Doula In Training..

Big J and I have tiptoed around the idea of having a doula attend our birth. Big J is kind of unsure about the idea as he has full faith in our OB and in me. Me, on the other hand.. I am worried that I won't know what to do during labor and I think having a doula there to support and guide me through it, would be more than I could ask for. I don't have nearly as much confidence in myself, as Big J does. Now, don't get me wrong. I am one of those people who will go out and do something crazy just because someone thought or said that I couldn't. I'm all about proving people wrong, but I'm really worried that I won't know how to deal with the contractions and I'm going to give in and accept interventions before giving myself a chance to deal with and handle the contractions.

Since Big J isn't "all for" this doula idea, I highly doubt he'd let me shell out any money for one. He seems to think that our insurance may cover it. Yeah, um, not! So I was on a mission. (Yes, another one!) I was/am on a mission to find a Doula in training. One that needs to attend a birth before being able to be certified and one who's willing to donate their services for free, since they're not certified. Kind of like a "you help me, I'll help you" type of situation. Maybe, then, Big J will be more for the idea.

I posted about 5 ads on different sites around the internet with members and groups in my area. I requested that someone contact me if they fit our profile of what we're looking for. I got a response by a few women and am so very thankful for each and every one of them.

First response was a new friend, over at Rants In My Pants with many options to my delimma. First she suggested that I post an ad on Craislist. After all, she's a doula and that's how she finds some of her clients. Secondly she suggested I contact someone at Birthingway College of Midwifery as she would know if anyone was looking for possibly clients. Third, she suggested that I check the D.O.N.A website and check the possible doula's in my area. Lastly, she kindly offered to post on a couple different groups that she was on and see if anyone was able to offer a lending hand. Thanks so much, Endre, that means a ton!

Second response was from a lady who is a practicing doula. She's taken all required classes and read all required materials. The ONLY reason she's not certified is because she had a baby in the middle of her certification and it made it a little difficult to attend the required amount of births to become certified. She's currently working, now, to finish her certification.

Third response was from a lady who is getting ready to take all the classes in October. A little too close for comfort as she won't be very far into it when I go into labor but I am so very thankful for her offer and very appreciative for her response.

We're currently trying to plan a meeting with "response number 2" sometime soon. I'm sure Big J will want to know more as to what they do, what their purpose is and get to know her more, as well as I, but I am excited overall to meet her and see if we're a match for each other. Hopefully things will work out and we'll have a doula set to go to help me when the time comes.

Wish us luck!

I'm on a Mission

I'm on a mission. What kind of mission you ask?! Well, the kind that needs your help. I'm on a mission to find some good, HEALTHY, recipes that can and will come in handy once the baby is born. I don't want to be one of those new mom's who makes her family eat out most of the time, or relies on other families to bring food when they come over. Not that I am saying anything bad about those types of mom's or families, it's just simply not my style.

I absolutely LOVE cooking and love making delicious and healthy meals for my family and I'd love to continue now that I have a little man that will be joining our family very soon.

I'm open to recipes of ALL sorts. Slow cooker recipes, baked recipes, casseroles, soups, stews, desserts, etc. We love all types of food and I'm fairly good at customizing them to our taste and health level. (ie: replacing oils, using low or no fat items instead of their fatty counterparts, etc.)

What are some of your favorite recipes that you'd like to share?

Hello and Welcome!

First of all, I just wanted to thank you for making the trip to our new site. After all that moving, I noticed that I could change my URL on my old blog. Too bad I wouldn't have seen that sooner. I wouldn't have had to make you all make the long distance trip all the way over here. Oh well. I'm just glad that you made it and are continuing to follow our blog.

I also wanted to address a few things for those of you who are interested. I do have a blogroll on my sidebar, with blogs that I do follow. I do check them everyday, multiple times per day (if I'm not busy). If you'd like me to add you to my blogroll, or somehow I've not gotten your name up there, yet, please feel free to leave me a comment or shoot me an email and I'll be happy to get that up and going.

Anywho, I'm glad to see a few familiar faces and I can't wait to get some new posts up and going.

Thanks for stopping by!

Answered Questions = Peace of Mind

My 27 week appointment was yesterday, even though I didn't officially hit 27 weeks till today. I am officially up 12 pounds, total. My OB (as well as I) is extremely happy about that number. It may not seem like much but it seems to be perfect for my body style and size. My bloodpressure was wonderful, as usual. Some people tend to think my belly is tiny, for being 7 months pregnant, but my uterus is actually measuring a week ahead (28w). They also had me do my glucose tolerence test but haven't and am unsure when I'll get the results back. Dr.K said that no news is good news. I have another appointment in 2 weeks so she said if I don't hear back within a couple days then it's good news and they'll let me know at my next appointment.

