn’t sound like she had much of a plan other than to just be there and support me. Which is nice, but my Virgo mind needs some classes, homework, and reading materials. We decided Doula “B” was not for us. So we had to decide between on Doula “A” or Doula “C”. I liked Doula “C”’s website a lot, so professional, so organized. But when I tried to contact her via email there was no response. Then I left her a voicemail and she called back four days later, whereas Doula “A” called back in an hour. When we spoke with Doula “C” she was kind of flighty, not concentrated or organized in her thoughts. I asked her about how we schedule all of these extras in her Doula package and she just said “well, we’ll get them on the calendar. By the way I’m taking off in December to go home to OK for a few weeks”. During our meeting she was kind of distracted, she admitted to having a migraine. Well, that about did it. No offense, but I can’t handle someone who doesn’t call back, won’t offer up a plan and is not committed to putting dates on a calendar. I only have 17 weeks left and I need a plan!!
Doula “a” it is then. She is kind, warm, and calming. She is also organized, has an action plan and provided an agreement up front. I am going to call her this week and set everything up. We are going to also take her Bradley Method class.
I took a picture on Sunday, but I don’t think I look any different. I’ll post it this week if I get around to it. Or maybe I’ll wait for next week’s pic at 24 weeks. Click here for some information on 23 weeks. Baby should weigh about a pound now and is about 11 inches long. I can feel her more and more each day. I can’t wait for Dan to feel her kicks. Sometimes when she is active at night, I will have Dan put his hand on my belly, but nothing. Sometimes she stops and Dan says “that proves I have a calming hand”. So cute. The kicks just aren’t strong enough yet for them to be felt on the outside. Most of the kicks are under my belly button, sometime around my pubic bone. I can also feel her kick to the back, on my bowels. That is the weirdest feeling. Some days she is more active than others. Last Saturday she wasn’t moving much like the days before and I got nervous. They always talk about making sure the baby moves the same each day and to alert your Dr. if the movements aren’t as active or diminish. It’s nerve racking, but I decided just to go with the flow and relax about it. The reason she wasn’t as active Saturday is probably because I was up and moving around a lot, which puts baby to sleep because it’s like being rocked. When I sit in a chair all day, she floats around kickin’ and havin’ fun.
This past weekend hubby and I interviewed three doulas. Doula “A” is an Aries. She has classes available along with her doula services. She teaches the Bradley Method, which is the way I am leaning towards in regards to preparation. The Bradley Method focuses on natural childbirth, breathing, relaxation, animal instinct. Doula “B” is a Taurus. She only has doula services available, no childbirth preparation classes. She is also pregnant and would be seven months along at my birth. Doula “C” is an Aries. She offers all kinds of goodies in her doula and childbirth preparation packaged. She has a one weekend prep class, which is based off of yoga, chanting and focusing on being in the moment. She also provides reiki, massage, and aromatherapy in the package. She is the most expensive of the three, but because she has a lot of extras. She spoke a lot about being intuitive, working with energy fields, and being empathic. Doula “C” has never given birth herself, so this profession has to be a calling. She is very young, probably early twenties and hasn’t had that much experience. Doula “A” has been a doula for about 20 years, I think she said something like over 300 clients and offered a ton of references. Doula “B” was a trauma therapist, but got into doula work after she helped numerous mothers heal from bad and traumatic birth experiences. She has had a handful of clients.
I checked our sign compatibility and Aries – Virgo works pretty good together, not the perfect combo, but tolerable. Virgos generally know exactly what they want and Aries can deliver. Aries is also the first sign in the zodiac, the birth sign. I thought this was a good omen. The Virgo – Taurus compatibility is very good. Two earth signs that are mechanically minded and practical. However, Doula “B”, who is also pregnant didn’t sound like she had much of a plan other than to just be there and support me. Which is nice, but my Virgo mind needs some classes, homework, and reading materials. We decided Doula “B” was not for us. So we had to decide between on Doula “A” or Doula “C”. I liked Doula “C”’s website a lot, so professional, so organized. But when I tried to contact her via email there was no response. Then I left her a voicemail and she called back four days later, whereas Doula “A” called back in an hour. When we spoke with Doula “C” she was kind of flighty, not concentrated or organized in her thoughts. I asked her about how we schedule all of these extras in her Doula package and she just said “well, we’ll get them on the calendar. By the way I’m taking off in December to go home to OK for a few weeks”. During our meeting she was kind of distracted, she admitted to having a migraine. Well, that about did it. No offense, but I can’t handle someone who doesn’t call back, won’t offer up a plan and is not committed to putting dates on a calendar. I only have 17 weeks left and I need a plan!!
Doula “a” it is then. She is kind, warm, and calming. She is also organized, has an action plan and provided an agreement up front. I am going to call her this week and set everything up. We are going to also take her Bradley Method class.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Educate Yourself
What gets me the most are these woman that have never gone through this experience and feel as if they know everything! I mean, those types that can't back up their so called 'facts' or the ones that want to tell you how to do something or what to eat or what not to eat and yadda yadda yadda. Well, I've had it. I just tell them, maybe you should check your facts with a valid source and not shows like ER or House or something you saw on the mainstream media.
For three years I have been reading about and studying pregnancy and birth. I knew I had to be prepared for when it happened. I read blogs, I watched documentaries, I spoke with tons of women that have gone through this experience, and I've read books, websites, articles, etc etc. I know we can't believe everything we read and everything we hear, but I do beleive in educating myself to understand better than I would have yesterday.
Besides some of the women at work telling me what not to eat, there was one that said "Don't be a hero take the drugs. The birth will be much more enjoyable." Ok, that is after she had asked me what type of birth I was planning and I said a natural birth, I then informed her of the research I had done on epidurals slowing down labor, causing spinal headaches for the rest of your life, baby's side effects, possible paralysis, no feeling in your lower body so you never know when to push unless you feel like watching a contraction monitor. Sound like fun? NOT! Everyone knows there own pain thresh hold and more power to woman who make that informed decision, but for this person to say that with a snooty know-it-all attitude, I about wanted to kick her in the face. Ok, that was a mood swing though! Ha!
