Mom and daughter are doing great! More later...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
More thoughts on being knocked up*
*again, I think the term is funny...
Some random mini-posts I drafted but never published along the way... and now that the cat is *finally* out of the bag...
9-18-10 12 weeks! We drove to Maryland so we could tell DH's parents in person. My parents traveled to FL, so we would've had to tell them by phone anyway. We left after work and so, even though the drive went well, we didn't arrive until 11:30 pm. We had a snack and hung around, checking out my father-in-law's new 3D tv, so didn't mention anything. Saturday morning I poured a little coffee, since my MIL knows I drink it... but of course it tasted awful to me and I made a face. She sweetly asked if she'd made it right because she just makes it for my FIL and doesn't drink it herself. I played it off but once breakfast was ready and DH and his dad had quieted down from their tv/computer talk to eat, I said, "Yeah, coffee has tasted funny to me ever since I got pregnant." It took her a good 10 seconds to react, but then she lost it and hugged us and cried. LOL She's wanted grandchildren forever. My FIL is very low-key, so he just grinned really big.
We called to tell my parents and then my brothers. I made everyone promise not to put it on Facebook (my MIL would've done so immediately, otherwise) because we wanted to tell people ourselves. So we've spent the last week now trying to get in touch with friends and family by phone or email to let them know. There are still a few that we've either missed or are harder to get because of different time zones, but it's fun telling people.
9-21-10 We went to the doctor's office yesterday to meet with the prenatal nurse and kind of get things started. I'd met with a doctor at two different OB/GYN practices and emailed multiple midwives and Bradley instructors as we were trying to decide how to go about this whole thing. After a good long talk with our GP we decided, this being the first time, to go with the OB practice I liked better** but to take Bradley classes with the goal of giving birth naturally, without medication, and with as little unnecessary 'routine' interventions or interferences as possible. The nurse drew blood for testing and then we were able to hear the heartbeat via Dop-tone. Such a sweet sound! It was much faster than mine, which the nurse found first, and it rang in my ears for hours. I was SO glad that DH was able to be there with me.
9-27-10 Back to the doctor to meet with the first if five (I think) OBs in the practice and to finish up the initial exams and review my blood work. I actually had the same doctor for the appointment that I met during my 'consultation' visit during my 11th week, before I'd decided on a practice. My iron is a tiny bit low (not really even officially low) so they want me to take an additional supplement, separate from my prenatal multi-vitamin that includes a lot of iron in itself. Doctor said everything else looks good and he sees no reason I can't work toward an unmedicated birth. He mentioned doula support, which is a consideration just in case labor takes a while and DH (as my main coach) needs a backup. I heard the heartbeat again, still that same lovely fast-paced little swishy thumping sound!
10-4-10 On Friday (10/1) I had to put a rubber band on the button of my jeans. They buttoned fine, but sitting at my desk all day made the waistband just a little uncomfortable. Saturday was officially 15 weeks, so I wasn't really surprised. I definitely have a little bump goin' on. :)
**We ultimately decided the OB was not for us and switched to the only free-standing birth center in the state.
Some random mini-posts I drafted but never published along the way... and now that the cat is *finally* out of the bag...
9-18-10 12 weeks! We drove to Maryland so we could tell DH's parents in person. My parents traveled to FL, so we would've had to tell them by phone anyway. We left after work and so, even though the drive went well, we didn't arrive until 11:30 pm. We had a snack and hung around, checking out my father-in-law's new 3D tv, so didn't mention anything. Saturday morning I poured a little coffee, since my MIL knows I drink it... but of course it tasted awful to me and I made a face. She sweetly asked if she'd made it right because she just makes it for my FIL and doesn't drink it herself. I played it off but once breakfast was ready and DH and his dad had quieted down from their tv/computer talk to eat, I said, "Yeah, coffee has tasted funny to me ever since I got pregnant." It took her a good 10 seconds to react, but then she lost it and hugged us and cried. LOL She's wanted grandchildren forever. My FIL is very low-key, so he just grinned really big.
