People apparently read my blog. :) A few questions came up today after I posted my birth plan, so here are some answers!
I am just curious about the cord being cut and for it to be done pulsating first - is this so that you can save cord blood, or is it more beneficial for you and baby?
We are not saving cord blood (costs a lot, isn't done in our little town), but it is a recent trend. The reason we want to wait to have the cord clamped is actually to allow more blood and nutrients to transfer from the placenta to the baby. Here's a brief news article about recent research supporting waiting a couple minutes to clamp the cord.
Does nursing the baby so quickly after delivery help the baby nurse easier and help your milk come in sooner, or is that a bonding ritual you prefer?
Nursing the baby immediately after birth helps with several things - bonding, milk production, and uterine contractions.
Obviously, it's a great moment for mother and baby to share. It helps regulate the baby's body temperature by being next to the mother's skin and allows the mother to snuggle her brand new babe.
While milk will come in after the birth no matter what, having the baby nurse immediately helps stimulate that production (and we could really use that after Everett's troubles with nursing in the beginning).
The baby's nursing also stimulates the production of oxytocin, which creates uterine contractions. This helps expel the placenta and prevent hemorrhaging after the birth.
Does distraction work for labor relief?
That one, I'll let you know next week hopefully! :) It works well for a lot of women, but I'm not sure how it will work for me. I read a book on hypnobirthing and decided that technique really wouldn't work for me. It's all about distraction and meditation to not focus on pain from contractions. Since I have a lot of trouble meditating in general, I'm guessing this wouldn't work for me. I'm a much bigger fan of the Bradley and Dr. Sears opinions of just relaxing through contractions and being aware of what your body is doing. That is much more my speed - I like to know what's going on (hence how I can update you on my cervix all the time), so imagining how the contractions are working actually helps me relax.
Keep 'em coming, girls!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Mama and Ever day and Birth Plan
Well, I'm still here, still pregnant. Ev and I are watching some Sesame Street before we go meet some friends at BK for...lunch? brunch? something around 10! I'm reeeeally hoping this is my last Thursday alone with Everett, so we're going to play at BK, probably make a quick wal-mart trip, take some naps, and hopefully get the house cleaned up some more. Daddy is off judging a science fair at a school a half hour (or so) away, but he's done at 11, so he'll be back in town juuuust in case. I'm supposed to meet with my doula (and back up doula) this afternoon, but I'm not sure when. I'm kind of hoping I just go into labor before then. I had two big contractions this morning at 5am, but nothing afterward. This puts us at about ten days of contractions now. Prodromal labor = not so awesome. At least this should mean a very quick labor once it really starts up.
Brian's been reading my Dr. Sear's Birth Book, brushing up on his birthing knowledge. :) We have also created a birth plan that we've shared with my doctor and doulas. Everyone thinks it looks pretty good, so we're excited and hope we can stick to it as much as possible. Just in case you're interested, here it is:
Brian's been reading my Dr. Sear's Birth Book, brushing up on his birthing knowledge. :) We have also created a birth plan that we've shared with my doctor and doulas. Everyone thinks it looks pretty good, so we're excited and hope we can stick to it as much as possible. Just in case you're interested, here it is:
"Our hope is to have a natural, medication-free birth with as few interventions as possible. We understand that births do not always go according to plan and will follow our doctor’s advice should anything unexpected occur.
I would like to have my husband, Brian, and my doula, Erica, present for the labor and delivery. I would prefer to have as few hospital staff as possible in the room during labor.
