Hey Everyone!

Things are going great…I am starting “feel” pregnant now as I can’t sit as close to the dinner table, and I have nice constant draft on the underpart of my belly, since shirts are no longer fitting right.

This weeks marks the 4th of our Bradley Method birthing classes, which have been amazing.  This method focuses on natural, husband-coached childbirth.  Training in pain management and relaxation techniques are the key.  With the Knowlton’s, the Mellow’s, and our coach/instructor Norah, we have been diving deep into the process of labor.  The best moment of the class, so far, was the day when our friend Rhett came over pick up Mark and we were finishing up ‘practice contractions’.  Three pregos on the floor breathing deeply, with our husbands rubbing ice cubes on our wrists and coaching us to relaxing and focus, he froze when he walked in and immediately walked back out.  It was hilarious.

On a serious note, I do feel like Mark and I are way more prepared to handle labor now that we have gone through this class.  This week we watched a video the infamous “Ring of Fire” as some call it, otherwise known as ‘crowning’.  This when the baby’s head manages to slip or sometimes rip it’s way through the vaginal opening. Ouch. That was probably the most repulsive thing I’ve seen. If there is anything I’m scared of in this whole process it’s that…but…moments later…the entire baby will be out of me and in my arms.  That sort-of makes it worth it.

So, along with information comes preferences.  The more we read our homework, the more Mark and I have started to determine the things that we really value are actually contrary to hospital protocol. .  Ultimately, it is quite simple, having a safe labor, and healthy baby, but as we have learned and read, these things are relative to who is around. We aren’t going crazy with our birth plan, but I am writing out some preferences that I wish to be considered.

Here are some ‘unedited’ preferences that we have come with so far (assuming there is no medical emergency).  We are still working through this.

  • 1st Stage Labor mostly at home with Mark and maybe Julia (our friend and doula)
  • Once we arrive at the hospital, no internal monitoring, only intermittent external.  No I.V., unless needed, and hopefully no drugs.
  • Mark will coach, Julia will support.
  • Mark will catch the baby
  • Hopefully, I will be able to breastfeed right away, or at least have skin contact.
  • Wait to cut the cord, at which point Mark will cut.
  • Wait for newborn procedures (bedtime?)

Another one being no more “regular” ultrasounds or vaginal exams  My doctor’s practice routinely does 3 ultrasounds per patient, and I was due for my third one this week.  Learning that it was actually not necessary for me to do so, I turned it down.  To my surprise, Dr. Froelich didn’t say a word, instead encouraged me that I wouldn’t be pressured to do anything I didn’t want, or need.  I then started to mention my unedited birth plan and he totally supported most of my preferences.  I feel really encouraged at this point.

Spike is measuring normal and his/her heartbeat was right around 140bmp.  Also, Spike is head down!

I weighed 170, which means I’ve accumulated a total of 32 lbs!  That’s freakin’ crazy!

My next visit is in two weeks, then I start my weekly appointments,  things are moving right along!

Here is a picture of me at 33 weeks and all the pregnant women in my church, in order of due date!

From Left to right:  Whitney Loreaux, Me, Renee Herman, Erin Knowlton, Lindsey Patterson. (Missing is Tiffany Mowry, who is due after me!)