We called to tell my parents and then my brothers. I made everyone promise not to put it on Facebook (my MIL would've done so immediately, otherwise) because we wanted to tell people ourselves. So we've spent the last week now trying to get in touch with friends and family by phone or email to let them know. There are still a few that we've either missed or are harder to get because of different time zones, but it's fun telling people.
9-21-10 We went to the doctor's office yesterday to meet with the prenatal nurse and kind of get things started. I'd met with a doctor at two different OB/GYN practices and emailed multiple midwives and Bradley instructors as we were trying to decide how to go about this whole thing. After a good long talk with our GP we decided, this being the first time, to go with the OB practice I liked better** but to take Bradley classes with the goal of giving birth naturally, without medication, and with as little unnecessary 'routine' interventions or interferences as possible. The nurse drew blood for testing and then we were able to hear the heartbeat via Dop-tone. Such a sweet sound! It was much faster than mine, which the nurse found first, and it rang in my ears for hours. I was SO glad that DH was able to be there with me.
9-27-10 Back to the doctor to meet with the first if five (I think) OBs in the practice and to finish up the initial exams and review my blood work. I actually had the same doctor for the appointment that I met during my 'consultation' visit during my 11th week, before I'd decided on a practice. My iron is a tiny bit low (not really even officially low) so they want me to take an additional supplement, separate from my prenatal multi-vitamin that includes a lot of iron in itself. Doctor said everything else looks good and he sees no reason I can't work toward an unmedicated birth. He mentioned doula support, which is a consideration just in case labor takes a while and DH (as my main coach) needs a backup. I heard the heartbeat again, still that same lovely fast-paced little swishy thumping sound!
10-4-10 On Friday (10/1) I had to put a rubber band on the button of my jeans. They buttoned fine, but sitting at my desk all day made the waistband just a little uncomfortable. Saturday was officially 15 weeks, so I wasn't really surprised. I definitely have a little bump goin' on. :)
**We ultimately decided the OB was not for us and switched to the only free-standing birth center in the state.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Some thoughts on being knocked up*
*I don't mind that term, by the way, DH uses it and I think it's funny.
I still have about two months to go before 'the baby,' as DH and I call this little one, arrives, so I'm far from an expert. I'm not even to what is supposedly the toughest part... the 'big fat moo cow' phase, as a friend once called herself.
DH and I decided on not rushing to tell anyone... we waited to the 12th week to tell our families and then took our time telling other friends and family members either in person or by phone, at the very least with a personal email. We didn't actually 'announce' it on Facebook until 31 weeks, after all. We didn't try to hide it, especially once the physical changes were evident, we just did it the way that felt right to us.
We took a Bradley Method class, which emphasizes protein... I've done fairly well with that, it turns out I naturally consume a fair amount of protein. Especially early on, I realized my body was craving things it needed, like vitamins and folic acid... lots of whole foods. I was chowing down on lots of greek yogurt and fruit for a while, but then got burned out on the yogurt. I guess this baby wants to be healthy!
The Bradley Method is focused on natural birth with no medical intervention, unless it is necessary to keep mom or baby healthy. We're preparing for an unmedicated birth at a free-standing birth center, which I'm very excited about. The people there are wonderful and I feel fortunate to be a patient there. We actually transferred in from an OB/GYN practice when I was in my 23rd or 24th week. DH and I usually see a General Practitioner (who is really great about personalized care), so switching to an OB in September wasn't a terrible experience but also wasn't what I was used to. It just wasn't for me and the birth center is just a different model of care and one that I much prefer. They do have a great relationship with the hospital just a few blocks away and the midwives stay with their patients that have to be transferred there for any reason.
The weight gain thing is going... well, I guess. I'm within the range for starting out at a 'normal' weight. It has been a little scary to do the math, but I know I'm healthy and doing what's right for the baby. I 'passed' the glucose screening and have only been slightly low on iron, so take an extra supplement. I've tried to not worry over things and to just live in the moment and enjoy everything.
