Week 38June 25, 2008
June 13, 2008
And in this corner.....
Week 36
Weighing in at 181..... Yes, I have been to visit my midwife today. I am still always amazed to step up to the scale and see how much I weigh. Today I was even more surprised because I have gained 12 pounds in 2 weeks. The midwife says that I am retaining extra water. You think? Look at these feet!
I have to say that other than the occasional bout with acid reflux (well, daily at this point really) my only complaint is these monster feet. Anyone that has seen me has been concerned, so on Monday I went and had my blood pressure tested and a urine test. Both of which were fine. Today, seeing my midwife, she took one look and felt there might be something beyond what the other tests has shown. She requested blood work, so I will have to report back on that when I get the results. (I just heard from my midwife and the blood work was normal 6/14)
At our visit today she also did an examination and it seems that I am nearly 2 cm dilated. She also said that I have a very soft cervix. Both of which I am not sure that I fully understand, but as long as she says everything is good, then I am good.
This weekend we will spend some time getting all of her goodies put away from the baby showers and pack a bag for the hospital. I am feeling the need to get everything ready just in case. There is a full moon on the 19th, so who knows what will happen.
May 23, 2008
"I don't think so"
Week 33Markana has come in contact with several friends and colleagues in the past few days that have greeted her with smiles and a quick, "So, how much longer?" When she replies, "About seven weeks," they all say, "uh...I don't think so."
And that would be fine with us. We're ready.
I'm using my daughter as an excuse to buy new toys (a true Dad already), the first of which is an off-camera flash for my digital camera. The excuse is that it'll make our Stella photos better, and my defense against M's suspicions is, "Do you want to be the one to explain to Stella why we have no good pictures of her?" Heh heh.
So far, my subjects aren't much help and my training is slow-going. Markana went to bed after about 7 head shots. Jack won't look at me if I pick up the camera.
So I had to find a willing participant that wouldn't tire under the demands of an amateur photo shoot.
Really captures his pensive side, huh?
And that would be fine with us. We're ready.
I'm using my daughter as an excuse to buy new toys (a true Dad already), the first of which is an off-camera flash for my digital camera. The excuse is that it'll make our Stella photos better, and my defense against M's suspicions is, "Do you want to be the one to explain to Stella why we have no good pictures of her?" Heh heh.
So far, my subjects aren't much help and my training is slow-going. Markana went to bed after about 7 head shots. Jack won't look at me if I pick up the camera.
So I had to find a willing participant that wouldn't tire under the demands of an amateur photo shoot.
Really captures his pensive side, huh?
May 2, 2008
Vanderbilt Hospital
Chip and I took a tour of Vanderbilt Hospital last night. This is the place that we have chosen to have Stella - mainly because this hospital has the program with the midwives. We were given a tour of Labor & Delivery, as well as, the Postpartum rooms that both provide modest accommodations. The instructor did answer all of our questions and concerns and again we feel at ease that we have made the right decision.
My Dad has been spending some time at Vanderbilt Hospital these days as well. I have not shared through this blog that on March 25 my Dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. It was found during a routine physical, so we are hopeful that it was caught in good time. He met with a specialist at Vanderbilt hospital and will have surgery on June 3. This is why it is so important for men and women to get an annual physical.
The specialist did run some additional tests that brought attention to some spots on his lungs. Dad then sees a lung specialist at Vanderbilt and a series of other tests were given and eventually a PET Scan to see if there was anything anywhere else in his body. They did find spots on his pelvic bone and sinus region. The doctor has chosen not to do anything at this time and has asked for another PET Scan in three months. I have tossed this around in my head a hundred times and really not sure what it all means. We were hopeful that he would call and say that there was nothing to worry about and to carry on, but it makes me nervous that they want to revisit the situation in a few months. Routine, maybe.
When all of this started to unfold, I kind of fell apart with it. How could all of this be happening to my sweet dad. The man is a model for good health and happiness (with the exception of a lifestyle of good ole southern cooking that I adore as well). Even through my initial tears and heartbreak, he has remained confident that everything will be just fine. If you know my dad at all, this is exactly what you would expect him to say. I did sense that he was strained by the pain his family was experiencing, so I made a conscious decision to keep my tears private and just be there for him.
So, in the midst of our grief and personal despair, our girl Stella is a star after all. I know that the thought of meeting her brings a bright spot to all of our lives. Though many of our experiences unfortunate, maybe it all has happened in the time that it should.
My Dad has been spending some time at Vanderbilt Hospital these days as well. I have not shared through this blog that on March 25 my Dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. It was found during a routine physical, so we are hopeful that it was caught in good time. He met with a specialist at Vanderbilt hospital and will have surgery on June 3. This is why it is so important for men and women to get an annual physical.
