She's Here!

Our daughter, Jada, was born at 4:34 pm on June 10. I was 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant when she was born. She weighed 7lbs 5 oz and was 20 inches long. I honestly thought I had at least a week to go before she was born but she was ready to see the world. So, for all those people who say first time moms go over their due date, it doesn't happen to everyone. Jada came 9 days early, but right on time. I had an amazing experience at the birth center and she was born naturally and in the birthing pool! She is such a calm little girl. We feel very blessed that we're able to get sleep at night and feel rested for the day ahead. She lets us know when she's hungry and needs to be changed. Other than that, she's not fussy and loves to be talked to when she's awake. I will either write a lengthy post about my labor and delivery story or post a vlog about it. I think the video might be easier. Until then... here's a glimpse of our little angel. 

Prenatal Visit #12 - 38 Weeks

The window for having this baby is narrowing.  At this point it could be today or at most 4 weeks from today. I doubt she'll be two weeks late though. The inevitable is hitting me hard and I think I'm going to really miss carrying my little girl around in my belly. Overall, this pregnancy has been fun.

At my 38 week visit at the birth center Chef and I watched our last video. This one was about labor positions to help ease pain as well as turn the baby in case she was in a not-so-favorable to my birth canal position. For example, the ideal position for the baby is to be head down of course, but to have her back to my belly button. If her back is towards my back, that could cause a longer labor and a labor with intense back pain. To turn the baby while I'm in labor I could essentially labor on all fours which would allow gravity to bring the heaviest part of the baby (her back) to my stomach. There were a lot of positions discussed including lunges, side-lying, squatting and all that good stuff. I made sure Chef was paying attention so he could remind me when I'm in all that pain. HAHA.

The next part of this visit was my INTERNAL EXAM! I was curious to see if I had dilated or effaced any and I was finally going to get my answer.  Oh, before the exam my midwife checked the baby's position and heart rate (130bpm...it's going down) and measured me. I'm still right on track. So... she goes in to check my cervix...I'm dilated 1cm. YAY! Things are moving as they should. She also made the comment that "your thinning out very nicely." I secretly wanted to ask how many percent but didn't to keep some mystery. I didn't care if it was .05% or 50% quite honestly. As long as things are going and progressing I can't be mad.

What's In My Bag and Other Stuff We're Taking to the Birth Center

I wanted to have everything packed and by the door by the time 37 weeks got here because from that point on it's pretty much a countdown. We have 2 car seats and they are both strapped in to my and Chef's car. The birth center gave me a list of things that I should include for me, Chef and baby, so I used that as a template and free styled the rest.

The birth center made sure to tell us on that list not to bring diapers for the baby because they will have those and blankets for us to use while we're there.
 For baby:
*note that we don't know how big she is so we are packing multiple sizes
(2) Newborn onesies
(2) 0-3 month onesies
(1) newborn sleeping gown
(1) 0-3 month sleeping gown
(2) pairs of socks
(1) pair of mittens
(2) hats- one has the cutest little bunny on it
(1) blanket - its soft, medium weight and fleece.

The sheet also says to bring a "going home outfit". I figure she can come home in one of those gowns. The bunny one converts to snap between the legs so we shouldn't have a problem with the car seat harness. Maybe I'll bring her some pants just in case. We'll see.

For Me: 
(3) pairs of real, full coverage underwear - They are brand new because I was a thong girl
(5) Always overnight thin pads
(1) bikini top - for birthing in the water. I am probably just going to be naked but I thought I would give myself an option
(1) skirt - It's part of my loose clothing to go home in, elastic waistband and everything
(1) sports bra - I need to get nursing bras but this will have to do until I get myself all the way together
(1) pair of flip flops
(1) tank/t-shirt
(1) headband (to put my hair up while I'm in the birthing pool)

For Chef:
(1) pair swimming trunks - he's getting in the birthing pool with me
(1) pair basketball shorts - he likes to be comfy
(2) t-shirts -
(1) pair of flip flops

Toiletries: in case we have an overnight stay and/or need to shower
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Hemorrhoid pads
Lotion
Soap
deodorant

Food: because I'm greedy and they let you bring whatever you want
Coconut water
Gatorade
Granola Bars
Fresh and dried fruit
Chips and cookies (to keep Chef's energy up)


Miscellaneous:
A small cooler for the transport of my placenta.
 

