Baby Classes

Last Sunday, July 22,  Jake and I attended our first birthing class.  Let’s just say it’s an experience I will never forget and since it’s a 12 week course I get to experience it 11 more times!


First of all, I’ll fill you in on the birthing method we chose and why. I have always known that I would want to TRY to accomplish a natural childbirth, so I knew I would want to go through a natural childbirth class.  After a couple of friends of ours took a class for The Bradley Method, I looked into it and knew that this was the way that I wanted my birthing experience to go.  The Bradley Method teaches natural childbirth and views birth as a natural process.  The Bradley is a system of natural labor techniques in which a woman and her coach play an active part. This method encourages mothers to trust their bodies using natural breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise and education.  


That is exactly what I was looking for so here is to hoping it works! I know complications occur so I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high. What I do know for sure is that Jake will be an excellent coach in the delivery room. ; ) I couldn’t ask for a better man to be there holding my hand on that special day. 


So back to our first class. Classes are held at our teachers home, a very nice woman named Sarah.  There are 5 other couples in class and classes are held every Sunday from 2-4:30. We all sit tailor sitting so we are told to bring 2 pillows and a blanket to sit on.  We started off class by introducing ourselves and the teacher told us about herself and her previous birth stories, handed out our workbooks (yes we have workbooks), etc. We talked about the Bradley Method and then started our topic for the week, exercise. Jake did pretty good, I’m sure he was bored out of his mind, but if anyone is used to sitting through lectures it should be him. lol We watched some old school birthing videos of couples who used The Bradley Method, even way back in the day.  Then it was snack time, I’m sure this was Jakes favorite part.  ; )


At the end of each class we have 1o minutes of “relaxation time”.  This is a time to prepare the coach for relaxing his woman while she is in labor.  Jake and I were doing so good and being mature adults until this point.  I had to lie on my side and Jake had to massage the tense spots out of my body parts and repeat some phrases the teacher was chanting.  Our teacher must have had a cat or dog in her basement because all of a sudden Jake starts sneezing extremely loud and couldn’t stop.  Everyone is being quiet at this point, relaxing music is playing in the background and Jake is sneezing and sniffling out of control.  So being the mature person I am I start cracking up laughing, you know when you get the giggles somewhere where you know you have to be quiet, but just can’t help yourself.  So at this point Jake walks to the restroom and I can hear him blow his nose, the loudest blow ever, and of course this makes me burst out with one gigantic laugh.  At this point I’m so embarrassed with myself, but I just couldn’t stop.  Jake comes out sits back down and sees my face beet red and tears rolling down my eyes from trying to control my giggles…So of course, he gets the giggles now.  So here we are, both of us trying our hardest to control our laughter, I had to hide my face in the pillow.  I’m sure the other couples where rolling their eyes at the two immature parents-to-be.  That is so Jake and I though.  Of COURSE this would happen to us.  Luckily we didn't get kicked out of class, not yet anyway.  


So next week we are going to make sure Jake takes some Benadryl and the giggles do not come out again. I think Jake (Mr. Know it all) is a little skeptical about taking all of these classes. The first two are about exercise and nutrition, so he thinks we already know all about that. I’m sure once we get to the pregnancy stuff it will get more interesting for him.  He does it because he loves me and I’m thankful for that. I really liked our teacher and over all I think these classes will be a positive thing for us.  I’m really excited to learn more and I’m SOOOOO excited to meet our lil peanut no matter how it happens. ; )

A lovely picture, my lovely husband drew in our Workbook

Bump Check: Month 6

 Bump Check :22 Weeks

July 1, 2012

Baby is a whopping 11 inches long and weighs almost a whole pound! According to babycenter.com, our little peanut should look like a mini newborn, with lips, eyelids and eyebrows that are becoming more distinct, and even tiny tooth buds developing beneath the gums. Baby's eyes are now completely formed, but are still lacking pigment.  Baby is also more capable of hearing noises from outside the womb. Sometimes I  talk to Peanut, so he/she isn't so bored floating around all by their self in there :o).

How far along: 22 weeks

Total weight gain/loss:  +9 lbs

Maternity clothes?:  Bella Band, but I need some lol

Strech marks?: Nope, but using oil and cream every day! 

