Preparing for a Natural Birth

The due date is now only 2 days away. I'm excited to see when Noah will decide to come and greet us! Luke and I made the decision a long time ago that we wanted a natural birth. I want the full experience and feel like you can't get that if you opt for pain medications. Research has proven that the hormone oxytocin, which is released during childbirth and is often called the "love drug" or the "bonding hormone," is responsible for the immediate bond between mother and child. It also encourages the mother to nourish the baby right after delivery, so in a sense it plays a major role in establishing maternal behavior. This profound and amazing bonding experience could be lessened and compromised if mother and baby are drugged. This is a big reason why I want a natural childbirth.

I do, however, understand that I need to keep an open mind. I don't know what kind of labor I will have and if I will be thrown a curve ball. Although I want to avoid it at all costs, I understand that there are certain circumstances in which an induction is necessary for the safety of the baby. I also know that inductions often result in much harder labors, because your body is being forced into it instead of letting it happen gradually and naturally. So if I am induced I know that I may need pain meds, but I'll do everything I can to avoid it.

Through my own research I believe that natural childbirth is better for the mother and the baby, and that the experience will be much more fulfilling and empowering for me without drugs. I will feel more in control of my body and Noah will arrive undrugged and alert. When we are both alert and responsive, we will be able to experience that immediate and real bond. Plus, breastfeeding will happen more quickly and naturally. The Journal of Perinatal Education has a great article on why natural childbirth is better.

Early in the pregnancy Luke and I watched Ricki Lake's documentary, The Business of Being Born. Although quite bias towards natural home births, it did present some great information about the benefits of natural childbirth. There is a fear surrounding childbirth, and most women are exposed to that fear and forced to believe that they cannot have their baby without interventions and relief from the pain. But our bodies were made to do this and we shouldn't be afraid. So much of childbirth is mental. Women need to take a stand and believe in themselves and their bodies. The film also takes a look at cesarean sections. The US cesarean section rate in 2007 was 31.8% and the number seems to be on the rise. C-sections pose much more risks than natural births. After all, a C-section is major abdominal surgery. The documentary explored why nearly 1/3 of women were having C-sections. The film claims that birth should be viewed as a natural life process instead of a potentially catastrophic medical emergency. I have to say I agree with that.

I am delivering in a hospital and have a wonderful doctor who is an OB/family practice. She is pretty much as close as you can get to a midwife for an OB. She is a non-interventionist who shares the same beliefs that I do when it comes to labor and childbirth. I trust her completely and know that I will have the best possible hospital birth under her care.

A friend recently showed me a blog that gives scriptural encouragement for birth. I feel I've been so focused on the medical aspects of childbirth that I haven't given much thought to the spiritual side. I am grateful that my friend shared this blog with me, and I plan to take the author's advice. I don't know exactly when Noah is coming, but it is most definitely soon. I want to take the remaining time to focus on God and get my strength and power from Him.

Funny Pregnancy Moments

In the months of January and February (8-9 months pregnant) I had a few typical pregnancy moments that made me chuckle to myself. The first happened at Walgreen's. I was the next in line to check out at the register and was digging in my purse searching for change. I dropped a penny. I just stood there staring at that penny on the floor. The woman ahead of me looked down at the penny and then at me. Then she bent down, picked it up, and handed it to me. I laughed and said, "Thanks, I was thinking that it SO wasn't worth it" (implying that to bend over while I was that pregnant to pick up a mere cent was ridiculous). She laughed too, said she understood and she's been there as well. :)

A few weeks later I was at United Hospital for my nursing bra fitting. After my appointment I was slowly making my way down the hospital hallway back to the parking ramp. An old man was walking toward me from the other direction. As we passed each other I realized that we were walking at the exact same pace (SLOW!) with a slight waddle in our steps. Except he was walking that way because of his age and I was walking that way because I was so very pregnant.

It's funny how some young men view pregnancy. They don't really get it. Last week I had two young men (first the barista at my work cafe, then the teller at my bank) make similar comments on my state of being. They both looked at me concerned and asked if I should be "walking around like that." They asked me if I should be in bed or something, and should I be working right now? I laughed and my response to both of them was that women typically aren't put on bed rest unless there are complications, and most usually work up until the day they have the baby. Oh, boys...

Click here to see some photos from our maternity shoot with CT Ryan Photography!

Noah's Nursery

38 weeks and 4 days....

So it's been an interesting couple of weeks lately. We thought Noah might be coming earlier than my February 28 due date, but there is still no sign of him. I'll start from the beginning...

On Wed, February 3 I had one of my weekly OB appointments at the clinic. My doc did the usual things - weight check, fundal height, blood pressure, cervix check, etc. Apparently your fundal height (which is the measurement of your belly in centimeters) is supposed to match how many weeks pregnant you are. Well on this particular day I was measuring 39 cm at 36 weeks pregnant (the previous week I was right on - 35 cm at 35 weeks pregnant). That was a 4 cm jump in one week! So my doctor scheduled an ultrasound at the clinic to check Noah's size and weight, fearing that he may be getting big. I had a little breakdown that night because it sounded to me like Noah might be coming early. If my doc wanted to check on his size, did that mean inducement if he was getting too big? I still had so much left on my pre-baby to do list! He couldn't come yet, because I wasn't ready! Fortunately, Luke knew just how to calm me down and make me feel better. Although I was still feeling the pressure of having to finish lots of things before Noah arrived.