I have decided that I will have a natural birth. However, if I am induced with pitocin or oxytocin, which cause contractions to be a thousand times worse, then I would consider an epidural, but that also increases your chances for a cesarean. Then there's the question of using a doula, which I understand a lot of people really don't understand since it is fairly new in our society. My first reaction to getting pregnant was that I wanted to use a midwife. Well, thanks to my horrible insurance I have no option for a midwife, they won't even pay as out of network, they said it is too risky. So my second best choice is to use an obstetrician with the aid of a doula. Since doula's are somewhat new on the seen of childbirth, especially there use in hospitals, I wanted to provide some information as to what a doula is and why they are helpful.
A doula is trained and experienced in supporting women and their partners during childbirth. The doula's role is to help a woman have the most satisfying birth possible - as you would define it and as it unfolds. She learns the woman's wishes for a birth plan and remains with you during the labor, birth, and then for about two hours after the birth. Doulas also are very helpful in helping you ask the right questions to get correct information you need to make an informed decision about your care. The doula is the mother's advocate and is focused on the mother's expected birth experience and also help you transition if anything should go wrong and astray from you planned birth experience. She is there for support.
Benefits of hiring a doula:
Does this make me a weak woman? Hell no, this make me an informed woman. I have wonderful support that will be there in the hospital; Dan, Hil, Aunt Pat, and maybe my mom if she can fly out in time. But maybe when all these people are in the room, I'll change my mind and want to be alone. No one knows what they will be like when labor kicks in. Will I scream? Will I cry? Will I turn completely inward and ignore everyone else there? Will I glow? Will I laugh? I don't know. That is why on this first round, I do feel like I want that support, not only from my family, but also from a trained labor coach.
I'll be interviewing doulas in the next couple of weeks. Wish me luck!
For three years I have been reading about and studying pregnancy and birth. I knew I had to be prepared for when it happened. I read blogs, I watched documentaries, I spoke with tons of women that have gone through this experience, and I've read books, websites, articles, etc etc. I know we can't believe everything we read and everything we hear, but I do beleive in educating myself to understand better than I would have yesterday.
Besides some of the women at work telling me what not to eat, there was one that said "Don't be a hero take the drugs. The birth will be much more enjoyable." Ok, that is after she had asked me what type of birth I was planning and I said a natural birth, I then informed her of the research I had done on epidurals slowing down labor, causing spinal headaches for the rest of your life, baby's side effects, possible paralysis, no feeling in your lower body so you never know when to push unless you feel like watching a contraction monitor. Sound like fun? NOT! Everyone knows there own pain thresh hold and more power to woman who make that informed decision, but for this person to say that with a snooty know-it-all attitude, I about wanted to kick her in the face. Ok, that was a mood swing though! Ha!
I have decided that I will have a natural birth. However, if I am induced with pitocin or oxytocin, which cause contractions to be a thousand times worse, then I would consider an epidural, but that also increases your chances for a cesarean. Then there's the question of using a doula, which I understand a lot of people really don't understand since it is fairly new in our society. My first reaction to getting pregnant was that I wanted to use a midwife. Well, thanks to my horrible insurance I have no option for a midwife, they won't even pay as out of network, they said it is too risky. So my second best choice is to use an obstetrician with the aid of a doula. Since doula's are somewhat new on the seen of childbirth, especially there use in hospitals, I wanted to provide some information as to what a doula is and why they are helpful.
A doula is trained and experienced in supporting women and their partners during childbirth. The doula's role is to help a woman have the most satisfying birth possible - as you would define it and as it unfolds. She learns the woman's wishes for a birth plan and remains with you during the labor, birth, and then for about two hours after the birth. Doulas also are very helpful in helping you ask the right questions to get correct information you need to make an informed decision about your care. The doula is the mother's advocate and is focused on the mother's expected birth experience and also help you transition if anything should go wrong and astray from you planned birth experience. She is there for support.
Benefits of hiring a doula:
- Improved physical and psychological outcomes for mother and baby
- 25% shorter labors
- 40% reduction in use of induction meds
- 50% reduction of cesareans
- 30% less forcept and vacuum extraction
- 60% reduction for epidurals
- fewer requests for pain medication because she can help with breathing techniques, positions, massage, etc
- Better postpartum outcomes
- More successful breastfeeding
Does this make me a weak woman? Hell no, this make me an informed woman. I have wonderful support that will be there in the hospital; Dan, Hil, Aunt Pat, and maybe my mom if she can fly out in time. But maybe when all these people are in the room, I'll change my mind and want to be alone. No one knows what they will be like when labor kicks in. Will I scream? Will I cry? Will I turn completely inward and ignore everyone else there? Will I glow? Will I laugh? I don't know. That is why on this first round, I do feel like I want that support, not only from my family, but also from a trained labor coach.
I'll be interviewing doulas in the next couple of weeks. Wish me luck!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
22 Weeks and a catch up!
I am taking a break this afternoon from cleaning to write the weekly baby blog post. This weekend I have had a lot to do, I've been putting a lot of stuff off that has been on my list for months! I hate that feeling when the list has gotten to 35 things to do and then I feel totally overwhelmed. I'm riding this good energy wave to get this stuff done. Plus I am feeling great these days. No more weird food dislikes, no more nausea, no more extreme needs for naps. I can actually try to maintain my household.
This week marks 22 weeks. I usually get my weekly funny update from this website. Then I'll check the American Pregnancy Association and choose the week I am in. I like to check in and just see what might be going on this week, see the development of the baby and read about the changes in my body to relate. Since I can't post every weekly update on here since May, I thought it would be fun just to note some monthly highlights and provide a little science into the conception of this little tadpole.
How most midwives and obstetricians find the due date is by the first date of your last monthly period. I was tracking my period very closely for a year on the calendar, so I know that the first day of my last period was on Mother's Day May 10th, 2009 - fitting huh? Ok this is where it might get weird. I know we were unprotected on May 20th, 21st, and 22nd - which was my exact best time for ovulation. Dan also knows this because we studied and knew how the whole cycle worked. Guess what? First time's a charm! We thought we would 'try' for a year because my family Dr. said it could take up to a year to conceive. No way did we think it would happen on the first try.
Month one was May to June. No symptoms at all and plus I didn't know I was pregnant yet because you have to wait until around your next period time to truly know. I was so scared I would do something to prevent the pregnancy that I stopped working out. Well, not completely, I did the eliptical a few times, but I stopped running, weights, and yoga. Which now that I think back, that was so stupid. Women can work out and I know that, I was just having a mental block. The first month is when the egg is fertilized and a blastocyst forms. It embeds itself into the uterine wall, the umbilical cord starts to form, and the nerves and muscles start to form. Then the organs, limb buds, and a head with a mouth and eyes appear. The entire size of this little thing is 1/4 inch in diameter.