During labor, I would like:
-dimmed lights
-quiet room
-as few interruptions as possible
-as few vaginal exams as possible
-to eat and drink freely
-to move around freely and use natural pain management techniques
-fetal monitoring to be intermittent and external
-no IV unless necessary
For pain relief, I would like to use:
-breathing
-water therapy
-massage
-distraction
During delivery, I would like to:
-squat/stand
-lean on partner
-avoid an episiotomy unless absolutely necessary
As the baby is delivered, I would like to:
-push without time limits as long as the baby and mother are not at risk
-use a mirror to see crowning
Immediately after delivery, I would like:
-the umbilical cord to be cut only after it stops pulsating
-hold the baby skin-to-skin and breastfeed before baby is cleaned or given eye drops
After the baby is born:
-I would like the baby’s medical exam & procedures given in my presence
Please do not give baby:
-any water or formula
-hepatitis B vaccination
-circumcision"
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
39 weeks
Oops, I'm an hour late this morning and all my blog stalkers are probably thinking I've gone into labor. Well, gone into being a flexible term. I've kind of been in labor for a week and a half (in my opinion). Still no outside baby though!
Also, a quick mention of my lovely little toddler boy. We have plenty of fights with him about mess making, tantrum throwing, disobeying, etc. but sometimes that boy makes me forget all of those instances. Last night, I felt like crap and came downstairs after changing into pajama pants and a large t-shirt. Everett looked at me, pointed, and said, "pretty Mama! pretty!" My eyes got a little bigger, I looked down at my shirt and said, "my shirt is pretty?" He just repeated, "pretty mama!" Brian stated that he's teaching Everett to always tell me I'm pretty. My boys are pretty awesome.
So here's the weekly update.
How far along? 39 weeks. 6 days short of when Everett was born.
Total weight gain/loss: 27-ish lbs. Lost one this week! I just can't fit as much food in my stomach anymore.
How big is baby? Baby is probably now over 7 lbs and over 20 inches. He's the size of a nice little mini watermelon. Belly is measuring 39.5cm though, so I think he's a little on the big side. I don't think I ever measured that big with Ev, which would explain the lovely stretch marks I've grown this time.
Maternity clothes? Yes. I have decided to wear as many maternity clothes as I can before baby's born because I can still wear my big, regular clothes after baby is born, but won't want to wear maternity stuff.
Stretchmarks? yessss.......
Sleep? I was ready to give up yesterday after being up much of the night and finally just giving up at 6 am. It's amazing how much different I feel when I get a good night's sleep (like Sat/Sun nights and last night) versus when I am up with contractions repeatedly (every other night since last Tuesday or so). So yesterday = bad day, today = not too shabby. I'm not begging baby to get out today.
Best moment this week? Everything's ready. Well, except the house being clean, but you know....
Movement? He's still wiggling in there. He obviously doesn't have as much kicking space, but he still manages to wiggle a bit.
Food cravings? Coke and chocolate. Healthy, right? At least I'm still eating some good things like smoothies, flax/wheat cereal, grapefruits, carrots....
Bellybutton? Same.
Boy/Girl? Boy.
Labor signs? We're slowwwwwllllly making progress.
What I miss? Sleep, bladder capacity, non-aching belly skin, having the energy to play with my Ever monster.
What I am looking forward to? Baby.
Milestones: We're done. Cooked. Ready. Time to be born. Hear me, little guy????
Belly pic from the camera phone in the work bathroom:
38 weeks and 39 weeks
Also, a quick mention of my lovely little toddler boy. We have plenty of fights with him about mess making, tantrum throwing, disobeying, etc. but sometimes that boy makes me forget all of those instances. Last night, I felt like crap and came downstairs after changing into pajama pants and a large t-shirt. Everett looked at me, pointed, and said, "pretty Mama! pretty!" My eyes got a little bigger, I looked down at my shirt and said, "my shirt is pretty?" He just repeated, "pretty mama!" Brian stated that he's teaching Everett to always tell me I'm pretty. My boys are pretty awesome.
So here's the weekly update.
How far along? 39 weeks. 6 days short of when Everett was born.
Total weight gain/loss: 27-ish lbs. Lost one this week! I just can't fit as much food in my stomach anymore.
How big is baby? Baby is probably now over 7 lbs and over 20 inches. He's the size of a nice little mini watermelon. Belly is measuring 39.5cm though, so I think he's a little on the big side. I don't think I ever measured that big with Ev, which would explain the lovely stretch marks I've grown this time.