Prenatal Visit #11 - 37 weeks at the Birth Center

I'm on the birth center list as officially "due." That's crazy right. This visit was the day after I met with the OB/GYN and got my clearance but I still had to go through the usual stuff (weight, protein and sugar in the urine) that we've always done even though I had it done the day before. This time I got to meet the last midwife that I had not yet met at the birth center. PHEW! If I'm not mistaken I'm on schedule to see her for the rest of my visits as well. This time I watched a video on postpartum stuff and handed over my birthplan. The midwife checked it over and everything was good and reasonable. Baby's heart rate was 145 beats per minute and she is still head down. When the midwife felt for the baby's position this week it was uncomfortable. I guess this is because she has officially run out of room to grow and squeezing her a little brings me discomfort. It wasn't anything serious though.

The highlight of this visit was when my midwife said to me, and I quote, "Evening primrose oil, or semen, in your vagina, every night. Your choice." To which I responded, "OK." I then asked when I would start being checked for dilation she said they like to do it when you're closer to 38 weeks because at this point it would be more uncomfortable than anything but she would check me if I wanted to. I told her I could wait. I was just curious. So, I'm getting checked for dilation and effacement at my 38 week visit.

Prenatal Visit #11 - 37 weeks with the OB/GYN

Guess who is full term?! Booyah! We made it. I was supposed to have this visit at 36 weeks but they didn't have any appointments available for birth center patients the week before. What happens is, this doctor schedules 2 days a week where he sees birth center patients. On Tuesdays, all the birth center patients get their 20 week ultrasounds and on Wednesdays, the birth center patients come in for their 36 week (in my case 37 week) clearance.  You don't actually get to meet the doctor until the last appointment though. I only had dealings with his ultrasound tech.

Here is where I would like to point out some of the biggest differences I saw between the birth center and the doctor's office. At the birth center, we essentially do everything by ourselves. I weigh myself and test my own urine for protein and sugar at every visit, and I did my own Group B Strep test. At the doctor's office there was someone to escort me to the bathroom with a cup with my last name on it. She instructed me to pee in it and give it back to her through the little passage door in the bathroom. I thought to myself, "I wonder what they are testing me for." It was for protein and sugar, and it came back negative. I was then escorted over to the scale where I was weighed. The whole time I was thinking to myself... man, he sure could eliminate her position and save some money if he did things the way the birth center does. It's a harsh thought but I'm just sayin. After that was over, I was walked into a room where I sat and waited. The upside is that I was thoroughly enjoying the music playing on the intercom system but no one likes to wait. So, another nurse came in and asked me some questions about how the pregnancy was going and she looked for the heartbeat with the Doppler. She failed, but once I showed her where it should be, she found it.  After she was done she said, "Ok, the doctor will be in to see you in a second." She flipped a switch on the wall and I waited...and waited... and waited. I heard a knock on the door and another nurse stepped in. This one had an iPad and was asking me family history medical questions. After I answered them she left and told me that the doctor would be coming right up. I waited and waited and he finally showed up. Generally speaking he is a really nice man that has a good repertoire with the midwives that own the birth center. He told me that I would only need to see him in case of an emergency to which I replied, "I hope I don't get to see you again." He then said, "I don't take that personally."

My Birth Plan

I, (whoever I am),  am preparing to give birth at the birth center. I have no room preference. Whatever room is available will be fine.

·         My support team includes my husband, Chef

·         We plan on staying home until labor is active for at least two hours.

·         I plan on wearing my own clothes.

·         I plan on inviting my mother,  and sister to the birth center AFTER the birth of my baby

·         I trust my body’s ability to birth my baby. I plan on a drug free birth.

During Labor I’d Like…

·         To bring my own food to the birth center including

o   coconut water, Gatorade, fruit, trail mix

·         Dimmed lights/mood lighting

·         The room as quiet as possible excluding music or sounds from sound machine

·         As much privacy as possible

·         As few interruptions as possible

·         My husband to film and/or take pictures

·         My husband to be present the entire time

·         The midwife provide lots of verbal encouragement, physical touch, and be present with me as much as possible

I’d Like fetal monitoring:

·         To be performed with a fetoscope/Doppler

For pain relief I’d like to use:

·         Massage, meditation, and other techniques suggested by the midwife

During delivery I would like to:

·         Birth in the birth pool

·         Use the Birthing from Within method of childbirth

·         Have my husband assist in the birth of our baby

As the baby is delivered, I would like to:

·         Push as directed

·         Use whatever methods my midwife deems necessary

Immediately after delivery, I would like:

·         The umbilical cord to be cut only after is stops pulsating

·          My partner to cut the umbilical cord

·         To take the placenta home after the birth (we will bring a cooler for transport)

After baby is born:

·         I wish my privacy to be protected, my guests will remain in the family room until after I have nursed the baby.

