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The True Face of Birth: Survey on Birth Choices
If you are currently pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months, you may be eligible to complete this survey. More details at the above link!
Well, the sun decided to come out and play this weekend. It was nearly 90 degrees yesterday! But now today it dropped back down into the 50s, so I'm forced to stay in the house and clean. I think I will make a zucchini cake today, and maybe some other goodies to keep my mood up. I just want sunlight!!
I have been feeling so good lately. My belly is starting to pop a bit, my skin is clear, I'm feeling wonderful, and I can feel baby moving so happily in there! I can really tell that the relaxin is kicking in though.. sometimes I feel like my pelvis is just going to fall apart! Haha. I can't wait to go swimming this summer and enjoy the sun some more. I think it will help with the minor aches and pains I get from sitting at the computer for my new job.
My next appointment is June 12th. I think we might be able to hear baby's heartbeat with the fetoscope at that appointment, and I am excited for it! I need to invest in one someday when we have a bit of extra money around here. I also need to start saving up for my birth pool and a few minor birthing supplies. I also want to get a hammock. I think it will really be nice to put my upper body on while in labor so I can completely relax and listen to my hypnobabies while still being upright. As much as I loved the water for Teagan's birth, I'm sure I'll be wanting water mostly, but just in case it would be nice to have another comfy option.
Anyway, here are my 17 week belly pictures. I am about a week behind getting these up as I'm going to be 18 weeks tomorrow! I will take more tomorrow though. I also posted a couple of my final belly pictures from when I was pregnant with Teagan. I wish I would have taken them throughout my entire pregnancy with her! I had a lot going on at the time though, so I try not to beat myself up about too much.
Anyway, here they are! Enjoy!
Here's my new belly pics!
My stretch marks are starting to get darker again I think! Anyway, I haven't compared them to the 11 week ones yet, so I'm excited to see!
I had a bit of a scare last night. When going to the bathroom I noticed I had some really think discharge... Once I really looked at it, I realized it was part of my mucus plug (once you see one, you'll always remember what it looks like!) I then checked my cervix, and found it soft and probably about 2cm open. However, I hadn't had any kind of cramping or anything that day, so I decided to wait until morning to do anything. This morning I'm all back to normal. My cervix is closing back up and I'm not losing any more plug. My body will just regenerate what was lost, so I'm not too worried about it. It's just one of those things that makes you go "Hmmmmmmmmm....."
So here is my 11 week belly shot. My belly is a bit bigger here than normally, but not by much! I'm 15 1/2 weeks now!! YAY!
So here is some updates:
Jason expressed to me that he would feel more comfortable with the UC if he could call our midwife in case something came up (as opposed to just going to the hospital). The only catch with that is I have to do some prenatal care with the midwife in order for my insurance to cover her if she does come. After some thought, I agreed with him.
Our First Appointment: Jason and Teagan came with. We went through all of the usual paperwork. Our midwife wanted to listen to the heartbeat; now, in case you didn't know this about me, I believe that ultrasound is not as safe as doctors try to make it out to be. For my peace of mind (and I regret it now...) we decided to take a quick listen. The heartbeat was nice and strong at 158 bpm. The midwife and I also thought we heard an "echo"... possibly another baby. Being it was just a quick listen she didn't check any further, and she figures it was just the placenta anyway. We shall see!
I was measuring about a week ahead which doesn't surprise me.
The Second Appointment: It was just Teagan and I this time. Baby has been moving since about week 10, but now he/she is moving so good I can feel it on the outside! Baby is measuring all the way up to my belly button already, which is big considering I was only 15 weeks at that appointment! No, I'm not concerned about a big baby; my baby will grow to the perfect size for my body. What I *am* a little worried about is the possibility of more than one in there! It wouldn't change my UC plans at all, but it would change how much protein I pack into a day and other things. On one hand, I really think it would be great to have twins! On the other.... twins AND Teagan? Ohhhh boy. And being I will probably be tandem nursing, I would definitely be in for it with a toddler and TWO babies nursing! LOL! Oh well, I won't be the first momma to do it! And I totally would :)
Huston, we have movement!
Our baby has already become strong enough to be felt by me, though I'm sure it will be a few weeks or more before we can feel baby on the outside. I am 10 weeks to day already... already in the double digits! Time is going quickly, though some days I feel like it is crawling along... and of course those days are usually when I am miserable with nausea and the such.