Month two was June to July. Dan and I went to my Aunt's cabin on a full moon and we had this whole morning ritual planned where I would pee on the stick and then we would celebrate when we saw the good news. That didn't go as planned! I woke up at about 5am, too excited to get the results. Well, the wind was about 45 miles per hour, I was standing out in the middle of mountains at the cabin, trying to pee on the stick, but most of it went all of my coat and legs! We waited and nothing - actually I think three lines showed up and then the whole thing went blue. We were bummed, but it didn't stop us. That night we went and got the digital read out screen and did it in the morning in the calmness of our bathroom. Pregnant!
Month two brought symptoms. Nausea, food cravings for sweets likes donuts and ice cream, breast swelling and discoloration, extreme smells (like I could smell anything and everything! it was so weird, but awesome). I also had to pee a lot and was constantly tired. It did not help that we were in the middle of making an offer on a house. I was not feeling good at all, I hated vegetables and meat. All I wanted was milk, ice cream, crackers, and cereal. It was pretty hard since I try to eat right and I was feeling guilty for wanting those kids of foods all the time. I read in Deepak Chopra's Book Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives that women might have food aversions in order to keep them away from foods that might triggered sickness and miscarriage, in case those foods are carrying any parasites and things. So to not want vegetables and meat is totally normal. He also said women would crave higher that normal caloric foods like breads and sweets because their bodies are expending a huge amount of energy in order to create a new life in the beginning - the time that is most sensitive and vital.
Month two development is when the limb buds start to sprout and look more recognizable. The facial features become more obvious because by the 10th week, the embryonic stage is over and fetal stage if now starting. At this time the fetus is now floating freely around in the amniotic sac. The size by the end of nine weeks is about the size of a small grape.
Month three was July to August, I was still experiencing a lot the symptoms. I was also going mentally crazy and having mood swings like non-other! Poor Dan and poor people I was working with, who had no idea what was going on. This month we had finally bought the house and needed to pack and move in one weekend. It was rough. Not only was I super tired and not motivated, I didn't want to eat. But we got through it! I look back on it now and maybe it was best that I was busied with something else to think about because I think I would have driven myself crazy thinking about baby all of the time.
For the development in month three, the end of the first trimester, the baby's organs and limbs are completely formed. The placenta is functioning fully and this means that hormones are now leveling out, returning my mood to it's regularly scheduled showtime. At this month, baby starts to practice sucking and the skeleton is completely formed, but made of soft cartilage. The genitals are also now developed and could possibly been seen through ultrasound if the baby is positioned right, which are's was not at 14 weeks when we went in the first time. The size of baby at the end of month three is about 3 inches long, the size of a Vienna sausage.
Month four was August to September which was great. I was feeling better, we were all moved in, however not yet unpacked. I had told my entire family in month three and then we told friends and coworkers in month four. It was SO NICE to finally get to share this with everyone!
Month four is the start of the second trimester. All of the major organs are working, and the heart beat is usually between 120-160. The first heartbeat we heard was about 123, then when I went in four weeks later it was 161. Now just a week ago, it was 158. During month four, the eyebrows and eyelashes start to grow. The eyes and ears are starting to develop more fully. The baby might be able to distinguish light as a reddish glow and getting more used to the sound of the mom's heartbeat. Also, the hair starts to grow now, plus the fingernails and toenails. Baby is also starting to move a lot more. This is when women might start to feel fluttering or quickening. I felt my first movement at 14 weeks, then at 15 and 16 weeks, I started to feel it a little more. Now into my 22nd week, I would say I feel it about 15 times a day, mostly after meals and when I am very relaxed.
Well, that's enough catch up for now! I will be sharing the books I am reading next time.
Last week was not good for exercise. We were so busy with appointments and working overtime, I did not keep to a schedule. Plus it got very very cold, so walking outside was not seeming very pleasurable. This week, however I have decided to make it my week! I need time to myself to concentrate and get together a birth plan and routine. I am going to choose a doula this week and schedule an appointment to visit the Birth center at the local hospital where I will be delivering. I am going to work 7 - 3:30. That way I will be home by 4 in order to feed the dog, workout, fix dinner, then go for an evening walk. Dan gets home around 5:30 so this will be nice to have a little over an hour to myself to concentrate.
Plan for this week:
Monday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Tuesday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Wednesday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Thursday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Friday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga30 minute walk
Weekend - Depending on the weather, hopefully a long bike ride!
Swimming in this sea of life with my little tadpole,
La Sirena
This week marks 22 weeks. I usually get my weekly funny update from this website. Then I'll check the American Pregnancy Association and choose the week I am in. I like to check in and just see what might be going on this week, see the development of the baby and read about the changes in my body to relate. Since I can't post every weekly update on here since May, I thought it would be fun just to note some monthly highlights and provide a little science into the conception of this little tadpole.
How most midwives and obstetricians find the due date is by the first date of your last monthly period. I was tracking my period very closely for a year on the calendar, so I know that the first day of my last period was on Mother's Day May 10th, 2009 - fitting huh? Ok this is where it might get weird. I know we were unprotected on May 20th, 21st, and 22nd - which was my exact best time for ovulation. Dan also knows this because we studied and knew how the whole cycle worked. Guess what? First time's a charm! We thought we would 'try' for a year because my family Dr. said it could take up to a year to conceive. No way did we think it would happen on the first try.
Month one was May to June. No symptoms at all and plus I didn't know I was pregnant yet because you have to wait until around your next period time to truly know. I was so scared I would do something to prevent the pregnancy that I stopped working out. Well, not completely, I did the eliptical a few times, but I stopped running, weights, and yoga. Which now that I think back, that was so stupid. Women can work out and I know that, I was just having a mental block. The first month is when the egg is fertilized and a blastocyst forms. It embeds itself into the uterine wall, the umbilical cord starts to form, and the nerves and muscles start to form. Then the organs, limb buds, and a head with a mouth and eyes appear. The entire size of this little thing is 1/4 inch in diameter.