Baby J is doing great, as usual. His heart rate was 154bpm and he's moving around like a little crazy man. He has the hiccups quite often and I'm often laughing at his little antics. The other day Big J and I were out having dinner and Baby J decided that he was going to try crawling out the side of my belly. It was quite uncomfortable, so I gently pushed back at him, as I usually do, to get him to move. This time... not so much. This time, he was being a turkey and decided that once I pushed, I must have pissed him off because he then proceeded to kick the crap out of my hand, lol. It was quite funny. Obviously he wasn't too interested in moving, no matter what Mommy said.

Dr. K answered all of my questions, exactly how I expected them to be answered. It's a big relief to know that things are going well and as planned, as much as we can. Here are the questions I asked and the answers I received:

How far will I be allowed to go before I'll be induced?
41 weeks. Since we know the exact date of conception, there really isn't a benefit of letting him stay much longer. The placenta no longer performs at it's peak performance and there's really no reason to risk it, after that point. (that puts us at the week of Thankgiving)

If it comes to the point of scheduling a c-section, due to my low-lying placenta, at what point will we schedule the c-section?
Dr. K is about 98% sure that it'll move out of the way in time, so it's not something to make ourselves sick about, now.

At what point do we schedule our son's circumcision and with whom do we schedule it with?
You need to schedule it with the baby's pediatrition.
*we called our baby's pediatrition and here's how it'll go down:
Once we give birth - Dr. Ped will come to give Baby J a checkup before we're discharged.
3 days within discharge - We'll take Baby J for another checkup with Dr. Ped. While there we'll also schedule his circumcision with Dr. Ped's partner, Dr.B.
2 weeks after the circumcision - We'll take Baby J back to Dr. Ped for another checkup.*

Is there a way we can schedule a tour of the hospital?
Yes! Just call the number on the admission paperwork and set one up.

Would you recommend the H1N1 vaccine this fall and if so, is it safe even though it's in it's first year?!
Yes, the H1N1 flu is not something to play with, especially if a little baby is relying on you to keep them safe and healthy. As soon as the vaccines come in, I will be given one. The safety of the H1N1 vaccine is very safe and to not worry about it. It's made just as normal flu vaccines are made, so it's safe as normal flu vaccines.

What is your outlook on non-medicated deliveries?
We're all for it, as long as the mother's in labor can tolerate the pain. Some women just find a way of dealing with it and some, on the other hand, can't tolerate it so well. The important thing is that you come with an open mind to do what you feel necessary at the time.

We we wondering what type of hospital rooms, our hospital has; are the labor & delivery rooms seperate from the recovery rooms or are they the same?
The rooms are brand new and GORGEOUS.. they're LDR rooms so you won't be moved. You'll labor, deliver and recover in the same room.

It also mentioned in our hospital paperwork, that as long as both mother and baby are healthy, our hospital has a 6 hour discharge option. If interested the mother and baby will be allowed to be discharge 6 hours after delivery, IF both mother and baby are healthy and had a normal delivery and the mother has help at home.

I'm debating this idea, however, with this being my first, I'm scared to go home early. Even if all goes well, I'm scared that going home so soon would make something happen. I'm also wondering if the extra time in the hospital will help me with breastfeeding since there will be people there to help, if needed. I'm just nervous as this is my first time and I just want things to go okay. We'll have to see how I feel after I deliver and see how the breastfeeding goes.

QOTD: Hospital Bag

Question Of The Day

When did you pack your hospital bag?
What did you put in it, for you?
What did you put in it, for baby?
What did you forget that you had to send hubby home for?
Was there anything you wished you had remembered to bring?
Was there anything that you did bring but wished you would have left at home?

Thanks for all the input, once again!

QOTD: Breastfeeding

Question Of The Day

Date: August 3rd, 2009
Topic: Breastfeeding
Question: When breastfeeding, do you burp your infant afterward and why?

Explination: I have read many theories on this and have come up with 2
catagories of answers/ideas.

Idea 1: Babies don't swollow air, during breastfeeding, like they can
during bottlefeeding, as their mouth is tightly sealed or latched onto
the nipple. Therefore burping is NOT needed after breastfeeding.

Idea 2: Babies swollow air from their nose as they're still learning
how to cordinate sucking, swollowing and breathing, all at the same
time. Thus passing gas bubbles into the belly. Therefore burping IS
needed after breastfeeding.

I just wanted to know, from women with experience, did you burp after
breastfeeding and if so, did it help at all?

Stephanie - Thumper's Mama
Petals Of A Flower
www.petalsofaflower.blogspot.com