I haven't been feeling TOO badly... very hungry, but nauseas too, headaches, very tired, etc... The usual pregnancy stuff. But I've heard and seen worse, so I'm trying not to complain! It's already getting a bit better, and I'm hoping because it started so early with this baby, it will be done early too! With Teagan, I didn't start to get really sick until I reached my 3rd month, but it only lasted for a month.. nothing too major. I'm approaching a month of misery with this one, so I'm hoping my body stays true to form and gives me a break soon! Ah sweet 2nd trimester lol.
I'm convinced this baby is a girl... not sure why, but I keep referring to "her" and I "feel" like it's a girl!! But we'll see lol. It could always change.
I am having an appointment with the CNM here on the 21st. I think they scheduled it as a prenatal visit, though it is really just for discussing the meds that I was on (I've since weaned off of them). I think I am going to have her teach me how to check my fundal height, and maybe sign up for one of her infant resuscitation classes she often has. I am nervous about telling her my plans, but I think she will be supportive. She is a wonderful person, and very accepting.
Anyway, I'm off to bed. Teagan is sleeping soundly... she's come down with a cold, and I'm glad that her little body is letting her sleep so good. Hopefully I will finally get a good nights rest as well!
I'll be posting belly pics soon! Stay tuned :)
I had a dream... I can't remember if I had it last night or the night before, as I didn't remember it until just now...
I had had my baby, in a nice full pool of water.. and I felt so at peace and comfortable, and was in the "bubble" of just holding my little one. He/She was wide-eyed and alert.... can't remember checking the sex. We just stared at each other, as I held my baby in the water. I remember submersing the baby's body in the warm water, and feeling his/her body just completely relax into the water. I remember thinking, "No one to bother us.. no one to try to mess with the cord, or me, or my perfect baby..." and feeling so... healed.
I am grateful that this vision was sent to me, so I can hold it close for my affirmations of my coming birth. When I remembered it just now, I felt so much better... I have been holding so much stress and anxiety, but this vision gives me a peace about everything.
And with my experiences with deja vu, especially with dreaming the future (usually little non-significant tidbits), I thought I would write this one down before I forgot.
So tomorrow is the beginning of week 6 of my beautiful pregnancy. I am half-way through the tentative time.... the first trimester is a relief for me to get out of. I feel better knowing my chance of losing baby after 12 weeks drops considerably. I am already so attached to this baby....
I am really concentrating on my nutrition this pregnancy. With my first, I did all the things my midwife and family told me to do... don't eat soft cheese.. undercooked meat... raw eggs... junk food... processed foods... etc. The usual "don't" list. However, no one really told me what I *should* be eating. For example, 80-100g of protein a day. so, I'm not only cutting out the "don't eat" list, (except raw eggs.... my dear friend Kristen corrected me on those! Just wash the outer shell..) I am also concentrating on what I should eat everyday.
So far, I've been getting the 80-100g of protein a day... I've also been drinking TONS of water. I had dehydration issues with my first pregnancy, so I want to be careful with that. I also am drinking many nourishing teas; red raspberry leaf, oatstraw, alfalfa, nettle, red clover, dandelion, etc. I have only been eating organic foods as well. It's more expensive, but a price cannot be put on my or my unborn baby's health! However, I plan on having a very large garden this summer, to help with the costs of organic produce.
I have also been concentrating on my fitness more this pregnancy. I do yoga, meditate, do sun salutes, and some Tai Chi everyday. I will also start walking everyday once it starts to warm up here! And this summer will be spent running after my energetic daughter :) Swimming will be in high demand in the hot season as well! Oh, I can't wait for the pool!!
Anyway, I've already noticed that I'm not as nauseas when I eat my protein right away. I have also been drinking spirulina smoothies, which help supply a huge dose of B-vitamins. Of course, B-vitamins are not only vital for baby, but also helps keep morning sickness, depression, and tiredness minimal for mom. I will have to post a picture of my daughter's spirulina mustache one of these days lol.
My brother and his girlfriend are getting ready for baby *any day now*!! I am feeling anxious about it, but optimistic. She is having her baby in the hospital, with a midwife... but her midwife will be going on vacation in less than a week! Time's-a-ticking for her, as she doesn't want a doctor attending. I hope labor starts for her soon!