Month two was June to July. Dan and I went to my Aunt's cabin on a full moon and we had this whole morning ritual planned where I would pee on the stick and then we would celebrate when we saw the good news. That didn't go as planned! I woke up at about 5am, too excited to get the results. Well, the wind was about 45 miles per hour, I was standing out in the middle of mountains at the cabin, trying to pee on the stick, but most of it went all of my coat and legs! We waited and nothing - actually I think three lines showed up and then the whole thing went blue. We were bummed, but it didn't stop us. That night we went and got the digital read out screen and did it in the morning in the calmness of our bathroom. Pregnant!
Month two brought symptoms. Nausea, food cravings for sweets likes donuts and ice cream, breast swelling and discoloration, extreme smells (like I could smell anything and everything! it was so weird, but awesome). I also had to pee a lot and was constantly tired. It did not help that we were in the middle of making an offer on a house. I was not feeling good at all, I hated vegetables and meat. All I wanted was milk, ice cream, crackers, and cereal. It was pretty hard since I try to eat right and I was feeling guilty for wanting those kids of foods all the time. I read in Deepak Chopra's Book Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives that women might have food aversions in order to keep them away from foods that might triggered sickness and miscarriage, in case those foods are carrying any parasites and things. So to not want vegetables and meat is totally normal. He also said women would crave higher that normal caloric foods like breads and sweets because their bodies are expending a huge amount of energy in order to create a new life in the beginning - the time that is most sensitive and vital.
Month two development is when the limb buds start to sprout and look more recognizable. The facial features become more obvious because by the 10th week, the embryonic stage is over and fetal stage if now starting. At this time the fetus is now floating freely around in the amniotic sac. The size by the end of nine weeks is about the size of a small grape.
Month three was July to August, I was still experiencing a lot the symptoms. I was also going mentally crazy and having mood swings like non-other! Poor Dan and poor people I was working with, who had no idea what was going on. This month we had finally bought the house and needed to pack and move in one weekend. It was rough. Not only was I super tired and not motivated, I didn't want to eat. But we got through it! I look back on it now and maybe it was best that I was busied with something else to think about because I think I would have driven myself crazy thinking about baby all of the time.
For the development in month three, the end of the first trimester, the baby's organs and limbs are completely formed. The placenta is functioning fully and this means that hormones are now leveling out, returning my mood to it's regularly scheduled showtime. At this month, baby starts to practice sucking and the skeleton is completely formed, but made of soft cartilage. The genitals are also now developed and could possibly been seen through ultrasound if the baby is positioned right, which are's was not at 14 weeks when we went in the first time. The size of baby at the end of month three is about 3 inches long, the size of a Vienna sausage.
Month four was August to September which was great. I was feeling better, we were all moved in, however not yet unpacked. I had told my entire family in month three and then we told friends and coworkers in month four. It was SO NICE to finally get to share this with everyone!
Month four is the start of the second trimester. All of the major organs are working, and the heart beat is usually between 120-160. The first heartbeat we heard was about 123, then when I went in four weeks later it was 161. Now just a week ago, it was 158. During month four, the eyebrows and eyelashes start to grow. The eyes and ears are starting to develop more fully. The baby might be able to distinguish light as a reddish glow and getting more used to the sound of the mom's heartbeat. Also, the hair starts to grow now, plus the fingernails and toenails. Baby is also starting to move a lot more. This is when women might start to feel fluttering or quickening. I felt my first movement at 14 weeks, then at 15 and 16 weeks, I started to feel it a little more. Now into my 22nd week, I would say I feel it about 15 times a day, mostly after meals and when I am very relaxed.
Well, that's enough catch up for now! I will be sharing the books I am reading next time.
Last week was not good for exercise. We were so busy with appointments and working overtime, I did not keep to a schedule. Plus it got very very cold, so walking outside was not seeming very pleasurable. This week, however I have decided to make it my week! I need time to myself to concentrate and get together a birth plan and routine. I am going to choose a doula this week and schedule an appointment to visit the Birth center at the local hospital where I will be delivering. I am going to work 7 - 3:30. That way I will be home by 4 in order to feed the dog, workout, fix dinner, then go for an evening walk. Dan gets home around 5:30 so this will be nice to have a little over an hour to myself to concentrate.
Plan for this week:
Monday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Tuesday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Wednesday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Thursday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Friday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga30 minute walk
Weekend - Depending on the weather, hopefully a long bike ride!
Swimming in this sea of life with my little tadpole,
La Sirena
Thursday, October 8, 2009
It's A............
Tuesday was heavily anticipated – finding out the gender and tracking the progress of the baby. I thought it was a boy, Dan thought it was s boy, friends family, and co-workers all thought the same. To our surprise, a little girl! Really, we would take either so we are happy either way. The ultrasound technician checked three times and she said she is rarely wrong. Wow. I guess knowing is really good, but it is also really starting to sink in. I had my first panic dream last night. I dreamt that I went in for my 21 week check up and they decided to go ahead and induce me. That’s one of my fears, to be induced. I’ve heard horror stories about the pitocin causing hemorrhaging because it makes contractions a thousand times worse. I mean, aren’t they bad enough? But I am planning a natural birth and when the pitocin puts a woman on the verge of hemorrhage, that sounds like my worst nightmare. So I dreamt that they were making me have the baby, but Dan and I don’t have anything in order. We have zero supplies right now, no registry, no pediatrician, no co-sleeper, no diapers, no stroller, no car seat, no NOTHING. Women at work are acting like they are absolutely appalled that I don’t have anything. Ok, I lied. I have two pairs of newborn socks, one pink, one blue. I have a pair of British flag leg warmers and one small teddy bear.
I didn’t realize how much people are so quick to comment. I welcome advice, I welcome discussions, but geesh. I was talking to my boss the other day and she was complimenting me on not looking pregnant (how weird is that?) and then she added in the fact that she was surprised though, because of the way I have been eating. What the? I am not really eating much different. In the first trimester I wanted ice cream a lot and also some sweets, but it wasn’t every day. Plus I always bring my lunch, never eat out, take vitamins, drink tons of water. I was wondering where that comment was coming from. Then there are the women that feel the need to question what you are eating. I was having sausage the other day and a woman said that we shouldn’t eat sausage when pregnant. Then I was having a subway sandwich, which they bought for us at work, and someone said I should bring my own lunch to be safe since deli meats are unsafe. Ok yes, I have heard that before, but come on! A girl’s gotta eat. I’ve heated a few meats during my pregnancy, but my online research has told me just be safe. Then I was having a chocolate candy after lunch at my desk and a woman walked by and said “do you really think you should be eating that?” I almost punched her in the face. I think baby should be exposed to everything – ok minus anything raw which is really bad – or the baby will come out allergic to everything.