Sleep: Some nights good, some nights bad

Best moment this week: Seeing the baby move!

Movement: Baby moves a lot more these days, especially at night.  When I’m lying on my side, baby likes to kick me until I switch sides, demanding little one.

Food cravings: Fruit

Gender: ????

What I miss: Sweet tea

Milestones: Umm Dunno, making it to 22 weeks! ; )

23 Weeks July 8, 2010

 Bump Check :24 Weeks

July 15, 2012

24 weeks. Really? REALLY?!? I seriously can't believe it. That means there are only 16 weeks left until my due date. .

Making it to 24 weeks is a pretty big deal in my book. From what I understand, 24 weeks = viability. No, no one really wants their baby to come into the world only having been baked for 24 weeks, but at this point there is a chance she could make it outside my body. I'd say that is a pretty big accomplishment.

Baby is now about a foot long, and still weighing just over a pound. Supposedly baby gained about 4 ounces in the last week. Baby's brain is growing quickly now, and their taste buds are continuing to develop. Baby's lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help their air sacs inflate once he/she hits the outside world.

I can definitely tell that our little one is getting bigger and stronger. Jake is still the only one besides me who has felt the baby move, but I'm hoping soon peanut will be moving often enough and um, big enough? that other people can feel it.

How far along: 24 weeks

Total weight gain/loss:  +10 lbs

Maternity clothes?:  Wore my first REAL piece of maternity clothing this week,  pink shorts!

Strech marks?: Nope, not that I can see anyway LOL

Sleep: Leg cramps occasionally, some nights great, some nights not so great

Best moment this week: Every moment I feel my baby wiggle around is great 

Movement: I feel the kicks getting stronger and feel baby moving around a lot more, it tickles sometimes! ; )

Food cravings: Chocolate

Gender: Only God knows, well and the Dr.

What I miss: Walking around a store without getting out of breath

Milestones:  Reaching Viability 

Our First Home

           Our First Home

On, April 30th Jake and I closed on our first home! We went back and forth about renting a home for the next couple years or purchasing a small home for the next 3-4 years and figured with a baby on the way, this was the best decision.  With Jake wanting to go back to school and all that Jazz we did not want to get in over our heads with a huge house loan, but luckily we found a cute 3 bedroom that was perfect for us at this time!   We are excited to be fixing up our very first home together and can’t wait to welcome our little peanut into it this fall. ; ) So stay tuned for some new post of us newbie homeowners trying to fix up a home! Should be interesting!

Halfway There

Bump Check: 20 weeks

June  17th

                  

The reality of this situation? I am halfway done with my pregnancy. In approximately 20 weeks I will meet my son or daughter. I've completed more days than I have left. Seriously? I can't believe it. How bitter-sweet it is!

For comparison, here is where I started (6 weeks) 

and where I am now!

                

This week our baby is being compared to a banana . Baby is about 6.5 inches from head to bum, and weighs about 10.6 oz. 

My belly is definitely growing at a rapid pace now.  It’s crazy, every morning I step out of bed and am amazed at how much my belly grew just over night!

Besides my lil fiasco at the hospital read about it here life has been great.  Most of the time I feel great. I get a little more tired than I used to and sleeping isn’t the easiest, but my ligament pain hasn’t been too bad lately so I really can’t complain. 

I feel the baby move more and more each day. It is the most exciting thing. It never gets old. Each kick is like it’s happening for the first time. If you ever see me and I have a huge goofy smile on my face it’s probably because I just felt my baby move inside of me, coolest thing ever! 

How far along: 20 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +  ? pounds Haven’t weighed myself. My guess is over 5 under 10

Maternity clothes: Still just using my bella band

Stretch marks?: nada

Sleep: Bad without my Snoogle, Great with my Snoogle  ; )

Best moment this week: Every moment I feel my baby move!

Food cravings: No strange cravings.  Just Chocolate! 

Gender: ?

What I miss: My old clothes

Milestones: Making the halfway point!

I still can’t believe that I’m halfway there already.  Time really dose fly when you’re having fun!

Vasovagal Syncope?

I went back and forth about posting this because it is so personal, but I write this blog mostly for myself anyway so what the heck.  It’s my own little journal in a way and this is a big story of my life so here it goes!!

