38 weeks, baby is now considered fully developed. Well her lungs are still developing, but if she was born, they would most likely function. I'm kind of down today. The pain my groin is gone. She feels as if she's gone back up, like when she was sitting low in the pelvis, she decided "hmm, maybe being on mama's stomach is more fun, I don't feel like coming out anytime soon." The heart burn has been almost unbearable. I had three tums and two fizzy waters yesterday.
I thought maybe my cervix would be dilating now, but the major signs are not there. The mucus plug I have not yet lost and there is no pinkish bloody show. I thought with all these induction things, there would be some progress. Nope. Nothing. I no longer feel like I've done a ton of squats and my bladder is not so squished. So weird. Well, I'll just keep on keeping on with the tonics and oils and other fun things I shouldn't mention. LOL
Yesterday was a lot of fun. We went to Estes Park, walked around town, ate at a nice place, walked around The Stanley Hotel and drank tea and coffee on their front deck. Here are a few pics to share.
Today we're headed to Costco to stock up on food items. We bought this freezer and will be filling it so that we are good for at least a month of staple items like meats and breads and things. We can always run to the store to get milk, yogurt, eggs, etc.......
We're also going to a Motherhood Maternity store for me to check out the nursing bras (which is no fun, blah!). Then maybe we'll hit up Target to get some essentials for baby that we have not yet bought.
I'll keep you updated:) La Sirena and Baby Tadpole
Well, here I am, 6:30 on a Saturday morning. I couldn't sleep anymore. I had a horrible nightmare, then I turned in bed and I thought my bladder had been torn out. Baby is getting way lower and every turn in bed is a huge challenge. It feels like I have been doing a thousand squats, when in fact I've only done like two to change the laundry from the washer to the dryer. I read that this feeling is a good sign that she is dropping into the pelvis.
Yesterday I felt her feet in my left ribs for the first time. I think she may be turning around, for optimal positioning, she should be facing my spine with her back against my bellybutton. She is definitely running out of room and I am ready to meet her. It's hard to believe I won't be pregnant in two weeks, or a little longer if they let me go past 40 weeks. I don't know, I can now see why most women don't want to wait any longer. I mean, I know we should let her come when she's ready, but what about when I'm ready? Ha!
We're driving up to Estes Park today, the weather is supposed to be beautiful. There is this nice public lake in town and they have trails around it, I would like to hop onto that and get some walking in. Then we are thinking of eating at The Stanley Hotel for lunch. For all my years I've lived in CO and visited Estes Park, I've never ventured over to this famous hotel. The dining experience is pretty pricey, but we're celebrating. We're celebrating our last dinner together as a twosome and also it's our 12 year anniversary together on Sunday.
The full moon was absolutely gorgeous last night! It was considered a Perigee Moon, the largest and brightest and clostest moon we will see in 2010. Mars was also straight in alignment with Earth and the Sun and was therefore at its brightest too. You couldn't miss it, it was bright orange and beautiful. Jupiter's moons were also visible yesterday evening as they were in straight alignment with that planet and the sun. Geesh, with all these planets in alignment, I would think a baby would want to be born. But then again, maybe not yet. I did have a talk with her and said I would like for her to have a February birthday, but come anytime sweet little tadpole.
Let's see, other signs of labor approaching. I feel her knockin' at the door sometimes, she's been rubbing up against the cervix, which is a strange feeling. Then I've had some nausea and loose stools. I've had a ton of energy and I've been 'nesting' a little bit. I haven't done any cleaning, haven't had that urge and to tell you the truth, I wouldn't be surprised if that urge never came. I don't mind cleaning, but really, come on. My urge has been to bake things, breads, brownies, cookies. It's crazy.
It's about seven in the morning now, I've eaten breakfast and I guess I'll go shower, maybe that will wake hubby. I got up so early, when I was getting my robe, he asked "Are you ok? Is everything ok?" I think he thought I was in labor. I answered "yes, I'm fine, but I'm starving and my bladder hurts." Which is my typical morning.....LOL
Yep, I'm still here, 37 weeks along. After this week, the baby will be considered fully developed at 38 weeks. It's a big milestone in case I go into labor early, they don't mind babies being born after 38 weeks. My doula Michelle gave me some things to do in order to prepare for labor. These things should only be done after 36 weeks gestation. They will encourage labor and optimal fetal positioning - meaning head down and facing backwards for the birth. I'm working on inducing my own labor because from what the doctor described, being induced in the hospital seems like a bit of a nightmare.