Then there’s the people that look directly at your stomach while talking to you or walking by – every time. Even men, well the men that know you are pregnant. I don’t mind that much, I think it’s cute. However right now, I am wondering if they are thinking when I’m actually going to look pregnant. I always ask Dan “do I look pregnant or fat?” Tough question for a husband of a pregnant woman with mood swings! LOL
The Dr. gave us the paperwork to register with the hospital yesterday and also the glucose drink for the diabetes test. It’s getting so real now. We also need to choose a doula, a pediatrician, child care, baby classes, hospital tours, breast feeding classes. Geesh! I am just not feeling too motivated for all of that right now. I’m going to take it one step at a time since right now, it seems all so overwhelming and not so fun.
On the good side, baby is growing great. She is about five days larger than average at this time, which is totally fine. I told the Dr. I am Poilish so of course I'm growing a nice size child in there! My blood pressure is still looking good and my weight gain is spot on. I am proud of myself. When I first got pregnant I had a fear that I would immediately become a giant blimp, with vericose veins, cellulite and flab. Well, I am slowing turning into that at this rate! Ha! No just kidding. I am feeling really good. I know the third trimester is when most of the weight is gained. As long as I keep eating healthy and exercising, I am not worried about it. It's all about perception anyway.
Climbing this Tree of Life, one step at a time with my little tadpole,
La Siren
I didn’t realize how much people are so quick to comment. I welcome advice, I welcome discussions, but geesh. I was talking to my boss the other day and she was complimenting me on not looking pregnant (how weird is that?) and then she added in the fact that she was surprised though, because of the way I have been eating. What the? I am not really eating much different. In the first trimester I wanted ice cream a lot and also some sweets, but it wasn’t every day. Plus I always bring my lunch, never eat out, take vitamins, drink tons of water. I was wondering where that comment was coming from. Then there are the women that feel the need to question what you are eating. I was having sausage the other day and a woman said that we shouldn’t eat sausage when pregnant. Then I was having a subway sandwich, which they bought for us at work, and someone said I should bring my own lunch to be safe since deli meats are unsafe. Ok yes, I have heard that before, but come on! A girl’s gotta eat. I’ve heated a few meats during my pregnancy, but my online research has told me just be safe. Then I was having a chocolate candy after lunch at my desk and a woman walked by and said “do you really think you should be eating that?” I almost punched her in the face. I think baby should be exposed to everything – ok minus anything raw which is really bad – or the baby will come out allergic to everything.
Then there’s the people that look directly at your stomach while talking to you or walking by – every time. Even men, well the men that know you are pregnant. I don’t mind that much, I think it’s cute. However right now, I am wondering if they are thinking when I’m actually going to look pregnant. I always ask Dan “do I look pregnant or fat?” Tough question for a husband of a pregnant woman with mood swings! LOL
The Dr. gave us the paperwork to register with the hospital yesterday and also the glucose drink for the diabetes test. It’s getting so real now. We also need to choose a doula, a pediatrician, child care, baby classes, hospital tours, breast feeding classes. Geesh! I am just not feeling too motivated for all of that right now. I’m going to take it one step at a time since right now, it seems all so overwhelming and not so fun.
On the good side, baby is growing great. She is about five days larger than average at this time, which is totally fine. I told the Dr. I am Poilish so of course I'm growing a nice size child in there! My blood pressure is still looking good and my weight gain is spot on. I am proud of myself. When I first got pregnant I had a fear that I would immediately become a giant blimp, with vericose veins, cellulite and flab. Well, I am slowing turning into that at this rate! Ha! No just kidding. I am feeling really good. I know the third trimester is when most of the weight is gained. As long as I keep eating healthy and exercising, I am not worried about it. It's all about perception anyway.
Climbing this Tree of Life, one step at a time with my little tadpole,
La Siren
Sunday, October 4, 2009
21 Weeks - Baby ultrasound week
This week we find out the gender of the baby, we also find out if baby is growing "on schedule". They can also tell if there is enough amniotic fluid, which I have been reading about lately. I am hoping since we live in a dry climate, everything looks good. Sometimes I wake up thirsty, which is a sign of dehydration. I have been drinking about 2.5 litres of water a day.
Last week went pretty well. I got all of my walks in. I only got one day of yoga in and two days of eliptical. I was mad at myself for slacking off my plan, but then I knew in my heart I did everything I could do physically and mentally. Our friends ended up not coming this weekend so we went up to Fort Collins to stay the night with Hil and Tone. We went for a 1.3 mile hike up in the state park. It was gorgeous outside, just awesome! It felt so good to connect with nature and get some Vit D.
Here's a pic of the 21st week, not much different from last week....
This weekend I bought a few things to help out with some of my issues....Not fun to say but my feet and armpits itch like crazy. It's due to the hormones and the sugars and all these things redistributing amongst my body parts. I read something scientific about it and all I know is that it is not fun. I bought some different deodorant, some foot spray and as a special treat some Palmer's cocoa shea butter lotion. All of it has helped a lot. The chemicals in my body are going crazy and I know in order to be comfortable, I need to take care of it.
Plan for this week:
Monday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Tuesday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Wednesday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Thursday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Friday - 30 minute walk
Weekend - Our friends said maybe this weekend they will visit,,,,,if not, then I plan on winterizing the yard.
Swimming in this sea of life with my little tadpole,
La Sirena
Last week went pretty well. I got all of my walks in. I only got one day of yoga in and two days of eliptical. I was mad at myself for slacking off my plan, but then I knew in my heart I did everything I could do physically and mentally. Our friends ended up not coming this weekend so we went up to Fort Collins to stay the night with Hil and Tone. We went for a 1.3 mile hike up in the state park. It was gorgeous outside, just awesome! It felt so good to connect with nature and get some Vit D.
Here's a pic of the 21st week, not much different from last week....
