Since I haven’t been great about keeping up with the gestational updates, you get a three-in-one today! And lest you think I no longer have a face, here’s a not-so-great picture of me at 30 weeks, 6 days (9/5/07):
On to the updates:
28 Weeks (8/16/07)
Stats:
- Weight - up eight pounds from my last visit five weeks ago (!), and up seven pounds from pre-pregnancy
- Blood Pressure – 100/60ish (Maya helped)
- Fundal Height – 29 cm (Maya helped)
- Baby’s Heart Rate – 150 (Maya tried to listen, too, but baby moved)
Notes:
- We’ll be going in to The Midwife Center every two weeks now
- Maya accompanied me to this afternoon visit, while Jason stayed home and worked while Ellery napped
- Maya helped the midwife (Ann) take my blood pressure (she did the pumping) and measure fundal height (she held the tape measure with assistance), and tried to hear the heartbeat in the fetoscope
- Maya kept saying how fun it was at the midwife’s office, and how she wants to be either a musician, a mommy, or a midwife when she grows up. (She was thrilled when I told her she could do all three!)
- I felt baby’s head (which was down) with Ann’s help
30 Weeks 8/30/07
30 weeks, 6 days (9/5/07):
Stats:
- Weight - down two pounds from last visit two weeks ago; up five pounds from pre-pregnancy
- Blood Pressure – 117ish/60ish
- Fundal Height – 32 cm (despite illness!)
- Baby’s Heart Rate – Don’t remember, but I got to hear it!
Notes:
- The whole family rushed over to The Midwife Center from our CSA farm pickup that morning; we ran into two families we knew in the waiting room (Kaethe & Mali, and a former InterVarsity staff family from good ole’ Texas who worked with our friends the Thomases and are now studying at a local seminary). Both had their babies soon after–a second girl for the former, and a third boy for the latter.
- Kathy (midwife) couldn’t tell which end was head and which was tail; baby is diagonal from lower left abdomen to upper right under my ribs.
- I heard the baby’s heartbeat on the fetoscope for the first time this pregnancy! He usually moves so much that by the time the midwife finds the heartbeat and hands it over, he’s done a backflip and moved away.
- Between weeks 28 & 30, I came down with a nasty intestinal illness and had to spend a day on the Labor & Delivery unit at a local hospital to receive IV fluids. I would have preferred to just stay in the ER and avoid all the unnecessary fetal monitoring (the baby was just fine), but this particular hospital sends all pregnant patients directly to the L&D unit. If I had known, I would have gone elsewhere. The illness caused me to lose more than a few pounds, but I promptly gained most of it back, and was only down two pounds by the next midwife check. It was a miserable few days, but God healed us all (the girls were sick, too) and made us grateful for food again!
- Kathy mentioned that since I’m so healthy, knowledgeable, and have done this before, that I really needn’t come back in two weeks. She said I could stretch it to three. But I had to schedule the next visit in two to make sure I saw the one midwife I hadn’t seen yet all pregnancy, Lori, who was only available in exactly two weeks. Bummer. I don’t mind going to the midwife center, but it takes a lot of time, and we don’t end up doing much.
32 Weeks (9/13/07)
33 weeks, 6 days (9/26/07)
Stats:
- Weight - up four pounds from two weeks ago (!); up nine pounds from pre-pregnancy
- Blood Pressure – 122/70
- Fundal Height – 33 cm
- Baby’s Heart Rate – 140s
Notes:
- Lori repeated Kathy’s suggestion from last time that I wait three weeks before coming in again. Hurray!
- I couldn’t hear the heartbeat again. He moves waaaay too much. I really want to get a fetoscope at home; Jason and I had such fun listening to Ellery’s heartbeat throughout her third trimester on a borrowed fetoscope.
- We still haven’t attended orientation at The Midwife Center, so I finally scheduled that for directly after our next appointment. We’ll bring the kiddos, and it will be a bit of a late night.
- I’m supposed to bring in a family photo for my file, so all five midwives can recognize our faces.
- Jason and I need to tour the backup hospital, should I go into labor before 37 weeks, or should the need to transfer from the birth center arise. It’s easy to put this off, because I don’t expect to need to go there, and it’s way on the northside. But we really should do it soon!