1) Evening Primrose Oil, 500 mg twice a day, by mouth - this oil is full of prostaglandins, which readies the cervix for labor. These prostaglandins are also found in semen, that is why sex is very good for inducing labor also. 2) Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, 4 cups per day - this is a uterine tonic, which was used by Native Americans to help the uterus 'focus' on contractions. It is also used after the birth to help tone the uterus down to it's normal size. It tastes delicious and can also be used for menstration, because it helps with the pain. 3) Nipple stimulation, only one at a time as this is very effective, especially when you are contracting. It can help regulate contractions if they are sporadic.
If none of these work to induce labor there are other things like acupuncture, massage of pressure points, sweeping or stretching of the membranes, chiropractic care, and castor oil. If I'm not in labor in about a week and a half, I will resort to these other methods. They tend to be a bit more effective.........
I'm hoping the full moon will work it's magic this weekend. Everyone keep me in mind, send good energies.
I am finally done with my two appointments this week. Phewwy! Monday we had a 36 week ultrasound and it was so sweet. She is head down, actually her head is in my right hip, she needs to move a bit more to the middle, but they said her positioning is good. Per her measurements, they are estimating her to be about 7.5 lbs right now. So they think she will be about 9 lbs at 40 weeks. Which is doable, both my mom and Dan's mom birthed larger babies. I am confident I can. I am also confident that these 'measurements' aren't always right. Here are a couple sweet pictures to share.....
I had my first non-stress test on Monday after the ultrasound. I sat in a fake leather recliner with two belts strapped to my stomach. One is a doppler to measure the baby's heart beat and the other one measures contractions. I wasn't having contractions so that line was straight. The baby was very active on Monday, so she was all over the place. The read out was fine, what they are looking for is a base heartbeat, which her's was hovering around 145 and then when she moves, they want the heartbeat to shoot up about 15 points to 160, which it did.
Today was a different story. First of all, they called me in about 2 hours early because the scheduler accidently scheduled me only with the nurse practioner through my delivery. The doctor noticed this and had to change all of my appointments......again. Anywho, I got there and they strapped me to that machine for an hour! ONE HOUR! I was so fed up by the end. Baby was quiet today, just moving around ever so often, but I watched that monitor and saw every heart beat. I knew it was moving around fine. I think they did that because the doctor was too busy to come in, so they used the baby as an excuse to keep me waiting. Well, I complained (I was having back pain - first time in my pregnancy). It was because I wasn't allowed to move around, I was laying on my back and I had to go to the bathroom really bad.
I used the restroom and then they wanted to do a Group B Strep Test. Read about those here. Every woman has them now and I find out the results on Monday. If I have it, I have to start antibiotics or I won't be allowed to birth vaginally - just another lame intervention. As my mom stated tonight "how the hell did the human race survive if they keep coming up with all these tests?!". After that the doctor finally came in and we talked about induction, she said she doesn't want me to go past 41 weeks, which is different from what they told me Monday. They said they didn't want me to go past 39 weeks, not sure what happened in two days for them to change their mind. Then we discussed my birth plan. She was pretty open to it, except for a few things.
For the birth of the baby, she likes to have the cord cut kind of fast. I told her I want it to stop pulsing because I want to make sure the baby has all of those nutrients and blood being cut from the placenta. She was very hesitant about it. Then she said it is standard protocol to put a woman on pitocin to deliver the placenta and to massage the uterus. I said no, it is stated on my birth plan, no pitocin and no massage unless I am hemorrhaging and it is medically necessary. She said to remind her because it is her routine and she may forget. I told her that's why I have an awesome Doula, she'll be reminding her of many many things.