The specialist did run some additional tests that brought attention to some spots on his lungs. Dad then sees a lung specialist at Vanderbilt and a series of other tests were given and eventually a PET Scan to see if there was anything anywhere else in his body. They did find spots on his pelvic bone and sinus region. The doctor has chosen not to do anything at this time and has asked for another PET Scan in three months. I have tossed this around in my head a hundred times and really not sure what it all means. We were hopeful that he would call and say that there was nothing to worry about and to carry on, but it makes me nervous that they want to revisit the situation in a few months. Routine, maybe.
When all of this started to unfold, I kind of fell apart with it. How could all of this be happening to my sweet dad. The man is a model for good health and happiness (with the exception of a lifestyle of good ole southern cooking that I adore as well). Even through my initial tears and heartbreak, he has remained confident that everything will be just fine. If you know my dad at all, this is exactly what you would expect him to say. I did sense that he was strained by the pain his family was experiencing, so I made a conscious decision to keep my tears private and just be there for him.
So, in the midst of our grief and personal despair, our girl Stella is a star after all. I know that the thought of meeting her brings a bright spot to all of our lives. Though many of our experiences unfortunate, maybe it all has happened in the time that it should.
April 14, 2008
Two down, one to go
Week 28Welcome to the third trimester. Stella is extra busy these days, and from the looks of it, extra big, too. Markana has received some comments that because she's carrying Stella low, it might be a boy. I hope he likes yellow sweaters.
April 3, 2008
26 Weeks
So, we went for an ultrasound today and found out that the placenta has shifted. Hooray! The doctor said that everything looks perfect and we are all set to move forward with a vaginal birth. No Cesarean. This is fantastic news. (I bet you never thought you would hear so much about a person's placenta)
Now, I must deal with the politics of abandoning my OBGYN. She has been so wonderful to me throughout this crazy adventure, but we just do not share the same point of view of my desired birth. We spoke with her about the hypnobirth at out last appointment and did not receive a "warm and fuzzy" feeling from her. We are so excited about the birth, and know what we want, so we have to seek out a more suitable person to share this with us. Our first stop will be at Vanderbilt Hospital with a nurse midwife. More later on that, but any advise on how to I should let my doctor know that I will no longer need her services is much appreciated.
Meanwhile, I also learned today that I have gained 17 pounds. Wow! Is this normal? Considering I have 3 months to go, I think I better slow down on the sweets. But the gelato at work is so delicious!
Lastly, in the ultrasound today Stella was sitting upright inside me- on her little toosh. That just makes me smile.
Now, I must deal with the politics of abandoning my OBGYN. She has been so wonderful to me throughout this crazy adventure, but we just do not share the same point of view of my desired birth. We spoke with her about the hypnobirth at out last appointment and did not receive a "warm and fuzzy" feeling from her. We are so excited about the birth, and know what we want, so we have to seek out a more suitable person to share this with us. Our first stop will be at Vanderbilt Hospital with a nurse midwife. More later on that, but any advise on how to I should let my doctor know that I will no longer need her services is much appreciated.
Meanwhile, I also learned today that I have gained 17 pounds. Wow! Is this normal? Considering I have 3 months to go, I think I better slow down on the sweets. But the gelato at work is so delicious!
Lastly, in the ultrasound today Stella was sitting upright inside me- on her little toosh. That just makes me smile.
March 21, 2008
Peace and Love
It seems that I may have offended some people with my latest entry. You must know that it certainly was not my intention. We started this blog as an opportunity to document our experiences through this process - a journal if you will.
What a wondrous life that we all get to live filled with choices and experiences that are our own. At the time of that entry, I was battling my own frustration of outside voices being projected on my choices. Choices that have been dear to my heart, and I, too, have been offended.
What a gift, as women, that we have the opportunity to make decisions about our bodies and childbirth. I am so thankful that I live in a city that has the resources that we need to help us learn through this process. I am most thankful that I have a loving and true companion to share this experience with. I know that we have never done this before, and Stella will come at her will, but if we all work together this will be a beautiful first memory for us all.
What a wondrous life that we all get to live filled with choices and experiences that are our own. At the time of that entry, I was battling my own frustration of outside voices being projected on my choices. Choices that have been dear to my heart, and I, too, have been offended.
What a gift, as women, that we have the opportunity to make decisions about our bodies and childbirth. I am so thankful that I live in a city that has the resources that we need to help us learn through this process. I am most thankful that I have a loving and true companion to share this experience with. I know that we have never done this before, and Stella will come at her will, but if we all work together this will be a beautiful first memory for us all.
