Belly Picture!

As promised, here is my 37 week pregnant belly! I wonder how many weeks to go...????

Ooops! I'm in my last weeks!

Ummm... so, I've been really busy lately. So busy I haven't been spending all my time thinking about pregnancy and now I'm 37 weeks along!

We are in the midst of moving into a house that needs major renovations (but it will be worth it because we'll have more space, more bathrooms and an awesome location). So all that I've been thinking about and doing lately is packing and moving and doing extra homeschooling with the kids since we'll be in a state of hiatus for a while!

There have been a few developments with my pregnancy though. I have decided to hire a doula (with a back-up doula/secondary doula who happens to be my kids' piano teacher) as labor support. I'm not sure exactly when I will call them - it will either be when the birth is eminent, because everything is going great - or I can call them when things are getting tough if it is as long and drawn out as my last birth.

I don't want someone who will come in and direct my labor - I'm just looking for support and encouragement. If I had a midwife, I imagine it would be much more hands on, because she is responsible for the outcome of the birth. I'm not wanting to give that responsibility away by hiring a doula - in fact, I've pretty much requested that they stay out of the way unless I ask for something. If all is great, they'll just be a glorified photographer and tea-brewer! So that's the plan.

Now the biggest question is how things will look in our house by the time I go into labor. We have so much work to do! This week, Dan is just focusing on finishing up plumbing and electrical so we have a toilet, sink and washer/dryer hook-ups! The drywall and carpet and paint will have to come as we have time over the next few weeks...

I'll post a picture of my growing belly soon - I was going to with this post, but my camera batteries needed to be charged.

Weight wise, I've gained between 25-30 pounds and my weight gain has slowed from what it was in the later second-early third trimester. I've also spent this month cutting out sweets, and that has maybe helped me from gaining extra. I'm still exercising; doing cardio 3-4 times a week for 20-30 minutes. Still feel really good; like I can keep up! The last couple of months I was feeling like my belly was huge, but now it seems to be on the smaller-normal side. I also seem to be measuring more in line with my weeks of pregnancy - whereas before I was quite a few weeks ahead.

So, all is well! The only thing I've really changed is I just started taking Evening Primrose Oil, 500mg, 3X/day. I'm still drinking red-raspberry leaf tea and try to remember to take my multivitamin with iron. I'm taking a Vitamin D supplement as well, especially with all the sickness (H1N1) going around.

Last of all... I've noticed braxton hicks contractions for the last few weeks. So I suppose my body is on it's way to labor, although how far away labor is, I have no idea! Being 3 weeks from my "due date" still means I could be 6 weeks from having this baby! I'm excited, but not at all anxious yet - there's just too much going on!

Growth Spurt!

Well, that's me and my growing bump - taken a couple days ago at *20 weeks, 3 days* pregnant. I've had a real growth spurt over the last few weeks, including gaining about 5 pounds in 2 weeks time! I'm not too worried... I have only gained about 9 pounds so far - and if you take into mind that I actually lost weight since becoming pregnant, I've only gained about 1 or 2 pounds compared to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Diet wise, I want to do better. It occurred to me that I'm not likely getting enough iron - I did a little Google search about anemia and found out that headaches (which I have been having more frequently, for seemingly no good reason) are a symptom, along with fatigue, dizziness and irritability. Ha! I don't know if I can blame my grumpiness on a lack of iron, but it's a good excuse anyway!

Anyway, I am going to work on being more mindful of my natural intake of iron from various food sources... and probably when we return from our vacation (we're heading out for a couple weeks) I will buy some Floradix (a natural iron supplement) to boost my iron!

We have been super busy lately, getting our house ready to sell - and now that it is on the market, I have to be extra vigilant in keeping it clean and tidy. That's a lot of work with 5 kids underfoot, but we're learning to work together!