Other than that, it looked pretty good to her. We'll see how it goes. I just REALLY REALLY don't want to be induced, then I'll be stuck to monitors and IVs and machines and have no freedom of movement. I want this to happen naturally, so I am hoping with the full moon on the weekend of January 30th, every push their energies towards me, imagine me in labor. Full moons effect labor because we humans are made up of about 80% water and baby is floating around in water - therefore my body should create a tide and the water could break, throwing me into labor. Read more information here if interested. Of course this doesn't always happen, but I am hoping so! I think a birthday of 2-1-2010 or 2-2-2010 would be awesome numbers wise. More on natural labor on the full moon weekend.
I've been craving milk products a lot lately. I almost can't get enough milk and I want to eat whole blocks of cheese, which is not good for the bowels. It's kind of weird, I would think I should be craving red meat or something. I've also wanted brownies and sweet things, which I am not indulging in.....ok maybe I made some brownies two weeks ago, but I'm sticking with my dark chocolate and oatmeal Kashi cookies to fulfill my sweet tooth. I confess though, last night I made chocolate milk and it was delicious.
To all a Happy Friday, TGIF tomorrow! La Sirena and the not so tiny tadpole
Even though I don't feel like paying for an extra ultrasound (insurance doesn't cover them), I'm excited to go tomorrow. They want me to have one to see were baby might be weight wise because of my gestational diabetes. They also want to measure the amniotic fluid and check on the viability and placement of the placenta. I also get to find out what position she is in, head down, feet first, or transverse. I have no idea, I mean I feel her move all over and can't tell if it's a foot, arm, elbow, butt, or head. I know they can change positions in these next weeks, I'm just excited to get to know now. Also baby's face should not be as skeletal and creepy looking at this point. She should have fat on her and look very close to what she'll look like at birth.
Here's some info on 36 weeks. I also have my non stress test on Thursday. Thank god my laptop came in at work. I have to test it at home today to make sure everything connects because I'll be using that a lot so I don't have to drive as much, plus it will be nice when it snows.
There are still things hanging over my head that have to get completed soon. Pediatrician interviews, hospital bag / list, songs on Ipod, belly cast, henna belly, copies of insurance cards, important numbers and birth plan. I still don't have a nursing bra, but really, I could care less about that at this time. I'll get that when I can. I'll deal if baby comes and I don't have it. But the other stuff has to be done before baby greets us.
It's time for walk with the hubby and Jorge. To all a great week! La Sirena and tiny tadpole
I've hit 35 weeks and now it's time to make the hospital list to pack the bag! Ok, not everything will go in the bag right away, but at least we will have a list of what to bring. This week, we're also ordering our starter set of cloth diapers. We're not sure what size she will be, but I'm thinking newborn diapers may be too small to start. At least we have a pretty good supply of those from the parties to get started if she does need them. Along with the cloth diapers, we're order 2 pail liners, 2 wet bags for transport when we travel, and a toilet sprayer all from Living Earth Babies. We decided on the pocket one size diapers from Live Gro Baby and a set from Rocky Mountain Diapers. That will give us a good start and once we know which kind work best, we will order more.
This week I will also attend a La Leche meeting in town. My doula recommended I go before I deliver and so did the leader when I called her. She said it is a good opportunity to hear the discussions, get advice prior to starting breastfeeding, and meet some moms around town.
Dan put together the stroller last night and I LOVE it. It has an MP3 hook up with tiny hidden speakers and even a pedometer! Thank you Adrienne for getting that for us, it is going to be awesome! We just a few more essentials to get like bedding and the care seat. Everything else we'll improvise.
Baby is super active today rolling around, kicking, squirming. I can feel her go down to my cervix sometimes, seems scratchy. Maybe she wants to come out?! Ha! No, she's got to stay in there for at least three more weeks. I promised a look at the birth plan. This is what we will give to the doctor and the hospital once we arrive. It's not always followed, however it's good to have your wishes displayed. I am making an artistic frame to put around it. One will be hung on the hospital door and one will be hung in the room. We're pretty sure this is finalized, however it we are advised of any more curve balls in the future (i.e. your baby is currently breech), then it may change a bit.