Maternity clothes? Yes. I have decided to wear as many maternity clothes as I can before baby's born because I can still wear my big, regular clothes after baby is born, but won't want to wear maternity stuff.
Stretchmarks? yessss.......
Sleep? I was ready to give up yesterday after being up much of the night and finally just giving up at 6 am. It's amazing how much different I feel when I get a good night's sleep (like Sat/Sun nights and last night) versus when I am up with contractions repeatedly (every other night since last Tuesday or so). So yesterday = bad day, today = not too shabby. I'm not begging baby to get out today.
Best moment this week? Everything's ready. Well, except the house being clean, but you know....
Movement? He's still wiggling in there. He obviously doesn't have as much kicking space, but he still manages to wiggle a bit.
Food cravings? Coke and chocolate. Healthy, right? At least I'm still eating some good things like smoothies, flax/wheat cereal, grapefruits, carrots....
Bellybutton? Same.
Boy/Girl? Boy.
Labor signs? We're slowwwwwllllly making progress.
What I miss? Sleep, bladder capacity, non-aching belly skin, having the energy to play with my Ever monster.
What I am looking forward to? Baby.
Milestones: We're done. Cooked. Ready. Time to be born. Hear me, little guy????
Belly pic from the camera phone in the work bathroom:
38 weeks and 39 weeks
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day check up
Still here, still pregnant, and wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day! Ev and I had a busy morning of a doctor's appointment, a trip across the parking lot to the grocery store to get some "you were a good boy" donuts, a trip back across the parking lot to share them with daddy, and then a swing by the library to get new books and listen to grandma goose. Then we came home, read all the new books, had lunch, and I took a nap. The boy sat in his room for two hours and did not sleep. Really, this whole "I'll nap for anyone but mama" thing is getting ridiculous. I knew he was safely locked in his room (quiet you, it's what we have to do), the stairs were blocked off with a gate in case he DID get out, so I zonked while he played.
For the check up update. Oddly enough, one of the first things dr. said to me today was ask if I had though about inducing. Insert sideeye. At 38 weeks, 5 days? Of course I'm not thinking about inducing! Although if he'd asked me on Saturday after not sleeping because of contractions all early morning, the sideeye may not have been so severe. I just told him that I'd really rather avoid induction. He apparently just wanted me to know that he's okay with the idea from here on out and I didn't feel like arguing medical reasons for induction with my doctor, soooo.....
Still sitting here at 4 cm, now 75% effaced, still -1 station. So he is slowly making some more progress, but he's just going to be like his big brother. Have mama be in "early labor" for a month and a half and then make his entrance when he's good and fat and ready. And I'm okay with that. I really am. Sure, I am extremely uncomfortable, rarely sleeping well, finding food less and less appealing (excluding chocolate of all sorts and regular coke - caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, acid and all), but that doesn't mean I am going to force my and little peanut's bodies into something they are obviously preparing for all on their own. My body knows what's going on, baby's getting big (measuring 39.5" fundal height today), and things will happen when they are supposed to. Oh, and Brian no longer has to leave town this week, so I'm much more relaxed. Still working on picking the right name, but everything else is ready now. I'm even alllmost ready to take care of a newborn again. Definitely ready to be done working, but not quite ready for the paychecks to disappear. So you know.... any day/hour now....
Oh and look at Ev's ticker. Today he is 2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days old! Cool!
For the check up update. Oddly enough, one of the first things dr. said to me today was ask if I had though about inducing. Insert sideeye. At 38 weeks, 5 days? Of course I'm not thinking about inducing! Although if he'd asked me on Saturday after not sleeping because of contractions all early morning, the sideeye may not have been so severe. I just told him that I'd really rather avoid induction. He apparently just wanted me to know that he's okay with the idea from here on out and I didn't feel like arguing medical reasons for induction with my doctor, soooo.....