Every child begins the world again.
- Henry David Thoreau
March 16, 2008
Dogs win!
I know everyone's been patiently awaiting the final results of our first visitor poll, Dogs vs. Cats.Dogs = 7
Cats = 3
It's clear that cats can only hope to be slightly less than half loved as much as dogs.
Don't forget to vote in our new poll: diapers.
March 13, 2008
Hypnobirthing - The Mongan Method
I knew that I wanted to do a natural birth. A very dear friend of mine has a beautiful daughter, Isla, birthed through the Mongan Method of Hypnobirthing. She had such a beautiful story to share about Isla's entry into our world and I always knew I would look into it for myself when the time came.
To me, it makes perfect sense. And the more I learn about it, the more I understand. I mean, is there anything more incredible than pregnancy and childbirth? The fact that Chip and I fell in love, married, decided that we wanted to share that love and have conceived a child is miraculous. But, the real miracle is that this little person inside me starts out as a ball of cells, develops and changes daily and after 9 months will be the size of a small pumpkin and will be ready to join us. I am pretty sure that after all of that, she knows how to find her way out. This is why I have chosen for Stella to have the birth that she wants. She'll let me know when she is ready.
In our class we are practicing deep meditation and relaxation. We are not hypnotized. We have seen several videos of births in our class, and for the most part the mother is completely silent. It looks as though she is sleeping. Even at 10 centimeters, there is a state is calm in the room. If you have ever watch an episode of Baby Story where the mother is in labor for 23 hours, exhausted, drugged, in stirrups and screaming - this is nothing like that.
Calm. Peace. Beautiful Baby.
The most difficult part of sharing this experience with others is the commentary that follows. There are some women and friends that assure me that I will be begging for the epidural. It is sad that women have become so used to being medicated by their physicians, that the thought of conceiving naturally seems wildly abnormal. Call me a hippy, call me crazy, call me whatever you like. But the thought of being so medicated as my child is being born that I feel nothing, and my child being medicated (as we are sharing a lifeline) and requiring a good slap on the ass to wake up, seems absolutely absurd to me.
*Side note: At our 18 week ultrasound, we also found out that I have placenta previa. We will have another ultrasound in 3 weeks to see if the placenta has moved up. If not, I will have no other choice than to have a cesarean. This is obviously not what we desire, but in the end will take a healthy baby no matter how she gets here.
To me, it makes perfect sense. And the more I learn about it, the more I understand. I mean, is there anything more incredible than pregnancy and childbirth? The fact that Chip and I fell in love, married, decided that we wanted to share that love and have conceived a child is miraculous. But, the real miracle is that this little person inside me starts out as a ball of cells, develops and changes daily and after 9 months will be the size of a small pumpkin and will be ready to join us. I am pretty sure that after all of that, she knows how to find her way out. This is why I have chosen for Stella to have the birth that she wants. She'll let me know when she is ready.
In our class we are practicing deep meditation and relaxation. We are not hypnotized. We have seen several videos of births in our class, and for the most part the mother is completely silent. It looks as though she is sleeping. Even at 10 centimeters, there is a state is calm in the room. If you have ever watch an episode of Baby Story where the mother is in labor for 23 hours, exhausted, drugged, in stirrups and screaming - this is nothing like that.
Calm. Peace. Beautiful Baby.
The most difficult part of sharing this experience with others is the commentary that follows. There are some women and friends that assure me that I will be begging for the epidural. It is sad that women have become so used to being medicated by their physicians, that the thought of conceiving naturally seems wildly abnormal. Call me a hippy, call me crazy, call me whatever you like. But the thought of being so medicated as my child is being born that I feel nothing, and my child being medicated (as we are sharing a lifeline) and requiring a good slap on the ass to wake up, seems absolutely absurd to me.
*Side note: At our 18 week ultrasound, we also found out that I have placenta previa. We will have another ultrasound in 3 weeks to see if the placenta has moved up. If not, I will have no other choice than to have a cesarean. This is obviously not what we desire, but in the end will take a healthy baby no matter how she gets here.
March 12, 2008
B - U - M - P
Week 23I know. We've been really bad about posting progress, but the second trimester is kinda boring. I did learn that the second trimester is made up of several mini-mesters: the cake-mester, the donut-mester, the cookie-mester...
The bigger news is that we've enrolled in a hypobirthing class. I'm really enjoying the classes for their application to everyday life, and I'm excited about what it means for bringing Stella into the world. Markana will write more soon about her thoughts and hopes for a natural birth.
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