Mother & Father: Sirena & Dan
Doula: Michelle
Support: Hilary
Doctor: Dr. Amy Johnson – Full Circle Health
First Stage:
Natural child birth, please make no offers of medication unless medically necessary
Limit vaginal exams, please advise Doula Michelle of progress, she will advise Sirena and Dan
Sirena able to move and change positions (i.e. tub, shower, ball, bed, squat bar, etc.)
Minimal external fetal monitoring – Sirena would like freedom of movement to relax
Relaxed and quiet birthing environment, dimly lit, only essential staff present
Prefer no I.V., Hep-lock is fine, if necessary
Coaches and support with Sirena the entire time
Second Stage:
Would like to use squat bar for pushing, would like chance to change positions if necessary
Guidance during pushing stage, warm compresses, massage, in order to avoid tearing and especially avoiding an episiotomy
Baby placed on Sirena’s chest immediately after birth
Umbilical cord remain intact for at least 15 – 20 minutes or until stops pulsating
Dan will cut the cord
Family bonding time for at least 45 minutes after birth before non-essential newborn procedures are performed (weight, length, bathing, eye drops, Vitamin K shot, etc)
Third Stage:
Spontaneous delivery of the placenta, without the use of pitocin, massage, pushing, pulling, etc. Unless pitocin is medically necessary and discussed with the family first.
Placenta to be placed on art paper to make a ‘print’. We would like to take the placenta with us when we leave the hospital
Baby Care:
Please perform all newborn evaluations / procedures in the room with us
Please do not give baby formula or glucose water unless discussed with the family as she is to be exclusively breastfed
Breastfeed immediately after birth before any newborn procedures are performed
Medical Assistance may be offered when necessary:
Pitocin, Epidural
C- Section (If necessary, one coach will stay with Sirena and one coach will go with baby. All newborn procedures mentioned will remain the same as requested)
Episiotomy (Sirena would rather tear naturally and avoid episiotomy. Would like to use massage, warm compress, pushing guidance if possible. If necessary, she prefer’s pressure episiotomy.)
Well, my sister Stef is taking care of my pregnancy dreams for me. I've only had one and it was of breastfeeding the little one. Stef on the other hand has had three now. I think she's somehow psychically connected to the tadpole because her due date is on Stef's birthday 2-11-10. The first dream, she was holding the baby while visiting with some of her friends. She told her friends that this is her grandma over and over. This is very striking to me because I've had these feeling of a connection all along that grandma is channeling through. We are going to name her Didi, loosely based off grandma's name Dolores, everyone called her Dee and Deedee is also a shortened version. Plus grandma's birthday was 2-22, another February connection.
The second dream, Stef was hanging out with our grandpa who just passed away in August. Grandpa told her that he wanted to get a tattoo - which is kind of crazy for our gramps because he didn't have any. When they went to the tattoo parlor, he got a tattoo, I think she said on his arm. Guess what is said? It was my grandma's name "Dolores H". So crazy, these dreams happened two days in a row.
So then tonight Stef told me about a dream she had last night. I was giving birth in a driveway and also laboring in a basement. The driveway she said had a bunch of candles, everyone was lighting them for the birth. This is significant because my other sister Hil had put together these great little baby shower gifts with candles and asked everyone to light them once they find out I am in labor. The basement connection is also meaningful in the fact that I was planning on laboring in my basement room first. This room is very calming to me, it's where I workout, do yoga and meditate. I have a glowing salt rock and incense down there. The funny part is, she mentioned me hanging from a bar and I was telling her that it is good for labor, bringing the baby down. That's interesting, because Dan's chin up bar is in there and sometimes I hang from it to stretch. Hanging from a rope or a bar is a very ancient and primal birthing position. Some cultures still use it and actually the birth center I visited today had a hanging swing / rope to labor from.
This leads me into my visit today. I had to get a different perspective on this whole gestational diabetes situation. I sort of knew about this birth center in south Denver. In the beginning, I was semi-considering it, but it's an hour drive from my home and I wanted something a little closer, just in case. However this weekend, Dan and I decided to go as perspective clients and do the tour and ask questions. I didn't want to necessarily birth there, I just wanted a second opinion on how someplace else viewed gestational diabetes. During the tour, I asked them what they considered high risk, because they will not allow high risk births here. Guess what? They said gestational diabetes first. My heart sank. Yep, apparently, this is a bigger deal than I thought it was. I was a bit crushed, but I was also a bit relieved to find out that maybe I should give my doctor a little more trust. Maybe I'm not just being victimized by the insurance companies wanting money for all these tests.
