Emmaline Grace's Birth Story

Emmy's birth was an amazing experience.

Wednesday, I woke up having mild contractions. They were steady and timeable but not painful. Historically, my contractions have not been painful until the last hour or two of labor. I also labor very fast so I felt that I needed to call the midwife. I let her know what was going on and she was at another birth. I asked her if I should go to my chiropractor apt and she said I should. I went and got adjusted. I continued to feel contractions until early afternoon when they fizzled. I was in contact with the midwife on and off throughout the day. I decided to nap with the kids and the contractions stopped. I talked with the midwife about the position of the baby and I thought the baby was still high and on the right side. Optimal position is on the left side! My baby was on the right. . She came out and did an exam. I was 4cm and she showed me some simple positions to get the baby on the left side. She left and I thought I would go into labor soon.

Two more times throughout the week I had similar experiences with contractions that fizzled. I did not call the midwife because they eventually stopped. I did not want another false alarm.

On Labor Day, I woke up like any normal day. We did not have big plans because of the impending birth so we decided to go to a local park and walk. My husband, Ben, and I walked while my son rode his bike and my daughter enjoyed a ride in the stroller. After the walk, we decided to go out to Logan's for lunch. I ate chili which seems spicy at Logan's. =) I came home and took a nap. After the nap, I started having contractions. I walked and walked. I did not want them to stop this time. Around 6ish, they started to get more intense but I wanted to wait until I knew for sure before calling the midwife. Around 6:30, I called my parents and told them this was the real thing and they needed to come to watch the kids. I then called the midwife who said she would be there in about 30 minutes. I started getting the room ready and we put in a movie for the kids so Ben could blow up the pool.

The midwife arrived a little after 7. I met her at the door and she joked that I looked good for being in labor. I just hoped it wasn't a false alarm. She checked my progress after she got situated and I was a 7cm. My husband began filling up the pool. I think it took about an hour to fill up the pool. The contractions were close to 2 minutes apart and starting to get more painful around 8. They weren't long just more intense. I was still walking around helping get the kids situated with my parents-they had arrived a little after the midwife.

When the pool was filled and at the right temp, I hopped in. The contractions were intense and painful at this point. The pool helped. I talked with the midwife about knowing when to push. With my previous 2 deliveries I was checked for progress multiple times and told when to push. The midwife's advice to trust my body empowered me to concentrate more on what my body was doing. Toward the end of labor, the contractions lessened in intensity and I seemed to feel the baby slipping down. At 9:08 my water broke which surprised me. My water was broken the past 2 births and I forgot that my water may break. What was even more shocking was what came next. My daughter! Yep, my water broke and she was born in the same minute!! I didn't even have to push. My body did it for me.

The baby was beautiful! I was in love. I stayed in the tub with the babe.

Step away from the sugar!

Last year, at 12:01 I tipped my glass filled with ( non-alcoholic) eggnog and drank the sugary sweet beverage. Strange choice you might think, especially after a year without sugar, but I love the stuff. While it tasted great I felt horrible after consuming it. Sugar is addicting and I'd gone a whole year but what would a little hurt? Well, for me, consuming a little leads to a little more and a little more and a little more...... As I reflect bck on the year, I realize I felt a lot worse and I'm not talking about my 20 weeks of morning sickness! I have had numerous colds and even the flu! Stupid sugar.

Yep, I blame the sugar. It lowers your immunity for 8 hours after consumption! And the weight gain. Oh! The weight gain. Well,maybe that was the pregnancy, but not entirely.

This year as I look to 2012, and my goals for 2012, I am including sugar free (again)!!! Oh, and that includes NO artificial sweeteners! I won't get started on artificial sweeteners. I will save that for another blog.

At11:59 pm on December 31st, 2011, I will set down my glass of eggnog and step away from sugar for another year (or longer). Believe it or no, I cannot wait! Of course, I will be blogging!

Breast feeding

Some ramblings about breast feeding that I have learned:

1. It is all about the latch. It really is! With the first 2 kiddos I was so sore for the first few weeks. With number 3, I was NEVER sore. I mentioned this to my midwife and she said what I already knew, " it is all about the latch. If it is sore unlatch the babe and start again." The beauty was I never had the need with this baby.

2. There is no need to supplement. I did with the first 2and way more with my first. With this baby, I was determined not to supplement at all. It was not easy. She had her days and nights mixed up which resulted in nursing hours on end at night. I mean ALL night! But, the pay off was sweet! My milk came in a full 2days earlier and she was a different baby! And, I was never engorged.

3. Throw your schedule away. Babies do not operate on schedules. This article says it better than I can http://www.ivillage.com/should-you-schedule-babys-feeds/6-n-137351. No two days alike. Naturally, when kids are growing they eat more and some days they just aren't as hungry. We, as adults alter our schedule to fit our needs and wants, so do babies.

4. Breast feeding takes time. And, way more time in the beginning. I have learned to make my baby my priority for the first month or two. I sit my bottom in a chair and feed whenever my baby shows any sign of needing me. I feed hours on end. My housework lags and my social life dwindles but the bonding and feeding time is priceless. No regrets. Ever. I feed on demand until the breast feeding relationship is over but it is way less demanding as time goes on.

5. Immunity is past to your baby. You have the sniffles? Your breast milk is already passing the immunity to your baby! Wow! Our Creator thought of everything, didn't He?

6. Dont give up! Leche League and Kellymom.com are amazing resources. Kellymom.com has information on everything from latch to poop. Go to ilca.org and type I your zip code. Find a breastfeeding consultant. Don't give up! Most regret it!

7. Your baby usually is getting enough! If they aren't, you can usually correct the problem. I know there are times when I feel I am not making enough. Drinking more water and feeding more frequently are just 2 of the many ways to increase your supply. But, chances are, you are making more than you think.

8. Breastfeeding is way more than nutrition. It is also bonding! I have a 3 month old. She eats unlatches, smiles at me, eats, unlatches, and coos, eats, unlatches, smiles etcs. Does it take more time? Yes! And I heart EVERY moment.

9. Breastfeed in public! What!?!? Yep, I have learned how to breastfeed in public. People feed babies bottles in public, why can't I breastfeed my baby, too? I used to leave to feed or pump and bottle feed. I simply don't want the hassle. Babies 2&3 wouldn't take bottles anyway. I do use a cover or try to use one. This is not for my benefit, it is for the comfort of others.

10. Breast feeding prevents diseases and obesity later in life. It also has been linked to higher intelligence. Google it!

Trial run

I am planning on going sugar AND gluten free in 2012. I feel so much better when I leave these items out of my diet. I am going to do a trial run in November with the exception of the holiday weekend. This will be no small feat as I am hungry all the time and crave carbs while breast feeding. I just read that if you crave something but feel horrible after consuming it you probably have a sensitivity to it. That is me with carbs! Not to mention, I need to lose the rest of this baby weight! It has been7 weeks and I am at a stand still with weight loss.

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.