This weekend I bought a few things to help out with some of my issues....Not fun to say but my feet and armpits itch like crazy. It's due to the hormones and the sugars and all these things redistributing amongst my body parts. I read something scientific about it and all I know is that it is not fun. I bought some different deodorant, some foot spray and as a special treat some Palmer's cocoa shea butter lotion. All of it has helped a lot. The chemicals in my body are going crazy and I know in order to be comfortable, I need to take care of it.
Plan for this week:
Monday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Tuesday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Wednesday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Thursday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Friday - 30 minute walk
Weekend - Our friends said maybe this weekend they will visit,,,,,if not, then I plan on winterizing the yard.
Swimming in this sea of life with my little tadpole,
La Sirena
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Welcome Baby to the Tree of Life Blog!
WOW! My last post on here was from June 14, 2009! The post before that I was talking about training for a 10K. My life has changed so much since then, well in terms of exercise at least. I don't want to take away the health and exercise from my health blog and make this just a "coochy coo baby blog, oh such a sweet little baby post blog". Hell no! This blog is still my health blog, my Tree of Life, which is bringing another little life into this world. And I couldn't do it without exercising my body and my mind, eating healthy, and discussing everything in-between.
I am going to be totally honest with anyone that wants to read about it. Not only will I blog about my ever changing body, my exercise, but also my pregnancy and my thoughts on this whole subject. You will leave this blog either not ever wanting to read about this stuff again, or be so interested that you might have learned something you never knew, or well, you may just want to see the very unflattering pictures that, yes, I will be posting of the ever growing stomach.
I am 20 weeks pregnant today, which I guess you could say I am moving into my fifth month. I've thought about writing a post in the last four months, but with everything going on, I haven't had the strength nor the gathered thoughts and motivation to share. I promised myself a long time ago, when I first became interested in getting pregnant and educating myself on the whole process that I would share my experience on my blog one day. I owe it to any woman that stumbles across this, any woman in my family, any friend of mine that is interested in knowing, because that is how I became so informed about pregnancy.
Did I ever tell you that Dan and I said we never wanted kids? Ok, that was like 8 years ago when we were gallivanting from city to city, country to country, partying, clubbing, enjoying and growing with each other. Then we settled down a bit, got married and our friends and co-workers started having babies. We sat down one day and we just started talking about it and we couldn't stop. We knew then that we wanted to share our lives with a little soul, or two, or three for that matter. A friend of mine got pregnant at work and she opened my eyes to the whole process. She showed me websites, birth stories, books, discussions, everything and I was hooked! That was about three years ago.
Ever since then I've been reading books and these websites and educating myself. I remember standing next to her at work laughing and saying "I'll never have a kid without an epidural! Ha! yah right, better yet, just slice me open and grab him out of there!". OH HOW THE TIDES HAVE TURNED. After reading about several woman's experiences, talking to mothers, researching, etc etc, I'm more on the path now of natural childbirth, no induction, only a C-Section if it is a life or death situation. I've read about what epidurals can do to woman and babies and the labor process, which have lasting effects throughout their lifetimes, inductions causing hemorrhaging, and C-Sections that didn't ever have to happen. Don't get me wrong, I am all about choosing your own path and if those are the paths you chose or you will choose in the future to follow, you know yourself best. To each his own and I am talking about me and my experience on here.
Do I know how my labor and delivery will turn out? No of course not, none of us do. And that is why I am a realist and know anything can happen. This is my path to travel down and it's my preparation over these past months and the months to come that will help me heal in any way possible however this birth turns out. Read with me through this experience, feel free to share yours! Share your thoughts with me as you walk down my path too.
My plan for this blog is to post weekly. My exercise schedule and development of the baby, and of course the pictures! Just a few things to note............
Here is picture of me at 16 weeks, gosh this is going to be hard as these are going to be very unflattering pictures. I mean, just four months ago I was losing weight and now I am gaining weight! Such a different mind set, but in the end it's worth it. I know I can lose the weight again, as I showed myself in just the beginning of this year. Maybe that's why I started a health blog and lost about 25 pounds? Anyway, here's that pic of me at 16 weeks:
Then here is the next picture today at 20 weeks. I can still fit into most of my clothes, but they are getting a little more tight. I think it looks like like I am carrying high, but it could be too soon to tell.
I would like to do a catch up post soon of my first four months, especially to describe the first trimester. My next Dr.'s appointment is October 6th and we get to find out the gender, that's next week.
Exercise for week of 9/27:
Monday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Tuesday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Wednesday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Thursday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Friday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Weekend - Friends are visiting so we will spend most of the time chasing after their twins! Oh and cuddling the three month old.....
To all a lovely week!
I am going to be totally honest with anyone that wants to read about it. Not only will I blog about my ever changing body, my exercise, but also my pregnancy and my thoughts on this whole subject. You will leave this blog either not ever wanting to read about this stuff again, or be so interested that you might have learned something you never knew, or well, you may just want to see the very unflattering pictures that, yes, I will be posting of the ever growing stomach.
I am 20 weeks pregnant today, which I guess you could say I am moving into my fifth month. I've thought about writing a post in the last four months, but with everything going on, I haven't had the strength nor the gathered thoughts and motivation to share. I promised myself a long time ago, when I first became interested in getting pregnant and educating myself on the whole process that I would share my experience on my blog one day. I owe it to any woman that stumbles across this, any woman in my family, any friend of mine that is interested in knowing, because that is how I became so informed about pregnancy.
Did I ever tell you that Dan and I said we never wanted kids? Ok, that was like 8 years ago when we were gallivanting from city to city, country to country, partying, clubbing, enjoying and growing with each other. Then we settled down a bit, got married and our friends and co-workers started having babies. We sat down one day and we just started talking about it and we couldn't stop. We knew then that we wanted to share our lives with a little soul, or two, or three for that matter. A friend of mine got pregnant at work and she opened my eyes to the whole process. She showed me websites, birth stories, books, discussions, everything and I was hooked! That was about three years ago.
Ever since then I've been reading books and these websites and educating myself. I remember standing next to her at work laughing and saying "I'll never have a kid without an epidural! Ha! yah right, better yet, just slice me open and grab him out of there!". OH HOW THE TIDES HAVE TURNED. After reading about several woman's experiences, talking to mothers, researching, etc etc, I'm more on the path now of natural childbirth, no induction, only a C-Section if it is a life or death situation. I've read about what epidurals can do to woman and babies and the labor process, which have lasting effects throughout their lifetimes, inductions causing hemorrhaging, and C-Sections that didn't ever have to happen. Don't get me wrong, I am all about choosing your own path and if those are the paths you chose or you will choose in the future to follow, you know yourself best. To each his own and I am talking about me and my experience on here.
