Status: 40 weeks, 4 days
Sometimes it's the little things that get you excited.....
Like the fact that your amniotic sac has remained intact longer than ever before.....
Like the fact that your baby obliged you and stayed put until October so he didn't have to share a birth month with his big brother.....
Doesn't take much to make me happy these days!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Fully Baked!
Status: 40 weeks
Today is our Estimated Due Date, or preferably, our "Guess Date"! Weeks 37-40 are hard for me, because I feel like everyone is watching me like a hawk. But something changes when I hit 40 weeks (twice now!) and I can finally "see the light" and enjoy the last days of my family as it is. I also really enjoy when people ask me when I'm due and I get to see their jaws drop when I tell them. It is especially interesting when they find out that I am going to have a VBAC, because most women are cut around 39 weeks for their repeat c-sections. The ones that aren't are often told they cannot go past their due date. Like it's some kind of expiration date or something!
I have some pics to share with you from the last few weeks, but I have to get to where I can actually upload them to share. Enjoy today, I know Bucky and I will!
Today is our Estimated Due Date, or preferably, our "Guess Date"! Weeks 37-40 are hard for me, because I feel like everyone is watching me like a hawk. But something changes when I hit 40 weeks (twice now!) and I can finally "see the light" and enjoy the last days of my family as it is. I also really enjoy when people ask me when I'm due and I get to see their jaws drop when I tell them. It is especially interesting when they find out that I am going to have a VBAC, because most women are cut around 39 weeks for their repeat c-sections. The ones that aren't are often told they cannot go past their due date. Like it's some kind of expiration date or something!
I have some pics to share with you from the last few weeks, but I have to get to where I can actually upload them to share. Enjoy today, I know Bucky and I will!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Blessed to have such wonderful friends!
Status: 38 weeks, 3 days
A little over a week ago (September 7th) one of my best friends, Katie Reagin, threw me a Mother's Blessing. I hadn't heard of them during my first pregnancy, but I had one before Talia was born (courtesy of Katie then, too). They are a wonderful way to celebrate the change that each pregnancy and birth brings to the mother.
We did a few things differently from my last one. I hired a local doula (Talitha Seibel) to come do henna for my guests to thank them for participating, and we also created some stones with words that I would like to incorporate into my birth. I wasn't able to get a picture of all the stones, but the ones that were left after each woman took one are pictured below. A few things that were the same: lots of beautiful flowers, great food, great friends, lots of wonderful birth affirmations and stories, and a brand new necklace made from beads that my friends shared to show their support on my journey! Enjoy the pictures!
A little over a week ago (September 7th) one of my best friends, Katie Reagin, threw me a Mother's Blessing. I hadn't heard of them during my first pregnancy, but I had one before Talia was born (courtesy of Katie then, too). They are a wonderful way to celebrate the change that each pregnancy and birth brings to the mother.
We did a few things differently from my last one. I hired a local doula (Talitha Seibel) to come do henna for my guests to thank them for participating, and we also created some stones with words that I would like to incorporate into my birth. I wasn't able to get a picture of all the stones, but the ones that were left after each woman took one are pictured below. A few things that were the same: lots of beautiful flowers, great food, great friends, lots of wonderful birth affirmations and stories, and a brand new necklace made from beads that my friends shared to show their support on my journey! Enjoy the pictures!
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| My friends - gathered to celebrate! |
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| Dana getting henna done on her back |
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| Ashley with her 7 week old, Caroline. I had the privilege of being a part of Caroline's birth! |
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| Katie's shoulder wasn't completed when I took this, but still so beautiful! |
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| One of my doulas (Christine) holding one her most recent doula-babies, Henry! |
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| The rocks that were left. |
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| I LOVE how the design came out! It was developed by Talitha after I gave her some insight as to things that were meaningful to me. The tree is symbolic of the "Tree of Life" which was the theme of our wedding. The Hebrew is "chai" which means "life." There are two larger birds and two smaller birds (our current family) flying home toward the tree to greet the newest little egg in the nest - our soon to be newest edition. |
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The Home Stretch!
Status: 37 weeks
We had our home visit with Debbie today. It was fun to chat with her, and it was good that Joel finally got to meet her, too! It sorta hit me (like a ton of bricks) when I was laying on my own bed having my belly check that this is FOR REAL. It's crazy stuff! I'm so excited now!!!! (Well, I was before, but now it feels real!)
We had our home visit with Debbie today. It was fun to chat with her, and it was good that Joel finally got to meet her, too! It sorta hit me (like a ton of bricks) when I was laying on my own bed having my belly check that this is FOR REAL. It's crazy stuff! I'm so excited now!!!! (Well, I was before, but now it feels real!)
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Follow Your Gut, It Rarely Misleads You.