As far as the little Sweet Pea... I have been feeling so much strong movement, and this little one is so active! I am measuring around 23-24 (last week) and although that is ahead of where I should be, I'm not going to expect that I'm too much further along - yet. However, I have my suspicions that I could be at least a week further along because of the activity I've felt and the pregnancy symptoms I felt before I had a positive test. Well... not that that matters much anyway. I know I'll be late, it's only a matter of how late!

That's all for now! I think I'll finish my cup of Red Raspberry Leaf tea now... extra enjoyable on this dreary, rainy summer day.

The news is out!

This is the little guy who is no longer the youngest in the family anymore!

Over the past few weeks, we've been letting people know our "little secret" and now, since there are so many people to tell, I found a creative way to spread the word. I made this picture my profile picture in Facebook and wrote "I believe in meaningful tattoos". It's funny how many people take a few moments before they really read the tattoo and put 2 and 2 together!

I am finding that although I am totally thrilled to be having another baby, and every pregnancy is exciting and special to me, the idea of another child really isn't a big deal! You get to the point where it's like... What's one more... the more the merrier!

So on a "medical" note, we used our Angel Sounds home doppler this week. I know I had intended to wait until I was a little further along, but I just couldn't resist. I have been feeling this baby move these past couple weeks, and there was something sentimental to me about hearing the heartbeat for the first time. So, on Tuesday afternoon, we fairly easily found the baby's heartbeat! The one thing that is different about the Angel Sounds doppler is that instead of a "clippitty clop" horse trot sound that you hear with the commercial doppler at the doctor's office, you just hear the more swooshy sound, but it is unmistakably fast. Since we could hear two different heartbeats (mine, which is slower) and the fast one, we knew for sure who we were listening to! It was pretty cool.

So tomorrow I will be 17 weeks pregnant (approximately..) I just checked out my exercise log, and because I lost some weight right at the beginning of my pregnancy, so far I have not gained any weight, I'm still about 4 pounds less then when I started out. I'm not worried at all because I have seen my weight start to creep up slightly in the past few weeks by a couple pounds, and I have been trying to eat well and I still exercise.

I started to drink Red Raspberry Leaf tea this week as well. I'm starting with one tea bag per day (or 1 small pot's worth) and I plan to work up to about 3 bags a day in the last couple months. I wonder a little if that was part of my problem with my last labor. If my uterus is "toned" as they say, then maybe my labor would be more efficient. I can't remember if I had been drinking RRL tea prior to my easiest labor (#3, a waterbirth) but I do remember that I had been exercising a bit more consistently, albeit just one my exercise bike for 20 minutes, 3 times a week.

This time around I am exercising a little more strenuously, using my stairclimber 3-4 times a week, usually for 30-40 min. I'm always quite sweaty and hot by the end and I work up my heart rate! I'll have to write a blog about exercise during pregnancy in the near future because this is one of the issues that there is a lot of controversy about.

Okay, it's time for me to get on with my day!

Checking out some good links!

I'm home alone for a bit...
It's Canada day and my husband took the big kids to watch fireworks while I stay home with our sleeping toddler.

I've been looking for some good unassisted birth links...

http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/about.html

http://www.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html

http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/

I love the picture on Laura Shanley's site (the link above) because that birth position is the one I gravitate towards and find perfect - when no one is telling me what to do!!!

Well, I'll be sure to add some more links later... time to head to bed!

Second Trimester!

Yay! I've reached the second trimester. And to christen it, I've acquired a horrible cold. Yuck!

On another note, last night we told the kids about the new baby. Actually, my 9 year old daughter guessed when we said that we had something to tell them. Silly, insightful girl! It is really neat how in a big family, no one is upset by the thought of another sibling to share with... another person to take care of. They are all thrilled, wondering if it will be a boy or girl - and I think most votes are out for another boy so we are "even".