Do I know how my labor and delivery will turn out? No of course not, none of us do. And that is why I am a realist and know anything can happen. This is my path to travel down and it's my preparation over these past months and the months to come that will help me heal in any way possible however this birth turns out. Read with me through this experience, feel free to share yours! Share your thoughts with me as you walk down my path too.
My plan for this blog is to post weekly. My exercise schedule and development of the baby, and of course the pictures! Just a few things to note............
Here is picture of me at 16 weeks, gosh this is going to be hard as these are going to be very unflattering pictures. I mean, just four months ago I was losing weight and now I am gaining weight! Such a different mind set, but in the end it's worth it. I know I can lose the weight again, as I showed myself in just the beginning of this year. Maybe that's why I started a health blog and lost about 25 pounds? Anyway, here's that pic of me at 16 weeks:
Then here is the next picture today at 20 weeks. I can still fit into most of my clothes, but they are getting a little more tight. I think it looks like like I am carrying high, but it could be too soon to tell.
Exercise for week of 9/27:
Monday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Tuesday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Wednesday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Thursday - 30 minute walk, 60 minutes Baby Ready Yoga
Friday - 30 minute walk, 15 minute elliptical, weights, 10 leg lifts each side, 10 squats
Weekend - Friends are visiting so we will spend most of the time chasing after their twins! Oh and cuddling the three month old.....
To all a lovely week!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Currently On Hiatus
Well kids, you've probably noticed I've stopped posting on my health blog. Do not worry! I will be back! I have not given up!
I have only pulled a muscled in back and can not exercise strenuously for six weeks. Unfortunately about the only thing I can do is walk, which I will be doing six days a week, with my stretches for my back. I will also be doing my 15 minute yoga twice a week also, which was deemed ok and will only help with the back pain. So will massages from hubby.......hubby, are you ready this?
I blame it all on bad sports bras and too large breasts. I'll be back in July and I have some HUGE plans coming your way!
I have only pulled a muscled in back and can not exercise strenuously for six weeks. Unfortunately about the only thing I can do is walk, which I will be doing six days a week, with my stretches for my back. I will also be doing my 15 minute yoga twice a week also, which was deemed ok and will only help with the back pain. So will massages from hubby.......hubby, are you ready this?
I blame it all on bad sports bras and too large breasts. I'll be back in July and I have some HUGE plans coming your way!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Plan for week 23 of 52
Since I missed making a plan for last week (22), I am going to start fresh with new plan for week 23. The year is almost half way over and I want to also start just doing one blog post on Sundays to reflect on the past week and plan for the week ahead. This summer is starting to fill up with activites, festivals, camping, and possibly moving if we ever find a house. I want to keep the posts to a minimum to spend maximum time outside.
Sunday weigh in: 207.6
Last week was our final week at the gym and guess what, we only went once. Oh well, I was tired of it anyway. I wanted to be outside and that is exactly what I did. I went for a long walk everyday. I didn't run because I've had a really bad stomach ache for the past week, cramps, you know girly stuff. However I did briskly walk and get my heart beat up and walked the cramps away. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous at times, with storm clouds in the background and golden streaks at sunset. Temp has been about 75 degrees, my kind of weather.
My half marathon training is on hold right now. Week 21 I did awesome, I ran all of the mileage, but then my left knee started to act up. I need to get used to running outside so I am going to take it really easy and do walk run intervals for the summer. Then come the end off July, I am going to step it up a notch. To be continued.
Here's the plan for next week:
Plan for the week:
Sunday weigh in: 207.6
Last week was our final week at the gym and guess what, we only went once. Oh well, I was tired of it anyway. I wanted to be outside and that is exactly what I did. I went for a long walk everyday. I didn't run because I've had a really bad stomach ache for the past week, cramps, you know girly stuff. However I did briskly walk and get my heart beat up and walked the cramps away. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous at times, with storm clouds in the background and golden streaks at sunset. Temp has been about 75 degrees, my kind of weather.
My half marathon training is on hold right now. Week 21 I did awesome, I ran all of the mileage, but then my left knee started to act up. I need to get used to running outside so I am going to take it really easy and do walk run intervals for the summer. Then come the end off July, I am going to step it up a notch. To be continued.
Here's the plan for next week:
Plan for the week:
- Sunday: 3 mile walk w/ Jorge
- Monday: 60 minute yoga, walk Jorge 30 minutes
- Tuesday: 3 mile run /walk interval, weights, core
- Wednesday: 60 minute bike ride (maybe to work?), 15 min walk w/ Jorge
- Thursday: 2 mile run / walk interval, weight, core
- Friday: rest
- Saturday: Something outside, maybe a hike!
- Sunday: BBQ Pork Rib with cucumber and tomato salad
- Monday: Tuna salad
- Tuesday: Chicken bake with peas
- Wednesday: Cous Cous and veggies
- Thursday: Chicken salad
- Friday: Fish and rice
- Saturday: Grill something
Missed Reflection of Week 21 and Plan for Week 22
Wow, Memorial Day weekend really through me off. I did end up weighing myself last Sunday and I was going to do a blog post. However with all of the festivities and things, I totally missed it!
Weigh in last Sunday was 210. That's no surprise due to the party weekend. Well, I will just start fresh with a plan for week 23.
Weigh in last Sunday was 210. That's no surprise due to the party weekend. Well, I will just start fresh with a plan for week 23.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Plan for Week 21 of 52
Plan for the week:
- Sunday: 2.6 mile run, weights, core
- Monday: 60 minute yoga, walk Jorge 30 minutes
- Tuesday: 3 mile run interval, weights, core
- Wednesday: 60 minute bike ride (maybe to work?), 15 min walk w/ Jorge
- Thursday: 3 mile run interval, weight, core
- Friday: rest
- Saturday: Something outside
- Sunday: Artichokes and salad
- Monday: Green Chili Bowl
- Tuesday: Tuna Salad
- Wednesday: Cous Cous and veggies
- Thursday: Pasta
- Friday: Fish and rice
- Saturday: Grill something
Reflection on Week 20 of 52
Weigh In: 206
After this week, I am a bit surprised I am down 3 lbs. I really thought I was hitting a plateau. I do think I still am though, because I've been somewhat bored with my workouts. This past week went really well. I accomplished the whole plan, except for Thursday, I didn't do the AM Yoga, no biggy though, I took a really long walk with hubby and Jorge. Food this week also went pretty well, I did snack outside of my plan on some chocolates, cashews, and a few extra glasses of wine, but nothing too bad.