This is probably going to be way too long of a story but here it goes. 
June 8th and we just arrived at Missouri Baptist, which is where we will be delivering our baby, but for the meantime we were there for an ultrasound. This is around 10:30 in the morning and yes I ate breakfast and was hydrated. As soon as we pulled into the parking garage, I got out of the car and felt my lower stomach getting really tight and felt little dizzy. I kept walking and it seemed to be getting worse. As soon as we got into the elevator I told Jake I was dizzy and felt like I might pass out. He told me to lie on the floor and I told him I wanted to wait until we got out of the elevator. The doors opened up to the lobby and jake sat me down on the closest bench.  The next thing I know I woke up and there were 4 Drs standing over me.  Poor Jake was scared to death. He said I passed out sitting up in his arms so he laid me down and starting yelling for help.  Yikes.  So I told everyone that I felt better and I really wanted to head up to get my ultra sound. : ) I’m stubborn. Well, the Dr.s that were around weren’t convinced I was all better yet so they walked me up there (after I refused a wheel chair) Well, as soon as I walked to the ultrasound room, I felt it coming again. So they laid me down, hooked me up to a heart rate monitor and had me lie on the floor for awhile.  One of the Dr.s called my OBGYN and he told them to send me to the E.R. and get some test done. At this point I was getting a lil worried, for my baby not for myself.  I asked them if my baby was okay, and one woman Dr. (sweetest lady ever) reassured me my baby was fine. I could tell Jake was scared to death, but he stayed calm and collected. One of the woman Dr.s told me I have the best husband ever ,but I know this. ; ) They said my heart rate kept dropping so they laid me onto a stretcher and wheeled me to the E.R. All of the Dr.s were so caring and attentive, I don’t even know what kind of Dr.s they were, but they were awesome. Jake kept asking them all these questions and one of them asked if he was a Dr. lol Of course, humble Jake responds with “Well, yeah, just a dentist. ; )  On my lovely ride to the E.R. I it started happening again and this is when I knew something wasn’t right. See, I thought it was just a fluke incident at first because a year ago I passed out at Jakes graduation and felt completely find afterwards and never thought twice about it. So I laid there and took deep breaths and my hearing and color came back before I passed out. This happened about 3-4 times after the real pass out.  The E.R. did an E.K.G. of my heart, took my blood sugar, pumped me with fluids, took a mini ultra sound to make sure baby was okay, and everything came back great. What?! Well, what the heck is wrong with me than? Ummm E.R. Dr. came back with this. 

Vasovagal syncope Some people get dizzy when they strain to cough, pee, or have a bowel movement. These actions can prompt their blood pressure and heart rate to fall, leading to dizziness and fainting. (Vasovagal means your vagus nerve is affecting your circulatory system; syncope means fainting.) Dehydration, anxiety, and pain can also be triggers.

Pregnant women are more prone to vasovagal syncope. Besides lightheadedness, it's often preceded by warning signs such as a feeling of warmth, paleness, sweating, nausea, yawning, and hyperventilation. Pay attention to these symptoms and lie down immediately to help keep yourself from fainting.

This still doesn’t help me much. So I could pass out again if I pee or cough? WHAT?! How crazy is this.  I stole that from the babycenter website, but that is what the Dr. seems to think it was.  It still doesn’t really tell me much. Jake looked on some forums and found woman who have had this happen to them while pregnant say it will probably happen again…..great. So now, me and everyone else is worried it’s gonna happen while I’m driving or in the store. Jake sternly told me that if I feel it coming again, no matter where I am I better lie down immediately. I could fall and hurt the baby, well then of course I will, duh.  So if you pass me in the grocery store laying on the floor just wave. Okay so it’s not really funny, but I try not to take it too seriously. I’m just thankful it is not something too serious. I guess I can say I’m lucky. Good news is they still got me in to have my ultra sound that day and I got to see our baby (most amazing thing in the World) ; ) That made all my worries go away, I’m not sure about Jake though, he seemed distraught the whole rest of the day. ; (