The ultrasound at the clinic was done on Fri, February 5 and showed that Noah was 7 lb, 14 oz (what I weighed when I was born!) and that I was more like 38 weeks and 1 day, rather than 36 weeks and 5 days. They were not sure about the amniotic fluid levels so my doctor scheduled a second ultrasound, this time at the hospital where ultrasounds are more pregnancy-focused and provide more accurate readings. The second ultrasound done at the hospital on Tues, February 9 showed Noah at 7 lb, 4 oz and they said he was in the 75th percentile for weight and size. They had trouble getting the measurements and were surprised at how deep he was in my pelvis already (apparently he had dropped quite a bit). They told me, though, that there is a 17 oz variance in ultrasound weight estimates. That's over a pound! So really, what can you actually know from that I wonder??

My next OB appointment was Wed, February 10. Dr. Cady reviewed the ultrasound results with me. Apparently nothing warranted a medical induction at this point. The ultrasound showed that Noah was perfectly healthy and not too big yet, and the amniotic fluid levels were normal. She gave me the option to have her strip my membranes. Stripping the membranes is a natural inducement method in which a health care provider will separate your bag of water from the cervix during a vaginal exam. It is supposed to stimulate the production of prostaglandins in the cervix and bring on contractions. I decided to go for it (as Luke yelled, "Do it, do it!" in the background - he is very excited). I found it to be very painful! I actually yelled out. Dr. Cady also checked my cervix and said I was dilated to 2.5 cm and 75% effaced (effacement is the softening of the cervix). This was pretty good news, showing that my body was preparing for labor on its own. Unfortunately, she also had some sad news for me. She will be going on vacation to Mexico February 20-28. So if I have Noah during that week she will not be delivering. Bummer! I love Dr. Cady...

In the days following that appointment Luke and I were filled with nervous excitement. Dr. Cady said that every woman reacts to membrane stripping differently. For some, labor could start within 24 hours. For others, it could just encourage the cervix to continue ripening. For others, nothing at all could happen. So there was this slight possibility that we could go into labor within 24 hours and that's all we could think about! I kicked it into high gear and got lots done that evening after the appointment. I went directly to the nail shop to get a pedicure, then to my salon for a haircut and eyebrow waxing (after all, it could be my last chance!). Then I went home and painted the nursery mural until 2:30 am. I actually finished it! Then I made plans to finish a bunch of other things that were on my to do list. I scheduled the nursing bra fitting at the hospital, the car seat inspection at the police department, and decided exactly when I was going to finish some freelance design work for a client of mine (which happened to be birth announcements, ironically).

2 days later on Fri, February 12 I started feeling contractions. They were rare and sporadic throughout the afternoon (I think I felt 3). But as the evening came, I felt more and they became consistent. They were 16 minutes apart. Luke had the Munns boys over that night for video games (our friends have 4 boys, one of whom is our Godson). I wanted to keep myself busy and moving, so I decided to go to the grocery store which was only a few blocks from our house. I intentionally took my time there, trying to get in as much walking as possible to keep the contractions coming. I bounced around the store like a kid on Christmas morning. The contractions hurt, but I was so excited that labor might be starting - I didn't care! When I left the store one of the employees was outside taking a smoke break. He looked at me and said, "Wow, I'm jealous." I asked why and he said, "Because something is obviously making you very happy!" I laughed and said I was going to have a baby soon, patting my tummy proudly.

As the night drew on, the contractions stopped. Luke and I were both pretty sad about that. We vowed to do a lot of walking the next day to try to get things going again. So Saturday rolled around and we went to the Mall of America and walked around for 3 hours. I literally wore myself out! Walking is a ton of work for me these days, as I waddle through the pelvic pressure. I felt some discomfort and tightening, but nothing like I felt on Friday. For the rest of that weekend we tried numerous other natural inducement techniques (which I won't get into here...), but sadly nothing was happening.

Mon, February 15 rolled around and we went to our next OB appointment. Dr. Cady stripped my membranes again. I didn't yell out that time, but I did cry. I cried because it hurt and I cried because I felt like nothing was working and Noah wasn't going to come. I felt hopeless. It's funny how in a week's time I went from complete stress about him possibly coming early because "I wasn't ready" for him yet to complete sadness that he wasn't here. Pregnancy hormones can really make you crazy... Dr. Cady said I was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. Not much change since the first stripping on February 10.

My last OB appointment was yesterday (Wed, February 17). I had the option of having my membranes stripped again, but I declined. It didn't seem to be helping and it was very painful for me. Dr. Cady leaves for Mexico in 2 days and will be gone for a week. My next OB is scheduled for next week (February 24) with one of Dr. Cady's partners. I wonder what will happen... will I have Noah while Dr. Cady is gone? Will I go OVER my due date? Who knows...

