New Doula - Yay!

I hired a new doula today. Her name is Ruth Phy and she is super sweet and very considerate. She is touchy-feely and seems very well grounded in her faith. She is a mother of two and knows all too well the trauma of birth and c-section. I know she will be a great support for me during the rest of my pregnancy and birth and I am super excited to be adding her to my now complete team.

You can check out her website at http://www.doularuth.com/index.html

to learn more about her. She also teaches potty training which I will be inters in having her come out for once life has settled into a routine after baby Aaron comes. And she makes/sells these really cute slings/wraps.

We talked for hours and she is a really good listener. I think having her as a voice for me will ensure that whatever happens in labor that my wishes will be heard.

Looking for a new doula

So I am almost 34 weeks and I am now on the search for a new doula. While I loved my first choice in Emily, she had to step down for personal reasons. I know that God is good and in control so I truly believe this is happening for a reason. I am going to interview a new doula that seems like she would be a great fit for me (recommended by my previous doula) sometime this week. I am excited about the prospect and look forward to getting this taken care of. I have a home visit with my midwife on May 8th so I hope to have someone lined up by then so they can attend this visit.

With that, I am very excited to have my midwife visit my home. This did not happen last time and I did not even know that it was common. I love showing off where I live (even if it is an apartment) and having people see all the work I put into making my families abode a home. I am also excited for her to see and hear my plans for my birth and where things will be happening.

I was talking to my sister recently about my last visit with my midwife and my birth plan (which I posted a few post back) and she admitted to me that she felt like my first attempt at a home birth was way to familiar to her births at the hospital (she has had 4 hospital births). She said there was too much intervention, too many exams, not very much personal attention, and not what she expected. She too has watched "The Business of Being Born" and other natural home birth videos and felt like it was supposed to be this peaceful, supportive, touchy-feely atmosphere (me too, BTW). We were both greatly disappointed. I pray that this time both of us will see more of what we expect a home birth to look like. I feel like going forward with hiring a new doula is a good way to help this prayer be answered.

35 Weeks

Birth Plan

Now that I am getting a little further in my pregnancy I decided I wanted to write down some things that I would like to have as part of my birth plan. I know that birth cannot be "planned" but I also know from experience that not having a plan doesn't always work out either.

These are in no particular order:

• Leave my husband sleeping or undisturbed for as long as I can help it (this is because I think that once you have attention on you, you are more likely to "perform")
• Call my midwife and doula once I start having active contractions but advise them not to hurry unless I feel I need them sooner. (this is because once my midwife arrived last time I felt pressure and less at ease)
• Call my sister early so she has plenty of time to prepare for childcare
• Refuse having my water broken unless medically necessary
• Avoid exams unless medically necessary (obviously for lower risk of infection in the case of my water being broken, but also so I do not focus on how far I have come or have to go)
• Stay active as long as possible throughout early labor unless at night
• Take regular outside moment (as this allows your mind to remember that life still goes one as normal for the rest of the world. I do this when I watch tense movies like "I AM Legend", as well. LOL)
• Take moment to focus on my unborn baby as this process is not just happening to me but to him as well.
• When the pain gets to much to handle, turn all my focus on Jesus and what he endured for me on the cross.
• I do NOT consent to erythromycin or other medication in baby’s eyes
• I will decide after birth whether to administer vitamin K
• The umbilical cord should remain unclamped and uncut until pulsing stops or is medically necessary.

I might add more as time goes by.

Remembering Why I Am Doing This

So I love watching "A Baby Story" and "Baby's First Day" and sometimes I see the woman who choose to get pain management drugs and they are so calm and enjoying every second like it was just any other day and I think to myself, "Why am I doing this again?". Then I remember the complications of drugs and putting me and my baby int he hands of a doctor who is most likely taught there is no connection between problems in labor and drugs. I see over and over again on these shows when inductions go wrong, when a "routine" epidural causes decelerating, when Cytotec is used without care of the horrific risks to the mother and baby. I also see the occasional "all natural" birth. There is usually a point when the mom to be just feels like she can't do it. I just love the moment when that baby comes out and she forgets everything and is just in ecstasy over what she has been given and what she has accomplished. I know that will probably not be very helpful in the heat of labor but I do know that when that baby is put on my chest, I will know that it was worth all the pain. I just can't wait!

My second set of lab results are in.

My midwife called this afternoon and said my fasting glucose level was 72. The range is suppose to be in between 70 and 100 so I am on the low side, which is great news.

Gestational Diabetes Scare

So this last week I went to my midwife for a normal appointment which happen to include my third trimester glucose tolerance test. In case so of you don't know what this is, it is when your blood is tested fasting and one to three times after you either drink a glucose solution or eat a sugary breakfast. Both this midwife and my first did not require the glucose solution as most doctors do but instead opted for the breakfast.

I went in to have my finger pricked and tested with a hand held glucose monitor. My number came back at 90 which is within range (70-100). I went out to breakfast then came back for my appointment and blood draw. The midwife drew my blood and also tested with the instant hand held tester. My number came back on the monitor at 156. The number should be under 140. My midwife was concerned so she sent me home with the monitor and instructions to track my diet and test periodically until my next appointment.

Now it is important to mention that I was shocked. My diet is 90% gluten free, low sugar, no sodas, lots of water, plenty of variety including meat, fruits, veggies, carbs, etc. I am well within my normal weight range for my height and have not gained but 15lbs so far this pregnancy.

I came home and started charting and testing. My numbers were high when I expected them to be low and low when I expected them to be high. My husband suggested taking multiple readings at one time so I did. I took 3 reads with numbers of 136, 59, & 91. I called my midwife and she said to come in on Monday to do another blood draw as the monitor must be loopy. She did and while my lab results have not come back she did look at the first results (from after I ate breakfast when my instant read was 156) and the real number from the lab was 126. Within the normal range. The first finger prick I did when fasting was done on a different instant monitor than the one used for my second reading and sent home with me. I expect my labs to come back normal.

All this lead to a stressful week thinking that I had GD,  and my baby was in danger (plus an arm and fingers full of marks), all the while it was a bad monitor/test strips.

So glad that is over with and both me and my baby are healthy and can continue to eat as normal.