So just to make it clear, I'm not the type of person to wait out the first trimester for worry that I might miscarry. Even though I've had 1 miscarriage, I would prefer to have my family/friends supporting me if something did go wrong - then they would understand the situation. Our reasons for waiting this time were that we have had an incredible amount happening in our lives in the past few months - our nephew was living with us for 5 months (he just left yesterday), my husband had a major career change and we are thinking of selling our house/moving. Ah... so much stress! It actually surprised me that I could get pregnant with all that stress going on, but this baby has a purpose, obviously! Also, the fact that this will be the closest age difference between any of my children makes it interesting. I figured my fertility was supposed to slow down with time, not pick up!

As far as how I'm feeling - I can feel a lot of growth in my uterus in the past couple weeks. I can feel my fundus just a couple inches below my belly button now. I have been a little more nauseous in the past few days - but mostly because I also have a cold and I'm tired and that makes me more susceptible to nausea. Oh well, hopefully I feel better really soon!

I've been feeling a little strange this time around since I haven't seen a doctor or midwife. Normally I would have heard the heartbeat by now, and in that sense, it seems a little surreal. But I can feel the growth and change in my body and I've been here before! I just look forward to feeling the baby move in the next few weeks! I also did purchase a second-hand "Angel Sounds" home doppler. I know there are concerns/risks for ultrasound and doppler technology, but I think what I plan to do is use it very sparingly. And although I could probably use it now to find the baby's heartbeat, I think I will wait a few more weeks - I know that the majority of concerns with doppler technology has to do with frequency of use and use in early pregnancy. So I'm thinking around 18 weeks I'll give it a try, and then just use it every few weeks at the most.

Well, it's nap time for the little ones so I better get them to bed and have a nap myself!

Second Thoughts?

I was reading some one else's blog just a couple days ago and a woman was mentioning her transition from a UC to going back to having a midwife for her birth. She was reasoning that it was unfair to put the responsibility of "if anything goes wrong" onto her support people (specifically her husband,)and felt better about leaving that responsibility to a midwife who was trained. She also mentioned that the post-natal care was a real bonus... and I can agree with that!

So what do I think, and where does that leave me with wanting a natural birth and to have a UP and UC?

Well, I do agree that deciding to UC is a big decision. You are taking the responsibility into your own hands, and there is some element of "risk" involved. HOWEVER, those risks are not likely the kind that could be avoided "if only you had delivered at the hospital". What I mean is, most births are straightforward, with some variation in duration, patterns of contractions, etc. But most complications affecting the baby, if indeed serious, would likely be unavoidable as well at the hospital. My thought, is that you have more risk of complications from medical interventions than you do from "risking" an unassisted home birth.

I do have a caveat on this, however. One must be aware of what normal birth looks like, enough so, that if something is abnormal, you are on top of things. You must be willing to be in touch with yourself - intuition, relying on God, etc, and willing to hear that voice inside when it says "something isn't quite right."

I have to admit, that although I very much believe in natural birth, I have a couple tiny fears in the back of my mind that pop up from time to time. In the last couple of years, I had a friend whose baby, in utero, was diagnosed with a severe, life-threatening heart defect via ultrasound. Fortunately, they were able to do heart surgery within a week after birth and correct the problem. So I do recognize that there is a time and place that technology is helpful... so very helpful. But to be honest, I feel backed into a corner by the medical arena. Even if there were midwives available in my city, I'm not sure they would be entirely comfortable letting me remain pregnant as long as my body typically goes... which is beyond 42 weeks. And if I were to see a doctor, the pressure would be immense. I had enough trouble feeling the pressure from a doctor I saw very few times during my last pregnancy, and once he realized I was avoiding him and was 43 weeks pregnant, he was about to drop me as a patient.

So I think I'm right back where I started. I will take very good care of myself physically, and should the need arise, I will seek medical assistance. I am hoping, and trusting, however, that I will be in good health for the duration of this pregnancy, and that birth will be as uneventful as a hike up the mountain. (You know, some sore muscles and you need to rest and nourish yourself, but all in all you feel good about the accomplishment and are no worse for the wear.)