I'm convinced that no form of natural inducement actually works (stripping membranes, walking, sex, nipple stimulation, bouncing on an exercise ball, etc.). And if any of those things do work for someone, I think it's just coincidence. Babies will only come when they are ready. I have been slowly coming to terms with this over the last 24-48 hours. Two of my friends just told me today how true it is that your body and your baby know when baby is ready for life outside of the womb. Apparently the baby even releases a chemical when the lungs are mature enough to handle the outside world, and this chemical starts contractions. Hearing these types of things is definitely encouraging my patience. Noah will only come when he's ready and there's nothing I can do about it. Hard lessen for a type-A control freak (yes, I said it!).

I'm just in this very strange state of waiting. The anticipation is both exciting and torturous. I have to treat every day at work like it's my last and of course cannot start any projects at home for fear that they will not get finished before I go into labor. It's just odd not knowing when he's coming. I usually have mile-long to do lists and constant busyness in my life. And now I just have to sit and wait. Hopefully I'll be able to relax a little bit now and learn to enjoy it (although physically that's hard to do). After all, everyone is telling me that no matter how tough pregnancy is you will miss it once you're no longer pregnant. So I will try my best to cherish these last moments...

Amanda

33 Weeks and Counting...

So I am 33 weeks pregnant this week. Wow - how the time has flown! I only have 6.5 weeks left until the due date! I am ready to have this baby physically (it's getting tough), but not in any other way. I still have 4 birth class, 3 baby showers, and a nursery to finish! Although, I must say that Luke and I have made some major progress with the nursery since last week. The main paint on the walls is done (cream on top, navy on bottom) and Luke finished the white chair rail. All the furniture is put together and in place. Now I just have to finish the Calvin and Hobbes mural painting on the wall. I have started it and it is looking great, but I have a ways to go.

I have discovered that working in a cube 40 hours per week when you're this pregnant really sucks. Thankfully, I was just approved to work from home every Monday for the rest of the pregnancy. At least I'll have that one day where I don't have to commute and can work in the comfort of my own home. :)

It is going to be a busy Noah-focused weekend! Our maternity photo shoot done by none other than CT Ryan is happening this Friday and that will be really fun I'm sure! My first of three baby showers is this Saturday. I'm excited because I've never had a shower in my life. Luke and I had to plan our wedding in two weeks before he deployed to Iraq, so I never had a wedding shower. Then our first of four birth and parenting classes is this Sunday at United Hospital. This one is "All About Babies," and we will learn how to care for an infant. More photos coming soon...

Noah's 3D/4D Ultrasound

Christmas 2009

Christmas time is here and I love it! I love the decorations, lights, music - it all makes me very happy. This will be our last Christmas as a family of 3 (including Jake dog of course). Next year the holidays will be much more fun with our little man here!

Christmas cards are always a big deal for me. I'm a graphic designer, and I try to be as creative as possible. We modeled this year's card after the "It's a Wonderful Life" DVD cover. I'm pleased with how it turned out. It was a good way to announce Noah's upcoming arrival as well. CT Ryan took the photo, so you can't go wrong there! We sent out about 200 cards this year. Wonderful!

Getting Tired.....

Finally into the third trimester. I'm feeling very tired lately and hope that I maintain enough energy to finish everything that has to get done. I am a bit stressed and overwhelmed. Included in my list of things to do in the next 2 months are... Christmas and everything that involves, finishing the nursery (way behind on that!), 4 birth and parenting classes, 3 baby showers, and organizing the house. I wish I could just take 2 weeks off work and get it all done. But unfortunately, all sick and vacation days must be saved for maternity leave. That stinks. Being pregnant and working full time is really hard. It's tough getting up in the morning because every morning I wake up feeling like I'm 80. My hips ache, my back aches, and it's really hard to get moving. Then I go to work and sit in a cube all day, which doesn't help with the aches and pains at all. Ugh. I just can't wait until the end of February. Hopefully by then I can say that my to do list is completely done and I'll be getting ready to greet little Noah!

Karate Kid

Noah is moving like crazy these days. Luke and I say that he's practicing karate in my tummy. Last night we were in bed watching a movie and we could see him rolling around, back and forth. We had never seen so much movement. It was so much fun! Luke thought it was kind of "weird" - LOL. Although I have to admit that the movie Alien popped into my head once. It's just so strange thinking that there is a real being growing inside of you! I hope that near the end of the pregnancy we can see imprints of little hands and feet. That would be so precious. Less than three months to go! :)

25 Weeks and Counting

My belly is so big and round now - I love it! I'm sticking straight out and it looks like a basketball. Definitely all boy! :) Noah is very active. I feel him move all the time now and he seems to be getting stronger as the weeks go by. Luke and I can actually see the movements now, and that is really neat. It's so entertaining to watch!

Not much progress has been made on the nursery, and I'm getting a little nervous. Only 3 more months until our little boy arrives and I have so much to do! We're hoping to get a lot of painting done over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. I'm pretty much done with my registries at Target and Babies R Us, although they do need a little tweaking. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone. I feel like it was just yesterday that I saw "YES" on that little stick. :)