Baby’s medical exam and procedures:

·         We prefer no eye ointment

·         We prefer injectable Vitamin K

Third Trimester Pregnany Side Effects

Normally, I feel really good and on the whole have been feeling great during this entire pregnancy. Something new has crept into my life the past couple of weeks that I would like to share. I've been having some serious pregnancy related hot flashes. Seriously. They happen at night pretty frequently. I would wake up to go to the bathroom and be lying in a pool of my own sweat. They also happen at random times during the day where I would just break out in a sweat under my boobs and stain my shirt.

I have hemorrhoids! That's not an angry exclamation point so don't read it that way. I'm not yelling angrily about it. I discovered I have hemorrhoids one evening when I was in the shower. I didn't even know they were there. What is interesting though is that hemorrhoids (hereafter referred to as rhoids) are usually a product of constipation associated with pregnancy. I haven't been constipated or anything so I was wondering what would cause those little puppies to pop out. I researched it, of course, and found that the baby's growth putting extra pressure on your intestines can cause rhoids. Essentially they are swollen vericose veins in your anus that sometimes become too large and decide to plan an escape route. Mine are painless but most people's aren't. They can also be accompanied by bleeding and all that stuff. Fortunately that's not what I'm experiencing. I really didn't even know they were there. I had to verify my discovery by showing Chef and he was like, "Oh yea, I see it".  True love knows no limits.  I expect them to get worse after the baby is born just from the act of pushing her out but right now it's not a bother. No medication necessary.

Prenatal Visit #10 - Week 36

One week shy of full term and the first of my now weekly visits to the birth center, I was greeted by the smiling faces of the ladies at the front desk telling me they had a "surprise" for me today. I knew what that meant. Group B strep vaginal and anal swab..... FUN TIMES! This entire time I thought I would come in, they would strap me to some stirrups and get to swabbing. NOPE! I was instructed on how to do it myself. I think this is why I love the birth center. One swab, two holes, clean to dirty. A little around and slightly in the vagina, a little around and slightly in the anus and voila! Success. Not bad, I felt a lot more comfortable doing it myself I think. It probably wouldn't have been bad either way. My weight was up 3lbs this week putting me at a solid 26lbs gained and still no protein or sugar in my urine.

This week I watched a video on pain management techniques used in the birth center. It's good to know all of your options. My midwife came in and asked if I had my birth plan for them. *insert blank stare* She said, "You better have that to us by next week at the latest." She decided to quiz me on stuff that should be in my birth plan so she could write it in my chart. Eye ointment for the baby or no eye ointment? Vitamin K shot or three oral doses? I made up stuff as I went along. Now that my birth plan is done hopefully they will change all the lies I told them. My birth plan is pretty fluid since I don't know how I'll be feeling once I'm in labor. I'll share it in another post.

 Baby's heartbeat was between 140 and 150 beats per minute. We couldn't get an accurate reading because she had the hiccups, which happens 4 to 5 times a day these days. She's still head down and still very active. I keep hearing that you feel less movement in the third trimester. Not me.

I was also given a handout on what to start doing to prep my body for labor. I have to start a red raspberry leaf and evening primrose oil regimen. Red raspberry leaf is supposed to improve uterine tone. It is thought that it helps the uterus contract more efficiently to push the baby down and out and it is also supposed to help it return to its regular size after the birth of the baby. I am currently taking red raspberry leaf capsules.   The other option is to drink 3 really strong cups of red raspberry leaf tea per day. If I run out of capsules before the baby is born, I'll start drinking the tea. The capsules are ROUGH going down.  With the evening primrose oil I'm suppose to take 3, 1300mg capsules per day orally and 1-3 capsules per day vaginally.  This helps with the effacement and dilation of the cervix.  Since Chef has already been massaging my perineum, I just have him stick a few pills in there before bed time. Just remember if oil goes in, some oil comes out. I sleep on a towel. Just sayin.

My appointment with the back up medical doctor is at 37 weeks. I go to see him so that he can fill out paperwork for the birth center saying that this baby and I are fit to be at the birth center. I also have to meet him because in case of emergency (c-section or hospital transfer) he will be the doctor that performs the surgery and delivers my baby. Of course I'll let you know how that goes.