Here's what the weather forecast looks like for today:
A slight chance of light rain through 10 am...then rain likely during the morning...then rain through 4 pm...then rain and snow.
Verbatim, from the NOAA site.
I finished work last week, and boy, am I glad. This baby has moved farther down, making it harder to walk, sit, stand...basically do anything comfortably aside from lie on my side. A good sign, I know, but jeez, a bit much! Can't wait until her head is in my pelvis...that should feel great!
The baby forecast, according to my "due date" (which we should really come up with another name for, like "estimated date of arrival" or "maybe date"), is December 18...my obstetrician doesn't want me to go beyond December 11 (due to a slightly increased risk of fetal mortality in gestational diabetic moms that go to term), which my midwife thinks may be a little to overly cautious...my doula thinks closer to December 7, which would be fine with me. I don't really have a strong sense, other than that this baby is on her way, and I doubt she'll wait past the 11th.
It's her call, and we'll just have to see!
Thankfully my parents will be here toward the end of this week, so I'll have more support (and pampering) for a few days before labor begins.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thankful
For this past Wednesday being my last day at work for six months.
For this heavy, medicine-ball-in-the-lower-abdomen feeling being temporary.
For having loving, capable friends to surround me in the delivery room.
For having loving, capable friends to surround me after we get home.
For a husband/partner/best friend/soulmate to cheer me up, cheer me on, keep me laughing, cook and clean, and offer so many strengths not only to me, but to our child on the way.
For family, so eager with anticipation, ready to pitch in and help in between rounds of holding and staring in awe at a baby.
For Kegel exercises, birth balls, Boppy pillows, slings, car seats, tiny socks, diaper services, books, helpful Web sites, and stuffed animals.
For getting the opportunity to do this, the most common and the most miraculous of undertakings.
For this heavy, medicine-ball-in-the-lower-abdomen feeling being temporary.
For having loving, capable friends to surround me in the delivery room.
For having loving, capable friends to surround me after we get home.
For a husband/partner/best friend/soulmate to cheer me up, cheer me on, keep me laughing, cook and clean, and offer so many strengths not only to me, but to our child on the way.
For family, so eager with anticipation, ready to pitch in and help in between rounds of holding and staring in awe at a baby.
For Kegel exercises, birth balls, Boppy pillows, slings, car seats, tiny socks, diaper services, books, helpful Web sites, and stuffed animals.
For getting the opportunity to do this, the most common and the most miraculous of undertakings.
Monday, November 19, 2007
An Orange Present
My coworker, friend, and all around neat person Cheri Reiman gave me the cutest baby gift - a hand-dyed onesie:
Here's Cheri at her stall at the Ann Arbor Artisan Market:
Cute stuff, eh?
The Artisan Market is full of lovely treasures, hand-made by local artisans. Visit the Web site: artisanmarket.org
Get in touch with Cheri at cheririeman@hotmail.com; her "support local" shirts are especially cool!
Thanks, Cheri!
Here's Cheri at her stall at the Ann Arbor Artisan Market:
Cute stuff, eh?
The Artisan Market is full of lovely treasures, hand-made by local artisans. Visit the Web site: artisanmarket.org
Get in touch with Cheri at cheririeman@hotmail.com; her "support local" shirts are especially cool!
Thanks, Cheri!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Special!
I found out really good news - my midwife can attend my birth!
After all that worry and stress, and then letting go of the idea of having a midwife present, things have finally aligned the way I wanted them to begin with.
I say "special" because when I saw her over at the hospital, she came up to me and said, "Good news - I can special for you!"
To which I replied, "Sounds great, but I have no idea what that means!"
We had a good laugh.
Needless to say I'm much more relaxed, and less apprehensive about labor and birth.
Thank goodness I live in Ann Arbor and not some other place with less progressive views on co-managed care.
Yay!
After all that worry and stress, and then letting go of the idea of having a midwife present, things have finally aligned the way I wanted them to begin with.
I say "special" because when I saw her over at the hospital, she came up to me and said, "Good news - I can special for you!"