At work on Wednesday, I noticed something on the printer. It was a half marathon training plan for novices. I glanced through it and then put it in the tray for it's owner. Thursday it was still sitting there. Friday, yep, still there. It sparked my interest again and I took it home. I've read through it a few times, thinking about wanting to change around my workouts and I think maybe this will be the way to go. I love running and about two and half years ago, I did the Couch to 5K training plan. It was great to build endurance. Now I am at about 2.5 miles three days a week.
This novice training plan for the half marathon I found came from Hal Higdon's website. The farthest race I have ever done is the Bolder Boulder 10K, which is a little over 6 miles. A half marathon is 13.1 miles. Now, you might be thinking I am crazy and yes, I am a little, but I am not doing this plan to the exact points. I will be doubling this training program, meaning that I am making his 12 week plan into a 24 week plan. I am taking it super slow.
One thing that I like about this plan is that Hal talks about walking and how important it is for a runner to incorporate walking. He states:
"Walking is an excellent exercise that a lot of runners overlook in their training. I don't specify walking breaks, but feel free to walk during your running workouts any time you feel tired or need to shift gears. When you go to the starting line in your twelfth week, nobody will care whether you run the full Half Marathon; they're more concerned that you finish! If this means walking every step in practice and in the race, do it!"
I think this is a great way to look at. I fully beleive in interval training, running five mintues, walking five minutes, etc and building endurance the whole time. On the treadmill I am up t0 running a full 30 minutes. However outside is a totally different story, I've only run 1.5 miles straight, which was about 13 minutes. I haven't tried anything further yet because we still have the membership, but slowly and surely I'll get there. It is a whole different animal being outside. Today Dan and I ran to the gym, which was 1.3 miles, did weights and core and then ran home. It was great. I felt totally fine. Plus it was so different running on pavement instead of gravel. I really like pavement a lot more. It seemed a bit easier, I don't know why.
Well, we'll see how it goes. I'm taking it weekly. I'll be planning it out as usual. I'm excited too because we're switching up the days for our hard workouts. Check out the plan for next week!
After this week, I am a bit surprised I am down 3 lbs. I really thought I was hitting a plateau. I do think I still am though, because I've been somewhat bored with my workouts. This past week went really well. I accomplished the whole plan, except for Thursday, I didn't do the AM Yoga, no biggy though, I took a really long walk with hubby and Jorge. Food this week also went pretty well, I did snack outside of my plan on some chocolates, cashews, and a few extra glasses of wine, but nothing too bad.
At work on Wednesday, I noticed something on the printer. It was a half marathon training plan for novices. I glanced through it and then put it in the tray for it's owner. Thursday it was still sitting there. Friday, yep, still there. It sparked my interest again and I took it home. I've read through it a few times, thinking about wanting to change around my workouts and I think maybe this will be the way to go. I love running and about two and half years ago, I did the Couch to 5K training plan. It was great to build endurance. Now I am at about 2.5 miles three days a week.
This novice training plan for the half marathon I found came from Hal Higdon's website. The farthest race I have ever done is the Bolder Boulder 10K, which is a little over 6 miles. A half marathon is 13.1 miles. Now, you might be thinking I am crazy and yes, I am a little, but I am not doing this plan to the exact points. I will be doubling this training program, meaning that I am making his 12 week plan into a 24 week plan. I am taking it super slow.
One thing that I like about this plan is that Hal talks about walking and how important it is for a runner to incorporate walking. He states:
"Walking is an excellent exercise that a lot of runners overlook in their training. I don't specify walking breaks, but feel free to walk during your running workouts any time you feel tired or need to shift gears. When you go to the starting line in your twelfth week, nobody will care whether you run the full Half Marathon; they're more concerned that you finish! If this means walking every step in practice and in the race, do it!"
I think this is a great way to look at. I fully beleive in interval training, running five mintues, walking five minutes, etc and building endurance the whole time. On the treadmill I am up t0 running a full 30 minutes. However outside is a totally different story, I've only run 1.5 miles straight, which was about 13 minutes. I haven't tried anything further yet because we still have the membership, but slowly and surely I'll get there. It is a whole different animal being outside. Today Dan and I ran to the gym, which was 1.3 miles, did weights and core and then ran home. It was great. I felt totally fine. Plus it was so different running on pavement instead of gravel. I really like pavement a lot more. It seemed a bit easier, I don't know why.
Well, we'll see how it goes. I'm taking it weekly. I'll be planning it out as usual. I'm excited too because we're switching up the days for our hard workouts. Check out the plan for next week!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Plan for Week 20 of 52
Hmm, I'm not feeling up to planning today. I'm just going to do the basics to stick in the routine. One thing I did mention to my husband is that I think we should start eating later than 6pm. I am starving by the time 8 or 8:30 rolls around and want a snack, then snacking gets out of control having popcorn or cashews every night. I wake up feeling full and that is not good. Digestion is a lot slower when you are asleep. I told him I would like to eat around 7 or 7:30, that way I stay full longer and then I start getting ready for bed at 9, it wouldn't bother me. Anyway, I don't know. We'll see how it goes.
Plan for the week:
Plan for the week:
- Sunday: Rest
- Monday: Eliptical 30 minutes, stretch, core, weights - in gym
- Tuesday: 60 minute yoga, walk Jorge 30 minutes
- Wednesday: Run interval 30 minutes, free weights, core, stretch - in gym
- Thursday: AM Yoga, 30 min walk w/ Jorge - at home and outside
- Friday: Eliptical 30 minutes , free weights, core, stretch - in gym
- Saturday: Something outside
- Sunday: BBQ pork sandwhiches
- Monday: Salad
- Tuesday: Cous Cous and veggies
- Wednesday: Salad
- Thursday: Chicken and Rice
- Friday: Pasta
- Saturday: Grill something
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