It's just such a hard balance because no one wants to be labeled. So there you have it. No birth centers for me, they won't even allow a second baby to be birthed there if the first was GD. There is one more place I am going to visit next week. It is in Boulder and the doctor is in network with my insurance. The doctor is the head of a nurse midwives center, which is in the hospital. I'm going to try to get an appointment, show them my file and just say I want a second opinion. If they are of the same opinion that all of these tests and things are necessary and they would do the same, then I will stay with my current doctor. If they treat it differently and advise the numerous bi-weekly tests are not necessary, then I will switch to them. Yes, it will probably be an insurance nightmare, but it would be worth it for peace of mind.
I think the best thing a woman can do is educate herself and seek knowledge. Always feel free to get a second opinion. It's worth it, even if you are wrong in your perspective, as I learned today. That GD is something to be somewhat concerned about. Apparently, there are other places, even free standing birth centers that feel it is too high risk to take on the birth. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm being shoveled in the C-Section room next week by my current provider. I know two women that had GD, used my same doctor, and they both birthed naturally normal sized babies. There is hope, there is just a little more caution used.
It is snowing here and I just got back from my appointment. Blood pressure, weight, fundus, everything looks great. They are going to start making me come in starting at my 36 week mark twice a week for this thing called a Non-Stress Test. This test is where you sit for 30 minutes strapped to a monitor while they listen to the baby's heartbeat while it moves. Um, yah, the doctor said it is just to make sure everything is ok since I have this high risk diagnosis of gestational diabetes. In the same breathe, I asked her "where would you say I am in the scheme of things with this GD?" Where she stated " Oh your numbers are normal, looking good, nothing wrong".
Then why the hell do I have to STRESS myself out trying to come in twice a week, rearrange my work schedule for these damn NSTs? Well, they scheduled them, but that doesn't mean I'm going. They are not covered under the Global Pregnancy Fee, nor are ultrasounds and my insurance doesn't cover any of it. Hear that? They cover nothing and at $72 twice a week, plus one more U/S for $500 for a total of four weeks, plus $70 for 100 blood glucose strips when I have to test 4 times a day (I've already spent $140 on these), yep, that makes baby unaffordable. Maybe Dan and I should consider adoption so that we can afford to pay all these frickin' bills? All of the fun is being sucked right out of being pregnant and having a baby. I need to look into different options for the second kid, like a midwife and a birth center. I'm done with this damn hospital doctor shit.
Again, like I said, that doesn't mean I have to go in to these appointments. I know I'll feel guilty if I don't, but there is NOTHING wrong and they say one thing (your great! everything lookin' right on track!) and do another (We fear your baby is in distress, you have to come twice a week to get these non stress tests, strapped to a machine for 30 harrowing minutes, hoping they say she isn't dead). Anyway, I'm just super stressed out, once again, and as they were standing there scheduling my appointments I started balling my eyes out. What do you expect from an eight month pregnant woman on a snowy day having mood swings? They deserved that show for sure.
I've asked about my laptop at work, it is so essential now that I get it by my 36th week mark because there is no way I can keep driving back and forth, changing around my schedule, trying to fit 40 hours a week in. It is really really wearing me out. If I had my laptop, I could work from home. It is starting to piss me off. Tomorrow, I'm telling my boss about all these new appointments and we'll see what she has to say then.
Other than that, I am feeling great physically, just a little more tired, a little nausea, my hands are tingly, but nothing adverse going on. I am still doing the eliptical and walking when it's not freezing and snowy out. Baby is moving great. We have a meeting with the doula tonight. I don't really feel up to it, I'm going to have to tell her everything. Wish I could just send her an email instead. Here is a picture at 34 weeks.
We're also going to a Motherhood Maternity store for me to check out the nursing bras (which is no fun, blah!). Then maybe we'll hit up Target to get some essentials for baby that we have not yet bought.