Status: 36 weeks, 3 days
I'm sure I won't win an award for "Most Indecisive About Care Providers", but it seems to be a theme for me. I have done a lot of bouncing around during this pregnancy. Back at the beginning, you'll remember that Joel and I decided we would like to have the most control over this pregnancy and birth as we possibly can (since when is that NOT the way I want something, right?) and we left the practice that had helped us to achieve our pretty awesome VBAC last year. Well, around 20 weeks (and this is how behind I am in updating - sorry!), something happened. I had my regular appointment with Brenda (our midwife at the time), and it was fine, but there was something in my gut telling me that there was a better fit for me out there. I know that feeling very well, as I have experienced it a few times with pediatricians.
I was panicked. I thought I knew what all my options were. I knew I could have a good birth back in the hospital (I even went to an appointment - and I cried), but my gut was still telling me that wasn't the right answer either (which is good, because I didn't want it to be). So I did what any good person does - I talked to my doula. We discussed the other midwives that might take on a VBAC, and she suggested I try talking to some that I had thought would have completely turned me down. In a matter of hours, I had two different midwives agree that they could take me on. One of them would be out of town immediately around my due date, but the other one (who would be out of town with the first midwife) worked with a second midwife and they were available! Seriously, I felt like I had won the lottery when they told me they would be happy to meet with me! It's not often, as a VBAC, that you feel treated like any other mom. A lot of the time it's almost as if you are a second-class birther. You have "SCARRED" tattooed across your forehead, and that's the first thing anyone thinks about without actually talking to you. Things are a little more lenient when you have a "proven scar" (ie. you've already had one or more VBACs), but there are still barriers.
Enter Debbie Pulley & Kay Johnson of Atlanta Birth Care. They had just (well, Kay) attended the birth of one of my doulas' babies, and it sounded awesome! I had a consult with them on June 12. It was a great appointment. I had already had a long talk with Debbie over the phone, but it was nice to be able to really sit down and chat with them and their two apprentices (Whitney & Kim) and learn more about the way things would go. I went home after that appointment feeling like I had found my place. Debbie "got" what I was looking for, and the team felt like I was sitting down with a group of friends.
I talked it over with Joel, and we decided to make the switch! I'm very happy we did, as I have been EXTREMELY pleased with my care so far. They have complete faith in my ability to birth my baby any which way I want, and they really put me in charge of my care. I love going to visit them every few weeks!
I'm sure I won't win an award for "Most Indecisive About Care Providers", but it seems to be a theme for me. I have done a lot of bouncing around during this pregnancy. Back at the beginning, you'll remember that Joel and I decided we would like to have the most control over this pregnancy and birth as we possibly can (since when is that NOT the way I want something, right?) and we left the practice that had helped us to achieve our pretty awesome VBAC last year. Well, around 20 weeks (and this is how behind I am in updating - sorry!), something happened. I had my regular appointment with Brenda (our midwife at the time), and it was fine, but there was something in my gut telling me that there was a better fit for me out there. I know that feeling very well, as I have experienced it a few times with pediatricians.
I was panicked. I thought I knew what all my options were. I knew I could have a good birth back in the hospital (I even went to an appointment - and I cried), but my gut was still telling me that wasn't the right answer either (which is good, because I didn't want it to be). So I did what any good person does - I talked to my doula. We discussed the other midwives that might take on a VBAC, and she suggested I try talking to some that I had thought would have completely turned me down. In a matter of hours, I had two different midwives agree that they could take me on. One of them would be out of town immediately around my due date, but the other one (who would be out of town with the first midwife) worked with a second midwife and they were available! Seriously, I felt like I had won the lottery when they told me they would be happy to meet with me! It's not often, as a VBAC, that you feel treated like any other mom. A lot of the time it's almost as if you are a second-class birther. You have "SCARRED" tattooed across your forehead, and that's the first thing anyone thinks about without actually talking to you. Things are a little more lenient when you have a "proven scar" (ie. you've already had one or more VBACs), but there are still barriers.
Enter Debbie Pulley & Kay Johnson of Atlanta Birth Care. They had just (well, Kay) attended the birth of one of my doulas' babies, and it sounded awesome! I had a consult with them on June 12. It was a great appointment. I had already had a long talk with Debbie over the phone, but it was nice to be able to really sit down and chat with them and their two apprentices (Whitney & Kim) and learn more about the way things would go. I went home after that appointment feeling like I had found my place. Debbie "got" what I was looking for, and the team felt like I was sitting down with a group of friends.
I talked it over with Joel, and we decided to make the switch! I'm very happy we did, as I have been EXTREMELY pleased with my care so far. They have complete faith in my ability to birth my baby any which way I want, and they really put me in charge of my care. I love going to visit them every few weeks!
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