- My three day food diary received a great review. Apparently, I eat a healthy, balanced diet. (Did I remember to write down all the ice cream on that food diary?)
What diet do you follow during pregnancy? Is there a book or a website with helpful guidelines? (since you’re getting rave reviews, I figure you’re a good person to ask!)
Yep. I highly recommend the Brewer Pregnancy Diet, which is embraced by the Bradley Method natural childbirth classes, as well as many other pregnancy advocacy groups:
http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/
I also incorporate some facets of the Weston A. Price Foundation’s diet for pregnant and nursing mothers (namely, I take cod liver oil daily, soak as many of my whole grains as I can, and consume bone broths on a regular basis):
http://westonaprice.org/children/dietformothers.html
The two “diets” actually overlap quite a bit. The most noticeable things about most successful pregnancy diets?
-two eggs/day
-lots of fresh veggies, especially greens
-whole grains
-no refined sugars
I’m so glad someone asked the diet question. I was wondering the same thing. Is it more healthy to only gain 7-8 pounds? I typically gain about 30-35. I also tend to retain lots of water. Do those diets help with that?
Also, our city doesn’t have any midwives. Can you believe it? If I wanted to have a midwife, I’d have to travel to Indiana for one which isn’t an option with our insurance. The absence of midwives is one of the reasons why we’re hoping to wait to have more children until after we’re done with seminary. Anyway, all that being said, what advice would you give someone like me who doesn’t have access to some of the less-medical methods of birthing? (Don’t even get me started on the hospitals- they’re awful when it comes to treating a delivery like it’s a sickness. They wouldn’t even allow me out of bed to labor- everyone is required to lay on their back or sit up when laboring so that monitering won’t be interrupted.)
I was wondering the same thing. Is it more healthy to only gain 7-8 pounds? I typically gain about 30-35.
Great question. I’m the first to say that women shouldn’t care how much weight they gain–only that they’re eating the best quality foods they can, and enough of it. A 30 – 50 pound weight gain is common and healthy with the Brewer Pregnancy Diet–but I have some weight to spare, so I haven’t gained as much. Still, like you, I’m surprised at how little weight I’ve gained. Because I know I’m eating well, and a lot, I’m reassured.
A lot of women would be thrilled with my weight gain, and I want to caution everyone to not be concerned with numbers. Most women will gain upwards of 30 pounds on a healthy pregnancy eating plan. I am an exception.
Also, I tend to gain most of my weight in the last trimester of pregnancy. As you can see from this post, most of my weight gain has been at the end. And it will keep creeping up, I predict.
I also tend to retain lots of water. Do those diets help with that?
Yes! The Brewer Pregnancy Diet started with Dr. Brewer aiming to rid the world of toxemia/pre-ecclampsia. The whole diet is worthwhile, but the best parts of it for avoiding retaining water are 1.) lots of protein (80 – 100 g/day), and 2.) salting food to taste. No salt restrictions! That only hurts you.
what advice would you give someone like me who doesn’t have access to some of the less-medical methods of birthing?
Bummer about the midwives. I’m assuming you mean CNMs/hospital-based midwives? Have you looked into homebirth midwives? I know it’s a big jump from a hospital birth, and most insurances won’t cover it (that’s honestly the biggest reason we’re not having a homebirth this time–money), but it’s worth considering. We’re blessed to have another option with our independent, free standing birth center (covered by our insurance)–it is certainly an answer to prayer.
Hospitals are for sick people, as you already know. To face a hospital birth, you must be armed with natural birth knowledge, a strong husband, a good birth plan, more research than you can imagine, and the most supportive birth attendant you can find. That is, if doctors are your only option, then find out who the best one is. Ask around. Family doctors (not OBs) who deliver babies are often the best when it comes to natural childbirth.
I empathize with you–hospitals can be very difficult places to give birth naturally. That’s why I’m committed to not having a hospital birth again, barring any complications. I’m happy to go there if there is a medical need, but otherwise, I will stay away.
If you have more specific questions, ask away. Alternatively, email me–maybe I can dig up some local natural childbirth info for you.
Aak! Is that hospital your only option? In my day (25-30 years ago, I admit) birthing options varied GREATLY by hospital. Back then, monitoring equipment was available, but our doctor knew we didn’t want it unless there were a medical emergency. I can’t imagine being tied to equipment for no reason! There must be some hospital/doctor combination that isn’t so unreasonable.