Jake told me I shouldn’t go to the gym anymore, but I insisted I was fine and that if I felt a slightly bit dizzy, I’ll stop. I was just doing light exercises there anyway, nothing compared to what I did before I was pregnant. I gave up running right away. So about 3 weeks go by and no pass outs or sense of one coming. I had been going to the gym regularly like I had been doing for months. After all, exercise, when done lightly, is good for mama and baby.  One morning, only after about 10 minutes on the Elliptical, I started feeling that tight uncomfortable feeling in my lower stomach again. So I stopped what I was doing and left the gym. I thought that must have been my bodies way of saying, no work out today.  A couple days later I went back and it happened again, but as I was walking on the treadmill this time. I know what you guys are thinking.. why did I go back. Well, thats what all my loved ones keep saying to me anyway. Well, because it has been 100 degrees and I wanted to walk. I don’t think anyone believed me when I told them this happened just from walking, but it did. So I’m walking on the treadmill (very slowly) and I feel my stomach get tight and uncomfortable again so I walk to the locker room and sit down on the bench.  The tightness goes away immediately so I think what the heck can I do if I can’t walk?? So I got and get on a bike. As I pedal like a 90 year old granny on the bike it comes back so I get up off the bike to leave and I feel dizzy. Oh great. I walk to the locker room and it started getting worse. I was getting sweaty and my hearing started going out (uh oh) so I lay down on the bench and text Jake “its happening again” Jake calls me immediately. “What’s wrong, where are you?” Umm uh oh, I think he is going to kill me at this point. I started tearing up and tell him I’m at the gym and what was going on.  Yeah, he is mad.  He tells me to stay right there and hangs up. I lay there thinking oh no, what is he up to?  As I lay there, I started feeling better. My hearing started to come back and I stopped sweating. I laid there and thought, maybe Jake is calling the gym and having them come check on me. Oh gosh how embarrassing, so I hopped up and started heading to my car.  It started to come back, oh great. I sat in my car and laid the seat back just in case I was to pass out at any minute. Jake calls and tells me, my mom is on her way… that’s what he was up to.  So I laid in the car and waiting for my mommy to come pick me up and my little “episode” passed.  She took me to her house and I laid on the couch and felt 100% again.  Of course now everyone is mad at me.  This happened while I was at the gym, how bad does that look. I jut couldn’t help but wonder, what is wrong with me. That shouldn’t happen just from walking, how come it doesn’t happen to other pregnant ladies, how unfair. I just wish people understood I was WALKING, but no one does and it frustrates me. I used to be a runner and now I can’t even walk.  I felt very depressed.

Jake and I had our monthly Dr. appointment with our OBGYN, Dr. Mormol about a week ago. (July3) I couldn’t wait to talk to him about this. I was hoping he would have some answers for me, but it turns out, no one does.  Or at least the answers that will satisfy me. I guess I should be happy with what he tells me and not that it’s something serious. Basically, what he says is that I shouldn't even walk on the treadmill if it’s happening then. Big sad face for Cindy.  He suggest I try swimming and getting one of those belts you wrap under your belly to help carry the weight. Even swimming sometimes does it to me. I started to cry in the office…EMBARRASSING! He was sweet and understanding though, he tells me my body is just not used to this new sudden weight gain and it can’t handle it. My stinking body can’t handle an extra 9 pounds.. pathetic. 

So… that’s where I am today (July 9th)…I feel like I’m on bed rest. Knock on wood that doesn’t happen.
I went kayaking this past weekend and felt great. It’s weird what triggers “the tightening of my stomach” and what doesn’t. Sometimes just walking through a store does it. It’s a weird thing and I’m finally getting over it and getting used to it. I know what I need to do if it happens and that is just sit down and take it easy. I know, now, it’s my bodies way of saying slow down Cindy, and that is just what I’ll have to do. I have never wanted anything more than to be a mom and to be pregnant and I know it sounds like it’s a burden to me, but the truth is I wouldn’t trade it for the World. It is seriously the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.  When I lay in bed at night and feel my precious baby wiggling around inside of me, I think about how silly it is to get upset over this and how I would do ANYTHING for that little life. There is truly NOTHING BETTER. I know how blessed I am to be carrying this miracle in my belly, I truly do.  Peanut you’re already one stubborn baby, but I love you more than anything in the World. 

p.s. if anyone else has had this happen to them I would love to hear your stories!