Turn Baby Turn

A week and a half ago I learned that my baby was resting her head on the left side of my pubic bone with her body on my right side. Baby may have been comfortable in that position but it is not a good position for delivery. My midwife mentioned having my chiro do the Webster Technique and gave me a few posture suggestions to help baby move.
My chiro does not do the Webster Technique so I was referred to a chiro in the community who specializes in the technique. After just one adjustment, the baby moved differently. At my midwife visit the next day, she checked the position of the baby and head is down! The baby' s head is high and on the right side (left side is optimal). I am so excited head is down. I have one more adjustment this afternoon and I am hoping baby will move the rest of the way. My "due date" is in 22 days so head down is very important now!! =)

Yes, a homebirth!

For our third baby we have decided on a homebirth for several reasons-Hospital births have only become the norm in the last 2 generations around the 1950's. Homebirthing is less invasive, you have more freedom and better prenatal care. Even with good insurance, homebirthing is very cost effective.These reasons aside, the primary reason we decided to homebirth is because of the way our last hospital birth progressed.

. Allow me to explain. I went into the hospital midmorning having experienced mild contractions for a few hours. I have fast deliveries and wanted to make sure I was there in time! When I got there, I was 5 cm dilated and progressing. I was admitted and labored for a few hours standing or in the bath tub because of back labor.

My doctor came in to check on me but the visit was brief. He was busy delivering another baby. In fact, between Friday night and Saturday morning he had delivered 7 babies. I had the most amazing nurse who was my advocate, but saw VERY little of the doctor.
I only labored a few hours before I was ready to push. The nurse told me not to push as the doctor was not available. Umm.... what??!?!?! After a while we heard her say,"This girl has to push and it will go fast." A resident doctor came in to the room because my doctor was still with someone else. The first thing the resident doctor asked was if I could get back up on the bed. (I was still standing because it felt better due to the back labor.) Being the compliant girl I am, I tried until I had a contraction. My family in the room say I shot up off the bed as if I was not 9 months pregnant and in labor. I told the doctor I couldn't lay down. Back labor was very painful and so much more painful in bed.
After a short time, my doctor came in the room. Again, I was asked if could get up on the bed. I probably gave him the a very dirty look! Much to the doctor's objections, I had my daughter squatting beside the bed. I pushed for 5 minutes and she entered this world at a very chubby 9lbs 3oz and 20".

Now, that doesn't seem like a horrible story but the more I think about it, the more I disliked than liked:
1. I would like a doctor/midwife that worked with my instead of trying to get me on a bed for their convenience.

2. I would like a doctor/midwife that I know and trust to be available when I am delivering.

3. When I pushed, the doctor pulled the cart of utensils in the way of everyone that was in the room. I am not sure why he did this other than he was extremely uncomforable delivering a baby this way and maybe he did not want any witnesses if something went wrong??

4.The baby was taken from me shortly after birth for antibiotic eye drops, vitamin K injection, bath, etc. - I'd like more bonding and less intervention.

5. I would like to be IV free. I was hooked up to an IV when admitted and given pitocin to help deliver the placenta. This is standard and unnecessary.

6. I would like skin to skin contact instead of the baby put under a warmer.

7. I would like to EAT and DRINK if I wish. I am not sure how hungry I would even be but I do like to have nourishment and fluids when I am working that hard!!!

8. I am not a fan of the restrictions of the hospital. I would like to sleep when tired uninterrupted.

9. I would like to be cared for by someone that is passionate about their job.

10. I would like to be encouraged and challenged to be truly healthy during my pregnancy.

This experience with a midwife has been totally different. She comes to my house and has gotten to know everyone even the dog! She stays for 45 min to an hour. I learned more about pregnancy, labor, birth, etc in just a few visits than I had with the prenatal care of my first 2 children combined. She is so knowledgeable-she has delivered (naturally) over 1,000 babies!! Prenatal care is also not nearly invasive. I had one lab draw for blood, my blood sugar test was done at home after a normal meal, and I have yet to be checked-you know where.

Pregnancy ramblings

35weeks.

I haven't blogged in quite awhile so this will be an update of sorts. During this pregnancy, I have been hungry for knowledge! I have read from many sources and gained knowledge from key people during this pregnancy.

I set goals at the beginning of the pregnancy. One goal was to not eat after dinner. With extremely rare exceptions, I have maintained that goal. I have exercised regularly which was another goal. I walk at least 1 1/2 miles most days of the week. I also do prenatal fat-burning yoga. I have limited sweets, although I have eaten more sweets lately. Even though I feel as big as a house, I have gained just over 25lbs. Considerably less than I have gained with my 2 previous pregnancies! In fact, by this time I was 30+ lbs heavier with BOTH pregnancies.

A blessing of this pregnancy has been lack of swelling. Even with considerably above average temps this summer, I have not swelled. I read an article a while back that stated swelling was caused by kidneys not functioning at optimal levels. I have eaten watermelon, taken fish oil and drank lots of water as the article suggested. There are plenty of other suggestions to reduce swelling and the article is worth a read.

I am more energetic than past pregnancies. After 'all day' sickness that lasted 20 weeks and occasionally still plagues me, I have been rather energetic. I am starting to slow down now, but I just nap with my 2 monkeys and I am good! I think a better diet and regular exercised (even when I do not feel like it) has helped.

I also learned from my midwife that taking a magnesium/calcium supplement help with calf cramps which wake me up at night several times a week. I take Oscap a Thorne supplement twice a day. Exercise, water, and Oscap have drastically reduced cramping.