Then again, from what I’ve been able to learn, we really have lost most of what we won in the 70’s when it comes to giving birth in a hospital. Progress, like velocity, can be both positive and negative.
Thanks so much for your comments Serina. They are very helpful. A home birth is way out of our comfort zone at this point- it sounds so neat though! I’ve never thought about the family doctor option. Great idea.
Yes, unfortunately, there are 2 hospitals in our city that deliver babies. Both are extremely medically focused. Upon arrival they hook you up to an IV and monitor and put you in bed. As I hunched over to go through some contractions the nurse came in and told me “you can’t sit like that, you’re interfering with the montor reading.” Grr. My birthing ball sat lonely in the corner until Brian deflated it when we realized we weren’t going to be allowd to use it. Then they come in and try to convince you to get an epidural. 90% of women have epidurals in our city. Our city also has one of the highest c-section rates.
Unfortunately, I was not armed with research and resolve when I went into the hospital and I caved to MANY of their policies simply out of ignorance. Not good.
Thanks again. I’m excited about that diet. Keeping all of that water off sounds like a very good plan.
Ugh! As a nurse let me just say how frustrated and annoyed I get when I hear these kinds of stories. I feel like I want to apologize for the whole stupid western medicine field…but I especially hate to hear that your nurses aren’t advocating for you. I’ve always believed that this is my primary job, to be a patient advocate. ::sigh:: It doesn’t have to be like that, and in fact, no matter how pushy or rude they are being, you have the choice to be pushy right back and use your birthing ball, and refuse monitoring. Technically, they can’t make you do that…but during birth is hardly the time to be fighting with your healthcare providers, especially since you want to be able to trust them. I hope that when it’s time for your next child you are able to find some better options.
Too bad about your hospital options, Kacie. That’s really sad, and frustrating. Boo.
But you know what? You can decline anything and everything you wish. Next time, if you need to give birth in a hospital like that, you will be prepared to firmly and politely decline anything that you are not comfortable with, including continuous fetal monitoring. And Brian, who I’m sure will come along side you and be just as informed as you, will speak up for you when you’re not able or willing. It’s the only way to go.
Should I require a hospital birth ever again, I have a list of things that would go straight into a concise but assertive birth plan. Some big things that are important to me:
–no continuous fetal monitoring
–freedom to move
–no IV without reason
–don’t ask me for an epidural or any sort of pain relief; I’ll let you know
–I’ll eat and drink as desired
–no forced pushing
–cord will not be cut until placenta is birthed and the cord stops pulsing
–baby goes right to mom, and does not get taken away for any reason, save life-saving procedures
–no cord traction (tugging on the cord to get the placenta out)
–no bath (we will take care of it ourselves later on)
–no eye goop, hep B, or vit K shots
There’s so much more, but that’s what hits me first. The fact that you couldn’t move during contractions because it interfered with the monitor is not only infuriating, it’s ridiculous! Study after study shows that continuous fetal monitoring has no effect on the outcome of a birth; doctors and hospitals continue to use them because they want proof that they were “monitoring” the baby in case of a lawsuit. (Nevermind that that fetal monitor tells them nothing about how you’re actually doing.)
My doctor did cord traction- when I asked if I could push the placenta out he said no and pulled. I didn’t realize that it was a procedure with a name. Just out of curiousity, what are the risks involved in this? I’m assuming that it causes additional bleeding – is that right? I had much more pain after the birth when he did that- the “required” bag of pitocin probably didn’t help either. Grrr.
Boy, I’m learning so much today!
Also, what is a good way to introduce your birth plan to the medical providers? The doctor didn’t come in till the very end, so it wouldn’t have done much good to show it to him. I wrote one out, but we did a lousy job of enforcing it. I asked about not having continuous monitoring, they turned me down. Same with the freedom of movement, food & drink, and IV. My doctor basically told me, “if you want freedom, stay home as long as you can.” I realize that it was totally my own fault that my desires weren’t carried out because I didn’t do a very good job at communicating them in an assertive way.
My doctor basically told me, “if you want freedom, stay home as long as you can.”
The closest a doctor will come to endorsing home birth.