Apr 9, 2014 | Motherhood, Uncategorized
Our Spring Break-
Well, when I went into the doc on the 24th they said my amniotic fluid was a “2” which is dangerously low. I had read up on this and really wasn’t too keen on being induced, but everyone said I should go ahead…
so we left the doctor, went home to pack a hospital bag, and went to the hospital.
(When you’re planning a home birth this trip to the hospital is not a happy one.)
They started the Pitocin drip Monday (did a very slow increase and I had almost NO pain without pain meds) and on Wednesday my sweet Aimee was born. She was “face up” so the actual process was longer than I’d experienced before.
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| Aimee’s Birthday |
I must admit, hospitals (and nurses) have come a LONG way since I had my last baby in a hospital. Back then, none of the nurses had even witnessed a non-medicated birth, and this time two of my nurses had been midwife or doula trained. I was allowed to labor wherever and however I wanted (jacuzzi, birthing stools and balls etc.) and my midwife was there to act as my doula. No one asked me if I needed pain meds which was nice.
When my water broke on Tuesday I was not too happy. I’d been on Pitocin 24 hrs already and then to see that I did have quite a bit of AF, made me a little angry. I didn’t want to force my baby to come two weeks early, and then to see that it probably hadn’t been necessary….
To my doctor’s defense, the ultrasound is a horrible method for measuring fluid. The midwife’s hands probably are your best indicator of everything being okay, and now (too late) I know that. Make sure you get a second opinion!
The good news is that my sweet girl is perfectly fine, healthy and happy! She was 7 lbs 10 oz, so not too small for being two weeks early.
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| One week old |
Now, if I can remember to sleep when baby sleeps (I’m sooo tired!)
My oldest girl did get her drivers’ license (finally) during Spring Break, so maybe my chauffeur days will get easier.
The other kids are so in love with their tiny sister!
Mar 23, 2014 | Motherhood
I have now only 12 days until my official due date.
I am so nervous,
mainly because last week the doctor told me my amniotic fluid level was only 4.5, and wanted to induce right then. I’ve been planning another home birth and he was not too happy with that news- so I told him I’d think about it and talk to my hubby and midwife and get back with him. Midwife put me on bedrest and told me to push water, electrolytes, and up my calories. Went in to midwife yesterday and she did a non-stress test- all went really well plus my belly grew a LOT in three days! I think the doc and she are worried because “I’m old.” (Funny, I don’t feel old yet!)
The feelings you have while preggers after miscarriage are so crazy. Never a peaceful moment. I second guess everything and it makes me a little crazy. (OK, maybe a lot sometimes…) I’ve been so careful with this pregnancy- I see the midwife, OB, and acupuncturist every week now!
On a lighter note
some sweet friends gave me a fun baby shower last week.
Lots of goodies and great stuff to eat!
I hadn’t been to a baby shower in twelve years! (You don’t expect many when all your friends are in their late 30’s and up! 🙂 It was fun to get to be silly and look at tiny clothes again.
Tomorrow I go back to OB and he’ll do another ultrasound and see what AFL is. After doing research I realize this is the new way to get people to be induced, but on the other hand it is truly dangerous if it’s genuinely low (but the ultrasound is not a very accurate measuring method.)
So if it is low tomorrow will be our baby girl’s birthday…
Really hoping all’s well. I don’t want to force her to come before she’s ready AND I’d love for another home birth. Plus, we don’t have a name picked out yet!
Wish us luck!
Nov 2, 2012 | Motherhood, Sponsored Posts
If you know me you know I am huge advocate for natural childbirth.
Having given birth to three healthy kids I thought I’d share my experiences.
It was so hard for me to carry to term. Due to a hyper auto-immune
system and crazy hormones we’ve suffered seven losses. Just last year we
had a tiny son born before his time come into the world and leave it
before his first breath. We were given a 4% chance of ever having a baby, so my children are like precious gifts.
With our first- I wanted to have a home birth, but our family was too terrified, so we went with a hospital and doctor. We did the Bradley method classes with a wonderful midwife, made a birth plan, and went to a doctor that claimed to understand it all. Ha. (I won’t go into details on that one but let’s just say he wasn’t ideal and kept saying to hurry up so he could go duck hunting…)
The ONE good thing he did was let me carry my girl to term.
“Don’t you want to pick her birthday?” he asked. “Everyone is doing it.”
Emily, true to her nature, was stubborn and at 42 weeks still wasn’t going anywhere (despite castor oil and daily long walks.) So, the doctor induced (which I don’t recommend- Pitocin makes for horrific contractions when you are opting for no pain meds) and twelve hours later a beautiful, healthy, stubborn girl was born.
Second birth- we were going with a midwife/hospital birth but insurance changed and we had to switch to a doctor/hospital birth. The baby was breech. Also being stubborn he refused to turn when the doctor (yes, a different and wonderful one) tried to point him in the right direction. At 40 weeks I went to my acupuncturist to try and get him to turn and while on the table he moved into the “ready” position! The doctor decided that he wanted to induce at 41 weeks (again, I have to say Pitocin is not fun – I did have a epidural for him which I also don’t recommend because it was scary and didn’t help pain) and 12 hours later Max was welcomed into this world.
Third birth- I wanted the whole natural route with midwife at home. At 39 weeks I went to the acupuncturist again to start inducing me to prevent another hospital induction. It worked! A week later during one of the worst ice storms in ten years I went to bed with a little tummy ache, woke up thinking “Am I in labor?” and then decided I couldn’t be because- a) there was almost no pain, b)My midwife was in Japan and c) The baby wouldn’t come on Christmas eve, right? But… “honey, call the midwife chain just in case and put on the Hypnobirth CD…”
Sweet baby Jacob was born in the most beautiful, comfortable birth I can imagine. At home, at 40 weeks. Healthy and happy.
If you’re pregnant (or thinking of it) please remember that a baby carried to at least 39 weeks has a much better chance of making it without complications.
What can you do to prevent a pre-term (before 37 weeks) birth?
From my midwife:
“Best way to avoid preterm labor is eat enough protein,
especially deep sea fish all through pregnancy and most importantly
avoid infections of the vaginal canal. Smoking and bad nutrition can
lead to preterm labor also.”
What are my suggestions?
-Get pre-natal care right away. (Doctor or midwife)
-Eat right
-Ask friends, nurses, midwives, ladies on the playground, who they suggest as an OB
-Make sure to check out the Healthy Families website for wonderful information on pregnancy, early childhood development and more. You can also order a paper copy if you are someone who likes to have a book to highlight! 🙂 I can remember using this book during my first pregnancy and highlighting every step of the way!
Now for the good stuff…
Enter for a chance to win this great basket containing:
– Graco baby bag
– Pampers Swaddlers for newborns
– Winnie the Pooh baby blanket
– Thermometer
– Nipple cream
– Two pacifiers and a clothes clip
HOW DO I ENTER?
- Leave a comment below and remind me what you did to enter (A must!)
- Follow my blog! (1 entry)
- Tweet about this give-away #HFNow @ThePanamamama(1 entry)
- Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)
- “Like” my Facebook Page (1 entry)
- Like “Healthy Families Now”on Facebook (1 entry)
You can do most of the above by clicking the cute buttons in the top righthand corner too…
After seven years of blogging this is actually my first give-away so I’m going to be actually drawing a name the old fashioned way! Good luck!
*Disclaimer… I am not an expert and don’t claim to be. I was given this great bag of goodies to give-away by Healthy Families of Arkansas. None of the opinions expressed above are influenced by anything other than my own experiences. Winner will be drawn on Friday, 9th of November!