To which I replied, "Sounds great, but I have no idea what that means!"
We had a good laugh.
Needless to say I'm much more relaxed, and less apprehensive about labor and birth.
Thank goodness I live in Ann Arbor and not some other place with less progressive views on co-managed care.
Yay!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Falling Back
Daylight savings time ends soon...time to fall back.
Remember trust falls from camp?
Surrendering to the process of letting go, both now with my health care and thinking ahead to labor!
I expected to go into the OB clinic and find some antiquated, intervention-happy OB with forceps sticking out of his back pocket. Boy, was I surprised to see a friendly young smiling fellow that I know through my local herd share (where we get fresh milk)!
Many fears evaporated.
The doc has already had a conversation with my midwife about how she can be involved at the birth. I've been attending twice weekly fetal monitoring sessions (which consist mostly of my relaxing and listening to the rhythmic pulsing of my daughter's heart) along with weekly ultrasounds, which are pretty fun to see. All part of being on oral insulin.
So glad to not have to manage injectible insulin and sharps!
And my stress level has come down considerably now that I've crossed the once-looming threshhold into "life without a midwife" which may not be completely without a midwife after all.
Falling back into feeling things are all okay, and feeling my excitement (and my belly) grow every day!
Remember trust falls from camp?
Surrendering to the process of letting go, both now with my health care and thinking ahead to labor!
I expected to go into the OB clinic and find some antiquated, intervention-happy OB with forceps sticking out of his back pocket. Boy, was I surprised to see a friendly young smiling fellow that I know through my local herd share (where we get fresh milk)!
Many fears evaporated.
The doc has already had a conversation with my midwife about how she can be involved at the birth. I've been attending twice weekly fetal monitoring sessions (which consist mostly of my relaxing and listening to the rhythmic pulsing of my daughter's heart) along with weekly ultrasounds, which are pretty fun to see. All part of being on oral insulin.
So glad to not have to manage injectible insulin and sharps!
And my stress level has come down considerably now that I've crossed the once-looming threshhold into "life without a midwife" which may not be completely without a midwife after all.
Falling back into feeling things are all okay, and feeling my excitement (and my belly) grow every day!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Modern Health Care
I've been busting my butt managing my gestational diabetic diet and exercise regimen, only to find that I'm having sugar readings above the University of Michigan cutoff for what's acceptable. Which is around ten points lower than the Merck cutoff for GD.
Last week my diabetic counselor offered to relieve my stress by putting me on insulin. Less meal planning, more flexibility with what and when to eat. Sounds great, no?
The little detail that was not mentioned (and I don't fully blame the diabetic health care folks for not mentioning this) is that if I am on insulin my primary care provider would no longer be a midwife but a regular obstetritian.
I almost typed "a mere obstetrician." Such are my strong feelings about being cared for by a midwife. I can't tell you how important it is for me to be in the care of a woman who understands that birth is a normal event, not a medical condition to be managed.
I do believe there are plenty of wonderful OB's out there. I worked with one last year during my miscarriage. Hopefully he can consult with me soon about these slightly elevated sugar levels and what actually constitutes risk to the baby and to me.
Another interesting fact about GD and insulin use: I would not be able to deliver in the birthing center's standard rooms, but would be put on a wing with the other "high-risk" births. No birthing tubs, smaller rooms (although pretty darn nice).
Oh - lest I forget to mention that my health care provider may decide to induce labor around 39-40 weeks, and would certainly be interested in not allowing me to go beyond my due date. Due dates are an estimated figure, so I've heard. Any OB worth their salt would be interested in fetal measurement and my weight gain rather than an arbitrary date.
All of these possible interventions. Certainly not part of my birth plan.
I'm in the information gathering stage right now, having gone through the freaking out stage and then the crying stage for a couple of hours last week.