Still sitting here at 4 cm, now 75% effaced, still -1 station. So he is slowly making some more progress, but he's just going to be like his big brother. Have mama be in "early labor" for a month and a half and then make his entrance when he's good and fat and ready. And I'm okay with that. I really am. Sure, I am extremely uncomfortable, rarely sleeping well, finding food less and less appealing (excluding chocolate of all sorts and regular coke - caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, acid and all), but that doesn't mean I am going to force my and little peanut's bodies into something they are obviously preparing for all on their own. My body knows what's going on, baby's getting big (measuring 39.5" fundal height today), and things will happen when they are supposed to. Oh, and Brian no longer has to leave town this week, so I'm much more relaxed. Still working on picking the right name, but everything else is ready now. I'm even alllmost ready to take care of a newborn again. Definitely ready to be done working, but not quite ready for the paychecks to disappear. So you know.... any day/hour now....
Oh and look at Ev's ticker. Today he is 2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days old! Cool!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
38 weeks
How far along? 38 weeks. We're only 1 week, 6 days shy of when Everett was born.
Total weight gain/loss: 28-ish lbs
How big is baby? Baby's now around 6.8 lbs and 19 1/2 inches long (for your generic baby, of course). At our appointment on Monday, Dr. (who is back to work! phew!) estimated baby at a bit over 6.5 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yep. And not always matching either. ;)
Stretchmarks? and growing...
Sleep? I feel so tired all the time but the past two nights, Everett has slept through the night again! We've moved his bedtime a half hour later (now 8 pm) and while it's harder on us, it seems to be serving him ok. We had to wake him up this morning at around 7:15!
Best moment this week? Getting some stuff done. Worked on wool diaper covers yesterday and I just need to lengthen a pair of Ev's before I do a big wash/lanolinizing. I guess it was nice to find out I was at 4cm....sort of.
Movement? Yeeeeessssssssss...........the head-butting is reeeeeally starting to get annoying now.
Food cravings? Coke. I know, terrible, but I'm addicted right now. On a recent wal-mart trip, I bought a pack of those little 8 oz (?) bottles and a 12 pack of sparkling grapefruit waters. YUM.
Bellybutton? Same.
Boy/Girl? Boy.
Labor signs? Besides the crazy dilation? Not a lot.
What I miss? Sleeping, being able to bend and reach things, not constantly feeling like I need to go to the bathroom.
What I am looking forward to? Kind of starting to look forward to this whole not being pregnant thing.
Milestones: Baby's pretty much ready to be born. All organs should be developed and mature.
Total weight gain/loss: 28-ish lbs
How big is baby? Baby's now around 6.8 lbs and 19 1/2 inches long (for your generic baby, of course). At our appointment on Monday, Dr. (who is back to work! phew!) estimated baby at a bit over 6.5 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yep. And not always matching either. ;)
Stretchmarks? and growing...
Sleep? I feel so tired all the time but the past two nights, Everett has slept through the night again! We've moved his bedtime a half hour later (now 8 pm) and while it's harder on us, it seems to be serving him ok. We had to wake him up this morning at around 7:15!
Best moment this week? Getting some stuff done. Worked on wool diaper covers yesterday and I just need to lengthen a pair of Ev's before I do a big wash/lanolinizing. I guess it was nice to find out I was at 4cm....sort of.
Movement? Yeeeeessssssssss...........the head-butting is reeeeeally starting to get annoying now.
Food cravings? Coke. I know, terrible, but I'm addicted right now. On a recent wal-mart trip, I bought a pack of those little 8 oz (?) bottles and a 12 pack of sparkling grapefruit waters. YUM.
Bellybutton? Same.
Boy/Girl? Boy.
Labor signs? Besides the crazy dilation? Not a lot.
What I miss? Sleeping, being able to bend and reach things, not constantly feeling like I need to go to the bathroom.
What I am looking forward to? Kind of starting to look forward to this whole not being pregnant thing.
Milestones: Baby's pretty much ready to be born. All organs should be developed and mature.
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