I still have about two months to go before 'the baby,' as DH and I call this little one, arrives, so I'm far from an expert. I'm not even to what is supposedly the toughest part... the 'big fat moo cow' phase, as a friend once called herself.
DH and I decided on not rushing to tell anyone... we waited to the 12th week to tell our families and then took our time telling other friends and family members either in person or by phone, at the very least with a personal email. We didn't actually 'announce' it on Facebook until 31 weeks, after all. We didn't try to hide it, especially once the physical changes were evident, we just did it the way that felt right to us.
We took a Bradley Method class, which emphasizes protein... I've done fairly well with that, it turns out I naturally consume a fair amount of protein. Especially early on, I realized my body was craving things it needed, like vitamins and folic acid... lots of whole foods. I was chowing down on lots of greek yogurt and fruit for a while, but then got burned out on the yogurt. I guess this baby wants to be healthy!
The Bradley Method is focused on natural birth with no medical intervention, unless it is necessary to keep mom or baby healthy. We're preparing for an unmedicated birth at a free-standing birth center, which I'm very excited about. The people there are wonderful and I feel fortunate to be a patient there. We actually transferred in from an OB/GYN practice when I was in my 23rd or 24th week. DH and I usually see a General Practitioner (who is really great about personalized care), so switching to an OB in September wasn't a terrible experience but also wasn't what I was used to. It just wasn't for me and the birth center is just a different model of care and one that I much prefer. They do have a great relationship with the hospital just a few blocks away and the midwives stay with their patients that have to be transferred there for any reason.
The weight gain thing is going... well, I guess. I'm within the range for starting out at a 'normal' weight. It has been a little scary to do the math, but I know I'm healthy and doing what's right for the baby. I 'passed' the glucose screening and have only been slightly low on iron, so take an extra supplement. I've tried to not worry over things and to just live in the moment and enjoy everything.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
So it's been a while...
Not that my one reader doesn't already know what I've been up to, but anyway... ;)
Friends and family have, patiently, kept mostly quiet until we were ready to make it 'Facebook Official', as DH's teenage cousin would say. We're having a baby! We should have a new addition by early April.
I feel pretty good. I had some weird food aversions early on... I immediately had no interest in coffee or beer, both tasted 'off' to me. I also had an aversion to bread, which is really strange for me. I went to Target and the grocery store a couple of times in those first weeks and the deli section (bread and cheeses) made me want to gag... all I wanted was fruit, veggies and protein. I guess that's a good thing? :) I'm mostly over those issues now, but have tried to keep eating healthy and just get a good variety of 'whole' foods. In the last week or two I've started some hard-core nesting, cooking and fixing stuff up to freeze for once the baby is here and we're too tired or busy to make real food.
Since it seems 'bump' pictures are the thing to do, we have kept up with it to some extent... here are some highlights. :)
Way back at 15 weeks... at 27 weeks - the day of our only ultrasound (we didn't learn the gender)... this past Tuesday, 31 weeks, showing off the new hoodies we had printed for promoting our little side business...
Friends and family have, patiently, kept mostly quiet until we were ready to make it 'Facebook Official', as DH's teenage cousin would say. We're having a baby! We should have a new addition by early April.
I feel pretty good. I had some weird food aversions early on... I immediately had no interest in coffee or beer, both tasted 'off' to me. I also had an aversion to bread, which is really strange for me. I went to Target and the grocery store a couple of times in those first weeks and the deli section (bread and cheeses) made me want to gag... all I wanted was fruit, veggies and protein. I guess that's a good thing? :) I'm mostly over those issues now, but have tried to keep eating healthy and just get a good variety of 'whole' foods. In the last week or two I've started some hard-core nesting, cooking and fixing stuff up to freeze for once the baby is here and we're too tired or busy to make real food.
Since it seems 'bump' pictures are the thing to do, we have kept up with it to some extent... here are some highlights. :)
Way back at 15 weeks... at 27 weeks - the day of our only ultrasound (we didn't learn the gender)... this past Tuesday, 31 weeks, showing off the new hoodies we had printed for promoting our little side business...
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