I am thankful to be so carefully monitored and managed, all said. But sometimes I wonder about the medicalization of childbirth and its connection to legal liability and the needs of insurance companies. Altogether it's a learning process, and part of what I'm learning is to think about this in the way my wonderful midwife framed it:
"I also find it helpful to remember that this is the baby's birth and this little wise one is creating these circumstances for her own particular learning. We all can do our best to shape the experiences- but she's calling the shots!"
(Already this kid's running my life...ha!)
Last week my diabetic counselor offered to relieve my stress by putting me on insulin. Less meal planning, more flexibility with what and when to eat. Sounds great, no?
The little detail that was not mentioned (and I don't fully blame the diabetic health care folks for not mentioning this) is that if I am on insulin my primary care provider would no longer be a midwife but a regular obstetritian.
I almost typed "a mere obstetrician." Such are my strong feelings about being cared for by a midwife. I can't tell you how important it is for me to be in the care of a woman who understands that birth is a normal event, not a medical condition to be managed.
I do believe there are plenty of wonderful OB's out there. I worked with one last year during my miscarriage. Hopefully he can consult with me soon about these slightly elevated sugar levels and what actually constitutes risk to the baby and to me.
Another interesting fact about GD and insulin use: I would not be able to deliver in the birthing center's standard rooms, but would be put on a wing with the other "high-risk" births. No birthing tubs, smaller rooms (although pretty darn nice).
Oh - lest I forget to mention that my health care provider may decide to induce labor around 39-40 weeks, and would certainly be interested in not allowing me to go beyond my due date. Due dates are an estimated figure, so I've heard. Any OB worth their salt would be interested in fetal measurement and my weight gain rather than an arbitrary date.
All of these possible interventions. Certainly not part of my birth plan.
I'm in the information gathering stage right now, having gone through the freaking out stage and then the crying stage for a couple of hours last week.
I am thankful to be so carefully monitored and managed, all said. But sometimes I wonder about the medicalization of childbirth and its connection to legal liability and the needs of insurance companies. Altogether it's a learning process, and part of what I'm learning is to think about this in the way my wonderful midwife framed it:
"I also find it helpful to remember that this is the baby's birth and this little wise one is creating these circumstances for her own particular learning. We all can do our best to shape the experiences- but she's calling the shots!"
(Already this kid's running my life...ha!)
Weighing Things
Not literally things, although I do get weighed once a month at my midwife visits. I now weigh 163, by the way (get it? way? weigh? pregnancy brain?), which is the most I've ever weighed in my life.
Lately I've been weighing things like, is it worth it to continue to stand on my aching feet with my aching back and wash a sink full of dishes tonight so I won't be rushed in the morning? Is it a worthwhile endeavor to straighten the ever accumulating mess on the dining room table, or should I just go put my feet up and read? What serves me better: doing another load of laundry or taking a nap?
I don't see how single people get through the third trimester without support. Just working part-time, shopping for food, cooking (when I actually do it instead of relying on Dan) and cleaning up seems like enough, and I also take a pregnancy yoga class, a belly dance class, and we're taking pregnancy and childbirth classes on Wednesdays now too.
I've long believed it takes more than two people to raise a child, and now I belive it takes a village to maintain a healthy, happy pregnancy!
Thank goodness for Dan, my in-laws, my parents, my friends, my doula/massage therapist/holistic health care diva, and my midwife!
Lately I've been weighing things like, is it worth it to continue to stand on my aching feet with my aching back and wash a sink full of dishes tonight so I won't be rushed in the morning? Is it a worthwhile endeavor to straighten the ever accumulating mess on the dining room table, or should I just go put my feet up and read? What serves me better: doing another load of laundry or taking a nap?
I don't see how single people get through the third trimester without support. Just working part-time, shopping for food, cooking (when I actually do it instead of relying on Dan) and cleaning up seems like enough, and I also take a pregnancy yoga class, a belly dance class, and we're taking pregnancy and childbirth classes on Wednesdays now too.
I've long believed it takes more than two people to raise a child, and now I belive it takes a village to maintain a healthy, happy pregnancy!
Thank goodness for Dan, my in-laws, my parents, my friends, my doula/massage therapist/holistic health care diva, and my midwife!
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